MADISON, S.D. (AP) — Law officers from across South Dakota and out of state flashed their emergency lights in unison as hundreds of mourners packed a sports stadium to honor a South Dakota deputy killed in the line of duty.

District 21 legislators were in Gregory Saturday afternoon, February 10, for a cracker barrel, hosted by The Gregory Times-Advocate at the Gregory Memorial Auditorium. About a dozen local residents were on hand to hear from Senator Erin Tobin, Representative Rocky Blare, and Representative Marty Overweg and ask their thoughts on a variety of issues.

The decision on Joseph Yoder’s application for a variance to build a dwelling on a parcel of less than 40 acres (6.21 acres) in an agricultural district was the hot topic at the regular meeting of the Gregory County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, February 7.

Superintendent Sara Anderson brought up the fact at the regular meeting of the Gregory School District Board of Education that the current opt-out is expiring this year. For six years the school has used this money to hire three additional teachers to meet the demand of increasing enrollment. The school’s policy is to cap elementary classrooms at 25 students, which Superintendent Anderson estimates will require a fourth teacher be hired to accommodate the fifth grade next year.

Coach Webster is more appreciative than ever of his bus driver Mark Joachim after two trips through the dense murkiness in one week. First, the team traveled to Bon Homme on Tuesday, January 30 for a triangular. The open weights worked against them as they lost to Bon Homme/Scotland/ Avon 61-15 and then to Plankinton/ Corsica-Stickney 42-33. The girls each had a match that evening as well, against Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon. Daytona Paris pinned her opponent, and Libby Krcil lost her match.

Gregory 27 vs. Mount Vernon Plankinton 67 Gregory hosted Mount-Vernon Plankinton on Tuesday, January 30. MVP came out on fire in the first quarter making 5 3-pointers and taking a 22-28 first quarter lead. MVP lead 36-12 at half and 55-23 at the end of the third, and a final of 67-27. MVP tallied 11 threes in the ballgame. Gregory was led by Asia VanDerWerff with 12, Dani VanDerWerff 9, and 2 each for Ella Sperl, Regan Graesser, and Sadie Carlson. Emilee Fox led MVP with 24. Gregory shot a very cool 16% from the field to MVP’s 35%. The Gorillas were 3 of 36 from the 3-point line. Rebounding shows Gregory with 29, to MVP’s 44. Rebounding for Gregory were Dani VanDerWerff 7, Ashlyn Vosika 3, Ella Sperl 5, Allison Stevicks 2, Regan Graesser 4, Asia VanDer-Werff 8. Regan Graesser had 4 steals, and Dani VanDerWerff 2, to lead Gregory.