Stories
Area

ORR School District to vote again on bond

On Tues., Dec. 12, the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (ORR) School District will host its second election of the year as they attempt to pass a $15.95 million General Obligation (GO) Bond, which will be used …

Santa has been busy!

Santa was in De Smet, Iroquois and Lake Preston this past weekend with all the celebrations.

Too much snow could make roads a no-go

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) convened on Wed., Nov. 29, for their quarterly meeting to discuss emergency road closures and Tango Tango and to plan for tabletop training. EMERGENCY …

Local writer releases book

James Jesser of Iroquois, S.D., has the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who loves to read. Jesser has written two Christmas stories, “The Inheritance” and “Three Wisemen and a Cranky …

The busy holiday season continues!

If you’re looking for something to do in Kingsbury County, there are still plenty of activities from which to choose. DEC. 6/DEC. 13 — WARM WEDNESDAY From 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., enjoy a cup of soup …

De Smet

A busy weekend around De Smet!

The De Smet Community Women’s Cookie Walk was a huge success. They offered a variety of cookies that all sold very well. It started at 11 a.m., and by 11:40 a.m., they were 85% sold out of …

Fill the shoeboxes!

The De Smet Alliance Church and Spirit Lake Presbyterian Church filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child again this year. These boxes are packed with quality toys, school supplies and personal …

Correction

Last week's edition of the Kingsbury Journal's story titled, "State grant paves the way for childcare," had an incorrect statement as the drophead. We stated that the "city will use the money to …

Lake Preston

Dreaming of being part of the team

Everyone imagines what it would be like to live out a dream. However, living out dreams brings a whole lot of emotions, both frightening and exciting. Elena Campagnolo is living out one of her dreams …

Liquor committee recommends not renewing Legion license

The Lake Preston City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Mon., Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room. This meeting kicked off with a public hearing about the ongoing water/sewer …

Leadership events expand student skillsets

It may be in between fall and winter sports for many high school students, but that does not mean students have been without something to do. Some at Lake Preston have been busy competing in FFA …

Sports & Outdoors
Outdoors

What a great 5x5!

Bentlee Holt, Lake Preston, shot her first buck this season. (Submitted photo) Want to become Kingsbury famous? Hunters and fishermen can send fish or game news to jim@kingsburyjournal.com to have …

Opening day success

Josh Starnes had a successful opening day of East River rifle season. He was able to put a stock on him and make the shot. (Submitted photo) Want to become Kingsbury famous? Have you been out getting …

Archery buck

Matias Efraimson shot this buck near De Smet while archery hunting. (Submitted photo) Want to become Kingsbury famous? Have you been out getting some casts in? If so, please send your fish pictures …

Cross Country
De Smet Bulldogs

Bulldogs get set to defend state title

The De Smet Bulldogs boys basketball team returned to the practice court Mon., Nov. 27 in preparation to defend their 2023 State Championship title. The Bulldogs have won the State B title the past …

Young Bulldog team gets ready for tip-off

With the change of the sports seasons upon us, the De Smet girls basketball team began practice Nov. 20, took a couple days off for Thanksgiving break and returned to the gym, ready to work hard. …

De Smet falls to Avon in third consecutive semifinal

The Bulldogs traveled to Avon on Fri., Nov. 3 for a 9B semifinal football matchup with the winner advancing to the State Championship at the Dakotadome. De Smet entered the game with an 8-2 record …

Warbirds end Bulldog season

The Bulldogs ended their volleyball season with a loss in the second round of Region 2B play to Wolsey-Wessington Tues., Oct. 31. The Warbirds came out strong the first two sets, and the Bulldogs …

Bulldogs blank Raiders in quarterfinals

The 2023 football playoffs continued in De Smet on Thurs., Oct. 26. The No. 4 seed Bulldogs (7-2) took on the No. 12 seed Gayville-Volin (3-6) Raiders in a 9B quarterfinal matchup. De Smet got the …

I/LP Sharks

Young Sharks looking to rise to challenge

Losing nine seniors makes things difficult for any team, but the Iroquois/Lake Preston Sharks boys basketball team is looking forward to stepping up to the challenge. Practice is underway, and the …

Sharks look to build off team’s first year

Winter sports seasons are just beginning for students across the state. The Iroquois/Lake Preston girls basketball team has just over a week and a half of practice under their belts as they prepare …

Warriors edge Sharks to reach SoDak 16

The Sharks opened Region volleyball play as the No. 6 seed, facing the James Valley Christian Vikings in Castlewood. Since the Vikings had beaten the Sharks two different times earlier in the season, …

Sharks fall to Raiders in close sets

The Sharks ended regular season play against the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland Raiders in Iroquois on Tues., Oct. 24. The team started the evening by celebrating seniors Giulia Bertoldo, Elena Campagnolo, …

Sharks go 3-1 at conference tournament

The Sharks started the week playing a Class A team, the Elkton/Lake Benton Elks, in Lake Preston on Native American Day. The Sharks struggled to make any waves against the Elks as they tried to find …

Features
Columnists
Our mom used the seven elements of design in her decorating scheme - Deloris, Donald, Darlene, Dorothy, Delmer, DeAnn and a mother’s love. In our farm home, special art was positioned with care …
My friend Jim Whiting sent me this last week, and although it isn't really Christmassy, it's too good to not pass on this season. A simple encouragement. Enjoy Life to the Fullest We grew up in the …
This weekend was my birthday, and I was able to enjoy it despite turning another year older and being told I’m “at that age” where things start to go downhill. I went to the eye doctor last …
HAVE YOU EVER put a piece of furniture together by following plans? A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were attempting to put a vanity together. In the beginning it seemed fairly simple, but the …
Golden leaves crunched under the children’s shoes as they trekked the last mile home from country school. At the neighbor’s driveway, the little girl waved as her four companions turned toward …
Our history
10 YEARS AGO December 4, 2013 Many who live in Kingsbury County have noticed a growing population of coyotes. Although the Game, Fish & Parks doesn’t believe it’s a big problem, people in …
10 YEARS AGO December 4, 2013 Kingsbury County Commissioners Tuesday, after a lengthy discussion on budgeting, decided to pay now for snowplow wings for the highway department. A line item for the …
Around the county
Carthage
Trinity Lutheran Church will have worship on Sun., Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. Looking ahead: Sunday School Christmas Program will be on Sun., Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. Robin, Mirinda, Erick and friend Erin and Auden …
Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake Presbyterian Church worship service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. FM 88.1 Live Facebook Pastor Dick Poppen speaks on radio KWAT at 9:30 a.m. Advent service was …
Esmond
Marlin and Jeanette Clendening were in Wessington Springs last Friday night for their great-grandchildren's elementary Christmas program. They returned to Springs last Monday for the middle and high …
Iroquois

Celebrating the holidays

The weather was beautiful for horse-drawn wagon rides Sunday afternoon. Tim Sullivan, owner of Ingalls Homestead, brought one of his teams of horses to Iroquois to give rides about town. Young and …

Oldham

The Oldham Potato Festival committee awarded the prizes for the floats entered in the parade on Saturday, based on this year's theme: 'We are family.' Little did they know how fitting the oldest …

Bancroft
Hi, Folks. I'll be gone this week. With no time to write a column, I will send this poem to kick off the Christmas season. See you next week. On a lighter note Befana the Housewife, scrubbing her …
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 …