Looking back at 2023 - January to June

From the 2023 files of the Ipswich Tribune and Roscoe-Hosmer Independent.

JANUARY

Dennis Hoyle of Roscoe received a Wildlife Habitat Award from the Izaak Walton League of America. He was recognized for conservation practices on his Edmunds County farm.

Edmunds Central School was one of the South Dakota schools that were six finalists for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national competition. Each finalist won $2,500 in technology and school supplies. EC was named the state winner. State Winners received a prize package of at least $12,000 in technology and school supplies.

The Ipswich School Theatre hosted the Region 7B One-Act Play contest. The Edmunds Central play "Epic Fail" was judged the top play on the contest and qualified to compete at the State One Act Festival in Sioux Falls. The judges recognized EC actors for their Superior Performer Awards: Ember Geist, Kale Secker, Kelsey Lehr, Grace Roth, and Sophia Kroll.

Local Snow Queens won honors in the South Dakota Snow Queen in Aberdeen. Miss Ipswich Jailey Hutson was crowned the Princess of Summer and Miss North Central Jasmin Garcia was crowned the Princess of Spring.

The headliner for Trail Days 2023 was announced – Priscilla Block. The annual concert was planned on June 17 in Ipswich.

Volunteers began work on remodelling the Roscoe American Legion Post. Donations are sought to fund the job in the future.

Ipswich Lions Lester and Colleen Forkel received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. The award is the foundation's highest honor, recognizing commitment to humanitarian work and service to others.

The annual Holy Cross Knights of Columbus free throw contest was held on Jan. 22 in the Holy Cross gymnasium. Brayden Heyne and Seth Hettick continued to compete in the District competition in Aberdeen, qualifying in their age divisions for state competition. They each placed third in their age division at the state competition in Chamberlain in March,

The 2022 Ipswich Betterment Award was presented to Twila Thorstenson by the Ipswich Commercial Club.

FEBRUARY

The Edmunds Central School P.A.C. and Student Council hosted "Jaxon and Jhett Hartung Fan Support Night" in Roscoe on Feb. 3 during the North Central vs. Ipswich basketball games. The fans helped funds for the Hartung family.

The Edmunds Central one-act play "Epic Fail" was named a Class B Superior Play on Feb. 4 in O'Gorman School in Sioux Falls. Actors Ember Geist and Grace Roth were named Superior actors.

Ipswich middle school wrestlers competed in the Middle School South Dakota Wresting Championships on Feb. 11 in Pierre. Sophia Knittel won first place in the Girls Division.

Ipswich coach Todd Thorson was named a finalist in the 2023 National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSAA) Coach of the Year. Thorson, nominated for Girls Cross Country, was one of eight national finalists.

Edmunds Central kicked a 50-state Library Reading challenge. The classes speak with a person in another state who reads to them. They also tell about their state. They completed the project in May.

North Central basketball teams were stopped in Region 6A tournament games.

Three Ipswich/Bowdle wrestlers qualified to compete in the State B Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City – Justin Rohrbach, Kadyn Weisser and Lucas Rowland. Rowland earned sixth place.

The Ipswich girls basketball team was stopped by Sully Buttes in the Region 6B Tournament.

MARCH

The Missoula Children's Theatre worked with Edmunds Central students. They presented the play "Rumpelstiltskin."

Edmunds County State's Attorney Vaughn Beck was appointed to the Board of Pardons and Paroles by South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.

The Ipswich boys earned co-champions in Region 6B. They were defeated by Aberdeen Christian in the SoDak 16 on March 7.

The IHS yearbook staff achieved the 2022 Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award at the GOLD level.

EC School superintendent Kevin Kunz announced the school would transition three student Friday help days to partial school days to make-up some of the instructional time that has been lost due to weather.

IHS art students Quincy Olivier, Kamryn Boettcher and Cody Russell entered artwork in the SDHSAA Visual State Art Competition in Rapid City. Quincy and Kamryn earned second place and Cody was third place in the State B division.

Ipswich art teacher Angela Shimitz was named the S.D. Art Educator of the Year.

The Edmunds County Conservation District hosted a soil workshop on the importance of cover crops.

The Edmunds Central Senior Trip sent them to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The nine seniors and two chaperones left for Washington, D.C. on March 27.

APRIL

Ipswich voters re-elected LeRoy Kilber Mayor on April 11. He topped Hank Baker by only six votes, Incumbent Council members elected unopposed were Chris Gillick, David Coisman and Erica Larson.

It was announced that the nominees for the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame included Ipswich native Harvey Hammrich. The induction was in September 2023.

Edmunds Central teacher Spencer Cody was selected to be part of the Nourish the Future Leader Community, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. They work with science teachers to foster critical thinking, connect students to modern agriculture, and provide science-based resources in the classroom.

The Edmunds Central Parent Advisory Committee (P.A.C.) hosted a MOMentum event on April 15 in the Roscoe Legion Post. The event featured journalist and founder of Emily's Hope Angela Kenecke. She spoke about on the growing epidemic of fentanyl poisoning and the death of her daughter Emily's death.

An Ipswich School cast presented "Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" on April 21. The play featured a variety of storybook characters.

The Marcus B. Beebe Library in Ipswich received a $1,500 grant for the summer reading program.

MAY

The First State Bank of Roscoe celebrated their 120th anniversary. They celebrated with cash drawings and a meal on May 23.

Ipswich Special Olympians competed in the Northeast Area Track Meet in Milbank on May 5. Several Ipswich athletes won events.

Local seniors were honored at the 33rd Annual Academic Excellance Recognition luncheon in Pierre. Tyler Hettich of Ipswich and Maria Ulmer of Edmunds Central were among the honorees.

The Ipswich Senior Class graduated on May 13 in the school gym. Valedictorian Tyler Hettich and Salutatorian Ashley Ptacek spoke.

The Edmunds Central Class of 2023 graduated on May 20. ECHS teacher Chad Richardt was the commencement speaker.

The Ipswich boys and girls won first place honors at the Regional 6B Track and Field meet in Gettysburg. Several athletes earned trips to the State B meet. The IHS boys were the State B Track and Field Champions, tying with Gregory with 54 points.

The North Central girls track team was second in Region 6A competition.

IHS golf team earned a trip to the State B meet in Watertown. The boys team members were Chet Peterson, Jace Konsor, Tucker Beyers and Hayden Schlosser. The boys placed fifth at the State B meet.

Edmunds Central golf team qualfied for the State B meet in Watertown. The EC team was second in the region. EC golfers were Cole Bukaske, Harrison Beyers, Seth Hettick and Trent Beyers. They placed 13th as a team in the State B.

Ipswich juniors Hannah Beyers, Evelyn Tran were chosen to attend Girls State and Adam Kanable attended Boys State. Edmunds Central juniors Alanna Wiedrich and Grant Fischer also Girls and Boys State.

JUNE

The Court St. Katharine Drexel #2516 celebrated their 20th Anniversary in St. Thomas Catholic Church in Roscoe. Entertainment was provided by Sister Act from Sioux Falls.

Three candidates vyed for a single spot on the Ipswich School Board – incumbent Todd Hettich, Scott Braun and Rhonda Geditz, Braun was elected, with one vote more than Hettich. Later the Board appointed Hettich to fill an opening on the board,

Ipswich Trail Days was held June 16-17-18. A parade began the festivities on June 17. Saturday afternoon the Bulls and Broncs event was held, Later, Priscilla Block was the concert headliner. Urbandale Lane was the opening act. Activities were held Saturday afternoon near the Yellowstone Trail Arena.

The 75th Annual Meeting of the FEM Electric members was held on June 27 in Ipswich.