Category Archives: News

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The South Dakota Newspaper Association is accepting nominees for the 2018 SDNA Eagle Award.

This award is given to an individual, group or organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to protect and promote openness and transparency in government.

“South Dakota has taken significant strides in advancing the ideals of open government in the past decade, thanks to people who have pressed for transparency and accountability from our elected officials,” said SDNA First Amendment Committee Chairman Tim Waltner, who recently retired as publisher and is continuing as a contributing editor at the Freeman Courier.

“Since 2001, SDNA has recognized some of those individuals through the Eagle Award, including government officials and citizens who have spoken out and stood firmly for the ideals of a well-informed citizenry that is at the heart of our democracy.

“Although we’ve made progress in protecting the ‘public’s right to know,’ the ongoing efforts of citizens, government officials and journalists are essential to ensure that a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” are more than just part a famous speech by Abraham Lincoln,” Waltner said. “Given the current political climate, the ideals of truth, responsibility, accountability and transparency have never been more important.”

The SDNA First Amendment Committee welcomes nominees for the 2018 Eagle Award to honor the efforts of those who have demonstrated their commitment to the ideals of open government.

The first SDNA Eagle Award was given to the 2001 South Dakota Supreme Court for its efforts helping open the Supreme Court to media cameras starting in August 2001.

Recipients of SDNA Eagle Award also include Mitchell School Board member Rodney Hall (2003), South Dakota States Attorney Larry Long (2004), Yankton County Commissioner Brian Hunhoff (2005), Codington County State’s Attorney Vince Foley (2006), state Sen. Jason Gant and the staff of the South Dakota State University Collegian (2007), state Sen. Nancy Turbak Berry (2008), state Sen. Dave Knudson (2009), Sioux Falls resident Gordon Heber (2010), state Sen. Al Novstrup (2012) and state Sen. Corey Brown (2016).

Any individual, group or organization that has demonstrated commitment to the ideals of open government in South Dakota is eligible to be nominated.

Nominations for the 2018 SDNA Eagle Award should be submitted in writing and sent to: SDNA Eagle Award, South Dakota Newspaper Association, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006. The deadline for nominations is March 15.

Contact SDNA Executive Director David Bordewyk for more information (800-658-3697).

Illegally Dumped Snow Causing Problems

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PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation reminds the public and commercial snow removal operators that it is illegal to place or dump excess snow on highway right of way, which includes driving surfaces, shoulders and ditches.

“The recent snowstorm across South Dakota has deposited a large amount of snow in some areas,” said Kristi Sandal, public information officer. “The space within the right of way needs to be reserved for future snow that may fall on the road. If the department’s plow operators do not have a place to put that snow, it severely hampers their ability to clear roadways.”

Violation of the anti-dumping law is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to one year in jail, $2,000 in fines, or both. It is the policy of the SDDOT to remove snow that has been illegally piled within the highway right of way that may be a safety hazard. In addition, violators will be billed for the costs of removing illegally dumped snow.

“Piling snow in the state highway right of way can be very dangerous,” says Sandal. “Snow piles can restrict sight distance, as well as present an extreme hazard if a vehicle leaves the roadway. Snow piles that remain adjacent to the road may cause additional drifting and visibility problems posing more safety hazards to travelers, as well as additional expenses for manpower and equipment to remove the illegally dumped snow.”

Property owners and access users are reminded it is their responsibility to remove snow from the ends of driveways and around their own mailboxes.

The department asks landowners and commercial snow-removal operators to keep excess snow on private property or haul it to legal dumping sites.

 

Hollenbeck Featured in Poetry Gathering

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Yvonne Hollenbeck of Clearfield will be one of the featured poets at the national cowboy poetry gathering Jan. 29-Feb. 3 in Elko, Nev.

This is an international festival that honors the arts, culture and traditions of the rural west.

Hollenbeck writes poetry about her life on a ranch where she helps with everyday duties.

Although her poetry is often humorous about situations that were not humorous when they happened, her writing also takes a serious side when she reflects upon the hardships experienced by her parents and ancestral family members.

 

Hand Game Team Places Second

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The Hanpa Tec’unpi Warriors hand game team took second place at the Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City.

