Stories
Area

Funds available for replacing trees

With many of our local towns doing street and boulevard work recently, trees have been cut down in the communities. The Kingsbury Conservation District has Urban Grant Funding to help replace some of …

Bau retires as County Emergency Manager

After 37 years of working as the Emergency Management Director for Kingsbury County, Cindy Bau will be retiring on April 30. Bau started working as the director in April of 1988. “It began as a …

Sunday Funday Brunch adds entertainment

If you enjoyed the Sunday Funday Brunch last November at the De Smet Event Center, the center’s advisory board will be hosting another this coming Sun., April 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., …

D&D Math Contest held in De Smet

The Deubrook & De Smet (D & D) Math Contest was supposed to be held on Wed., April 2 at the De Smet Event & Wellness Center but was postponed because of weather until Mon., April 7. The …

De Smet

FFA members attend state convention

The De Smet FFA attended the State FFA Convention April 3 – 5 in Brookings, S.D. Twenty-three FFA members participated in workshops and community service projects, attended sessions and competed in …

Main Street project to begin May 5, completed this year

The De Smet City Council met on Wed., April 9 at 5 p.m. at the De Smet Event Center to discuss project updates, a building permit complaint and free dumping. project updates Karen Schaefers, IMEG, …

A busy schedule of events coming up

The De Smet Community Women (DCW) have a busy month ahead, hosting a “Behind Closed Doors” presentation, holding their annual Easter-egg hunt and teaming up with the Family, Career and Community …

Fifteen inducted to National Honor Society

De Smet High School held an induction ceremony to the National Honor Society (NHS) on Tues., March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the De Smet School Armory, honoring several students. De Smet High School’s NHS …

Maple trees may be added to list for removal

The De Smet City Council met on Wed., March 13 at 5 p.m. at the De Smet Event Center. Karen Schafers briefed the council on upcoming projects in De Smet, and council members heard from Tanya Flegel …

Lake Preston

Twenty-eight years of fun in the kitchen

For the past 28 years when coming to lunch, students at the Lake Preston School have been greeted, often with a smile, by Lisa Cleveland; however, Cleveland has decided to turn in her apron. …

2025 Junior Duck Stamp contest winners announced

The 2025 Junior Duck Stamp contest had 270 entries statewide, 51 from Lake Preston. Scans of the winners’ artwork will be on tour throughout the state of South Dakota this summer and at the …

Main gym renovation project ahead of schedule

The Lake Preston Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Wed., April 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the superintendent’s conference room. They received updates on the main gym renovation project …

Busy CDE season topped off at State

Lake Preston FFA Chapter members have had a busy spring, competing in Career Development Events (CDEs) for the past several weeks. Students in grades 7-12 are allowed to be in FFA and can compete in …

Sports & Outdoors
Outdoors

Fish are bitin’

Nik Voss of Wessington recently snagged this 34-inch northern pike at Dry Lake #2.

Boat fishing is back

Leighton Robb of St. Peter, Minn., and his dad Trevor got on the walleyes recently on Dry Lake #2. They were using bottom bouncers with crawlers and also pulling plugs, limiting out in just a few …

Pike present

Eric Larson of Lake Preston caught this dandy of a northern pike with a new King perch rod he got as a gift for Valentine's Day.

Cross Country
De Smet Bulldogs

Girls place first, boys fifth in Howard

On Tues., April 22, the Bulldogs traveled to Howard to compete in the Howard Tiger Relays. The girls placed first with 146 points; the boys placed fifth in the meet with 83 points. boys 100m Dash …

Bulldogs run in Sioux Valley, De Smet

On Tues., April 15, the Bulldogs traveled to the Sioux Valley School to compete in the Brace-Hopfinger Relays. The girls placed fourth with 124 points, and the boys placed sixth in the meet with 49 …

Bulldogs run in Estelline, Elkton

On Thurs., Apr. 10, De Smet traveled to Estelline to compete at the Sno Bird meet, where they had an encouraging start to their season. The Lady Bulldogs placed third in the meet with 133 points, and …

Bulldogs nearly pull off overtime win

De Smet traveled on Fri., March 7 to play the Estelline/Hendricks (EH) Redhawks in the first round of regional boys basketball. De Smet had lost to E/H in the last game of the regular season, so they …

