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Winter Service sits at its current location on Dakota Avenue shortly after the business relocated there in 1970. Pictured are Dayle Winter and his father, George Winter Jr., representing the third and second generations of the Winter family to carry on the long-standing Wessington Springs business. (PHOTO COURTESY WINTER FAMILY)

Winter Service sits at its current location on Dakota Avenue shortly after the business relocated there in 1970. Pictured are Dayle Winter and his father, George Winter Jr., representing the third and second generations of the Winter family to carry on the long-standing Wessington Springs business. (PHOTO COURTESY WINTER FAMILY)

Winter Service opened its doors in 1946

Craig Wenzel For The True Dakotan
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
A young soldier forged his skills as a blacksmith in the German army during the early twentieth century. Soon after his military career ended, George Winter, Sr., left his homeland to pursue a better life for himself and his descendants and sailed to America.
The Grinch is led from the Wessington Springs Elementary School gymnasium by Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber and Deputy Mike Krueger on Friday, Dec. 19, as students erupt in cheers following his apprehension. (KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN)

The Grinch is led from the Wessington Springs Elementary School gymnasium by Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber and Deputy Mike Krueger on Friday, Dec. 19, as students erupt in cheers following his apprehension. (KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN)

Grinch apprehended at Wessington Springs Elementary, Christmas saved

Kristi Hine / True Dakotan
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Christmas cheer was temporarily threatened, but ultimately saved, at Wessington Springs Elementary School on Friday, Dec. 19, when the Grinch himself was taken into custody just before students were dismissed for winter break.
Jolly Old Kris Kringle returns to WS City Hall in on Saturday, December 20

Jolly Old Kris Kringle returns to WS City Hall in on Saturday, December 20

Jolly Old Kris Kringle returns to WS City Hall in on Saturday, December 20

News Staff
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Santa Claus will make a special stop in Wessington Springs on Saturday, Dec. 20, as part of the community’s annual Santa Saturday celebration. Families are invited to Wessington Springs City Hall from 11 a.m. to noon to meet Santa, share Christmas wishes and snap festive photos.At 11 a.m.
Riders participating in the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride enter Wessington Springs from South Dakota Highway 34 on Friday, marking a long-standing stop in the community’s role as a host along the sacred winter journey. (KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN)

Riders participating in the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride enter Wessington Springs from South Dakota Highway 34 on Friday, marking a long-standing stop in the community’s role as a host along the sacred winter journey. (KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN)

Riders welcomed in Wessington Springs as Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride continues sacred journey

News Staff
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Riders participating in the Makatoh Reconciliation and Healing Horse Ride arrived in Wessington Springs on Friday, where they were welcomed by community volunteers who provided supper, breakfast and an overnight stay at the Jerauld County 4-H Building.
Ten Wessington Springs High School FFA members earned state recognition at the South Dakota State FFA Leadership Development Events (LDEs), held Dec. 7–8 in Box Elder. Alexis Roesler, Mercedes Jones, Wyatt Arhart, Taryn Bartel, Tenley Olinger, Madilyn Gaikowski, Lily Roesler, Jalene Reiner, JR Hine, Sutten Jensen.

Ten Wessington Springs High School FFA members earned state recognition at the South Dakota State FFA Leadership Development Events (LDEs), held Dec. 7–8 in Box Elder. Alexis Roesler, Mercedes Jones, Wyatt Arhart, Taryn Bartel, Tenley Olinger, Madilyn Gaikowski, Lily Roesler, Jalene Reiner, JR Hine, Sutten Jensen.

Wessington Springs FFA members earn state honors at Leadership Development Events

News Staff
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Ten Wessington Springs High School FFA members earned state recognition at theSouthDakotaStateFFA Leadership Development Events (LDEs), held Dec. 7–8 in Box Elder.More than 600 FFA members from across South Dakota competed after qualifying through districtlevel events.
A moment of kindness shown nearly a decade ago has come full circle through a meaningful gift from the Gildemaster family, honoring the bond formed between Carol Gildemaster and the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds basketball team during the 2016–2017 season. Shown left to right with Carol Gildemaster at center are Warbird seniors from the 2016-2017 basketball team Austin Kemnitz, Darian Ogunjemilusi, Riley Gohn, Bennett White, Darin Tschetter. Tanner Zemlicka was also a senior that year, he is not pictured.

