News

It was early October of 2023 when Tom Eiesland learned that the land he farmed for more than four decades was slated to become a prison. Located at the corner of 278th Street and 477th Avenue in rural Lincoln County, adjacent to where Eiesland lives, the farmhouse and cropland were owned by Alfred and Ethilda “Tillie” Haug and managed by a caretaker and family friend named Earl Helgeson.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the overall number of reported criminal offenses reported statewide in 2024 increased 1.21 percent compared to 2023. The Crime in South Dakota 2024 Report indicated that the number of reported criminal offenses was 67,959 in 2024 compared to 67,145 in 2023.

Young and totally lacking any knowledge of business or concrete, Kathy Divine’s father, Art Hertz, asked us to start a “cement plant” in Bonesteel, South Dakota. Our total market research consisted of going to the University of Nebraska Book Store and buying the book “Principles of Concrete.” That book now resides in second-generation, son Andy Divine’s office.

Family-owned Burke Livestock Auction going strong after nearly 60 years When Herris Lambley bought the abandoned livestock auction barn in Burke, South Dakota, in 1967, the weeds were said to be as tall as the buildings. Now 58 years later, the weeds are gone, but the auction market is going strong with the Lambley family still at the helm.

Bice Backhoe Service, LLC, is Sid Bice’s new business venture in Gregory. Bice has about seven years’ experience in the backhoe business, the last five with Storms Trenching in Winner and two years before that with Storms’ uncle.

Brian Kalenda, bagger extraordinaire at Buche Foods in Gregory, is headed to Las Vegas for the best bagger competition at the National Grocers Association Convention (NGA Show 2025) February 23-25, 2025, at Caesars Forum Convention Center. To get to this level, Kalenda has competed in store and state competitions for the last four years. In September he claimed the state title at the South Dakota State Fair to earn this trip to the national championship.

Taos Weborg may not have been born on a horse, but it wasn’t long after that he started on his path to trying to stay on animals. “I started riding sheep when I was probably three,” he estimated.

The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board of Economic Development and the Economic Development Finance Authority (EDFA) approved projects that will contribute to a total of $26.6 million in capital expenditure and 26 full-time jobs across the state.

Elle Johnson, Honor List, Burke South Dakota. The Academic High Honor and Honor lists (Dean’s lists) for the past fall semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato have been announced by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Hood.

As part of the 2025 South Dakota School Board Recognition Week, on behalf of the staff, students and community, we would like to extend our gratitude to the dedicated individuals who serve on the Gregory Board of Education. These elected members devote their time and energy to ensuring quality education in our schools, working tirelessly for students, staff, and the entire community.