Members of the team are Kristen Small, Nanette Eagle Star, Joslyn Felix, Jeslyn Felix, Serena Hardy and JaiWanda Roubideaux.

The team beat out Crazy Horse in the first round, St. Francis in the second round, Pine Ridge in the third round to go undefeated but lost in the fourth round, beat Crow Creek in the fifth round to come off the losers bracket. Then Winner beat Little Wound in the sixth round. In the championship round Winner won one and lost one to Rapid City for second place.

The Warriors also competed at the annual Flandreau Sioux Tribe Hand game tournament and won second place.

The team will be competing in the Dakota Oyate Challenge on Jan. 26 in Huron.

Local Retailer Named State Business Delegate

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John Meyer of Office Products Center in Winner was among the business owners and operators who served as Business Delegates at the South Dakota Retailers Association’s (SDRA) annual meeting and awards banquet on Monday, January 8th in Pierre.

As part of the Business Delegate program, business people from each legislative district were invited by SDRA to participate in a legislative briefing regarding issues expected to be considered during this year’s state legislative session.

The briefing kicked off with Gov. Dennis Daugaard providing information on recent sales tax activity in the state including how the farm economy, increased healthcare costs and losing tax dollars from e-commerce impacts the State’s budget.

Attendees also heard presentations from Senate President Pro Tempore Brock Greenfield (R-Clark), House Minority Leader Spencer Hawley (D-Brookings) as well as SDRA’s legislative team, who offered their thoughts on some of the retail issues to be considered during this year’s legislative session. The delegates had an opportunity to ask questions and voice their opinions about the issues.

Non-meandered waters were a hot topic of discussion throughout the afternoon. Other issues discussed included proposals regarding campaign finance and data security.

The briefing was followed by a dinner attended by SDRA Business Delegates, legislators, state constitutional officers and cabinet secretaries.

SDRA believes connecting legislators with business owners is important. This event gives legislators the opportunity to hear about real issues affecting their business community while educating retailers about becoming more active in the legislative process.

“It is imperative for legislators to understand how the laws they pass will impact the business community, and for retailers to understand how they can have a voice in the process,” state SDRA Board President Gary Cammack.

Russ Phillips, manager of the Tripp County Water User District named Rural Water System Manager of the Year

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The South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS) recently named Tripp County Water User District manager Russ Phillips as the top rural water manager during the organization’s Annual Technical Conference in Pierre.

Phillips has been employed by Tripp County Water User District for the last 22 years. He started with the district in 1995 as a water operator and through those years acquired his certification as a Class 2 water treatment and distribution operations specialist. Since Russ accepted the role as manager, he has grown in this position and has grown the system with his leadership abilities. The system just recently completed an $11,750,000 project, which added two new system water towers, and approximately 183 miles of new pipeline, rebuilding of four and the replacement of five booster pump stations, added 88 new users and also completed 91 meter pit installations. He is currently supervising the addition of a new tower read system and the process of getting it to work in the needed areas of the District.

Tripp County Water User District employs seven individuals who oversee over 2,600 hookups. The district serves water to the counties of Tripp, Gregory, Portions of Lyman, Mellette, and Todd, individually serves the towns of Witten, Wood, Herrick, Fairfax, and St. Charles, and bulk serves the towns of Colome, Dallas, Burke, Bonesteel, six Native American communities, and serves as backup for the town of Gregory.

The South Dakota Rural Water Annual Technical Conference in Pierre annually hosts over 500 individuals and provides water and wastewater educational presentations for board members, managers, and operations specialists from throughout South Dakota.

 

 

Warriors Claim First at Home Tournament

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Winner Area wrestling team captured the championship of its home tournament on Saturday. The Warriors scored 233.5 points for first place. Mobridge/Pollock scored 230 points for second place.

The Warriors had three individual champions: Kaden Keiser, Wyatt Turnquist and Sam Kruger.

Also placing for Winner Area were Riley Orel, 5th; Jack Kruger, 4th; Atlas Willuweit, 2nd; Aaron Gilchrist, 5th; Trevor Peters, 2nd; Preston Norrid, 4th; Riggin Shippy, 3rd; Landon Debus, 5th; Bosten Morehart, 4th; Achilles Willuweit, 2nd; Elijah Blare, 3rd.