St. Patrick Catholic Church celebrates completion of renovation project
St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wakonda has graced the prairie sky since 1904. (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor It’s a bit of a surprise to come across the tiny town of Wakonda and see beautiful St. Patrick Catholic Church rising from the middle of the community like a castle, and now that church has been made even more beautiful after a renovation...
“Chuck’s Spot” Remembering one of the Cougar’s biggest fans
Chuck Wirth was often seen sporting either SDSU Jacks or Viborg-Hurley Cougars gear. (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor If you’ve ever attended a sporting event at the...
Centerville to be featured on Dakota Life
The guests were treated to a demonstration by “Science Steve”, who performed two shows at the school earlier in the day. (Photo/Renae Hansen) Renae Hansen | Editor The small town...
Current News
Current News
Glood Park Renovation Fund update
The $5,000 raised from donations for the Glood Park Renovation campaign were met with a $5,000...
Beresford Family Chiropractic getting a new home
Dr. Kevin Huggenberger has moved his chiropractic clinic to a new location on Cedar Street in...
Tornadoes triumph over Cougars
Logan Ruter, starting point guard for the Tornadoes brings up the ball vs. Gayville-Volin....
Centerville girls overcome Burke
Peyton Hansen drives the ball vs. Burke. Hansen ended the night with 13 points. (Photo/Tricia...
Pankratz wins 100th match at home match
A female Rebel wrestler sticks her opponent in the women’s 115 pound class. (Photo/Alan Astleford)...
Cougars place 32nd at Mid Dakota Bride of the Monster tournament
Olivia Manca wrestles against a Wagner opponent at Floyd Farrand. (Photo/Faydra Christensen)...
Viborg-Hurley girls battle through tough week
Olivia Schoepf and Tatum Hauger scramble and dive for a lose ball against Elk Point-Jefferson. ...
Cougar boys remain undefeated, ranked No. 1
Walker Warwick played a physical defense against Elk Point-Jefferson. (Photo/Faydra Christensen)...
Par/Mar girls topple BonHomme
Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports For the second time in as many weeks, the Parker/Marion girls...
Pheasants stun #8 Parkston
The Pheasant’s Domani Butler faces off against a Trojan in last week’s stunner. (Photo/Alan...
Eagles boys split games on the week
Hayden Hansen goes up for the shot against Freeman’s Luke Miller. (Photo/Laura Lyngstad) Laura...
Lady Eagles drop two on the week
Emily Oien goes up for the shot against Freeman’s Cadence Hofer. (Photo/Laura Lyngstad) Laura...
Obituaries
Katherine Josephine “Kate” Hauck
21 Formerly of Viborg, SD December 11, 2025 Kate Hauck unexpectedly passed away December 11, 2025, in Provo, UT. Like too many of America’s children, it was a lethal dose of Fentanyl that killed her. Kate was born February 19, 2004, in Tampa, FL. Her parents are Alan...
Geraldine Dains
93 Sioux Falls, SD (formerly of Marion, SD) January 9, 2026 Geraldine Dains, 93 of Sioux Falls, formerly of Marion, passed away surrounded by her family on January 9, 2026 at the Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on...
Dean Charles Ahrendt
75 Hartford, SD January 4, 2026 Dean Charles Ahrendt, 75, of Hartford passed away surrounded by his family on January 4, 2026, at his home under hospice care. Funeral mass was held at on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church in Hartford....
Gaylord Fred Hansen
83 Hartford, SD December 28, 2025 Gaylord Fred Hansen, born June 9, 1942, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 28, at Sanford Hospice Cottage, surrounded by his family. Gaylord was born at the Mitchell hospital to Clifford and Elliner Hansen. His early childhood...
Marvin Eugene Jensen
82 Sioux Falls, SD January 2, 2026 Marvin Eugene Jensen was born August 27, 1943, in Manitowoc, WI and passed on January 2, 2026 in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be at Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch...
Priscilla Landsman
95 Centerville, SD December 24, 2025 Priscilla Landsman, age 95 of Centerville, was called home to her Savior on December 24, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Priscilla Ann (Peterson) Landsman was born July 3, 1930 in Washburn, North Dakota, to Ellsworth...
Phyllis “Rosie” Johnson
85 Newell, SD December 15, 2025 Phyllis “Rosie” Johnson, 85, of Newell, SD passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, December 15, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be conducted by the family at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction...
