Category Archives: State

Engineering design is underway for the proposed Highway 44 Platte-Winner Bridge over the Missouri River.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) design team is in the process of developing designs for the new bridge and associated new roadway alignment on either side of the river. Starting in May 2021, this design process has included the collection of geologic information about the new alignment.  In order to collect information in the river, SDDOT contracted with a barge company to provide access for our drilling equipment on the water. That work on the river was completed in June.  Our design team has moved out of the water to collect geologic information for the portions of the project on land. Recognizing that much of the sampling work is set to take place in the Snake Creek Recreation Area, we are trying to limit our work to weekdays and avoiding the July 4th holiday, when recreational activity is at a peak. Current plans are for the sampling to be complete in mid-July.

Overall progress on the project remains on track for completion of environmental studies later this year.  When the project’s Environmental Assessment is completed, SDDOT will conduct public meetings to share findings of the study and present related mitigation items such as improvements at the Snake Creek Recreation Area.  Construction of the new bridge is still planned to begin in late 2024.

Project documents, including the Corridor Study, are available for viewing on the project web site www.sd44bridge.com.

PIERRE, S.D. –  Governor Kristi Noem, along with the South Dakota Department of Health and the South Dakota Department of Education, launched medcannabis.sd.gov, a website to answer questions and provide information about the upcoming medical cannabis program set to take effect on July 1, 2021. “One of my jobs as governor is to make sure that the will of the people and all constitutional laws are enforced,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I want South Dakota to have the best, most patient-focused medical cannabis program in the country. I’ve heard from people who are hurting and are hopeful for relief. My team is 100% committed to starting this program as quickly and as responsibly as possible for South Dakota.”

Medical cannabis will be legal on July 1, 2021, after the voters of South Dakota passed Initiated Measure 26 in November 2020. The medical cannabis program is on schedule. The Departments of Health and Education are creating and will operate the new regulatory program to ensure the safety of patients, students, and the public in this new industry.

 “We are working hard to streamline the process to get medical cards out to people,” continued Governor Noem. “Other states have made mistakes that we do not want to repeat, so we have been careful in our approach.“    In conjunction with the website, Governor Noem also launched a new public service announcement (PSA) to tell the people of South Dakota where they can find more information about the medical cannabis program.

Brad Schramm has been a staple in the Winner baseball community from coaching to umpiring, to taking care of the field and is a regular fan in the stands.

Schramm was inducted into the Winner Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Schramm played a large role in helping to form the Winner Baseball Association that funds and supports the high school, VFW American Legion and amateur baseball teams.

Schramm has been the life blood of South Dakota High School baseball since its inception serving on the original committee that brought baseball to club status in South Dakota. In 2004, South Dakota High School Baseball Association was formally organized election Schramm as its first president and executive director.

He served in that role for 12 seasons before retiring.

He was instrumental in instituting the pitch count limit and transiting to wood bats.

Under Schramm’s leadership, high school baseball flourished. There were over 52 teams that represented 80 different schools across the state.

He was also the VFW region commissioner for 10 years.

Schramm was honored by the South Dakota High School board of directors as the 2017 friend of baseball.

He starting umpiring in 1998 and umpired in five state legion tournaments and four state amateur tournament along with four state VFW tournaments.

He served as the South Dakota Umpire Association secretary for 10 years.

For all of his accomplishments, time and effort he was inducted into the 2020 inaugural South Dakota High School baseball hall of fame class and in 2018 he was inducted into the South Dakota Umpire Hall of Fame.

Schramm will have his own baseball on the outfield wall at Leahy Bowl  along with other Winner hall of fame inductees.

The Winner Baseball Association thanks Schramm for all he has done for the game of baseball across the state and most importantly here in Winner.

There were no new cases of COVID-19 in Tripp County as of May 3.

There are seven active cases in Tripp County.

The number of recovered cases since COVID started is 731.

The total number of deaths in Tripp County is 17.

Statewide, there were 69 new cases reported on Monday. There are 17 new probable cases.

The active cases total 1,512.

In the state, there have been 119,263 persons who have recovered.

Currently, there are 105 persons hospitalized.

The number of deaths in the state is at 1,967.

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

As of Monday, there were 7 actives cases and no new confirmed cases.

The number of recovered cases is 726.

The total persons tested for COVID is 2,328.

There are 17 deaths in Tripp County.

Statewide, there were 102 new confirmed cases on Monday and 31 new probable cases.

The number of active cases in South Dakota is 2,153.

There are 112 persons hospitalized with COVID.

The state has administered 528,055 doses of the vaccine to 314,649  residents in the state.

Around 52 percent of the state’s population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

There was one new probable case of COVID-19 in Tripp County as of Monday, April 12.

There were no new cases and 14 active cases. The total confirmed cases since the pandemic started is 629.

Statewide, there were 135 new cases as of April 12 and the probable cases are at 52.

The active cases in South Dakota are 2,425. There are currently 96 persons hospitalized.

The total deaths in the state is at 1,947.

There were two new cases of COVID-19 in Tripp County on Monday.

The number of active cases in Tripp County is 16.

The total who have recovered is 710.

The number of deaths in Tripp County is at 17.

Statewide as of Monday, there were 124 new cases and 32 probable cases.

The state’s active cases is 2,485.

There are 84 persons hospitalized with COVID.

The state’s total deaths is $1,938.

There are 11 active cases and one new death in Tripp County due to COVID-19.

The total deaths in the county is now at 17.

There are no new cases in Tripp County as of Monday, March 29.

The total confirmed cases in the county since the pandemic started is 616.

Statewide, there were 74 new cases on March 29. The new probable cases is 18 and the active cases are 2,393.

In South Dakota, 113,010 persons have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 91 persons hospitalized.

The deaths in South Dakota is at 1,933.

According to the department of health, 392,186 doses of the vaccine have been administered. Out of all the people who  received the vaccine, 157,124 have completed their respective series of dosages.

WHITE RIVER, SD – Foothills Contracting Inc. will begin construction on U.S. Highway 83 from the town of White River, S.D. for 11 miles to the White River.

Construction activities will occur in two separate work zones and begin on both the north and south ends of the project and proceed toward the middle of the 11-mile project. Construction begins on March 22, 2021.

The construction project has a 12-foot width restriction. Neither overweight loads nor overlength loads will be allowed during construction. This restriction is in place through approximately November 19, 2021.

Roadway activities will primarily be in two work zones controlled by flaggers and a pilot car. Motorists are asked to be aware of suddenly slowing traffic, reduced speeds through the work zone, and construction workers and equipment adjacent to the driving lanes.

The U.S. Highway 83 road surface will have sections of gravel or dirt surfacing due to grading operations. U.S. Highway 83 may be closed at times due to adverse weather if the roadway surface is too muddy to safely allow traffic to move through the project.

For complete road construction information, visit https://www.sd511.org or dial 511.