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LETTERBOX

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Letters to the Editor may be sent to: kristi@truedakotan.com PO Box 358, Wessington Springs, SD 57382The editor reserves the right to determine if material submitted for publication shall be printed and may edit for accuracy, clarity and civility. True Dakotan does not publish anonymous letters.
JASON KOLOUSEK

JASON KOLOUSEK

FROM THE WS SUPERINTENDENT

Wessington Springs School District
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Hello from the Wessington Springs Schools. It is March already and as always there is a lot going on. Two weeks ago our Juniors took the ACT assessment. As explained in an earlier column this is a different requirement from the South Dakota Department of Education for state testing.
DISTRICT 20 SEN. PAUL MISKIMINS

DISTRICT 20 SEN. PAUL MISKIMINS

South Dakota’s 101st Legislative Session, Week Seven

News Staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Hello again from Pierre, We are fast approaching the end of the 101st session of our state legislature. Many of the bills remaining to deal with are either strongly supported or have been killed. We are close to balancing the 2027 FY budget. There are still some areas to be decided this coming week.
Sen. Paul Miskimins

Sen. Paul Miskimins

FROM THE LEGISLATURE: DISTRICT 20

District 20 Sen. Paul Miskimins
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Hello District 20 Friends, SB239 would have modernized and refined the Reinvestment Payment Program (RPP) – an existing proven tool – not a new concept. It would have preserved the core structure of the RPP while strengthening reporting and oversight.
True Dakotan founders Duke and Karen Wenzel (left) and Penny and Craig Wenzel (right) stand with Kristi Hine after signing papers transferring ownership of the newspaper on Jan. 30, 2015. Hine officially took over as publisher on March 1, 2015. Eleven years later, the commitment to local, independent journalism and the community support that sustains it remain as important as ever. (TRUE DAKOTAN FILE PHOTO)

True Dakotan founders Duke and Karen Wenzel (left) and Penny and Craig Wenzel (right) stand with Kristi Hine after signing papers transferring ownership of the newspaper on Jan. 30, 2015. Hine officially took over as publisher on March 1, 2015. Eleven years later, the commitment to local, independent journalism and the community support that sustains it remain as important as ever. (TRUE DAKOTAN FILE PHOTO)

Eleven Years In

Kristi Hine True Dakotan Editor / Publisher
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Eleven years ago, I took a leap of faith and purchased the True Dakotan from the Wenzel family, who established the newspaper in 1975. I was a brand-new publisher, still learning the rhythm of deadlines and discovering what it truly meant to be entrusted with a community’s stories.
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