Girls have great game, fall short to Ranchers

The De Smet girls basketball team won their regional semifinal game over Arlington, advancing to the SoDak 16 round of games. As seed #15, De Smet was set up to play #2, undefeated Harding County. On …

I/LP Sharks

Holt breaks school record in Howard

There is nothing better than a beautiful day for a track meet, and the Iroquois/Lake Preston track team competed in Howard on a day with temperatures in the low 70s and very little wind. The athletes …

First outdoor meet in Estelline

Iroquois/Lake Preston tracksters participated in their first outdoor meet in Estelline. The Sharks were one of 13 teams competing at the meet, which included Class B and Class A schools. The boys …

Sharks compete at Sno Bird Meet

Iroquois/Lake Preston tracksters participated in their first outdoor meet in Estelline. The Sharks were one of 13 teams competing at the meet, which included Class B and Class A schools. The boys …

Sharks track & field team compete at SDSU

The I/LP Sharks competed at the Scott Underwood Invitational Track Meet at South Dakota State University on April 7. Hadlee Holt placed fourth in the shot put, while while several other Shark …

Sharks compete at first indoor meet

The Iroquois/Lake Preston (I/LP) Sharks hit the ground running at their first indoor track meet, held at Northern State University. The Sharks were one of 20 teams competing at the meet, which …

Features
Columnists
In South Dakota, we value personal responsibility, strong families and local control. We believe parents should remain the primary decision makers when raising their children. However, we also …
“Come here, I want to see you!” The directive was the very first phone call made by Alexander Graham Bell to his assistant, Thomas Watson. The call was made on March 10, 1876. Bell was …
It has been a busy week on our little funny farm; we have been working to get a fence up so the goats can finally get out of the barn, enjoy fresh air and munch on the grass. We let the goats out …
We’re at the Easter holiday. It’s a great holiday to celebrate traditions with family and loved ones. I remember when I was a child, the day before Easter we would dye eggs that we’d just …
He tucked his billfold in the back pocket of his striped overalls and reached for a clean cap from the hook behind the door. “I need to run to town for a part for the planter.” Dad spoke to Mom. …
Photo of the Week

Years of service recognized

Former Kingsbury County Commissioner and Zoning Officer Joe Jensen, left, and former Veterans Service Officer and States Attorney Gary Schumacher were recognized last week for their years of service …

Our history
10 years ago April 29, 2015 An FFA and agriculture banquet was held on Monday in the school’s main gym to honor and award both FFA and ag students. “The banquet went very well,” said ag teacher …
10 years ago April 29, 2015 “Beehive” returns to the De Smet stage this summer. The musical revue, first performed locally in 2001, illustrates the influence of female singers on the …
Around the county
Carthage
Trinity Lutheran Church Worship Service: Sun., May 4, 11 a.m. with the Sunday School singing. The next museum meeting will be on May 10 at 3 p.m. at the museum. People coming into Carthage from the …
Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake Presbyterian Church Worship Service: Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. FM 88.1 Live Facebook Pastor Dick Poppen speaks on KXLG 99.1 radio Sunday 8:02 a.m. Easter Sunday was well …
Esmond
Members of the Dunham family and Marlin Clendening attended the farewell gathering for Brad and Mary (Wade) Wienbar held Saturday afternoon in the Iroquois School community room. The Wienbars have …
Ramona
The Francis T. Malone Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 to encourage academic excellence within the Oldham-Ramona School District. Francis Malone understood that community involvement is a way …
Bancroft
Easter is over. Spring is on the way. I found this little reminder that God has put each one of us on this earth for His purpose. On these last few days of April 2025, some of you may be wondering …
About the relaunch of our paper

THIS IS IT!

Our local newspaper is back and with a new name, a new look, a volunteer staff and a modern web site! Click on this headline to learn more about how it all happened.

We're in the news!

SD Public Broadcasting features Kingsbury Journal

The story of the Kingsbury Journal and how it became a reality was featured during the September 7th episode of Dakota Life on the South Dakota Public Broadcasting television channel. Broadcasters …

Join the Kingsbury Journal team!

We've managed to restart our local paper. But that's just the beginning. We need help keeping our local paper – and our communities – alive, active and connected.  Everyone can …