Summer celebrations kick off in Marion this weekend!
Our fingers are crossed for a not so soggy parade this year! 35th Annual MHS Banquet among featured events Renae Hansen | Editor The summer celebrations in our small towns are one of the things we love most about summer, and there are plenty of them to keep you entertained this year! Marion is the first of our towns to start the party with their Summer...
Marion School remodeling project underway
The existing locker rooms being converted to two dressing areas. (Photo/Alan Astleford) Alan Astleford | Writer The sounds of construction can be heard throughout the halls of...
Turner County breaks ground on new courthouse
The new courthouse, a two-story, 34,000-square-foot building, will be built on the same site as the historic building that served the county since 1902. (Photo/Monique Hurtado)...
Current News
Current News
Know your Neighbor
The New Era’s own, Alan Astleford Renae Hansen | Editor With Marion’s Summer Celebration taking...
Ryan Penning serving as Turner County Coroner
Ryan Penning. (Photo/Submitted) Ryan Penning was elected coroner for Turner County, a position...
Saying goodbye to the old Irene School
Demolition of the old school in Irene began last week. (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor...
I-W student, graduate headed to Europe with SD Ambassadors of Music
I-W junior Duncan Sharples-Schmidt and 2024 I-W graduate Elsey Thompson are headed to Europe with...
Pure summer joy
The players step up to the plate with the intensity of a major leaguer. (Photo/Faydra Christensen)...
Nelson named to 2025 Class B All-State team
Viborg-Hurley’s Charley Nelson was named to the All-State Softball team, one of the many honors...
Cougar T-ball season ends
Red Team: (Back row) Bo Buffington, Myles Dysthe, Clayton Horton, Blayke Berndt, Leah Manning, and...
Post 72 falls in championship match
Congratulations to Post 72 on second place finish at the Yankton Junior Legion Tournament....
8U girls take second place at Gayville tournament
The Centerville 8U softball team took second at the Gayville Tourney. Congratulations girls!...
Parker golf hands out awards
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker golf team concluded their season with year-end awards...
Pheasant 10U softball starts hot
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 10U softball team has been on a run early in the season,...
BEC softball awards announced
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Big East Conference announced softball awards last week with...
Obituaries
Dennis Ralph Kenobbie
80Parkston, SD (formerly of Hurley, SD)June 14, 2025Dennis Kenobbie, 80 of Parkston and formerly of Hurley, died Saturday, June 14, 2025 at his home under hospice care. Visitation was held at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home in Parker on Monday, June 16, 2025 and on...
Lucille Marie (Sampson) Weismann
41Dallas, TXMay 19, 2025Lucille Marie (Sampson) Weismann, 41, of Dallas, Texas passed away on May 19, 2025. She was born on June 14, 1983 and graduated from Viborg High School in 2002. Besides her family, some of the things she loved were the Dallas Stars hockey team,...
Glen R. Wollman
82Freeman, SDJune 6, 2025“Hallelujah!” A word that echoed throughout Glen R. Wollman’s life — full of praise, faith, and joyful anticipation — was surely the word he uttered when he fell to his knees at the feet of his Lord and Savior during the evening hours of June...
Lynell Dennis Hofer
78Freeman, SDJune 6, 2025A service to celebrate Lynell’s life was held on Wednesday, June 18 at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. Memorials may be directed to Freeman Summer Rec.Lynell Dennis Hofer, age 78, of Freeman passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, in...
Darlene Ann (Chester) Ommen
89Aurora, COMay 25, 2025Darlene Ann (Chester) Ommen, 89, of Aurora, CO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Advanced Health Care of Aurora. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in...
Charles E. “Charlie” Larsen
96Hurley, SDMay 26, 2025Charles E. “Charlie” Larsen, 96 of Hurley, passed away on May 26, 2025 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Harmony Presbyterian Church, Hurley. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00...
Jerry John Van Beest
66Davis, SDMay 28, 2025On Wednesday May 28, 2025, Jerry John Van Beest roared his way through the pearly gates. He unexpectedly passed away at his residence and transitioned to an eternal life in Heaven finally free from suffering. He faced severe health issues and...
