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South Dakota’s graduating class of 2025 earned an average ACT composite score of 21.0, well above the national average of 19.4. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The test includes four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.

Despite Monday’s gusty winds, Jim, l, and Steve, r, from Missouri said they had no problem getting their bird limit and “could have gotten ten times more.” Monday was their third successful day, and their experience backs up South Dakota Game, Fish & Park’s prediction that 2025 should be a banner year for pheasant hunting. Steve has hunted in Gregory on opening weekend for about ten years, usually with his son, and says he loves coming to the area.

Phase II of the city’s water, sewer, and streets infrastructure project was at the top of the agenda as the Gregory City Council met at 6 p.m., Monday, October 20, 2025. Representatives from SPN & Associates, the company providing the engineering for the project met with the council to discuss different options.

At the regular meeting of the Gregory School District Board of Education, held at noon, Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the board considered the possibility of adding softball as a sanctioned sport. The activities/cooperative committee of Amy Keiser and Cara Hull, along with Superintendent Sara Anderson and Activities Director Kurt Stukel met with parents who are interested in having a softball program run by the school district. It became a sanctioned sport with the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) as a spring sport during the 2021-22 school year.

October is a month that welcomes the spooky and the scary. Many people watch their favorite horror films and use decorations that transform their homes, workplaces, and yard into something that might provoke even a small fear response from others. If we dig a little deeper at fear, we can go beyond the physical things that cause a fear response (spiders, heights, darkness), and find relational fears. As humans, we are relational beings, we are made for connection. So, it makes sense that some of our greatest fears would relate to the absence of connection with others; fear of losing someone we love, fear of being misunderstood/ judged, fear of being alone.

The American Heart Association says hunting safety should include awareness of warning signs of heart attack and stroke, importance of learning Hands-Only CPR and how to take action The thrill of the Pheasant Opener in South Dakota can bring a smile to any hunter’s face. But the exertion of trudging through fields carrying hunting equipment could bring on a heart attack or stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

Building a Culture of Respect and Responsibility with PBIS I am excited to share an important new initiative taking root this school year across the Gregory School District—one designed to strengthen not only learning, but also the culture and character of our entire school community. This year, we are embarking on the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a proactive framework that focuses on teaching, modeling, and celebrating positive behaviors for all students and staff.

Giving Strength During Breast Cancer Awareness Gregory community members showed their heart and generosity once again this October, proving that compassion runs deep in our community. At the most recent Gregory Community Blood Drive, 33 units of blood were collected from 28 generous donors – enough to help up to 99 patients in local hospitals. One first-time donor also joined the LifeServe community, reminding us that every new donor brings hope for patients and families facing critical medical challenges.

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Avera Gregory Hospital Monte Carlo Casino Night, Lynn Klein, a fixture at Gregory Hospital for over four decades, was celebrated by her work family and the hospital administration, receiving the esteemed Gregory Avera Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes her unwavering dedication and service that has inspired countless colleagues throughout her career. Ultimately serving as the Manager of Environmental Services, this department is often called the backbone of a safe and clean hospital, and Lynn’s dedication ensured the facility maintained the highest standards. Her colleagues describe her as a passionate, tireless leader whose service has left an indelible mark on the hospital's culture.

The US Senate confirmed Ron Parsons on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as South Dakota’s new US attorney. Senators voted 51-47 to confirm a lengthy list of presidential nominees that included Parsons.