Looking back at 2022 - July to December

JULY

The Mina Lake Freedom Festival was held on July 3. There were family events throughout the day with fireworks that evening.

A thunderstorm late on July 3 left several inches of rain, causing flash flooding and road closings.

The Ipswich Fire Department was called to the Ramsey Crissman home early on July 4. The garage was destroyed by the fire.

The Ipswich City Council voted to hire Amanda Metzinger as City Finance Officer.

The First Baptist Church of Ipswich had to remove a section of the bell tower. Water had been damaging the structure. Rocks were removed and used to build new turrets on the remodelled section of the bell tower.

Father Tim Cone serves the Holy Cross Catholic Parish, beginning July 1.

A one-vehicle crash on Highway 45 ten miles south of Ipswich on July 24. Michael Rothacker, Sr. of Redfield was pronounced dead at the scene. His 2013 Ford Fusion was northbound when the vehicle rolled into the west ditch and eventually started on fire.

Pastor Zack Sippert will serve at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ipswich and Redeemer Lutheran in Bowdle.

AUGUST

Edmunds County Achievement Days was held August 3-5 in Ipswich. "4-H... Where Dreams Come True" was the 2022 theme. More than 240 static exhibits were judged, inluding those by 4-Hers, Cloverbuds and open class. Brynlee Rasmussen and Isaiah Kadlec were crowned the Cloverbud Royalty. Friday was the livestock judging. Friday evening it was revealed Kris Ulmer Scherr was the Secret Alumni and Jordan and Amanda Holt were the Family Herdsmanship Award winners. The event concluded with the Premium Sale.

The Ipswich City-Wide Rummage Sale was held August 6. There were more than 20 sales in town. The event is sponsored by the Commercial Club.

"How I Became a Pirate" was presented in the Ipswich Bandshell by the Storybook Land Theatre on Tour. The musical play was based on a children's book.

A fundraiser was held on Aug. 14 for Rachel and Ramsey Crissman, after a fire damaged their home on July 4. The event, sponsored by the First Baptist Church, featured lunch and silent auction in the Bandshell Park.

The IHS football season began on August 19 at home against Faulkton. The Tigers got their first win of the season,

Ipswich coach Todd Thorson was nominated for NHSACA National Coach of the Year honors in girls cross country.

The 2022-23 school year began on August 23. New staff members included Stewart Bohle, junior high social studies; Susan Glodt, Deerfield Colony; Jill Helvig, EL teacher; Haley Johnson, Pembrook Colony; Jeromy Loken, elemetary PE and Industrial Technology; and Jessica Sylte, elementary administrative assistant and paraprofessional.

Trail Days concert opener Thomas Mac returned to Ipswich on August 27 for "We're All In" in the Trail Days Complex. The event included music by Mac and the Urbandale Lane band, inflatables and food trucks.

The Tigers Volleyball season began on August 23. They started the season with two wins.

The Cross Country season began in Pierre on Aug. 19.

SEPTEMBER

IHS homecoming activities began with Coronation on Sept. 5. The theme was "Homecoming: A Netflix Original." Crowned IHS Royalty were Queen Kaitlyn Bierman and King Isaiah Goetz. Members of the royal court were Emily Knoll, Quincy Olivier, Ashley Ptacek, Ian Beyers, Carter Geditz and Evan Onken. The Gala Day parade was Sept. 9. The Tigers got a football win over Northwestern that evening.

Edmunds County 4-Hers earned ribbons and honors at the State Fair in Huron.

The Ipsodak Chapter of the National Honor Society held their Induction Ceremony on Sept. 20. New members are Hannah Beyers, Sam Grabowska, Trevor Heinz, Jace Konsor, Chet Peterson and Kadyn Weisser.

The IHS Marching Band participated in several festivals this fall, beginning with the Roncalli Marching Festival on Sept. 28. In October they marched in Groton, Gypsy Days, and Hobo Days in Brookings. They earned several honors at the events.

