Principal Zach Gors and a group of Mustang students at Colton Elementary smile for a back-to-school selfie. Gage Egger begins his final year as a Tri-Valley Mustang, stepping into his senior year. Siblings Owen and Aubree Effling gear up for their 2025-26 school year....
Home
Kwik Star set to come to Hartford
KWIK STAR IS COMING TO HARTFORD Kwik Star, also known as Kwik Trip, is set to come to Hartford on Highway 38 and North Maple Avenue. The construction is tentatively set to begin in April 2026, with the hope of completion by September 2026. Sara Stadem | Editor The...
Ready, set, color!
WALK, RUN OR… BIKE! Come join the Tri-Valley Color Run, where you can walk, run or even bike the 5K. Registration is required by August 28 in order to receive a color packet and t-shirt. (Photo/Bridget Ebert) TRI-VALLEY COLOR RUN IS BACK The Tri-Valley Color Run is...
Dooner joins New Century Press team
NCP WELCOMES NEW WRITER Carter Dooner, originally from Minneapolis, Minn., graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. Dooner has joined the New Century Press team as the sports writer for The Dells City Journal and The Minnehaha Messenger...
Criminal diversion programs do good work in making Minnehaha County better
Dave Baumeister | County Correspondent SIOUX FALLS – Three orders of business at the Tuesday, August 19, Minnehaha County Commission meeting are all tied into the county’s crime diversion programs in different ways. Two matters were briefings on juvenile diversion...
Chamber holds annual Golf Classic
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP Cressman Sanitation was the Corporate Sponsor for the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Wednesday, August 13. Pictured (left to right) are Austin Kubik, Trevor Blaine, Chase Brown and Matt Norgaard. (Photo/Jill Skots) AND THE...
Get ready to ride for a cause
Sara Stadem | Editor Lucky Ladz in Crooks is gearing up to host the Cars and Bikes Against Cancer Poker Run for Mike Hagen on Saturday, August 30. The event sign-up begins at 11 a.m. with kickstands up at noon. The poker run is $20 a hand with four other stops, which...
District 9 Update
Having just celebrated a birthday, it got me thinking about all the generations, their breakdowns and the differences in parenting style each has had. The leaps of technology are coming so fast that it’s hard for the older generations to keep up. Not only that, but...
Your hometown market update
Dave Knows Homes Dave Larson | Hegg Realtors, Inc. It’s time for another Dave Knows Homes: Your Hometown Market Update! Every month, I break down the latest trends in our local real estate market—covering Hartford, Humboldt, Colton, Crooks and Montrose—so you can see...
Commission to hold parenting time guidelines public hearing in Sioux Falls
PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota Supreme Court’s Commission on Parenting Time Guidelines will hold a public hearing in Sioux Falls on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, 6-8 p.m. CDT, to gather input on potential changes to the standard parenting time guidelines. The public can...
Avenue of flags displays community patriotism
DECORATING THE TOWN Hartford Humboldt Optimist Club members place a flag for the Avenue of Flags. (Photo/Submitted) DISPLAYING PATRIOTISM Hartford Humboldt Optimist Club members help showcase the community’s patriotism by displaying flags at homes. If you would like...
DQ deal: Local business owner acquires another Dairy Queen
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! On Tuesday, August 4, Hartford resident Lonnie Heier purchased the Dell Rapids Dairy Queen. The Dell Rapids DQ is the eighth store that Heier owns. The store is currently closed for renovations in hopes to be reopening by November....
Expanding the dream
WHERE THE FUN IS FOUND The Fun Nook, which is a black light mini golf course and more, opened its doors with a soft opening at the end of July. The Fun Nook is by appointment only at this time, with the cost being $10 per person for an hour. (Photo/The Fun Nook) WHO...
First National Bank’s Brian Gilbert gives pro-agriculture testimony before Congress
Sioux Falls, SD: Brian Gilbert, ag banking manager at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, recently testified before Congress on the importance of community banks and pro-agriculture policies for family farms. As Congress considers passing a new farm bill, with the...
Melodies across borders: Students take music ambassador journey to five countries
TOURING THE COUNTRIES West Central High School band teacher, Mr. Danny Eye, and his students stop for a photo while they toured the countries in between the concerts. The South Dakota Ambassadors of Music tour was a two-and-a-half-week trip for the students and D....
South Dakota Ambassadors of Music Group
Students nominated by their choir or band director were selected to go on the South Dakota Ambassadors of Music trip, performing in five different countries: England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. (Photo/Submitted)
Books, brews and more books!
The Buffalo Ridge Brewing Project has a way for community members to spend some time together in conversation while tasting new beers or enjoying their favorite from the brewery. Once a month, Buffalo Ridge Brewing Projects hosts Books & Brews as part of their...
Dakota Rural Action releases 2025 South Dakota Local Foods Directory
Dakota Rural Action has released the 2025 Local Foods Directory, connecting South Dakota consumers with food producers in their area of the state. The free publication highlighting producers who grow and sell their products direct-to-consumer is distributed around the...
Karen Marie Stratmeyer’s Celebration of Life
Celebration of life for Karen Marie Stratmeyer will be Sunday, August 31, at 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 701 N Main, Hartford, SD.
2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally final vehicle counts
STURGIS, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) provides daily traffic counts at nine locations for vehicles entering Sturgis for the 85th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which ran from August 1-10, 2025. Friday, August 1, 2025: 56,000 vehicles...