HURON –– Summation of an entire calendar year is often difficult, and finding themes in 12 months of life for the more than 40,000 people that reside in the Plainsman’s coverage area is going to miss the main focus of the year for many. That makes an annual review both an important and a risky proposition.

This year, however, one main focus struck home throughout Huron and into the surrounding areas - construction.

Re-constructing the Heartland
The major project that will be remembered from 2024 didn’t even begin work for the first few months of the year, but by the end of the summer, residents and visitors alike were aware of the work being done on Dakota Ave. through the downtown corridor.

After nearly a dozen public meetings discussing the state’s Highway 37 project as it worked through town since 2020, the first phase of that work began in the Spring of 2024. The construction focus for this past year was from Market St. to Seventh St., the primary downtown area of Huron.

Four lanes without turn lanes from Market St. to Fifth St. were changed to two lanes with a turn lane in between throughout the stretch. While light poles and some of the other beautification items for the downtown area remain to be done, the road was completed in that stretch in November.

While the most prominent, Dakota Ave. was not the only construction done in the city this year. Streetwork done around Huron Arena and Campbell Park changed some of the access for the summer family nights in the park and also for fall sports action at Huron Arena. The parking lot on the North side of the Crossroads was completed and striped - twice!

Having to do a bit of rework became a theme of the construction projects this year, but none more than the new solid waste facility. A tremendous wind storm this summer came along just after the steel beams had been set. Rebuilding the foundation set the building timeframe back notably, but it is still on schedule to be completed early in 2025.

Champions
Huron Tiger athletics and the surrounding area were full of teams that enjoyed success this year.

On Feb. 23, Huron wrestler Moses Gross used three pins to reach the state championship match at 150 pounds, where he would defeat Joseph Nadig of Sturgis with an 8-3 decision.

Kellen Hurd of Miller/Highmore-Harrold won the state championship in Class “B” at 138 pounds and Grady Fey of Redfield capped an undefeated season with a win in the Class “B” heavyweight division.

That was the start of winter season success in the Heartland. De Smet and Wessington Springs each reached the Class “B” boys’ tournament, with the Bulldogs falling in the championship game to Howard and Wessington Springs taking fifth.

The Tigers rode a very young team, led by Sophomore Blake Ellwein to their first state tournament berth since 2019 (the team qualified for the 2020 tournament before COVID-19 canceled it). Huron defeated Sioux Falls Roosevelt to claim seventh place.

The James Valley Christian Lady Vikings also had a young team, making the state tournament for the first time since 2010, finishing seventh.

The winning continued in the spring as Clark/Willow Lake’s Brynn Roehrich shot a 12-over 152 to defeat Miller’s Jayce Pugh for the Class “B” state golf title June 4. The Wessington Springs boys’ golfers would score a one-stroke victory in the team title of the Class “B” tournament.

While dozens of athletes competed in the state track meet May 23-25, a pair of Sanborn Central/Woonsocket athletes were among the few to bring home state titles. Liz Boschee won the Class “A” girls javelin with a toss of 126-02. The Blackhawks’ Jeff Boschee won the high jump with a leap of 6-06.

Huron’s Legion baseball teams had some success throughout the summer, but the one team that struggled the most would finish the best. The Huron 13-14 team would sweep a pair of doubleheaders on the final regular season weekend to double their win total on the season, but they’d use that momentum in the state tournament, earning a state championship!

Fall sports brought more success to the Heartland. The Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds won the small group cheer title and finished second in the grand champion cheer in Class “A” and then the football team made it all the way to the DakotaDome in Vermillion before falling to Howard in the Class 9A championship.

The Miller Rustlers volleyball team had a tremendous season, earning the top seed in the Class “A” tournament. The Rustlers would fall to defending champion Sioux Falls Christian in the first round before bouncing back to claim fifth place. The Hitchcock-Tulare Lady Patriots finished fourth in the Class “B” tournament.

Finally, the James Valley Christian boys’ soccer made it to the state championship before falling in a thrilling championship game to Vermillion.

News over the year

Of course, sports success and rebuilding roads and buildings in the area were not the only happenings in the Heartland in 2024. Rep. Roger Chase served his final legislative session for the area in the 2024 legislative session. Lynn Schneider would also step aside, meaning both state representative roles for District 22 were open.

With three well-qualified candidates, Republican primary voters chose Kevin Van Diepen and Lana Greenfield. With no Democrat or other party challengers, the June primary became the de facto election for Van Diepen and Greenfield.

In April, Huron voters went to the polls to vote for a Mayor. Three candidates with extensive experience on the Huron City Commission ran, with Mark Robish winning with 44% of cast ballots. In the same April 9 election, voters re-elected Tim Van Berkum to the school board and chose Ray Cordona to replace Kristi Glanzer on the board, as she chose not to seek re-election.

While construction was a focus, this year brought a change in one of the iconic images of Huron, as the last remnant of the Dakota Pork plant was torn down and hauled away in May.

Also in May, attention was focused on Huron for reasons that no community wants to experience. On May 9, schools were locked down in town as a murder investigation occurred in town. Nichole Klich, a 41-year-old Huron woman, was found murdered, and eventually two juveniles would be charged with her murder. In December, both juveniles pled guilty and were sentenced to 25 years in prison for their crime.

The DEX continues to add to its diverse offerings as a premier hosting spot in the state for rodeos, concerts, and more. The ground was broken at the State Fair for The SHED, another new building project that should bring activity to the State Fairgrounds on a year-round basis.

Looking toward 2025
The Dakota Ave. project continues in 2025, with Market St. to Third St. N. and Seventh St. S. to Ninth St. S. to be completed in 2025. Meetings will also be held in 2025 regarding the next stretch of the Dakota Ave. project, going from Ninth St. S. to 21st St. S.

New events continue to debut at the DEX. In January, motocross riding will make its debut in the facility.

Happy New Year, and let’s all work together to make 2025 an amazing year in the Heartland!