Jack Dubbelde
76Chancellor, SDMay 29, 2025Jack Dubbelde, 76 of Chancellor, passed away on May 29, 2025 from an accident. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at the Germantown Presbyterian Church, Chancellor with a Celebration of Life Service...
Columns
Devoted
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Jesus wants you to believe in Him and He wants to have a daily relationship with you. Begin each day with Him by worshipping Him, reading His Word, praying and praising His holy name, enjoying all He has created. It takes practice and...
Caught in the Act
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent It was early morning and Jesus was once again back at the Temple. A crowd gathered around Him and He sat down to teach. The Pharisees interrupted Jesus bringing a woman caught in adultery but failed to bring the man. The woman had no value...
Eunice and Lois
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Timothy’s sincere faith in the Lord began in the influential home of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Both women were Jews who accepted Christianity, grounded in their faith and passed on their generational legacy to Timothy. He...
Prisca
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent The market place was bustling with commercial businesses of all varieties. People thronged to its streets to purchase pottery, baskets and oils or to trade grain, vegetables and fabrics. The well-established shops had beautifully...
Lydia
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas, wanting to preach the word of God, began traveling in different directions but were stopped each time by the Holy Spirit. A vision appeared to Paul at night guiding them to the region of Macedonia, which is...
Mary
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Joseph, Mary and their children, the eldest being Jesus, left for their yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Festival. When the Passover was at an end twelve-year-old Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph...
You captivated His heart
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent A believer’s prayer life begins each day in praise for God. The closer we grow to our Savior the more we pray with confidence knowing He will answer in amazing ways. The stronger your prayer life becomes you will be able to face any...
Seasons
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Winter seems to be the most talked about season viewed often as an inconvenience and seemingly invisible sun. There is a positive twist to winter, it is the season when the days grow longer bringing us hope of warmer weather. From...
Sports
Pure summer joy
The players step up to the plate with the intensity of a major leaguer. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) The entertainment of T-Ball Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports There’s no better way to spend a warm summer evening than parked in a lawn chair at the local ball...
Nelson named to 2025 Class B All-State team
Viborg-Hurley’s Charley Nelson was named to the All-State Softball team, one of the many honors she has received throughout her remarkable high school career. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports Following the conclusion of the 2025...
Cougar T-ball season ends
Red Team: (Back row) Bo Buffington, Myles Dysthe, Clayton Horton, Blayke Berndt, Leah Manning, and Mallory Wurtz. (Front row) Phillip Severin, Cami Zimmerman, Hazel Buehler, Kash Schaeffer, Sadie Johnson, and Lawrence Collins. Not pictured: Dylan Gonzales....
Post 72 falls in championship match
Congratulations to Post 72 on second place finish at the Yankton Junior Legion Tournament. Pictured: (Back row, left to right) Coach Jesse Voss, Coach Brian Haak, Lucas Anderson, Alex Adams, Ethan Bobzin, Charlie Eide, Evan Haak, Coach Jamie Martz, Coach and Nate...
8U girls take second place at Gayville tournament
The Centerville 8U softball team took second at the Gayville Tourney. Congratulations girls! Pictured (back row left to right) Coach Maggie Stevens, Leah Morphew, Elly Gall, Addie Peterson, Maddie Ellis, Kylee Sikkink, Henley Hybertson, Ava Carstensen, Coach Katie...
Parker golf hands out awards
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker golf team concluded their season with year-end awards with three golfers being recognized. Three golfers made the state meet this season, with all three receiving team awards.On the girls’ side, Lauren Patten was named most...
Pheasant 10U softball starts hot
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker 10U softball team has been on a run early in the season, starting with a 6-0-1 record. Parker has ran past several opponents and squeaked by Viborg-Hurley last week, 3-2.The team has four games remaining on the schedule with...
BEC softball awards announced
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Big East Conference announced softball awards last week with three Parker team members receiving recognition.Junior Kyla Fosheim was named second team all-conference while as was freshman Lexie Preheim. Junior Saige Lessman was also...