Greetings from Pierre! The whirlwind of session has begun.  Last Monday I drove to Pierre, unpacked my car and got ready to begin.  On Tuesday, the Governor outlined his top priorities, including a proposed half-cent sales tax increase to generate over $107 million in annual revenue to increase teacher pay... Read more

Dorothy Kleindl, age 93, of Graceville, died Monday, January 18, 2016, at Grace Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 22, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville with Father David Breu officiating. Burial will follow in the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery. Visitation... Read more

The Knights of Columbus will host their annual free throw contest Sunday, January 17, at 1 p.m. in the St. Lawrence school gym. The contest is open to boys and girls ages nine to 14. It’s free and no advance registration is required. “We would like as many kids as... Read more

PIERRE—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this week joined his colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding his recent assurances to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif that new Visa Waiver Program (VWP) restrictions would not impact Iranian interests. The... Read more

The 2016 Legislative Session began this week. This year, I am proposing that South Dakota address the issue of teacher pay. We all know that the key to student achievement is an effective teacher.  We also know that South Dakota’s teacher salaries are lowest in the nation and have been... Read more

Calling all five-year-olds! It’s time to sign up for school! The Milbank School District has scheduled its kindergarten screening for Friday, January 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Koch Elementary School. The screening is for any child who will be five years of age before September 1, 2016.... Read more

Kathleen Maye Schweer, age 70, of rural Milbank, went to be with her Savior on January 14, 2016. She had recently moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to her children and passed away at Woodwinds Hospital after a lengthy battle with respiratory illness. A memorial service will be... Read more

Senior Rebekah Tuchscherer led the Milbank debate team at the 22nd Annual Shanley Debate Tornament in Fargo, ND, Friday, January 8, where she was named to the All-Shanley Team. Tuchscherer earned a medal which honored her for team leadership. The award recipients were nominated by their coaches and voted on... Read more

The Milbank Area Lady Bulldogs recorded one win and one loss in their basketball matchups this past week to move their season record to 3-6. The locals came away with a big 42-35 victory over the Sisseton Redmen Saturday, January 9, before falling in a close game 37-34 to Ortonville... Read more

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) tonight made the following statement on President Obama’s final State of the Union Address. “An overwhelming majority of South Dakotans – and all Americans – are dissatisfied with the direction of our country, and tonight’s speech lacked any serious ideas for working together to renew... Read more