REMINDER: Make Your Kindergarten Screening Appointment
Don’t forget to make your appointment for a kindergarten screening!  Kindergarten screening and registration will be conducted on Friday, January 20, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Milbank Elementary School gym. The screening is for any child who will be five years old before September 1, 2023. Children will... Read more
Milbank Turns Out to Say Thanks to Police Chief Boyd VanVooren
A retirement reception was held for Milbank’s former police chief Boyd VanVooren on December 28. Friends, colleagues, and family gathered at the Milbank Visitors Center to congratulate him, reminisce, and wish him well as he enters the next chapter of his life. After a 28-year career in law enforcement,... Read more
Gail Barlund Elected to County Committee
Gail Barlund was elected to represent LAA3 in the election conducted by the Grant County Farm Service Administration (FSA) on December 8. Kadon Leddy was selected as the first alternate. LAA3 includes Adams, Madison, Stockholm, Strandburg, Troy, and Vernon townships.  Barlund has served on the Grant County FSA Committee as the county... Read more
Disaster Assistance Available for 2022 Livestock Losses
Joel Foster, executive director of the Grant County Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds area farmers and ranchers, “The USDA Farm Service Agency can help livestock producers that suffered excessive livestock death losses and grazing or feed losses due to eligible natural disasters. The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance... Read more
WVEC Delivers Power and Meals on Wheels During Storm
Dave Page, general manager of Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative (WVEC), recapped the effects the recent blizzard had on area residents.Page said, “We have a great team of line technicians and electricians who were ready and willing to do whatever it took to keep the lights on. Overall, our system held... Read more
Pat DeFea Has Helped Kids Get to School for Almost 40 Years
Pat DeFea has kept the wheels on the bus going round and round for Milbank’s kids for 24 years. Pat and his wife Steph have owned DeFea Transportation, the company that contracts with the Milbank School District for school bus service, since he purchased the business from the Henze... Read more
Grant and Frerichs Take First at Fargo Debate Tournament
Qualon Grant and Rylen Frerichs, members of Milbank’s Junior Varsity Public Forum debate team, placed first in the Fargo Davies Debate Tournament held December 3 in Fargo, North Dakota.  Coach Kathy Tyler said, “Grant and Frerichs won all seven of their rounds in the B division which had 42 teams, all... Read more
Milbank Oral Interp Team Wins a Team Excellence Award at State
The MHS oral interp team claimed a Team Excellence Award at the 113th Annual South Dakota Oral Interpretation Festival held December 2-3 in Mitchell. According to Milbank’s head coach, Natasha Karels, a Class A school must earn at least two Superior awards at the festival to receive this award. Our team had five... Read more
Sheriff Owen Releases Details in Death of Ortonville Woman
Grant County Sheriff Kevin Owen released the details surrounding the death of 59-year-old Kellie Ann Thielke of Ortonville, Minnesota. According to Owen, it appears the vehicle Thielke was driving went off the road into the ditch near 479th Avenue and 147th Street in Grant County near the city of Milbank in the early morning hours of... Read more
Police Chief Boyd VanVooren to Retire After 28-Year Career
Dollars to donuts, if you live in Milbank, you’ve crossed paths with Boyd VanVooren. VanVooren has served as the Chief of Police in Milbank for 13 years. He recently decided to hang up his hat and take off his badge after a 28-year career as a police officer. His... Read more