
Congratulations to the class of 2025
The Irene Wakonda Class of 2025. (Back row) Wyatt Hoxeng, Jens Hansen, Jett Kuchta, Brock Boysen, Blake Kribell, Jackson Olson, Logan Wilcox, Max Pollman, and Brandt Watson. (Front row) Natalie Rudd, Hailey Orr, Madison Orr, Brenna Lyngstad, Mady Peterson, Shelby Oien, Olivia Aune, and Emma Logue. (Photo/Laura Lyngstad) Senior girls (left to right) Skyler...

Residents express concerns on electrical substation with Hurley city council
A sign from last year at the site that was proposed for a new electrical substation located near Hurley. (Photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Editor There was standing room only at...

Parker city council refuses to waive building permit for new courthouse
The Turner County Commissioners met with the Parker city council last week to discuss the waiving of building fees for the new courthouse. Monique R. Hurtado | Writer The Turner...
Current News
Current News
Christiansen steps down after ten years as President of the Viborg Development Corporation
New VDC President Blaze Kilian and past President Anne Christiansen. Christiansen recently stepped...
Viborg-Hurley celebrates Class of 2025 at graduation ceremony
Viborg-Hurley Salutatorian Kendra Gilbert and Valedictorian Natali Blair. (Photo/Faydra...
Pheasants surge past Howard Lessman Homers
Catcher Saige Lessman makes a reaching catch during a recent game. Lessman hit an over the fence...
Parker baseball picks up first win
Erickson drives in four to lead Pheasants Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker baseball team...
Cougars dominate Colman-Egan with 14-4 win
Brooklyn Ludens steps on home plate, scoring a run for the Cougars. (Photo/Faydra Christensen)...
Parker golf
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports Golfers take on GlenridgeThe Parker golf team was coming off a solid...
Centerville Track competes at Alcester-Hudson
Peyton Hansen anchors the girls’ 4x800m relay. Other members are Lydia Austin, Brea Austin, and...
Centerville Golf continues winning streak at Glenridge
Congratulations to CHS golf team on winning their sixth meet in a row! The last meet was held at...
Irene/Wakonda Eagles triumph over Parker Pheasants in late-game victory
In the second game of the day, the IW Eagles bested the Parker Pheasants 2-1 on Sunday after...
Centerville High School first of area graduations
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2025 from Centerville. We are all so proud of you and...
Knudson presented Citizenship Award
(LEFT) Centerville Police Chief Lon Hatcher presents Centerville business owner Troy Knudson with...
Glenn Muller of Davis named 2025 Governor’s Ag Ambassador
Glenn Muller of Davis, SD, has been selected as the 2025 Governor’s Ag Ambassador for his lifelong...
Obituaries
Doris Fett
89Lennox, SDMay 13, 2025Doris Fett, 89 of Lennox, passed away on May 13, 2025 at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Lennox. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Living Hope...
Lila Lee Smit
88Viborg, SDMay 5, 2025Lila Lee Smit, 88, of Viborg, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 5, 2025. A devoted mother, cherished grandmother, and beloved friend to many, Lila was a beacon of love, warmth, and kindness in the lives of all who knew her. She...
Laurel J. Luke
74Sioux Falls, SDMay 9, 2025Laurel J. Luke, 74, of Sioux Falls died Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls with burial at Woodlawn...
Barbara Ellen Christensen
96Sioux Falls, SD (formerly of Volin and Yankton)May 11, 2025Barbara Ellen Christensen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Volin and Yankton, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025, at the age of 96.Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 16, 2025, at...
Diane W. Larson
69Beresford, SDApril 25, 2025Diane W. Larson, born on August 15, 1955, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Donald and Betty (McDonald) Anderson, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2025, at her home near Beresford, surrounded by her devoted family. She was 69 years...
Sheldon Engen
69Rural Irene, SDMay 1, 2025Sheldon Engen, age 69 of rural Irene, SD passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Viborg Community Center, Viborg, SD with Revs....
