Marcus Popowski, Burke, S.D., graduated from Bismarck State College with a certificate in electronics technology during the college's 83rd commencement ceremony on May 12, 2023, at the Bismarck Event Cen-ter.

Farmers Union hosted “Cultivating Cooperation” day camp in Gregory on July 20th. Youth spent all day focused on learning more about the history of cooperatives and cooperative types through games and interactive lessons. Time was spent playing games, making crafts, and learning more about seed germination and its importance. Campers were able to follow along and color each step of the germination process with crayons that were sponsored by the South Dakota Soybean Association. Campers were all given a seed pods so they could plant the flowers of their choice and they each got to paint a pot in which to put their seed pods. All campers received a t-shirt. NRCS came and taught the kids how to identify different plants. Then the FFA chapter performed an experiment making ethanol gas using yeast and other ingredients that created varying amounts of gas; the kids had to wait until the end of camp to see the results. Finally, Rosebud Electric came out and showed the campers about electrical safety. Special thanks to CHS, the Cooperative Development Foundation, and Farmers Union for supplying t-shirts and funding. Thank you to all the campers who came out to join us! For more information on youth activities, visit http://www.sdfu. org/education/youth-programs-/ youth-camps.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has released a draft ballot explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would repeal South Dakota’s medical marijuana program. The measure is proposed by Travis Ismay of Newell.

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Last week’s heat advisories called for all of us to use care when engaging in outdoor activities, but they failed to mention how the heat could affect the highway. Early evening temperatures on Thursday topped the 100° mark and created the perfect condition for Highway 18 between Gregory and Burke to heave up and crumble. The westbound lane at mile marker 281 and the east bound lane at 282 just west of Byrain and Linda Boes’ place were such spots, necessitating the presence of someone to direct traffic until the South Dakota Depart of Transportation could arrive to at least clean up the rubble. The spots are still marked, and drivers are urged to use caution when driving over them.

A South Dakota man who killed three people and wounded two others, including a 5-year-old girl, will spend the rest of his life in prison. A judge sentenced 43-year-old Francis Lange to three consecutive terms of life in prison without parole, KELO-TV reported.