By Mary C. Hunt

Gabe Fanning, a son of Jason and Andrea Fanning, has been selected as a United States Senate Page for the Spring 2019 term. He was nominated by Senator John Thune. Fanning will be one of only 30 high school juniors who will serve during this session of the 116th Congress.

Fanning will serve as a page not only for Thune but for all of the Republican senators. His days will be long…

Read more: Gabe Fanning, BCHS junior, selected to be US Senate Page

By Mary C. Hunt

At least three woman in Bennett County are victims of fraud at the hands of thieves who claim to be representing Publishers Clearing House and informing them that they are big winners. The problem is this is a scam and instead of winning a big cash prize, local people are falling victim to identity theft, credit theft and bank fraud. 

The imposters persuaded their victims to…

Read more: Active scam going on in Bennett County

By Tim Huether

Brad and Shelly Otte, owners of Martin Livestock Auction and Cafe, have announced the sale of the property to Brian and Dawn Jaeger and Ross and Amy Ringling of Platte, ending 68 years of family ownership. The new owners will take over in early February and will keep the same services offered now, including the cafe.

The first sale barn in Martin was called Martin Livestock…

Read more: Ottes sell Martin Livestock Auction and Cafe

PIERRE, SD (January 5, 2019) – Two Republican incumbent legislators officially filed challenges to District 27’s Representative-elect Peri Pourier (D-Rushville, NE), and Senator-Elect Red Dawn Foster’s (D-Denver, CO) Constitutional residency qualifications to be seated in the South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota’s Constitution Article III Section 3 qualification requirements for Legislative…

Read more: Legislators file challenge to contested District 27 legislators residency

By Tim Huether

On January 1, Matt and Judy Kratovil handed over the keys of the Martin True Value Hardware store to Tate and Amanda LaCroix, ending a 32-year run of the store residing in the hands of someone in Judy’s family.

The sale to the LaCroix ended 19 years of ownership by Matt and Judy and prior to that, Judy’s family had owned the store since 1976 when it was a Coast to Coast store.

Glenn…

Read more: Kratovils sell True Value Ending 32 years of family ownership in the store

Read more: Bee turns 101

By Mary C. Hunt

If a small town is lucky, it’s got some folks who spread Christmas cheer throughout the season. Martin’s got at least one who makes holiday merriment while wearing her signature elf hat. She’s Martha Ann Riggs.

Born at Richmond, Kentucky, she was raised in Bowling Green, the only child of Stanley Matthews Stagg and Ethel (Walters) Stagg. Although Martha has been out here for…

Read more: Get to know Martin’s Christmas lady: Martha Riggs

By Mary C. Hunt

A public meeting was held on Monday, December 10, 2018, at the Martin Activity Center to discuss plans for Pass Creek Wind, a utility-scale wind energy project planned for Bennett County north of Martin. Approximately 35 people attended the meeting including Bennett County Commissioners, local ranchers and members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. 

7G Renewable Energy, a partnership…

Read more: Public meeting held for Pass Creek Wind

By Tim Huether

Just over two long years since they were arrested for the murder of Moses Red Bear, Daniel Ceplecha, 58, and his son, Rangler Ceplecha, 24, of Martin, were sentenced to Life in Prison with no possibility of parole in the South Dakota State Penitentiary by Sixth Circuit Court Judge Bobbi Rank, November 30, in Martin.

After comments from the defense attorneys, the states attorney,…

Read more: Dan and Rangler Ceplecha sentenced to Life in Prison