News

The South Fork Fire in northwestern Nebraska has burned 39,057 acres by Monday night, June 15, 2026, and was 57% contained according to Watchduty. org. The fire was first reported around 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, in the Soldier Creek Wilderness of the Pine Ridge Ranger District within the Nebraska National Forest.

Merriam’s Midway Shows carnival on the midway and the Craft Fair in the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home kick off the 77th Annual Czech Days celebration on Thursday, June 18th. The Tabor Bluebirds baseball game with Lesterville will be at 7:30 p.m. in Leonard Cimpl Park followed by the Rich Schild Memorial fireworks display to conclude the first day of the Czech Days celebration.

BILLINGS, Mont., June 15, 2026 – R-CALF USA, the nation’s largest producer-only cattle trade association, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump indicated he may not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is pleased to announce the speaker lineup and tour locations for the 2026 South Dakota Governor’s Agricultural Summit. Hosted by Governor Rhoden, the two-day event will be held June 25–26 at the Larkspur Event Center in South Dakota’s capital city. The Summit brings together agricultural leaders, producers, industry partners, and stakeholders from across the state to connect, collaborate, and address key challenges and opportunities shaping South Dakota agriculture.

To help remove another barrier to affordable homeownership, South Dakota Housing’s Board of Commissioners approved a new initiative to increase access to manufactured housing across the state. The newly created Manufactured Housing Downpayment Program (MHDP) will provide down payment assistance to eligible homebuyers purchasing manufactured homes.

At Petersen’s Variety store, there are no less than three signs in the window advertising that residents of Philip can ship, pick up and drop off packages via UPS. The store is just a block away from the town’s post office.

After a long day of riding against the relentless South Dakota winds, the American Legion Ride 605 group received an unforgettable surprise during the final stretch into Gregory. The Gregory County Sheriff’s Office provided an escort for nearly 50 miles, turning what could have been a challenging finish into a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. In addition to the law enforcement escort, several other riders met the convoy in Wagner to travel with them to their final stop. This was considered unique by 605 Riders.

Gregory High School football coach John King was selected as an assistant coach for the Blue team in the 2026 South Dakota High School Football Association’s All Star Game, held June 6, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium at South Dakota State University.

Legendary cowboy and former state Senator Billie Sutton is back in the saddle again, but this time riding an adaptive golf cart on the area golf courses instead of a saddle bronc. After a tragic 2007 rodeo injury which robbed Sutton of his ability to compete physically in sports, he had been searching for a way to get back out competing again.

Roy Robert Cadwallader, a 71-year-old male from Stuart, Nebraska, died of fatal injuries sustained in a single vehicle crash at mile marker 296 on US Highway 18, 10 miles east of Burke on the evening of Tuesday, June 9, 2026.