Children have long been in danger from predators. Those of us with grown children may remember teaching them about “stranger danger” and warning them about accepting candy from someone they don’t know or following someone who “has puppies in his car.”

In between rehearsals at the auditorium for the evening’s holiday concert on Monday, Gregory Elementary students took part in a tradition started many years ago—elementary Christmas shopping day. The students eagerly picked through the vast array of donated, thrifted, and purchased items to choose a gift for two recipients of their choice.

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Avera delivery units across the region were busy this year as thousands of new bundles of joy were welcomed into the world. A grand total of 6,227 babies made their arrival at Avera birthing centers this past year with the month of July coming in as the most active month to have a baby. While each of these miracles that made their way into the world are special and unique, it appears many will grow up sharing a similar name. Take a peek at the names given to the tiny patients in our nurseries for 2025.