The Gorilla cross country team participated in the Wagner Invite at the Pickstown Golf Course on Monday, September 15, 2025. In the middle school boys division Aiden Stevicks placed 15th with a time of 8:40 and in the middle school girls division Lydia Wonnenberg placed 13th with a time of 9:33.

Decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.” Our Founding Fathers believed so strongly in civil and open public discourse that they put freedom of speech in the First Amendment. They knew that our American republic could only function if people openly shared their beliefs and the reason for those beliefs – and that had to happen at all levels of society, from statehouses and the U.S.

Dear Editor, I learned many things from the “School of Hard Knocks.” But since I moved to my apartment and found apartment mates to make “family” I have learned from “The School of Love” you don’t take money, gold, silver, and jewels to Heaven. You use them here on Earth. Share with those that don’t have much. Donate to the food pantry items that can be used there. Clothing, used or not, and clean blankets. Share a skill or hobby. Be a true human. Even if what you give is not much. It’s from the heart. But that’s just a starting point. Pass this on to others. From my great-grandma that taught me and raised me, Robin L. Waterhouse, Gregory, SD

ERSPECTIVE Dear Editor, I start with some updates on potential AI uses. Oklahoma schools have AI-generated school programs that promote one view of politics and religion in teaching high school history,” Slavery wasn’t so bad,” cited by a cartoon characterization of Christopher Columbus.

History records the fact that the French began trading up the Missouri River in 1764 from St. Louis. Loiselle’s trading post was built in 1796. It was located on Cedar Island and was strongly fortified. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the first major governmentsponsored exploration of the Missouri River and the northwest.

Marv and Julie Braun are this year’s homecoming parade marshals. Marv was a 1973 graduate of Gregory High School and then got his pre-chiropractic education at SDSU and then his chiropractic doctorate degree at NWCC in Minneapolis. Julie graduated from high school in 1974 from Petaluma, California.