Christmas celebrations continue
Santa will visit the Last Chance Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 20. (Photo/Renae Hansen) If you didn’t get your fill of holiday celebrations last weekend, we’ve got great news – you get another shot! There are still plenty of things to do and visits from Santa for those looking for some holiday cheer. The following events will be taking place before...
Viborg celebrates Customer Appreciation Day
Despite a No Travel Advisory issued for Turner County, a good sized crowd showed up to watch the Tri-Valley Barbershop Chorus perform at the Daneville Heritage Museum’s open...
Winter weather doesn’t stop Irene’s Christmas in the Valley
Berniece Hansen was selected as this year’s Tree Lighter. (Photo/Submitted) Even though the weather outside was frightful, Irene’s fourth annual Christmas in the Valley was a fun...
Current News
Current News
Pheasants hold Family Day
Family Day gives the kids a chance to know students from other classes. (Photo/Submitted) The...
Tornadoes look forward to competitive season
Centerville Tornadoes ‘25-‘26 Boys Basketball team pictured (back row left to right) Zach...
Tornadoes eager to build on last year’s success
Centerville Tornadoes ‘25-‘26 Girls Basketball team (Back row left to right) Evelyn Mark, Peyton...
Eagles have high expectations for the season
The 2025-26 Irene-Wakonda Eagles boys basketball team. (Photo/ Mark’s Photographic Images) Eagles...
Young Eagles team has room to grow
The 2025-26 Irene-Wakonda Eagles girls basketball team. (Photo/ Mark’s Photographic Images) The...
Parker wrestling ready to roll
(Front row left to right) Emily Netesov, Robbie Janzen, Myles Prouty, Jaxen Smith, Brody Preheim,...
Pheasants eyeing strong season
The Parker/Marion Pheasants boys’ basketball team. Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports The...
Lady Pheasants enter first season
The Parker/Marion Pheasants girls’ basketball team: Kallie Johnson, Emma Tuschen, Hailey...
Cougar wrestling ready to hit the mats with purpose and grit
Viborg-Hurley Wrestling Team. (Front row) Faith Slavin, Aubrey Jensen, Olivia Manca, and Tucker...
Cougars look to build on last year’s runner-up state finish as senior-led squad takes the floor
2025-2026 Viborg-Hurley Basketball Team (Varsity and JV). (Kneeling) Carston Mellem, Zac Austin,...
Viborg-Hurley girls basketball season preview
2025-2026 Viborg-Hurley Girls Basketball Team: (Front row) Brittany Weegar, Aleah Campbell,...
Cougar wrestlers battle through busy weekend of competition
Aubrey Jensen works at flipping a young lady from Canton JV. Aubrey would eventually pin her...
Obituaries
Charles “Chuck” Wirth
73 Hurley, SD November 25, 2025 Charles “Chuck” Wirth was born on November 18, 1953 in Sioux Falls, SD to Ralph and Marilyn (Stoddard) Wirth. He is the oldest of six children. He graduated from Hurley High School in 1972 and went on to receive his Masters in Agronomy...
James A. “Jim” Olson
90 Hurley, SD November 24, 2025 James A. “Jim” Olson, 90 of Hurley, passed away on November 24, 2025 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg. Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Hurley. Arrangements provided...
Ralph Erickson
75 Parker, SD November 23, 2025 Ralph was born October 1, 1950 to Marvin and Kay Erickson in Sioux Falls, SD. He died on November 23, 2025 at his home where he had resided for the last 64 years. For the last year, Ralph fought a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral...
Deb Diercks
70 Centerville, SD November 22, 2025 Deb Diercks died on November 22, 2025. Deborah Louise (Orazem) Diercks, daughter of Charles and Shirley (Spillum) Orazem, was born on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1955, in Duluth, MN. Her parents divorced shortly...
Lamara Kuck
81 Parker, SD November 22, 2025 Lamara Kuck, 81 of Parker, passed away on November 22, 2025 at the Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion. Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at Calvary Reformed Church, Monroe. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00...
Lloyd Ernest Hammerstrom
96 Lennox, SD November 19, 2025 Lloyd Ernest Hammerstrom, of Lennox, South Dakota passed from this life on November 19, 2025 in Viborg at the age of 96. Lloyd was born in Sioux Falls on July 25, 1929 to parents Clarence and Esther (Marks) Hammerstrom. He was raised in...
Delbert Laverne “Perk” Perkins
88 Battle Ground, WA November 12, 2025 Delbert Laverne “Perk” Perkins, 88, of Battle Ground, Washington, died November 12, 2025, surrounded by family, at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. He was born on November 30, 1936 in Hurley, South Dakota to Verne and Mary...