Carole Nicholson
77Marion, SD (formerly of Sioux Falls, SD)April 13, 2025Carole Nicholson, 77, of Marion and formerly of Sioux Falls passed away on April 13 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, April 17, at First Church of God in Marion.Born...
Ronald Elmer Childs
78Longmont, COMarch 31, 2025Ronald Elmer Childs, age 78, of Longmont, Colorado succumbed to his battle with inclusion body myositis (IBM) and passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025, at Longmont United Hospital.Ron was born in Le Mars, Iowa on October 26, 1946. At...
Columns
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...
Jesus’ Ascension
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent When God began creating heaven and earth the cruelty of the cross lay ahead of Him. He knew He would die on the cross, rise the third day and return to heaven where He prepared a place for all believers. He fulfilled His mission and the...
A king suffered silently
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Since time began Jesus knew His purpose down to the last detail. He planned Judas’ birth and knew he would betray Him and Peter would deny Him. He placed iron in the earth for the nails to be formed. He planted a tree for the cross. He...
Siblings, An Embezzler and Jesus
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover. Lazarus and his two sisters lived in this village and where Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, the reason a meal was given in His honor. Martha rolled up her sleeves, donned her...
Sin Has No Benefit
Sue Schmidt | Correspondent God had delivered Jericho into the Israelite’s hands assuring them of victory. Joshua 6:19 states the city’s gold, silver, bronze and iron were to go into the tabernacle treasury. The metals were sacred to God, devoted to Him and belonged...
Sports
Pheasants surge past Howard Lessman Homers
Catcher Saige Lessman makes a reaching catch during a recent game. Lessman hit an over the fence home run and had a big out in the final inning to help life the Pheasants to victory against Howard. (Photo/Sarah Ebeling) Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker...
Parker baseball picks up first win
Erickson drives in four to lead Pheasants Shane Merrill | Parker Sports The Parker baseball team saved their best for last as they faced off against the Irene/Wakonda Eagles in Varsity baseball action on Sunday afternoon. In the first game of the day, the Pheasants...
Cougars dominate Colman-Egan with 14-4 win
Brooklyn Ludens steps on home plate, scoring a run for the Cougars. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports Despite a week of unpredictable weather wreaking havoc on local sports schedules, the Viborg-Hurley softball team managed to...
Parker golf
Shane Merrill | Parker Sports Golfers take on GlenridgeThe Parker golf team was coming off a solid performance at Baltic, and was back in action last week at the Irene-Wakonda meet held at Glendridge. No seniors were able to attend for the Pheasants due to awards at...
Centerville Track competes at Alcester-Hudson
Peyton Hansen anchors the girls’ 4x800m relay. Other members are Lydia Austin, Brea Austin, and Sage Martz. The relay is currently ranked eighth in the state! Congratulations girls! (Photo/Tricia Eide) Tricia Eide | Centerville Sports It was another beautiful day for...
Centerville Golf continues winning streak at Glenridge
Congratulations to CHS golf team on winning their sixth meet in a row! The last meet was held at Glenridge Golf Course in Irene. Pictured (left to right): Corbin Tople, Noah Schoenfelder, Cullen Pollard, and Nolan Fischer. Tricia Eide | Centerville Sports The CHS golf...
Irene/Wakonda Eagles triumph over Parker Pheasants in late-game victory
In the second game of the day, the IW Eagles bested the Parker Pheasants 2-1 on Sunday after taking the lead late in the game. The Eagles fell to the Pheasants 19-0 in the first game that day.The game was tied at one in the bottom of the sixth when Isaac Kruger laid...
Cougar softball struggles through challenging week
Brooklyn Lindemann dives onto home plate scoring a run, as the MCM catcher can’t hold onto the ball. (Photo/Faydra Christensen) Faydra Christensen | Viborg-Hurley Sports It was a tough week on the diamond for the Viborg-Hurley Cougar softball team, as they dropped...