City Council Approves Ground Storage Reservoir Improvement Bid
The Milbank City Council held its regular meeting on April 11 in the Milbank Community Room.In personnel-related items, the board approved the hiring of Steve Huizenga as a part-time police officer at $18.79 per hour. They also created the city staff position of utility clerk to assist the finance officer and the administrative assistant. Approval... Read more
Valley Queen Announces Largest Expansion in 93 Years
The Valley Queen Board of Directors voted unanimously last week to approve a $195 million expansion at its location in Milbank. The three-year expansion will increase the company’s processing capacity by 50 percent and will be the largest in the company’s 93-year history.  Set for groundbreaking in late May 2022, the... Read more
Milbank HOSA Members Take Top Places at State
HOSA chapter members Hattie Muellenbach, Savannah Stengel, Stella Wendland, and Julia and Jaclyn Wiik each earned a top-place finish at South Dakota’s HOSA State Leadership Conference. Nearly 1000 students from across the state competed at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls from March 31- April 1.  Because they finished in one of the... Read more
Roberts County Drug Bust Seizes Over $80G in Methamphetamine
Roberts County Sheriff Tyler Appel reported a routine traffic stop on the morning of Tuesday, April 5, resulted in the seizure of over $80,000 in drugs and cash.  Sheriff Appel says, “A Roberts County Sheriff’s deputy performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle heading northbound on Interstate 29. The deputy smelled a... Read more
80th Annual Whetstone Valley Electric Coop Meeting Held
The 80th Annual Membership Meeting of the Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WVEC) was held on Thursday, March 31, at Wilmot High School in Wilmot. President Bill Tostenson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with 168 voting members and 247 people in attendance. Lauren Harstad led the group... Read more
MHS Students Perform in All-State Band Concert
The 72nd Annual South Dakota All-State Band Grand Concert was held at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the campus of SDSU on Saturday, March 26.   Dr. Travis Cross directed the Lewis Band. Dr. Cross is currently serving as the UCLA Wind Ensemble Conductor. Milbank musicians included Rachel Schulte, sophomore clarinet; Joe Schulte, sophomore... Read more
Val Rausch to Run for District 4 State House
Val Rausch, local businessman from Big Stone City, announces his candidacy for the South Dakota State House of Representatives in District 4. “After considerable thought and encouragement from area residents, I have decided to run and represent our area for the House,” Rausch said. “My past experience and leadership... Read more
Pickup Stolen From Neighborhood in Milbank
At 7:10 a.m. on Monday, March 28, the Milbank Police Department was dispatched to Lakeview Drive in Milbank for a report of a stolen vehicle.  The 2005 Ford F150 pickup displayed local plates and was owned by Jessy Johnson.  Milbank Chief of Police, Boyd Van Vooren, said, “Officers were quick... Read more
MHS Music Students Attend Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
Senior band and choir students from Milbank High School attended the musical Footloose at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre on Sunday, March 27.  The 30 students attended the evening performance along with chaperones Rick and Miriam Schwenn and Jason and Susan Karels. Front Row: Jacquie Wold, Hailey Hupke 2nd Row:  Dani Yamaura, Peyton Gengler, Maiah Brown... Read more
Free Lunch in Milbank Schools to End on June 30
The $1.5 trillion spending bill that Congress passed and Joe Biden signed into law on March 11 did not include funding to extend free school lunches to children. Next fall, schools are expected to return to the three-tier system of payment for lunch in which some families receive free... Read more