Carol Sunbeam Nielsen
86 Omaha, NE December 26, 2025 Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Carol Sunbeam Nielsen, passed away peacefully in Omaha, Nebraska early Friday morning, December 26, 2025, after her earthly struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease came to an end. Her warmth and...
Columns
Bathsheba’s bath
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent It was in the spring of the year when kings went off to war. Spring was the chosen season because the roads were dry making it easier for the troops to move about. But David, being a king, remained in Jerusalem because he had an honorable...
Out with the old
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent We currently stand at the dawn of a new year full of the unknown. Who knows what we will discover or what new experiences will come our way. Hopefully we are confident and joyful because of the Lord’s message to us, “Therefore, if anyone is...
Star of Bethlehem
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Matthew is the only Gospel where we read about the Magi. Tradition tells us there were three men because there were three gifts but there could’ve been more in their caravan. The wise men who came from the east were interested in astronomy...
Christ must remain in Christmas
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The census was an unwanted burden, the road trip seemed untimely and Mary, about to have a baby any minute, sat on a donkey uncomfortable and tired. Caesar’s decree for a census of the entire Roman empire made it necessary for Joseph and...
Signs
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent One of the earliest signs from God is the rainbow after the flood Noah and his family experienced. “I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth...
Longing
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The Bible’s description of heaven found in the book of Revelation is phenomenal; a city of pure gold, foundations adorned with precious stones and twelve gates each one made from a single pearl. “The architect and builder is God,” Hebrews...
Chariots of Fire
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent To escape persecution in Jerusalem, Philip, one of the first to preach the Gospel outside Jerusalem, fled to Samaria where he had great success in the mission field. An angel summoned Philip from a thriving ministry to a wilderness road to...
Nobody like Jesus
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Thanksgiving is fast approaching, a time when we thank Jesus for the most important parts of our lives. I am thankful for my past generations who knew and loved the Lord. My great-grandfather was the first pastor to minister to eleven...
Sports
Tornadoes triumph over Cougars
Logan Ruter, starting point guard for the Tornadoes brings up the ball vs. Gayville-Volin. (Photo/Tricia Eide) Tricia Eide | Centerville Sports The Centerville Tornadoes controlled all four quarters on Friday night, January 9, as they defeated the Burke Cougars 50–22...
Centerville girls overcome Burke
Peyton Hansen drives the ball vs. Burke. Hansen ended the night with 13 points. (Photo/Tricia Eide) Tricia Eide | Centerville Sports The Centerville Tornadoes varsity girls basketball team delivered an impressive performance on Friday night, rolling to a commanding...
Pankratz wins 100th match at home match
A female Rebel wrestler sticks her opponent in the women’s 115 pound class. (Photo/Alan Astleford) Alan Astleford | Writer The Freeman/Marion Rebels hosted a quad-wrestling match with Sioux Valley, Howard and Tri-Valley on Thursday, January 8. In the first match,...
Cougars place 32nd at Mid Dakota Bride of the Monster tournament
Olivia Manca wrestles against a Wagner opponent at Floyd Farrand. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports The Viborg-Hurley girls wrestling team traveled to Presho on Saturday to compete in the Mid Dakota Bride of the Monster Tournament...
Viborg-Hurley girls battle through tough week
Olivia Schoepf and Tatum Hauger scramble and dive for a lose ball against Elk Point-Jefferson. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports The Viborg-Hurley Lady Cougars (1–6) continue working to find their rhythm as they strive to balance...
Cougar boys remain undefeated, ranked No. 1
Walker Warwick played a physical defense against Elk Point-Jefferson. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports Following a strong week of tournament play, the Viborg-Hurley Cougars opened the week ranked No. 1 in Class B according to the...
Par/Mar girls topple BonHomme
Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports For the second time in as many weeks, the Parker/Marion girls basketball team found a convincing win, this time over regional rival BonHomme. The Pheasants used a strong scoring attack to pull ahead early and never trailed, taking...
Pheasants stun #8 Parkston
The Pheasant’s Domani Butler faces off against a Trojan in last week’s stunner. (Photo/Alan Astleford) Weber three seals win Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports The Parker/Marion Pheasants boys’ basketball team continued their strong start to the season last week...