By Tim Huether

Bennett County had several students compete at the State JAG competition in Martin May 1, with Shikayla Faubion placing second in Employability Skills, and Thea DuBray placing third in Public Speaking, qualifying them for the National event in Washington, D.C.

JAG is in seven high schools and three middle schools across the state of South Dakota. In the spring, JAG holds a state…

Read more: State JAG Competition held in Martin

MARTIN –  May 5th has be declared a national day of awareness for missing and murdered Native American women and girls on Wednesday nationwide. Events are being held across Indian country to raise awareness of the large numbers of Native women and girls who go missing and are murdered each year.  

On Saturday, May 5, at 10 a.m., an awareness walk will be from Sunrise Housing to the…

Read more: Martin plans day of awareness event for missing and murdered Native women May 5

Read more: Queen Jeryn Robinson and King Dean Laverack

One person died in a two-vehicle crash that occurred last Friday at 8:55 a.m, at mile marker 26 on Hwy 73, approx. 13 miles from Martin and 15 miles south of Long Valley.

A 1996 Kenworth T600 semi-truck and trailer driven by Tagg Petrak, 21, of Martin, was southbound on South Dakota Highway 73 and was preparing to make a right-hand turn into a field. A 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickup, driven…

Read more: Crash on Hwy 73 leaves one dead

By Tim Huether

The old building on the corner of Third Avenue and Main Street in Martin, recently known as the Justus Building, was demolished and hauled to the Martin City dump last weekend, ending the structures century old existence in the community. 

The lack of upkeep caused the demise of the structure, and the most recent owners had left town and did not pay the taxes, resulting in the…

Read more: Main Street building demo sad, but necessary

By Tim Huether

The Bennett County School Board will need to fill the seat to be vacated by Kevin Hodson as nobody took out an application for Hodson’s expiring term, including Hodson.

Board chairman Mike Olson said he encourages anyone interested in serving on the board, to stop in at the business office and take out an application. The board will review all applicants for the position and select…

Read more: School Board in need of new board member with lack of applicant

By Taylor Risse

At the March 7, meeting the Bennett County Board of Commissioners voiced their decision to the question that has been on everyone’s mind, “Will we opt out again?”

It was approved, with a vote of 5-0 to opt out again, this time for $300,000 for 5 years, 2019-2023. This is $50,000 less than the opt out voted on in 2013.

The public has a right to put the decision to a vote of the…

Read more: Commissioners vote for $300,000 5 year Opt Out

By Tim Huether

Daniel and Rangler Ceplecha entered pleas of guilty to first degree manslaughter in a plea agreement with the State of South Dakota at a change of plea hearing February 28, in Martin at the Bennett County Courthouse. Their sentencing date is set for June 6, 2018.

The Ceplechas were awaiting trial after previously entering pleas of not guilty to charges of first degree murder, an…

Read more: Dan and Rangler Ceplecha plead guilty to first degree manslaughter

By Larry Gauer

Calls to Jeanne Kirk, Martin City Finance Officer and to Jolene Robinson, co-business manager of the Bennett County School District revealed that there will be no city/school election this year. 

According to Finance Officer Kirk Shirley McCue-Ward II, Angie Hicks-Ward II and Chuck Gotheridge-Ward I handed in petitions to retain their alderman seats while Gregg Claussen did not…

Read more: No city/school elections this year