Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Daily Republic · Sioux Center, IA
Nearby: Sioux Center, IASIOUX CENTER, Iowa — Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer's quest for its first Great Plains Athletic Conference championship ran short on Tuesday night, as Dordt downed the Tigers 2-1 with a golden goal in overtime. With the win, No. 2-seeded Dordt (13-5-3) — which was picked eighth in the preseason GPAC coaches poll — will go to the NAIA men's soccer tournament for the first time with the conference's sole automatic bid. DWU, which was seeded fourth in the GPAC tournament and won the quarterfinal and semifinal matches in penalty kicks, finishes the season with a record of 9-6-2.
Daily Republic · Freeman, SD
Nearby: Freeman, SDVERMILLION, S.D. — With a Class 9A state football championship on the line, Freeman did what it does best on Thursday afternoon, putting up points in bunches and burying Bennett County under an offensive avalanche. The Flyers racked up 504 total yards from scrimmage — a balanced 292 through the air and 212 on the ground — on 45 plays, averaging more than a first down every time they snapped the ball at 11.2 yards per play. En route to a 57-12 victory over the Warriors, Freeman scored touchdowns on eight of its first 10 possessions and punted just once, that coming on a drive derailed by a penalty followed by a bad snap. It was as close to a perfect offensive performance as one could hope for in a state title game, yet, at the same time, it was business as usual for a Freeman team that eclipsed 50 points in 10 straight games to close out a 12-0 campaign. The Flyers finished the year averaging 54 points per game.
Daily Republic · Orange City, IA
Nearby: Orange City, IASIOUX CITY, Iowa — Third-seeded Morningside edged No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan in each of the three sets on Wednesday night and clinched a spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament championship with a semifinal victory at the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. Set scores were 25-20, 25-22 and 25-23. DWU (19-11) will await its national tournament fate on Monday, Nov. 16, when the 48-team NAIA field will be announced. Morningside (25-6) advances play No. 1-seeded Northwestern (29-1) in the GPAC championship on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Orange City, Iowa. If selected, it will be DWU's fifth all-time national tournament appearance and the fourth in the last six seasons. Morningside finished with a 48-43 edge in kills and hit .254 for the match, while DWU was hitting .197. DWU finished with a 9-5 lead in total blocks. In the first set, Morningside used a 7-1 stretch to take control and land the first salvo in the contest.
Burt County Independent · Walthill, NE
Nearby: Walthill, NEJohn Kruse, of Walthill, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Oct. 24, 2026, at Oakland Heights and Assisted Living Care Center. Born on July 26, 1926, in Walthill, at what is now The Susan La Flesche Picotte Center, John Kruse has led a life marked by commitment to family, community, and country. The son of Richard John Kruse and Ethel (Wallerstedt) Kruse, John’s early years were spent in the heartland of Nebraska, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for the land and its bounties. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ethel Kruse; his older sister, Marjorie Daugherty; his older brother Richard (Dick) Kruse; his younger brother, Paul Kruse; and stepson, Tommy Jones. John’s educational journey began at Walthill Public School, continuing in Omaha after his family’s move. A proud graduate of Central High School in 1944, John was a natural leader, serving as an ROTC Cadet Leader.
