Category Archives: State

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Tripp County is 12.

There were no new cases reported on Monday, Jan. 11.Since COVID started the total confirmed cases in this county is 543 with 614 recovered cases.

The number of deaths from the virus is 13. Statewide, 130 new cases were reported Monday. The state active cases is 5,102 with1,585 deaths.

There are currently 242 persons hospitalized.

The statewide recovered cases is 96,812.

The state Department of Health also reported 31,473 people have received the first dose of the vaccine while 842 people have received both doses.

Chief Justice Steven Jensen announced   the reappointment of the Honorable Bobbi Rank as Presiding Judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.    Judge Rank’s reappointment follows the selection of Steven Jensen as Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court.    

Pursuant to Article V, Section 11 of the South Dakota Constitution, Presiding Judges are appointed by the Chief Justice and serve at his pleasure.    The Presiding Judges are administrative heads of their respective circuits.    The Chief Justice expressed his appreciation for Judge Rank’s continued willingness to serve the Unified Judicial System and people of South Dakota in this manner.     

The Sixth Judicial Circuit consists of Bennett, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Todd and Tripp counties.

Tripp County saw no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, Jan. 4.

The active cases were 25 and there have been 12 deaths in Tripp County. The number of persons who have recovered from the virus in Tripp County totals 594.

In South Dakota on Monday, there were 86 new cases. The state death toll is at 1,513.There are 6,031 active cases in South Dakota.

There are currently 268 persons in the hospital.

The numbers the state reported on Saturday included data collected from 1 p.m. Dec. 30 to 1 p.m. Dec. 31 according to the Department of Health.

There are 25 active cases of COVID-19 in Tripp County. As of Monday, Dec. 28, there were no new cases reported.

In Tripp County there have been 584 recoveries and 64 have been hospitalized. There have been 11 deaths in Tripp County.

Statewide, as of Monday there were 246 new cases reported. The total active cases is 6,523.There are currently 288 persons hospitalized.

The total number of deaths is 1,446. Since COVID-19 started the total confirmed statewide cases is 88,894.

The state health department reported on Saturday the state administered 12,910 doses of either the Moderna or Pfzier vaccine.

Tripp County saw four new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The total number of active cases is 89 with 490 recovered. The total number of cases confirmed in Tripp County since COVID-19 started is 519. There have been 59 persons hospitalized and 10 deaths.

Statewide on Monday, there were 272 new cases.

The total number of active cases is 12, 623. Currently, there are 441 persons hospitalized.

The total deaths in the state is 1,259.

Tripp County saw the number of COVID-19 cases rise by two on Monday. The total confirmed cases in Tripp County since COVID started is 500. There are 130 active cases with 423 recovered. The total number of deaths in Tripp County is now up to nine.

Statewide on Monday, a total of 447 new cases were reported. This brings the active cases in the state to 16,432.There have been 68,449 persons who have recovered from the virus.

The total number of persons tested for COVID-19 is 339,995.The state death toll is at 1,110.In any measurement, November was the worse month in South Dakota. On Oct. 31, the state’s total sat at 425 deaths. That number would more than double in November with 946 deaths as of Nov. 30.

The state had an additional 118 deaths in the first four days of December.

Tripp County saw one new case of COVID-19 reported on Monday.

There are 131active cases and 377 recovered. Total confirmed cases since COVID started in Tripp County is 480.

The death toll in Tripp County is up to four. There were two deaths reported this weekend.

Statewide, as of Monday 455 new cases were reported by the South Dakota Department of Health.

There are 17,184 active cases.

Those who recovered are 62,334.

Current hospitalization is 546.The total number of statewide deaths is 946.

South Dakota reported a record 54 persons died from COVID-19 on Saturday.

Also Saturday the Department of Health reported 819 new cases.

Dan Forgey, Dallas, Republican Tripp County Commissioner from District 2 was re-elected in the Nov. 3 general election. Forgey will serve another four years on the county board. In the election, Forgey received 353 votes to226 for Independent Marla Liggett.

Erin Tobin of Winner was elected the new state senator from District 21. She received 2,269 votes in Tripp County and her challenger Dan Kerner Andersson, Burke, received 366 votes. Tobin earned 79 percent of the vote from District 21 with 7,627 votes. Andersson received 21 percent of the vote 2,000 votes. In a Facebook post after the election, Tobin said she is “excited for the things we well achieve with our strong voice together over the next two years.” Tobin thanked the candidates that ran this election cycle. “The fact that you stepped forward, added more to your daily to-dos, and gave it your best, is something to be proud of—win or lose.”

