A new year means new beginnings. The days get longer (we gain 50 minutes of sunshine in January alone) and it always feels like we hit warp speed into spring and summer. It’s that time of year when we all do a little self-reflection. We take a look at the last year and see all of the wonderful things that have happened, as well as some of those things we wished we could forget, depending on the year.

The Gregory Gorillas played the White River Tigers in the Hoop City Classic at the Corn Palace on December 30 and were handed a 70-53 defeat. The Gorillas led 2119 after one quarter of play but were outscord 19-11 in the second quarter and trailed 38-32 at the half. The Tigers continued their hot shooting from the three point line in the third quarter and the Gorillas went cold from the field as they tried to work themselves out of a 56-40 deficit heading into the fourth quarter. Boths teams took turns trading baskets in the fourth quarter but the Gorillas were unable to trim the lead to within striking distance and fell to the Tigers 53-70. The Gorillas were led by Colt Keiser with 27 points and 10 rebounds and Lincoln Juracek with 21 points. “The difference in the game was three point shooting and second chance points. White River was 12 of 38 from the three point line and we were 4 of 20,” said Gorillas Head Coach Jeff Determan. The Gorillas fall to 1-3 on the season and will travel to AC/ DC on Tuesday and will host Lyman on Thursday.

The Gregory swimming pool fund saw an increase of $2978.35 during December for a total of $679,349.34. The pool committee continues to meet with representatives from the Gregory City Council to determine the best design and location for a new pool.

In South Dakota, where the state’s proportion of clean energy production is the highest in the country, students are taking advantage of growing energy workforce needs. Lake Area Technical College, which has two degree-providing programs in the energy sector, has seen students with renewed interest in the industry thanks to both its growth and opportunity in the state.

Controlled Substances in Penitentiary, Protection of Youth From Illegal Substances, AI Adult Pornographic Images South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced three issues that his office has worked on throughout 2025 -- controlled substances in the state penitentiary, protection of youth from illegal substances, and Artificial Intelligence- generated pornographic images, are centerpieces of his legislative bill package that will be introduced in the 2026 South Dakota Legislature. “These issues require stronger legislative action, and it is my duty as Attorney General to bring these bills to the Legislature for its consideration,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Dear Editors and Readers, In her GT-A op-ed letter of 17 December, Nancy Wirsing criticized your scribe for “mixing religion and politics,” and she believes that doing this is poisonous for political discourse. She also holds that if someone supports and votes in accord with Christian views and values, that person is going against his/her own interests. While her interests (and the Democratic Party’s) are physical and temporal, it is far wiser when a Holy Spirit-guided Christian recognizes his/her true interests, which quite often oppose those of the Dems, are spiritual and eternal and are infinitely more important, according to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” - Matthew 16:26a. Our time on this ball of rock is but a relative eye-blink. Christians should not scrap their views and values in any sort of compromise with people holding anti-Christian values, that is, sad to say, today’s Democratic Party leaders. Actually, your scribe awaits the coming of the ultimate theocracy - eternal government by God Himself, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Church and State will be one and the same. And it will be an absolute monarchy; indeed, Christians request this in the Lord’s Prayer, Second Petition: “Thy kingdom come,” and Third Petition: “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We of mankind have shown that we cannot govern our own affairs and at some point in the future the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” will step in and set matters aright. By the way, there will be no talk of “No kings!” at that point... Sincerely, The Sage of Section Ten, Eric P. Putnam, Rural Dallas, S.Dak.