Kathie “Katie” Ragene Howe
83 Chancellor, SD November 14, 2025 Kathie “Katie” Ragene Howe, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Chancellor, South Dakota, on November 14, 2025, with her son, Jeff Bramley, by her side. Born on June 12, 1942 in Spencer, Iowa, Katie was the daughter of...
Columns
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...
Naaman and the dreaded disease
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Naaman woke up one morning and noticed a bright spot on his hand. Leprosy! He recognized the symptoms as he had seen people camped outside villages in quarantine. They were considered outcasts and ignored since the disease was highly...
What have you requested of God?
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Shunem, was the name of a town in the territory of Issachar near Jezreel on the slopes of Mount Moreh. A well-to-do woman lived there who is referred to as a Shunamite in the Bible. One day Elisha walked to Shunem. This wealthy prominent...
A widow and a little oil
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The widow may not have a name in this Bible story found in II Kings 4:1-7 but she was known to God and He knew her plight. She was in financial debt which was a desperate situation for women of Bible times. If a debt could not be paid, she...
A cameo appearance
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Naomi, her husband Elimelech and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion lived in Bethlehem. Due to a famine in the land Elimelech moved his family from Israel to the country of Moab for sustenance. This was a poor decision since he was leaving...
Joseph in charge
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Jacob loved his son Joseph because he had been born to him in his old age. To express that love he made Joseph a richly ornate robe in many colors. The older brothers grew jealous over the robe Joseph received. They were resentful they...
Sports
Tornadoes look forward to competitive season
Centerville Tornadoes ‘25-‘26 Boys Basketball team pictured (back row left to right) Zach Childress, Hogan Hybertson, Bo Eide, Jaxon Westra, Alex Austin, Corbin Tople, Tucker Martz, Ethan Bobzin, Jackson Bertrand-Steever, and Hunter Swift. (Front row) Lucas Cole,...
Tornadoes eager to build on last year’s success
Centerville Tornadoes ‘25-‘26 Girls Basketball team (Back row left to right) Evelyn Mark, Peyton Hansen, Ashlyn Hagena, Jordyn Goetz, Liz Shearer, Lainey Edblom, Tessa Eide, Izzie Eide, McKenzie Carstensen, Madison Carstensen, and Haley Childress. (Front row) Ella...
Eagles have high expectations for the season
The 2025-26 Irene-Wakonda Eagles boys basketball team. (Photo/ Mark’s Photographic Images) Eagles head coach Stephen Lee has high expectations going into the boys basketball season, but says, “With those expectations comes some pressure, but pressure is a privilege.”...
Young Eagles team has room to grow
The 2025-26 Irene-Wakonda Eagles girls basketball team. (Photo/ Mark’s Photographic Images) The Irene-Wakonda Eagles girls’ basketball team will be facing some tough teams in their region this year after a 6-16 season last year. Head Coach Mike King tells us that they...
Parker wrestling ready to roll
(Front row left to right) Emily Netesov, Robbie Janzen, Myles Prouty, Jaxen Smith, Brody Preheim, Caden Knudson, and Trace Hathcock. (Back row) Claire Campbell, Landin Schulte, Noah Christiansen, Billy Stone, Bo Stone, Colten Preheim, and Clayton Pankratz. Not...
Pheasants eyeing strong season
The Parker/Marion Pheasants boys’ basketball team. Shane Merrill | Parker/Marion Sports The Parker/Marion Pheasants boys’ basketball team will enter the first year of their new co-op and are coming off a successful summer. Head coach Braedon Wallenstein will coach the...
Lady Pheasants enter first season
The Parker/Marion Pheasants girls’ basketball team: Kallie Johnson, Emma Tuschen, Hailey Reutter, Arianna Piehl, Karley Luke, Danica Sperling, Elizabeth Piehl, Mya Beyer, Anna Olson, Claire Donlan, and Hadleigh Tuschen. Not pictured: Maliyah Nankivel, Taylin...
Cougar wrestling ready to hit the mats with purpose and grit
Viborg-Hurley Wrestling Team. (Front row) Faith Slavin, Aubrey Jensen, Olivia Manca, and Tucker Dubois. (Back row) Coach Gia Miller, Laine Peterson, Rayna Miller, Penelope Bruneau, Kayla Schoolmeester, Maxx Holm, and Coach Dylan Thomas. (Photo/ Faydra Christensen) ...