The Tigers played in the Lake Region Conference football classic in the Dakotah Bank Stadium on the NSU campus. Ipswich got a 50-30 win over Leola-Frederick on Sept. 24.

The Ipswich Lions Club provided vision screening for over 650 local children using the South Dakota Lions Foundation Vision Van.

Mike Donahue, founder of Value Up, a non-profit company dedicated to helping young people know and see their true intrinsic value, spoke in the Ipswich School Theatre on Sept, 30.

OCTOBER

Six IHS cross country runners qualified for the State B Meet at the 6B Regional Meet in Webster - Madisyn Gellhaus, Aubrey DeRaad, Gracyn Kadlec, Turner Thorson, Dylan Wald and Xavier Kadlec. The boys placed fourth at the State B. The girls team placed ninth. Gellhaus placed seventh in the girls race.

The Tiger football team traveled to Tyndall on Oct. 20 to play Bon Homme in the first round of the Class 9AA playoff. Bon Homme stopped the Tigers 42-20.

A quartet of IHS singers participated in the South Dakota All-State Chorus in Sioux Falls - Emily Knoll, Kamryn Boettcher, Lawson Santema and Gavin Waldman. This was Gavin's fifth year participating in the event.

Local businesses and individuals handed out Halloween treats on Oct. 30. The Trunk or Treat event was held downtown.

NOVEMBER

The IHS volleyball team won the opening match in the Regional 6B game against Lyman at home. But the Tigers were stopped by Faulkton in the next step of the Regional.

November 8 was election day for South Dakota. Locally, County Auditor Keith Schurr was re-elected over Daniel "D.J." Hardison. Micheal Geditz was elected to represent District 3 in County Commission.

The 2023 Ipswich Snow Queen was held on Nov. 12 in the school. Jailey Hutson was chosen Miss Ipswich and Junior Miss Ipswich was Gracyn Kadlec. Talent winners were Chancey and Charlee Kessler, junior, and Emily Knoll, senior.

The school hosted a Veterans Day program on Nov. 14, postponed from Nov. 11 due to weather issues. National Guard Captain Jeromy Loken administered the Oath of Enlistment to Kaitlyn Williams during the program.

The Ipswich Economic Development Corporation hosted "Business After Hours!" to discuss a list of recommendations to improve the local economy. They hope to continue similar sessions in 2023.

The Edmunds County Conservation District hosted an Open House at their new office built next to their tree shed.

Tyler Hettich was chosen as a member of the Class 9AA all-state football team. Ian Beyers was a honorable mention pick.

DECEMBER

The Ipswich/Bowdle wrestling team began their season in Ft. Pierre. The coach is Carter Heinz.

Three IHS band members were chosen to play in the 31st Annual South Dakota North Area Honor Band on Dec. 3. Hannah Beyers, Gavin Wollman and Lawson Santema were chosen.

Gramm Funeral Home was purchased by George and Stacey Schriver and will be known as Schriver Funeral Home.

Sam Grabowska qualified for the State B Oral Interpretation Festival in Mitchell. He earned a Superior rating in the Humorous Reading division.

The IHS Girls and Boys Basketball teams began the 2022-23 seasons.

The Wily Wizards 4-H Club again sponsored the Christmas at the Courthouse. The lighting event was Dec. 9 in the Courthouse.

The Commercial Club again sponsored their Hometown Holiday Weekend. Local businesses planned activities and the Annual Highway of Hope Holiday Fair was held, Santa stopped in with treats. Christmas lighting contest winners were Lane and Lindsey Forkel, Courtney Baer and Tracy and Paul Oster.

Strong winter storms moved through South Dakota, closing schools, offices and businesses in the county. Accumulating snow and strong winds made roadways impassable. Ipswich weather observer Marv Seyer measured 16" snow from Dec. 13 to Dec. 16. The next week the area dealt with low temperatures, as low as -18.