Category Archives: State

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation says chip seal and fog seal applications will be applied to several highways in the central area of the state beginning Wednesday, July 29, 2015, weather permitting.
The contractor plans to chip seal the following routes in the following order with fog sealing closely following.
1.      Highway 63 – 28 miles, from the Highway 18/63 junction north to the Highway 44/63 junction, (includes BIA Route/Norris Road).
2.      Highway 44 – 14 miles, from the Highway 83/44 junction to Wood.
3.      Highway 248 – 19 miles, located between Murdo and the Highway 83/248 junction (Vivian).
4.      Highway 49 – 12 miles, from Hamill to the Highway 47/49 junction.
5.      Highway 47 – 16 miles, from two miles south of Iona to the Highway 47/49 junction.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane and guided through the work zone with the use of flaggers and a pilot car.  Delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected while traveling through the work areas during daytime hours.
Loose gravel and fresh oil will be present for a period of 36 to 72 hours after each day’s chip seal application. It is recommended that traffic reduce speed to 40 mph or use an alternate route during this time.
Hills Materials from Rapid City is the contractor on this $1.8 million contract. The overall completion date for the project is Sept. 26, 2015.
For more information, contact Doug Sherman or Brad Norrid at 605-842-0810.
Road construction information is available at www.safetravelusa.com/sd or by dialing 511.

Due to the expected increased traffic volumes during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and the anticipated reduced operating speeds, speed limits will be reduced on the following highways effective Friday, July 24, 2015.

•Interstate 90 speed limit will be reduced from 75 mph to 65 mph from west of the Deadwood Avenue Exit 55 in Rapid City to east of the Lazelle Street Exit 30 in Sturgis.
•Highway 34 speed limit will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph from Blanche Street in Sturgis to 3.8 miles east of Sturgis.
•Highway 79 speed limit will be reduced from 65 mph to 45 mph from the junction of Highway 34 to 1.5 miles north.

The reduced speed limits will be in effect through at least Aug. 10, some may remain in effect until Aug. 15 depending on traffic volumes.

“Reducing the speed limit in these areas is intended to keep motorists safe, reduce rear-end collisions and keep traffic moving in and around Sturgis, says Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist. “Patience will be key for everyone to enjoy their time at the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.”

For complete road construction information, visit www.safetravelusa.com/sd or dial 511

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced the launch of his new, permanent website, www.rounds.senate.gov.

“My new website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it convenient for South Dakotans to contact me with their issues,” said Rounds. “Visitors to my website can send me their thoughts and concerns, receive help with a federal agency, learn how I’ve voted on legislation and much more.”

Rounds website was designed to better serve South Dakotans by giving them easier access to services and resources provided by his office. Suggestions on website improvements are welcome and can be submitted at www.rounds.senate.gov/contact/email-mike.

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard is embarking on an initiative to bring back the native landscape of South Dakota to Hilger’s Gulch and save taxpayer money.
“This is a planned transformation and it’s going to save us time and money,” Gov. Daugaard said. “On average the state has spent around $36,000 annually for irrigation and $23,000 annually for mowing, fertilizing and weed treatment. In dry years, the water bills have approached $50,000. We’re taking this project on as an effort to be better stewards of that money.”

July and August are target months for residential break-ins– Nothing is more exciting than packing and getting ready for that much needed summer vacation to “get away from it all.”  Unfortunately, some vacationers will find “it all” no longer there when they return home. The FBI warns that July and August are the worst months for home break-ins. According to the Insurance Information Institute, more than 2.15 million burglaries occur each year and more than 65 percent of them are residential break-ins. Before taking that well-deserved trip, AAA South Dakota advises travelers to prepare their homes against burglary.
“Summer vacation plans can quickly turn into a disaster for travelers who fail to execute a plan to protect their home while they are away,” warned Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. “AAA advises homeowners to safeguard all property while away from home, including not posting detailed status updates online in social media forums and making their homes as burglar-proof as possible.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reminds irrigators to check their center pivots to ensure they are operating properly and are adjusted to spray only upon land authorized for irrigation by their water permit.

