South Dakotans and our visitors have built a rich and deeply rooted tradition around pheasants and pheasant hunting for over a century. Opening weekend in October continues to carry on as an event anticipated not only by hunters, but also loved ones and  friends who are reunited during this …

What Wessington Springs resident Robin Berens expected to be a relaxing afternoon sewing at home on September 18 quickly became a frightening turn of events that resulted in a call to 911 and the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) responding to a fire in her home.  

A desire to serve patients in a family practice setting within a safe community where neighbors know and look out for each other was a driving force for Dr. Jessica Ormsmith and her family to make the move to Wessington Springs from Virginia. Last month, Horizon Health Care welcomed Jessica …

Firemen from the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD)  displayed a moving tribute to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks Saturday, with “343” marking special significance in front of the fire hall. Of the 2,977 victims killed, 412 were emergency workers in New York City…

Hundreds of horse-drawn wagons and riders on horseback will unite together again to make their way along this year’s route for the much-loved Kyle Evans Memorial Wagon Train.

After Ryan Jensen and his wife, Jen, had children, they had an opportunity to move from Mitchell to Wessington Springs. This put them within minutes of Ryan’s parents.When asked why it was important that their children grow up close to their grandparents, Ryan becomes a bit emotional. “I was…

From operating machinery to providing animal care, handling the books and educating her children about how to be good stewards of crops and livestock, Audra Scheel not only stays busy on her third-generation family farm but also serves as the SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Jera…

Since taking the helm in July, Wessington Springs Schools superintendent Dr. Michael Ormsmith has been busy learning district logistics, meeting with faculty, staff and school board members and getting to know the small community at the foothills he and his family now call home.  

Savory smells, slick deals and sleek cars filled the community over the weekend during Wessington Springs Third Annual Foothills Days. The fun started Friday with the Mayor’s Classic Golf Tournament rolling right into a Foothills Day Parade and the Firemen’s Funfest hosted by the Wessington …

Serving Jerauld Co. Since 1978, Dr. Tom Dean retires 

Dozens of concerned Wessington Springs residents filled City Hall Monday, with nuisance properties around town the focus of public forum during the July 26 city council meeting. 

A welcome dose of cheer made its way around town this week, thanks to 48 special floral bouquets that Baker’s Design created and delivered with the help of local 4-Hers.

As the skies over Jerauld County shifted from blue to black Saturday afternoon, fireman Chris Albrecht worried that the Alpena Volunteer Fire Department’s (AVFD) inaugural tractor pull would become the fire department fundraiser that never happened.    

Despite temperatures in the triple digits, community members, visitors, friends and family donned in red, white and blue filled the streets on Saturday July 3 over Independence Weekend to take part in the annual Wessington Springs Fourth of July parade. Sticking to the “Wessington Springs Sa…

The Wessington Springs Fourth of July fireworks show has been canceled due to dry conditions and a hazardous weather forecast for Independence Day.

Extreme drought conditions throughout the 2021 growing season prompted Jerauld County Commissioners to declare the county a drought/agricultural disaster area in a special meeting held Monday.   

WSHS FCCLA students are headed to Nashville after qualifying for the FCCLA National Leadership Conference (l to r) Haeleigh Mulder, Advisor Charlotte Mohling, Harlee Heim, Branden Flowers and Riley Roduner. 

BY CAM FAGERHAUG / TRUE DAKOTAN

"Make sure you leave today heavier than you came — the weight of the ultimate sacrifice given by so many should leave you burdened; take that burden and go into this country proud of our history, ready to defend our freedoms and rights today, and prepared to honorably bury those that will no…

Encouraging students to move away from their desks and get moving isn’t typically associated with English class, but this year’s Wessington Springs School District Teacher of the Year, Devena Jackson, makes it a habit in the seven classes she teaches daily.

WSHS Class of 2021 Celebrates Commencement  

The True Dakotan brought home seven news/editorial and advertising awards from South Dakota Newspaper Association’s annual contest, announced on April 29 during an online meeting with SDNA members. The contest spotlights some of the best work done by newspapers across the state.

New council leadership in all three City of Wessington Springs wards took their oaths of office Monday, officially beginning their two-year terms after being elected by voters on  April 13, 2021.

“Good eats and sweet treats” drew a crowd to the corner of Dakota Avenue and 3rd Street SE in Wessington Springs as the L&C Cone Zone reopened its doors under new ownership Tuesday. 

Voting remained steady throughout the day Tuesday, April 13  as residents in Wessington Springs determined who will represent constituents in Wards 1 and 3. In Ward 1, Aaron Roesler and Kari Fagerhaug both filed petitions and in Ward 3, Joe Hettinger and Tim Schooler filed petitions. Vickie …

A hearty breakfast paired with an opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny sets the stage for family-friendly fun at the fire hall in Wessington Springs the morning of April 3. 

After a spring-like weekend, the Jerauld County area was hit with a blast of last-minute winter weather.

Friday's thrilling, third-round victory in the Region 3B Boys Basketball Tournament catapulted the Spartans into the SoDak 16, where the boys are set to take on Canistota Tuesday, March 9, 8 p.m. at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. The Spartans are shown above at the Huron Arena after defeating …

A total of eight vacancies on area boards were announced this week in the City of Wessington Springs, Wessington Springs School District, Town of Alpena and Town of Lane.

Throughout this week's print and e-issue you will find stories about different ways people in the area look beyond themselves and toward helping their neighbor and the community as a whole. You’ll read about time-honored traditions and new ways to celebrate holiday magic amid the “new normal.”

Weekly devotions posted to social media over the last month by the Jerauld County Ministerial Association will be combined and shown in a half-hour video special on Venture Cable Channel 195 on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 4 and 8 p.m. 

The day-in, day-out, unpredictable nature of the pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, but for essential workers like teachers, valiantly struggling to ensure that students are getting the best education possible given current challenges, this year has taken a toll. A bright pick-me-up app…