Twenty-five sixth graders marked the end of their elementary education with a graduation ceremony held last Tuesday, May 14 (Photo/Submitted). Riva Sharples | Writer Last Tuesday night after the elementary school concert, members of the I-W sixth grade class closed...
Craig VanderZee working at the Veterans Services. (Photo/Monique Hurtado) Monique R. Hurtado | Writer After the retirement of Tom Sparrow earlier this year, the Commissioners were in search for a new candidate to take his place. They found the perfect candidate, in...
Erik Dods and his wife. (Photo/Submitted) Monique R. Hurtado | Writer When Jamie Buteyn was appointed Interim Sheriff last fall, one of many tasks he was faced with was organizing the evidence room. Inventorying and organizing all the evidence would be quiet an...
A tribute to a hero Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor It has been 15 years since that dreadful Sunday morning when the horrifying news broke that a Turner County Deputy Sheriff had been shot and later died as a result of his injuries. Residents of Turner County were in...
District 4 will be covered next week Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor Candidates for District 2 are Sheila Hagemann, James A. Jones, and Joyce Willoughby. Their responses to our questions are quoted below, and are listed in alphabetical order by last name.In June, an...
Donna Rumbaugh | Exiting Managing Editor One of the best parting gifts I can give my readers is passing the torch onto Renae Hansen as the incoming Managing Editor. When I decided to step down, one of my biggest concerns was who would take over and serve the readers...
It was hard to tell who was having more fun with the water balloons, the big kids or the little kids. (photo/Renae Hansen) Renae Hansen | Writer Sunny skies and warmer temps greeted those who showed up to the Hurley Track on Sunday, May 5, for the Fun Run/Walk held as...
Senior Kaden Kleinschmit laughs and cries with an attendee after graduation on Saturday May 11 (photo/Riva Sharples). Riva Sharples | Writer Seventeen students graduated from Irene-Wakonda High School during commencement activities held Saturday, May 11.The I-W band...
The cast and crew members of HONK! (photo/Donna Rumbaugh) A musical presented by Parker School District Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor In the Parker gymnasium, fancy tables set up for dining along with music and laughter replaced the sounds of sporting activities as...
I-W Business Manager Pam Rudd was recognized for 35 years of service to the district during last week’s Awards Night (photo/Riva Sharples). Riva Sharples | Writer Junior high and high school students in the Irene-Wakonda School District were recognized for their...
Riva Sharples | Writer Last Wednesday, May 8, I-W Music Director Stacey Kirschenman organized and held a contest for I-W students in grades fifth through eighth. The event was organized because the vocal and band students had not had a chance to perform solos at a...
Monique R. Hurtado | Writer The weekly commissioners meeting opened with public comment. Concerned citizens came to discuss their concerns about proposed wind farms in Turner County. The first resident to share, brought up concerns about investing in a wind energy and...
Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor This week’s Know Your Neighbor is inspired by celebrating the 50th anniversary of EMS Week.Many people have stepped up to volunteer to answer the call when help is needed, and this edition of the paper is dedicated to thanking them for...
Steve Hansen shows his Bracco Italiano Tanzee, who will be attending the Westminster Dog Show in New York City next week. (photo/Submitted) Renae Hansen | Writer Steve and Robin Hansen of Centerville will be attending the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in New York...
First place, class B, 4x400 relay team, (L-R) Izzie Eide, Emma Marshall, Lillie Eide, Emery Shubeck at Howard Wood with a time of 4:11.98. Crushing the 40 year old school record, and having a their names on the record boards! Congratulations ladies! Wow that race was...
Think again… Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor Recently, eleven men in Sioux Falls were charged with online sex crimes. The internet reaches far and wide, but when the person sitting behind the keyboard is in your back yard, it makes it just a little creepier.Many...
Donna Rumbaugh | Managing Editor The New Era staff have received the first place award for “Best Special Section” by the South Dakota NewsMedia Association during the Better NewsMedia Contest. The annual convention is put on by the South Dakota Newspaper...
Riva Sharples | Writer Are you looking for a special way to celebrate Mother’s Day this year?Gayville Hall, the old-time music hall located in Gayville, SD, has the perfect solution. The hall will be hosting a Mother’s Day live music show on Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m....
I-W fifth graders pose for a photo after their DARE graduation on April 23 (photo/submitted). Riva Sharples | Writer On April 23, 21 Irene-Wakonda Elementary School fifth grade students graduated from the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. For ten weeks,...
Riva Sharples | Writer Kim Johnston, secretary at I-W Elementary, will be retiring from the District at the end of this school year after 25 years of service (photo/Riva Sharples). The women on the front lines of the Irene-Wakonda School system – secretary Kim...
