Looking back at 2024

JULY

The Mina Freedom Festival began with Kids Fishing for Freedom on July 3. Followed by activities for youth. The Lizzy Hofer Band provided entertainment at the Wakeside followed by Fireworks Extravanga.

The Hosmer American Legion hosted a Burger and Hot Dog Cookout on July 6.

The Roscoe Summer Youth Baseball and Softball teams attended a team camp at Northern State University.

The ninth annual Side x Side Poker Run was held in Roscoe on July 14. Another fundraiser was held on July 17. The Roscoe Bike-A-Thon began at the Roscoe Park for all youth 18 and younger. Fifty-four riders drove 707 miles in three routes over two hours.

Edmunds Central students, as well as teachers from 14 school districts from South and North Dakota, participated in the Ocean Dakotas Institute. They studied ocean science and careers. The experience spanned nine days traveling by bus from Roscoe to the New England coast in Maine and Cape Cod. The experience was funded by the National Marine Sanctuaries and NOAA.

Edmunds County received $5,000 for mosquito control from the South Dakota Department of Health to combat the spread of West Nile Virus.

Hosmer, Ipswich and Roscoe Volunteer Fire Departments received grant funds from South Dakota for personal protective equipment.

Ipswich City received a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan to construct a storm sewer system.

The Edmunds County Commission passed a Resolution to add a 50¢ per thousand Road & Bridge Reserve Levy to raise tax dollars for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, constructing and reconstructing roads and bridges within Edmunds County.

South Dakota Senator John Thune stopped in Edmunds County communities.

An auction was held on July 26 to sell St. Paul's Congregational Church real estate and property in Hosmer.

The 14th Annual Hosmer Lawnmower Poker Run had a record 20 hands played. The event raise funds for equipment for the Hosmer Fire Department.

AUGUST

Edmunds County Achievement Days had a new schedule in 2024. The activities began with the Cat Show and Horse Show & Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 4 until Tuesday, Aug. 6. 4-H Royalty were Queen Hannah Beyers and King Nicholas Fuhrmann. Cloverbud Royalty were Cooper Galbraith and Hazel Beyers.

The Storybook Land Theatre on Tour presented "A Year with Frog and Toad" in Roscoe and Ipswich.

The Ipswich 2024-25 school year began on August 21. The Edmunds Central School year began on Aug. 19.

The Roscoe Board of Trustees made plans to construct a new City Hall.

A benefit was held on Aug. 24 for John Meuwissen of Hosmer to help offset medical expenses with injuries sustained in an accident.

Twenty-nine teachers from 15 school districts across South Dakota participated in the Honey Production Education Institute in Roscoe. The teachers spent two days learning about bees and honey production.

The Edmunds Central School Board voted to appoint Hanna Gehm to a one-year term for the board seat vacate by Aaron Roth's resignation.

SEPTEMBER

Author Dan Gemeinhart worked with Edmunds Central K-12 students on Sept. 11. The visit was sponsored by the First State Bank of Roscoe.

The Ipswich Lions offered vision screening for local school children.

Ipswich High School Gala Week festvities began with Coronation on Sept. 9. Jaydin Stiles was crowned Queen and Maxwell Kulesa was crowned King. The Royal Court also included Reaghan Bowers, Kathryn Kilber, Rylee Kleffman. Nicholas Fuhrmann, Tucker Kadlec, and Sawyer Kirkham. The Gala Day parade was Sept. 13. The theme was Olympics. The Tigers won the homecoming football game vs. Northwestern.

A benefit was held for Tasia Rivera on Sept. 21 in Roscoe. The proceeds go to her and famiy for medical and expenses. Tasia was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The Ipswich Ambulance and Fire Department had a practice accident drill at the baseball field. Ipswich and Edmunds Central students watched as they responded to the mock two-vehicle accident. The Avera Care Flight helicopter also responded to the accident.

The annual Powell Church worship service was in the Ipswich Pioneer Village on Sept. 15.

Ray Geditz was among the recipients of the S.D. Farm Bureau 2024 Quasquicentennial Farm and Ranch Award for farms and ranches that have been in the same family for 100 years or longer.

