ERSPECTIVE Welcome to 2025! Christmas and New Year are times of memories and reflection. The carol “The First Noel” is very relevant today for people trying to achieve Peace in the Holy Land. Life is not lived by going backward but by going forward, one day at a time, with a positive goal in mind.

Dear Editor, “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” - Exodus 20:1-2 Moses is on top of Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God on tables of stone. Today, we call this, The Moral Law.

Through the 1870s Tackett Station appeared on several maps as a municipality called “Chouteau Creek”. In 1894, “Chouteau Creek Station” became a selfsufficient community with an ice house, slaughter house, and packing plant to process meat. – on the Dakota Territory map by Silas Chapman of Milwaukee in 1872 Gregory County was created by the first legislature of 1862 and was named for John Shaw Gregory, a member of that body who represented the area west of Choteau Creek and west of the Missouri River and north of the Niobrara River. It was referred to as “Mixville” as well as “Fort Randall.” At that time, Gregory resided at Fort Randall and was a trader in the employ of Captain Todd. He came to Dakota Territory in 1857 as the agent to the Ponca Indians who were then located on Ponca Creek.

Empowering Parents, Enhancing Education In her 2024 Budget Address, Governor Noem announced an educational innovation for the parents and students of South Dakota: Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs). She explained that this investment would pay for a portion of private school tuition or curriculum for alternative education for South Dakota kids.

One driver was killed in a twovehicle crash nine miles north of Herrick, SD, on Saturday, January 11, 2025. The crash happened at 350th Avenue and 286th Street when the 40-year-old male from Herrick, driving a 2001 Ford F-250 pickup northbound on 350th Avenue near 286th Street, and the 59-year-old female from Fairfax, driving a 2007 Honda CR-V southbound on 350th Avenue met at the crest of a hill, where they collided.

Commodity truck to be in Gregory in January The commodity truck will be at the Gregory Memorial Auditorium parking lot and community room on Thursday, January 16, 2025 and Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please bring your own boxes. Any questions, please call Marlene Rezac at (605) 831-9315. Date subject to change.