A moment of kindness shown nearly a decade ago has come full circle through a meaningful gift from the Gildemaster family, honoring the bond formed between Carol Gildemaster and the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds basketball team during the 2016–2017 season. Shown left to right with Carol Gildemaster at center are Warbird seniors from the 2016-2017 basketball team Austin Kemnitz, Darian Ogunjemilusi, Riley Gohn, Bennett White, Darin Tschetter. Tanner Zemlicka was also a senior that year, he is not pictured.

Kindness remembered, legacy planted

Kristi Hine / True Dakotan
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
An act of compassion shown by the Warbirds basketball team planted a seed that continues to grow, now bearing fruit for the Wolsey community through a $50,000 gift On Nov.
Volunteers install new fencing at Hope Cemetery as part of ongoing preservation and improvement efforts aimed at honoring the cemetery’s history while ensuring its care for future generations. The original entrance to Hope Cemetery has been carefully preserved, maintaining a visible connection to the site’s history and the generations it serves.

Volunteers install new fencing at Hope Cemetery as part of ongoing preservation and improvement efforts aimed at honoring the cemetery’s history while ensuring its care for future generations. The original entrance to Hope Cemetery has been carefully preserved, maintaining a visible connection to the site’s history and the generations it serves.

A fence, a future, and a name that still fits: Why Hope Cemetery endures

Kristi Hine / True Dakotan
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
On a quiet rise west of Wessington Springs, volunteers recently installed a new fence around Hope Cemetery, an improvement meant to address safety concerns, wind damage, and the ceaseless wear of time.But for those doing the work, the fence represents far more than posts and rails.
Scenes from throughout the community illustrate the themes of hope, giving, joy and magic explored in this Christmas edition. Pictured are Mara Meier and Becky Easter of SACOTA, the Grinch on Main Street in Wessington Springs, the entrance to Hope Cemetery, Larry and Carol Gildemaster with Warbird basketball players Payson and Marty Gohn, and Emma Haeder with her Miss Rosalie’s cookies. The stories behind these moments appear throughout this issue.

Scenes from throughout the community illustrate the themes of hope, giving, joy and magic explored in this Christmas edition. Pictured are Mara Meier and Becky Easter of SACOTA, the Grinch on Main Street in Wessington Springs, the entrance to Hope Cemetery, Larry and Carol Gildemaster with Warbird basketball players Payson and Marty Gohn, and Emma Haeder with her Miss Rosalie’s cookies. The stories behind these moments appear throughout this issue.

Finding Christmas, Right Here

Kristi Hine / True Dakotan
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Every December, we’re reminded of what the season is supposed to feel like: hope, giving, joy, a little bit of magic. And just as often, we’re tempted to think those things exist somewhere else. Somewhere bigger. Somewhere brighter.But if you slow down this time of year, you don’t have to look far.
Area Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities

Area Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities

Area Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities

News Staff
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICESWednesday December 24, 2025Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs – 5 p.m. with Holy Communion Templeton in rural Wessington Springs – 5 p.m.Wessington Springs Methodist Church – 5 p.m.Zion Lutheran Church – 6 p.m.
Members of Iglesia Renuevo gather with lead pastor Herman Perez (back middle). Iglesia Renuevo, or Renew Church, provides Spanish-language services in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Plankinton, S.D. (PHOTO: HERMAN PEREZ)

Members of Iglesia Renuevo gather with lead pastor Herman Perez (back middle). Iglesia Renuevo, or Renew Church, provides Spanish-language services in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Plankinton, S.D. (PHOTO: HERMAN PEREZ)

Hispanic population thrives in one small SD town

Molly Wetsch South Dakota News Watch
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
PLANKINTON, S.D. – Of the just 768 people who call Plankinton home, 163 identify as Hispanic, according to the 2023 American Community Survey. That's 1 in 5 people – far higher than the state's total proportion of Hispanic individuals, which sits at around 4% of the population.
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