.

Another South Dakota nursing home is closing its doors. Prairie Estates Care Center in Elk Point has announced its upcoming closure as of Jan. 14, 2023. The closure is due to a combination of the ongoing underfunding of Medicaid, the current staffing crisis and costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

.

South Dakota is working to prevent suicide among veterans and act ive duty military. Persistent stress can affect anyone, and those who have served or are currently serving may be at greater risk for suicide than others.

In celebration of Veterans Day, Western Governors University (WGU) has launched a new scholarship for active-duty military personnel, veterans and their spouses who are interested in furthering their education. The “Military Appreciation Scholarship” valued at up to $2,500 each, is open to new students who plan on enrolling in any of the online, nonprofit university’s 60 + undergraduate and graduate degree programs in IT, business, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing.

.

.

When Sherri (Taylor) Bousquet was a junior in High School, the band director Bob Reid, appointed her to be the drum major for the marching band. Little did she know, it was a talent of leadership and love for music that she would pass down to her two daughters, Sydney and Aubrey.

The official counts for school enrollment are taken the last Friday in September. At the Nov. 14 Elk Point-Jefferson School board meeting, Superintendent Phillip Schonebaum informed the board that the district’s official count was 686. The unofficial count, since the school has two enrolled students from Iowa, is 688. This is down by seven students from last year’s 693 count.

If Gov. Kristi Noem doesn’t ful_ll her campaign pledge to repeal the South Dakota sales tax on food during the 2023 legislative session, voters may get a chance to decide the issue on the 2024 ballot.