OCTOBER

Edmunds Central Homecoming festivities began Oct. 7 with coronation. Kelsey Lehr was crowned Queen and Clark Beyers was crowned King. Royal Court members were Carlee Crawford, Ashley Lee, Avery Beyers and Theodore Haerter. The 2024 theme was "Holidays: Celebrating Thunder Success Year-Round." The junior class had a picnic Friday, Oct. 11 followed by the Homecoming Parade.

The Ipswich girls Cross Country won the Lake Region Conference championship in Ipswich. The North Central boys were also conference championships when the YTC meet was held in Gettysburg.

Lance Perrion was one of young agriculture producers invited to meet with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the White House as a part of the Farmers and Ranchers in Action event.

The North Central Cross Country boys were the Region 4B Champions and qualified for the State B meet in Rapid City. The NC girls were third in the Region. The Thunder boys placed third in the Mens 5,000 Meters Varsity Race with 48 points.

The Ipswich girls Cross Country placed in Region 1B. Five girls were in the top 20 and qualified for the State B meet in Rapid City. The Tigers girls placed second at the State B Womens 5,000 Meter Race with 42 points. Madisyn Gellhaus placed second behind Ella Boelekheide.

The IHS Tigers football ended the regular season with a 6-2 record. They qualified to play in the play-offs. The Tigers defeated Estelline/Hendricks 44-12 in Ipswich. Then the Tigers were stopped by Howard there.

Halloween was celebrated with Trunk and Treat festivites. In Ipswich Grandma's Ceramics sponsored a Halloween Festival with games and treats. The Roscoe Community Club hosted a Trunk or Treat event on Halloween. The Edmunds Central FFA and Student Council had a Halloween Carnival.

The Municipal League inducted James Fonder and Dale Hettick into the SDML Hall of Fame for their service to Roscoe.

NOVEMBER

Ipswich and North Central volleyball teams played in the Region 6B Tournament. Neither qualified for the SoDak 16 finals.

Agtegra received an USDA grant to expand their fertilizer manufacturing abilities.

Edmunds Central and Ipswich Schools honored veterans with Veterans Day programs.

The Ipswich Snow Queen was sponsored by the Ipswich Commercial Club on Nov. 9. Kathryn Kilber was the lone senior candidate. Isabella Henderson was chosen the Junior Snow Queen. Gracyn Kadlec will participate in the Talent Show.

The Edmunds Central Snow Queen Festivities was Nov, 10 in the Roscoe Legion. Sophia Kroll was chosen the Junior Snow Queen.

NC cross country runner Gabe Johnson ran in the Nike Heartland Regional Championship on Nov. 10 in Sioux Falls. He placed 47th in his heat of 340 runners.

The Edmunds County voter turnout was 76.15% for the Nov. 5 General Election.

IHS Tiger Justin Rohrbach was named to the S.D. 9A Football All-State roster as a defensive lineman. Honorable mention honors went to Max Kulesa and Kyle Hettich.

An Edmunds Central cast presented "We'll be Right Back After This Murder..." on Nov. 22.

The ground breaking was held on Nov. 19 for the Edmunds County Law Enforcement Center and Jail on the land next to the Courthouse.

The trial for Jeromy Loken was held in McPherson County beginning on Nov. 18. He was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor by a person in a position of authority and sexual contatct with a minor. Later he was sentenced to four years in prison. Loken was acquitted of the rape charge.

DECEMBER

Marv Seyer wrote a sports book, "The Prosperous Years of Ipswich School Sports." It was dedicated to Angela Heinz, a IHS student/athlete who has passed away.

The Christmas holiday was celebrated in local communities. Hosmer had a Holiday Fair on Nov. 30. Ipswich Commercial Club sponsored the Hometown Holiday Weekend and Fair Dec. 5-7. The Roscoe Community Club had a Lighted Christmas Parade on Dec. 15. Local organizations and businesses displayed decorated Christmas trees in the Courthouse, with the lighting ceremony on Dec. 7.

Ipswich musician Bella Unser was part of the South Dakota North Area Honor Band. They presented their concert on Dec. 7.

Edmunds Central junior Kelsey Lehr placed third in the SD Big Idea Project competition. She was also honored for her performance in the Elevator Pitch Contest.