“It is important that irrigators do everything they can to avoid overspraying onto nearby roads or neighboring properties,” said DENR Secretary Steve Pirner. “Irrigation overspray can damage roadways, lead to unsafe driving conditions and impact neighbors.”

A water right holder is not allowed to waste water or operate an irrigation system in violation of state water law, which includes spraying water on land not covered by the water permit. Irrigation systems and especially end guns must be constantly monitored to make sure they are not applying water where it is not allowed. Irrigators who fail to prevent overspray can be subject to fines or required to appear before the Water Management Board for possible suspension of their right to irrigate.

South Dakota has nearly 5,300 active irrigation permits authorizing irrigation of up to 879,000 acres.

Pierre, SD – State Treasurer Rich Sattgast returned nearly $16 million in unclaimed funds this fiscal year. That figure is up $5.6 million from 2014 when the state returned $10.1 million in unclaimed property.

 
Unclaimed property refers to accounts in financial institutions, businesses and government agencies that have had no activity for three years or longer. The State of South Dakota acts as the custodian of lost property until it can be returned to the rightful owners.

 
“This last year we received over 4,000 claims from South Dakotans,” said State Treasure Rich Sattgast. “That’s money getting into the hands of our citizens which ultimately makes its way into our economy and that’s good for our state.”

 
Unclaimed Property is currently holding $69.1 million in unclaimed funds, but that amount is ever changing.

 
“Abandoned and forgotten property is turned over to the state throughout the year, so it’s important to check the unclaimed property database regularly,” Sattgast said. “Our office participates in numerous events across the state. Come visit us at one of the many fairs we’re attending this summer and we’ll help you check for unclaimed property in your name as well as assist you in filling out a claim form.”

 
To check for unclaimed property, visit www.sdtreasurer.gov or call the unclaimed property hotline at 1-866-357-2547 to talk to an Unclaimed Property representative.

We have a feature story in our current South Dakota Magazine (July/August) on traveling Old Highway 16. At first I wanted to title it “Hwy 16: The Perfect S.D. Road Trip” but my fellow editors talked me out of that. It sounds like the perfect road trip to me, but probably isn’t for those who don’t want to go off-roading for a few miles here or there. Our photographer nearly collided with a longhorn cow in Haakon County.

Luckily, we have several other summer travel recommendations for those who like their roads more civilized. Here are some basic recommendations for road-tripping 16, and a few other highlights from our summer travel issue.

Highway 16 covers a 400-mile stretch between our east and west borders, connecting Sioux Falls with Rapid City and several smaller communities along the way. It was part of a 1,600-mile passage between Detroit and Yellowstone National Park that was linked nearly a century ago. A group formed in 1919 to promote the journey in South Dakota, which intersected at times with Highways 14 and 20.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a consumer alert today providing taxpayers with additional tips to protect themselves from telephone scam artists calling and pretending to be with the IRS.

These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private information. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you don’t answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request.

 
“If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation, lawsuit or license revocation if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling,” said Karen Connelly, IRS spokeswoman. “The first IRS contact with taxpayers on a tax issue will occur via mail. Don’t get involved in a tax scam or be bullied by a con artist.”
The IRS reminds people how to spot an “IRS” caller as a fake. Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do.

The IRS will never:
1. Call you about taxes you owe without first mailing you an official notice.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. 5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

As members of the Elks-USA from across the nation
gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 5–9, Catherine M. Mayes, of Winner, was installed as district deputy to the Elks National President for the lodges in the West District of the South Dakota Elks Association.

Mayes was installed at the Order’s 151th Elks National Convention currently under way in Indianapolis, Indiana, where over 9,000 members and guests were present. She will serve a one-year term.