Looking back at 2021 - January to June

JANUARY

The Ipswich City Council voted to hire Kelsey Holien as the full-time Ambuance Director.

The Ipswich UCC Church planned a fundraiser to restore the church's stained glasses.

Ipswich Snow Queen Lindsey Grabowska was crowned the South Dakota Snow Queen Princess of Summer at the State Snow Queen Festival in Aberdeen on Jan. 9.

The Ipswich Board of Education voted to dissolve the Ipswich/Edmunds Central football coop.

The Knights of Columbus held their annual free throw competition on Jan. 17. The winning girls were: Emri Braun and Ashton Heyne. The winning boys were: Ben Hoyle, Brayden Heyne, Seth Hettick, Kaleb Scherr, and Xavier Kadlec.

The South Dakota Department of Health announced on Jan. 18 that vaccinations will begin for prioritized population groups.

The Ipswich Wrestling Booster Club hosted their annual AAU Wrestling Youth Tournament in the Ipswich School gym on Jan. 24.

Emily DeRaad received Honorable Mention honors in the 27th Annual Virtual High School Art Exhibition at Northern State University.

FEBRUARY

February was the month to circulate nominating petitions for Ipswich City Council openings. Seats open for election were held by LeRoy Kilber Mayor, Susie Treftz Ward I, David Coisman Ward II and Barb Gillick Ward III.

The UCC youth group participated in the annual "Souper Bowl of Caring" hunger awareness campaign. Due to COVID the soup and sandwiches were delivered to your car.

Mac Heinz was chosen to play tuba in the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band. The event was scheduled for March 2021, but was cancelled due to COVID.

The Stephanie Miller-David Memorial Fund provided funds for the Ipswich Library. The funds provided for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books for children.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Katharine Drezel #2516 held their education contest. Local winners were: Elaina Morales, Brayden Heyne, Ashton Heyne, Karlie Gohl, Luke Beyers and Geralyn Malsom in th adult division. Beyers earned second place honors at the state level and Malsom earned third place honors at the state levels.

Five Ipswich/Bowdle wrestlers qualified to compete in the State B Tournament in Rapid City. Marley Guthmiller placed third in her division in the first State Girls competition. I/B boys in the competition were Lucas Rowland, Tanner Frickson, Kadyn Weisser, and Brady Unser.

The Ipswich girls basketball Region 2B tournament began on Feb. 22. The Tigers were stopped by Lower Brule 54-47 in Ipswich.

MARCH

The National Evangelization Team (NET) Ministries group was in the area sponsored by Holy Cross Catholic Church. An encounter event for youth and families was held on March 7.

The Ipswich boys basketball team stopped Faulkton in the opening round of the Region 2B tournament. Lower Brule beat the Tigers in the 2B finale 60-48.

Ipswich/Bowdle wrestlers Lucas Rowland and Tanner Frickson were tied as Lake Region Conference (LRC) MVPs. I/B wrestlers on the LRC all-conference team were Rowland, Frickson, Brady Unser and Kayden Weisser. Tyler Tran was an honorable mention pick.

Game, Fish and Park officials held a zoom meeting to discuss repairs planned for the Mina Lake spillway. At the time of the meeting, plans were made to begin the work after the annual Freedom Festival on July 4.

It was announced Neal McCoy would be the headliner for Trail Days 2021 concert on June 19. The opening act will be Lainey Wilson. After the parade activities will move to the Trail Days complex.

The Ipswich UCC Church celebrated the Easter season with a Friendly Feast on March 28. Due to COVID, meals were not served inside, but were delivered in "to go" containers to drivers.

The indoor track season began at Northern State University in March 25.

Marv Seyer wrote "The First 25 Years of the Yellowstone Trail Conference Girls' Basketball Tournament and Post Seasons." Seyer and Lance Fiedler compiled the book. The books was dedicated to Julie (Heinz) Johnson. The book featured YTC schools as well as area teams' post-season play.

Halle Heinz was named to the Class B All-State first team. She was also on the Lake Region Conference (LRC) all-conference team, as were Katie Bierman and Chesney Olivier (second team).

