Clark County Courier

09/04/2026

Luanne Warren's quilting journey stitched with patience and purpose.

September is National Sewing Month, a time to celebrate the artistry, creativity and dedication of those who bring fabric to life though needle and thread. For retired Clark School District teacher and superintendent Luanne Warren, quilting has become much more than a hobby. Although she began quilting seriously in retirement, her earliest memories of quilting stretch back to just three or four years old, with her grandmother in her quilting club. "I was stuck between two quilting ladies for most of the day, and they kept feeding me marshmallow Peeps, so they didn't have to run after me," Warren recalls. The reconnection with the craft happened fifteen years ago, when Warren was attending a craft fair in Sioux Falls and she spotted a $300 quilt she loved. "...I thought, 'No way. I can make it for that!'" she reminisced.

Like many beginners, Warren quickly discovered that quilting involves far more than simply sewing pieces together. Color selection, fabric collecting, matching corners, aligning seams, squaring up pieces, attention to detail and patience are just a portion of the skills required to create a quilt masterpiece. Today, Warren continues learning new techniques. "I give kudos to the master quilters of our community," she says. Their mentorship and friendship have enriched her quilting journey. Warren enjoys creating for others: baby quilts, life-themed quilts, holiday quilts and t-shirt quilts from cherished clothing. The idea of creating something lasting is what motivates her the most, and she hopes to leave a collection of quilts for future generations to remember her by.

Luanne Warren is pictured below displaying the first quilt she made. Photo by Tara Knutson.

📰 To read her full story, get an online subscription at:
https://www.clarkcountypublishing.com/my-membership-options-page/
🗞 Or for a physical copy of this edition, visit the Clark County Courier office, Ken's, Gas Plus or Big C Travel Plaza in Clark, 212 One Stop in Henry, or Lake Grocery in Willow Lake.

09/03/2026

The Cyclones set their sights on state as Turnquist takes the reins.

The Clark-Willow Lake cross country teams open the season with a new head coach, a deep roster and all eyes on Rapid City. The cross county program is heading into the Fall 2026 season under new leadership, with Alicia Turnquist stepping into the head coaching role after three years as an assistant under Tammie Paulson. Turnquist takes over a program built on depth, determination and a clear target: getting as many runners as possible to the state meet in Rapid City at the end of October. Turnquist explained, "For our returning runners, we are hoping to see their times get faster from previous seasons; and for our new runners, we are hoping to see their times improve over the season. The Cyclones had previously capped a remarkable 2025 campaign in the girls' varsity ranks in Class A with a four-peat in Region 2A dating back to 2022.

Early-season training has centered on translating stamina into speed, which has begun to show in the team's mentality heading into competition. "Our team strengths include determination and competitive attitudes," Coach Turnquist commented. "This year, some of our younger runners have really stepped up and pushed themselves in turn, pushing the rest of the team as well." She's eager to see how far the team can go with the first races arriving this week. The Cyclones open their season in Sioux Falls, with the state meet in Rapid City looming as the ultimate goal in October.

Pictured below are Johanna Vandersnick (left) and Hadley Gjerde (right) as they begin their final high school cross country season. They are both seniors at Willow Lake High School. Photo by Heather Jordan.

📰 To read their full story, get an online subscription at:
https://www.clarkcountypublishing.com/my-membership-options-page/
🗞 Or for a physical copy of this edition, visit the Clark County Courier office, Ken's, Gas Plus or Big C Travel Plaza in Clark, 212 One Stop in Henry, or Lake Grocery in Willow Lake.

09/02/2026

📅✏️ Mark your calendars! Check out this week's community calendar below!

09/01/2026

🍎 The 2026 Willow Lake School District 12-3 year is right around the corner! Please refer to the graphic below for important information such as staff, school lunches, relevant dates, events, etc. 🍎

09/01/2026

❗The Clark County Courier office will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday❗

If you have any news stories, legals or advertising for next week's edition of the Clark County Courier, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (605) 532-3654 by FRIDAY of this week. Mailed items may NOT reach us in time for the next publication.

*News correspondents can send their info on Tuesday or call Tuesday morning. Thank you.

08/31/2026

📄Clark County Commissioners Meeting Agenda for September 1, 2026, at 8:00 A.M. at the Clark County Courthouse.
https://clark.sdcounties.org/county-commission-meetings/

08/31/2026