A federal judge rebuffed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s efforts to force the National Park Service to grant the state permission to shoot fireworks from Mount Rushmore National Memorial to celebrate Independence Day this year.

Gregory Junior Teeners team includes, back row, l to r: Coaches Ben Bearshield, Lonnie Klundt, and Blaine Bolander. Middle row, l to r: Pierce Stukel, Kyler Svoboda, Eli Ekroth, Zach Wheeler, Paul Sinclair, Cash Hemming, Noah Bearshield. Front row, l to r: Jad Leber, Colt Kaiser, Cruz Klundt, Rane Kenzy, Jackson Bolander, Cole Serr, Lincoln Juracek, and Jayder Schonebaum.

Gregory County Varsity watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 10-3 loss to Dell Rapids on Monday, May 31, in state tournament action in Sioux Falls. Dell Rapids scored on a error in the first inning, a double by Brayden Pankonen in the second inning, a walk by Landon Ruesink in the second inning, a single by Kaeden Eastman in the second inning, a groundout by Aiden Boechler in the second inning, and a walk by Will Jaton in the second inning.

South Central Storm defeated the Wessington Springs Owls 11-0 on Sunday, June 6, as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. JJ Beck struck out Austin Olson to finish off the game.

The sun wasn’t the only thing heating up the night on Thursday. Team Eklund-Biggins held on to their lead but only by one half of a point, and team Croegaert-Hogue are positioning themselves for a takeover. Team Arizmendis – Springer are only three points behind the leaders.

South Dakota lawmakers tasked with redrawing legislative districts indicated that they will focus on the state’s two largest cities, as well as Native American reservations. Both the House and Senate committees that are redrawing legislative boundaries decided to create sub-committees tasked with gathering input from Sioux Falls, Rapid City and “tribal areas.’’ Lawmakers are readying to receive data from the 2020 Census, develop boundary lines for legislative districts and approve them by Dec.