Ty Kadlec was named to the LRC boys all-conference first team. Josh McQuarie was on the second team and Eric Severson was honorable mention.

APRIL

The Ipswich golf team opened the season on April 9 in Mitchell.

Ipswich librarian Ruby Bosanko celebrated 30 years as the Marcus P. Beebe Library librarian. An open house was planned on April 10. Among those helping Ruby celebrate the milestone, were Ipswich students dressed in their Prom finery.

South Dakota residents were encouraged to begin adding the 605 area code when dialing phone numbers.

Barb Schaefer was appointed the Edmunds County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) effective April 1. Long-time County VSO Ron Hoffer resigned effective March 31.

Bill Morgan was named the 2020 Betterment Award winner by the Ipswich Commercial Club.

A Ipswich High School cast presented the play "Nothing but the Truth" on April 23. The comedy mystery could be seen in the school theatre or livestreamed.

Fourteen Edmunds County Shooting Sports participants attended the State Shoot in Ft. Pierre April 24-25.

Dean F. Mehlhaff was appointed as the County Commissioner for District 1, replacing Robert Olson who passed away on April 8.

Ipswich art students participated in the All Dakota High School Art Exhibition. Paige Maher won for best sculpture and Quincy Olivier won for best painting. Several IHS art students attended a workshop.

Elementary students presented "Pirates! The Musical!" in the School Theatre on April 29.

MAY

Ipswich High School seniors graduated on May 15. Matthew Hettich was the valedictorian. Co-salutatorians were Lindsey Grabowska and Kaitlyn Preszler.

Ipswich Middle School and High School had their Pops Concert on May 6.

City Council members sworn in during the May 10 meeting were David Coisman, Christopher Gillick, Erica Larson and Mayor LeRoy Kilber.

U.S. Senator John Thune stopped in Ipswich. He visited the Tiger Post and met with local residents.

Holy Cross Parish hosted an exposition of Sacred Relics on May 22. Father Carlos Martins spoke and shared more 150 relics on view in Father Bormann Hall.

The Ipswich boys were the Region 2B Track champions at the meet in Gettysburg on May 20. The girls were Region 2B runners-up. Several athletes qualified for the State B in Rapid City.

Named Outstanding Senior Athletes at the A/A Awards Night were Halle Heinz and Josh McQuarie. Scholar Awards were Lindsey Grabowska and Matthew Hettich.

The IHS girls were seventh in the team standings at the State B Track meet. The boys were ninth, earning the Ipswich teams the Combined Championship for State B.

JUNE

Edmunds and McPherson counties had a Safety Day Camp on June 2. Edmunds and McPherson County 4-H/Extension offices sponsored the event. Several safety classes were given.

Three candidates ran for two openings on the Ipswich School Board. Candidates for three-year terms on the board were incumbent Tadd Thorson, Dustin Geditz and Rhonda Geditz. Thorson and Dustin Geditz were elected.

Ipswich High School golfers qualified for the State B Meet in Brookings. The boys placed seventh, led by Luke Peterson, 12th and Chet Peterson, 25th. Halie Feldman, Ipswich's lone girl golfers was 19th.

Trail Days 2021 was June 19. The theme for the Saturday parade was "Salute to Essential Workers." Parade marshals were June Torrence-Heinz PA-C and Vickie Ernst PA-C. After the parade most activities were held at the Trail Complex, including food stands and games for all ages. After the Bulls and Broncs action, music was provided by Neal McCoy with Lainey Wilson.

Father Timothy Smith hit a hole-in-one at Split Rock Country Club on June 25 on Hole 2.

An open house was held on June 27 at the Richland Church to honor Pastor Ron Wickard on his retirement,

Due to dry conditions the Ipswich City banned aerial fireworks this year.

The National Honor Society was able to take their New York and Washington D.C. Educational Adventure this year. Last year the trip was planned, but had to be cancelled due to COVID. So this year 2020, 2021 and 2022 were invited.