In the state representative race, Rocky Blare of Ideal and Caleb Finck of Tripp were elected and will serve two years in the state house. In Tripp County, Blare received 2,221 votes, Finck received 1,173 and Jessica Hegge of Platte, 486. Blare received 44 percent of the vote with from District 21 with 6,328 votes. Finck received 5,038 votes and Hegge. 2,908.

District 21 includes Bon Homme, Charles Mix, Gregory and Tripp Counties.

Mike Rounds was re-elected to the U.S. Senate. In Tripp County, Rounds received 81 percent of the vote as 2,188 votes were cast for him. His challenger was Dan Ahlers and he received 501 votes in Tripp County.

Dusty Johnson was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He received 90 percent of the vote in Tripp County. He received 2,359 votes to 267 for Randy Luallin.

The presidential race in Tripp County had a big turnout. Donald Trump received 80 percent of the vote and Joe Biden received 18 percent.

South Dakota voters took a strong stand on who they want to fill the state Public Utilities Commission position. Gary Hanson was the winner for a seat on the PUC. In Tripp County, he received 2,125 votes. Devin Saxon received 79 votes and Remi W.B. Bald Eagle received 376 votes.

In the state supreme court retention vote, votes over whelming chose to retain Justice Steve Jensen. In Tripp County, the justice received 2052 yes votes and 386 no votes. Statewide, Jensen received 81 percent of the vote.

South Dakota voters showed strong support for medical marijuana and also approved a measure to approve recreation use of marijuana. South Dakotans gave a 54 percent approval to Amendment A, which legalizes recreational use of marijuana. In Tripp County, Amendment A was defeated. The No votes were 1,651 and yes 998. However, Tripp County voters approved the medical use of marijuana which was Initiated measure 26. The yes votes were 1,471 and no 1,194. Statewide, both marijuana measures passed. They will not take effect until July 1, 2021.

Tripp County voters approved Amendment B which allows sports betting in Deadwood. This was a very narrow vote with 1,331 yes and 1,315 no.

Voter turnout was very high in Tripp County with a 74.53 percent voter turnout. There were 2,721 ballots cast. The number of registered voters in Tripp County is 6,351.Statewide voter turnout was 73.88 percent. In this election, many people voted absentee. In Tripp County, there were 1,079 absentee ballots cast.

The staff in the Tripp County Auditor’s office was finished counting ballots at 11:30p.m. on Nov. 3.

A group of organizations in South Dakota have joined to recommend and promote masking as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge throughout the state and wider region.   

Behind a simple message of “Mask Up South Dakota” and a hash tag of #MaskUpSoDak, these organizations include the South Dakota State Medical Association (SDSMA), Monument Health based in Rapid City, Avera Health and Sanford Health based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nurses Association (SDNA), South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO), South Dakota Municipal League, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, and School Administrators of South Dakota and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board.    

This group supports keeping South Dakota open, and the safest way to do that is to practice good hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks. This group is not seeking a mask mandate from government, but rather is calling on South Dakotans to help manage health care resources and workforce so our state’s health systems can help those who need to be hospitalized.    

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has affirmed that wearing masks can help communities slow the spread of COVID-19 when worn consistently and correctly by a majority of people in public settings. Masks are most effective when used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting.

According to South Dakota Department of Health data, the number of active cases, hospitalizations and deaths are increasing across the state and wider region. There are currently over 350 hospitalizations in South Dakota and over 11,000 active cases. To date, there have been 375 deaths due to the virus.    Increased cases and hospitalizations place a greater burden on health care facilities and health care workers, and is taking a toll on individuals, families and work places.

This group is asking South Dakota residents for a renewed and greater commitment to follow a list of preventive practices recommended by the CDC: 

• Wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose when around others.   

• Practice social distancing – put six feet of space (two arm lengths) between yourself and people who don’t live in your household. 

  • Practice good hand hygiene – wash hands often and use hand sanitizer.   

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. 

  • Stay home when you’re sick or have been exposed to the virus (except to get medical care).   

• Cover your cough and sneezes. 

• Monitor your health daily and watch for symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Governor Kristi Noem announced updates to expand the Small Business and Healthcare Provider Relief Program, which utilizes Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars to assist small businesses, community-based healthcare providers, and non-profits negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.     

“We are offering even greater flexibility for our small businesses and healthcare providers, the lifeblood of our community,” said Governor Noem. “South Dakota is in good shape, and these grant dollars will help our communities to bounce back stronger than ever.”   

For all grants, the application period has been extended by a week, to Oct. 30.