Chamber looks forward to 2026
CHAMBER EVENTS The Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic is one of the many events that the Chamber hosts each year. For more information on how to become a Chamber member, visit https://www.hartfordsdchamber.org/ or contact Jill Skots at 605-370-9762. (Photo/Submitted) LUNCH AND LEARN OPPORTUNITIES The Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce will be...
From history to the classroom: Why MLK day matters
LEARNING THROUGH BOOKS In honor of MLK Day, West Central District Media Specialist/Librarian Mrs. Danann Tirrel has prepared special library displays across the district...
Is your student ready for kindergarten?
Sara Stadem | Editor sstadem@ncppub.com Although the 2025-2026 school year is still underway, it’s that time of year to begin planning for the next academic year with...
Current News
Current News
Trojan boys wrestling takes fourth at West Sioux Invite
FINISHING FOR THE TROJANS Trojan Braxton Huber (175) took second place at the West Sioux Invite in...
Second half surge keeps Trojan boys undefeated
KNIGHT LOOKS TO ADD TWO TOP LEFT: Trojan Boche Knight looks at adding two for the West Central...
Big first quarter run leads West Central girls to win over Dakota Valley
SKONHOVD ON THE BOARD FOR THE TROJANS Trojan Mackenzie Skonhovd had 11 points, three rebounds and...
Mustang wrestling wins two at home triangular
MUSTANGS HAVE SUCCESS AT JESSE JAMES INVITE The Tri-Valley Mustang boys wrestling team had seven...
West Central boys win battle of top teams
DRIVING THE LANE Trojan Carter Gross drives the lane, looking to add two for West Central. Gross...
Chargers pull away from West Central girls
Matthew Larson | Big Sioux Media In a battle of top teams in Class A, the Sioux Falls Christian...
Trojan wrestlers travel to Fargo
TRAVELING TO FARGO The West Central Trojans traveled to Fargo for the Rumble on the Red Tournament...
Quick start helps Tri-Valley girls to home win
VOGT FOR TWO Mustang Peyton Vogt had seven points and two steals when Tri-Valley took on...
First half defense leads to win for Tri-Valley boys
GAMETIME READY The Tri-Valley Mustangs boys basketball team had a big win over the Elkton-Lake...
West Central boys wrestling finishes third in Madison
FINISHING THIRD AS A TEAM The West Central Trojans competed in Madison, finishing third as a team...
West Central girls pull away from Groton in second half
TEAM WORK Trojan Ellie Knight and Bailey Stallman work together on defense during their game...
Setting Career Records
Tri-Valley celebrated Mustang wrestler Owen Bunde, who had his 100th career win, as well as...
Obituaries
Mildred Hotchkiss
94 Humboldt, South Dakota January 9, 2026 Mildred “Millie” Marie Hotchkiss, age 94, of rural Humboldt, passed away on January 9, 2026, at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, January 16, at United Methodist Church in Colton....
Dean Ahrent
75 Hartford, South Dakota January 4, 2026 Dean Charles Ahrendt, 75, of Hartford, South Dakota passed away surrounded by his family on January 4, 2026, at his home under hospice care. Visitation with family present will be held Friday, January 9, from 5-7 p.m....
Ralph Erickson
Sioux Falls, SD 75 November 23, 2025 Ralph was born on October 1, 1950, to Marvin and Kay Erickson in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He died on November 23, 2025, at his home, where he had resided for the last 64 years. For the last year, Ralph fought a courageous battle...
Maryls E. Aartun
80 Colton, SD November 20, 2025 Marlys E. Aartun, age 80, of Colton, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Dells Nursing and Rehab in Dell Rapids. Private funeral services were held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Minnehaha Funeral Chapel in Colton....
Doris M. Kirkeby
89 Dell Rapids, SD November 18, 2025 Doris M. Kirkeby, 89, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids. Her Memorial Service was Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids....
Donna Mae (Nilson) Davis
75 Hartford, SD November 23, 2025 Donna Mae (Nilson) Davis of Hartford, South Dakota, peacefully passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Dougherty Hospice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by her family. She was 75 years old. Donna Mae Brusse was born on...
Helen Swier Zuiderhof
97 Sioux Falls, SD November 14, 2025 Helen Louise Swier Zuiderhof, age 97, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Colton, passed away on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Minnehaha...
Mildred “Mickey” E. Otterby
103 Sioux Falls, SD October 26, 2025 Mildred “Mickey” E. Otterby, age 103, of Sioux Falls, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Dow Rummel in Sioux Falls. Private family services will be held at West Nidaros Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery....
Sports
Tri-Valley girls hit big shots to hold off Baltic
LOOKING FOR HER TEAMMATE AT LEFT: Mustang Rowyn Gacke looks for an open teammate during their game against the Mt. Vernon/Plankinton Titans. Gacke added nine points and three steals when the Mustangs faced off against the Flandreau Fliers. She also finished the game...
Gibson places first at Brandon Valley Invite
ADDING FROM THE LINE BELOW: Mustang Danika Fluth looks to add one from the free-throw line for the Tri-Valley Mustangs when they hosted the Mt. Vernon/Plankinton Titans. The Mustangs defeated the Titans 49-31 on Thursday, January 8 and also took the win over the...
Mustang boys suffer two losses to end week
JEWETT LEADING THE MUSTANGS Mustang Brady Jewett had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals when Tri-Valley played the Flandreau Fliers on Friday, January 9. He added 11 points and three rebounds during the game against the Mt. Vernon/Plankinton Titans. (Photo/Heidi...
Trojan boys wrestling takes fourth at West Sioux Invite
FINISHING FOR THE TROJANS Trojan Braxton Huber (175) took second place at the West Sioux Invite in Hawarden, IA, with a record of 2-1. The Trojans finished with 134.5 points, with 11 place winners for West Central. (Photo/Susan Hanley) LEWIN FINISHES FIFTH Trojan Max...
Second half surge keeps Trojan boys undefeated
KNIGHT LOOKS TO ADD TWO TOP LEFT: Trojan Boche Knight looks at adding two for the West Central during their home game against Wynot Blue Devils on Friday, January 9. West Central took the win, 58-45. The Trojans also took the win against Dakota Valley on Tuesday,...
Big first quarter run leads West Central girls to win over Dakota Valley
SKONHOVD ON THE BOARD FOR THE TROJANS Trojan Mackenzie Skonhovd had 11 points, three rebounds and three assists when the Trojans defeated the Dakota Valley Panthers on Tuesday, January 13. (Photo/Robin Eich) Matthew Larson | Big Sioux Media A 14-2 run to start the...
Mustang wrestling wins two at home triangular
MUSTANGS HAVE SUCCESS AT JESSE JAMES INVITE The Tri-Valley Mustang boys wrestling team had seven individual winners at the Jesse James Invite in Garretson on Saturday, January 10. Pictured (left to right) are Brody Dybvig (190), Landyn Reiser (175), Owen Bunde (132),...
West Central boys win battle of top teams
DRIVING THE LANE Trojan Carter Gross drives the lane, looking to add two for West Central. Gross added 10 points during their win against Pine Ridge during the Hoop City Classic. He also added 13 points, three rebounds and three assists against Lakota Tech during the...