News

Once your new trees are planted, there are some things that can be done to improve their chances of survival. The first thing is to pack the trees immediately after they are planted. This removes the pockets from the soil and establishes good soil/root contact.

Don’t forget to check your trees if fabric was installed on them. A slit or X is cut in the fabric to accommodate the new trees during installation.

One of the leading reasons why shelterbelts fail is from inadequate weed and grass control. Weed and grass control are very critical from the time the trees are planted, until they are three to five years old. Weeds and grass that are not controlled compete with the trees for the moisture, nutrients and light. Even during years when there is lots of moisture the shelterbelts do best when the weeds and grass are controlled. It is best to control the weeds and grass for as many years as you can. Weed and grass control is required on all trees that are cost shared through the Farm Service Agency or the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

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The Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church proudly announced the ordination of Rev. Thanael Certa-Werner as a Full Elder on June 8, 2025. Rev. Certa-Werner currently serves as the pastor of Burke, Herrick, and Gregory United Methodist Churches, leading the recently formed Abundance Parish in Gregory County, South Dakota.

The South Dakota Secretary of State’s office is notifying voters of changes to residency requirements for voter registration, taking effect on July 1, 2025. These updates reflect changes to South Dakota Codified Laws 12- 1-4 and 12-4-1, providing clearer guidance for determining voter residency and the registration process.

The Burke Pink Ladies held their 2nd Annual Poker Run on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The poker run started at Bill’s Bar and made stops along the way in Burke, Bonesteel, Gregory, Colome and Dallas. The final stop was back at Bill’s Bar where the winners were crowned. Twentyeight people participated in the poker run, enjoying beautiful weather and community comaraderie. Anna Matucha’s Ace High Straight earned her 1st place in front of Tyler Plumbtree’s Six High Straight (2nd) and Calvin Pense came in 3rd with 3-of-akind (9’s).

The South Dakota Department of Health has confirmed the first West Nile virus (WNV) mosquito pools of the season have been detected in Minnehaha County. Officials urge individuals across the state to take simple steps to protect themselves and their families against WNV, which can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle and joint aches.

In our run-down of activities in last week’s Gregory Times-Advocate, we overlooked two events that will add to your enjoyment of the holiday. In addition to the bean bag tournament at Gregory Lanes after the parade, the business will host another competition later in the day—The Monster Arm Wrestling Tournament.