DITOR Dear Editor, Throughout his 2020 presidential election campaign Donald Trump repeatedly said, without any evidence to support it, that countries all over the world were opening their prisons and sending violent criminals to invade the United States as illegal immigrants.

While Ya n k t o n was the first point occupied by a permanent settlement of whites on the Missouri slope in Dakota, the country opposite Fort Randall contained a number of white men, not soldiers, who had probably come as civilian employes with the Harney expedition in 1855. They located in that vicinity by 1857, for the purpose of sharing in the wood and hay contracts that were annually given out by the army at Fort Randall. They were also engaged in the hauling of supplies for the government.

The regular meeting of the Gregory City Council was held at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at City Hall. Alex Hamilton’s appointment to the council for Ward I to fill the vacancy created by Guhner Kepler’s resignation (in order to fill the position of public works superintendent) was approved.

If lawmakers approve Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposal to cut the state tobacco prevention fund, anti-tobacco advocates said more children are likely to use tobacco and nicotine products, more adults will die early and the state will pay millions of dollars in new health care costs over the long run.

Mayor Al Cerny took a look back at 2024 to review the city’s accomplishments over the last 12 months. A big achievement, readily noticeable to residents and visitors alike, was the resurfacing of 42 city street blocks.

The board returned to the bids for the Ponca Creek culvert project on County Road 27 at the regular meeting of the Gregory County Board of Commissioners at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at the Gregory County Courthouse. The bids had been opened at the previous meeting, but no decision had been reached. After the calculations were verified by Brad Stanghor of Ulteig Engineering, the low bid by Sjolie Construction, LLC was found to be off by $80.00.