2020 - What a year it was

What a memorable year 2020 turned out to be! It should always be remembered by historians and ordinary folks as the Year of the Coronavirus pandemic. Just in a period of Dec. 12 through Christmas Day there were reported to have been around 345 total cases in Edmunds County with four deaths. But the good news is that there were only around 50 of those cases that were still active and hadn't recovered. And vaccines are more good news, approaching 2021.

The year had begun with people anxiously wondering when the virus cases would first reach our shores. And that they did.

So a number of annual events and activities were either canceled or highly modified beginning for the most part in March. And that includes schools themselves and athletic events such as the State B boys BB, girls and boys track and field and girls and boys golf. The girls' basketball State B was able to have the opening day on scheduled but not the rest of that event.

And schools including our county schools went to a stay-at-home study at home routine during the early stages of the pandemic. Needless to say the virus showed little signs of going away during the summer months and the cases began to mushroom in early fall. And stayed that way. But schools were able to hold classes and try to maintain their athletic schedules as much as possible under limited attendance for spectators in the indoor events. The same would hold true for school concerts culminating with their holiday concerts and other activities.

As you might guess, two major summer events were totally cancelled in 2020 due to the virus pandemic and that would be the Ipswich Trail Days festivities, including the headliner concert. Also cancelled in 2020 were the 2020 4H Achievement Days later in the summer.

But in the meantime the Classes of 2020 would experience some unique ways to socially distance themselves from each other and the general public with novel ways to eventually honor them. For instance a class parade. And the award winning Ipswich Marching Band was able to display their talents at whichever annual event was still scheduled and fortunately that would include their Gala Day parade, if not Gypsy Day which turned out to be a rare cancellation. But the state was still held on schedule.

The fall outdoor sports were able to be eventually scheduled with some minor cancellations or postponements here or there and that included the Ipswich/Edmunds Central football co-op which went deep into the 9A playoff ending their season with a narrow loss to Warner which would eventually place second in the Dome. The IHS girls netters were also able to qualify for the SoDak 16, ending their season one win short of a trip to State B with a loss to Hitchcock-Tulare.

If not for the pandemic the weather turned out to be rather dry, especially starting out and then with a real dry November and mostly dry so far for the rest of the year, depending on a possible early winter storm the rest of the month (and year.)

Other highlights of the first half of the year:

JANUARY

Junior Miss Ipswich Ashley Ptacek and Miss Ipswich Avery Sylte participated in the 2020 South Dakota Snow Queen Festival in Aberdeen. Ashley was chosen the S.D. Junior Snow Queen second runner-up. The next week Avery was chosen the Princess of Summer, one of the runners-up to the S.D. Snow Queen.

The third annual Ipswich Has Talent show was held on Jan. 10 in the Ipswich School Theatre.

The Ipswich Elementary Christmas Concert had been postponed until Jan. 14.

The annual Ipswich AAU youth wrestling tournament was held on Jan. 19. The Ipswich area young wrestlers competed at several area tourneys.

The annual FEM Electric Pancake and Sausage Breakfast was held on Jan. 24.

Ipswich girls basketball player Halle Heinz scored her 1000th score vs. Groton. She also broke the school's record for three-pointers made in a career.

A benefit was held Jan. 25 for Adam Anderson to raise funds to help the Anderson family with travel and living expenses after Adam had procedures in the Mayo Clinic.

FEBRUARY

The Ipswich High School Choir performed as "Memory Makers" at the 47th annual University of Mary Jazz Festival in Bismarck, N.D. There were also clinics.

The Edmunds County Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Service sponsored their annual Soil Health Clinic on Feb. 3.

Ipswich fifth graders had a lesson on robotics using kits from the Extension Service.

Modern Woodmen of America had a benefit fundraiser to raise funds for Max Geditz and his parents Brenda and Greg Geditz to help with Max's medical costs. His sight was affected by a severe strep infection.

A legislative Cracker Barrel was held in the Ipswich School Theatre. District 23 legislators Sen. John Lake, Rep. Spencer Gosch and Rep. James Wangness were scheduled to report on the session and answer questions.

Roscoe native Bryan Breitling announced he was a candidate for District 23 Senate seat.

Trail Days 2020 announced McEWYN, a brother/sister country duo, would be the headliners for the June event, which was eventually cancelled.

IHS senior Carter Heinz earned a trip to the State B Wrestling Tourament. Heinz was a runner-up in the Regional Meet. Lucas Rowland earned an optional trip as an alternate. Heinz placed eighth in the State B in Sioux Falls.

The Ipswich and Faulkton basketball program had a Suits and Sneakers game cancer benefit on Feb. 23.

Marv Seyer and Jake Hammrich were co-winners of the 2019 Ipswich Betterment Award. The honors were announced at an Ipswich basketball game on Feb. 28.

The Ipswich girls basketball team played in the Region 2B semifinal. They were stopped by Highmore-Harrold in a close-fought 60-56 game. The IHS girls closed their season at 15-6.

MARCH

Sam Grabowska was chosen to play in the 21st Annual South Dakota Music Educators' Association (SDMEA) Middle School in Mitchell. Sam received an award during the concert since this was his third year in the honor band.

The Ipswich boys basketball team was stopped by Gettysburg in the Region 2B Tournament at Gettysburg. The Tigers closed out their season 11-10.

Thirteen Ipswich 4-6 grade vocalists sang in the SDMEA Festival choir in Mobridge.

Ipwich players were named to the 2019-20 Lake Region All-Conference Boys' Basketball Team. On the list were Will Kadlec, first team; Ty Kadlec, honorable mention.

Halle Heinz and Ady Dwight of Langford Area were named Lake Region Conference co-MVP's for the 2019-20 season. Tigers on the LRC All-Conference team were Heinz, first team and Katie Bierman, honorable mention. Heinz was later honored to the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association's Class B All-State second team.

Three new businesses open on Main Street. Grandma's Ceramics Shop opened in the former Senior Center. Real Dakota Photography opened a studio in the former Red Bobbin Sewing Salon. Red Bobbin had moved next door into the dental office. Ashley Pitz opened Escape Hair and Nails in the former barbershop by the Ipswich mural.

The Tiger Post moved into their new home in the Louis & Helen Thares Youth Center. The Tiger Post is closed due to coronavirus.

APRIL

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem closed in-person school attendance for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The final day of school instruction was set at May 14. Graduation was slated for July 25.

IHS seniors Halle Heinz and Ty Kadlec were named to the Aberdeen American News All Area teams.

Six IHS juniors were chosen to attend the 74th annual American Legion Auxiliary South Dakota Girls State. But the Girls and Boys State were both canceled this year due to COVID-19. The IHS girls chosen to attend were Katelyn Geditz, Lindsey Grabowska, Ashton Loken, Halle Heinz, Chesney Olivier and Angeline Rye.

McKenzie and Chandler Preszler welcomed triplets in a Sioux Falls hospital. The triplets arrived April 16 at Avera McKennan. They joined 13 other babies born that day, a record for the hospital.

MAY

The 30th Annual Academic Excellence Luncheon was not held due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Associated School Boards of South Dakota honored nearly 200 students who were the top one percent of the senior class in the state. Honorees included Ashley Blocker of Edmunds Central and Jordan Richardt of Ipswich.

The Ipswich School could not have a prom due to COVID, but a "Grand March" was held. The students in their finest prom attire walked down Main Street.

A virtual IHS Awards Night was livestreamed for all to watch online on May 14.

The last of school for Ipswich students was May 14. A graduates' parade was held on May 16. Retiring teachers (Anita Doschadis, Joy Kehrwald and Lynette Heinz) were also honored. The IHS graduation ceremony is planned on July 18, 2020.

The Ipswich Public Library has formed a partnership with Dolly Parton Imagination Library ensuring all children in Edmunds County can become part of the international book gifting program.

JUNE

The South Dakota Primary Election was held on June 2. District 23 candidates who won included: Bryan Breitling, State Senator; Spencer Gosch and Charlie Hoffman. Chad Preszler was elected County Commissioner District 4.

Agtegra Cooperative donated $20,000 for the new Tiger Post.

Carter Heinz was named to the Blue team's roster of the South Dakota High School All-Star Football game. The game would have been played in the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ipswich elementary principal Matt Pollock was honored by the S.D. Association of Elementary School Principals (SDAESP). He was chosen as the 2020 Innovative School Leader of the Year for his use of programs for elementary students.