Category Archives: State

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.

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

The total number of active cases has decreased as there are only 16 active cases.

Since the pandemic started the total confirmed cases is 613 in the county. There have been 16 deaths in Tripp County.

Statewide, there were 86 new cases and 19 probable.

The number of active cases is 2,244. Statewide, the total number of recovered cases is 111,805. There are 62 persons currently hospitalized.

The number of deaths in the state is 1,923.

Tripp County had 23 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday. On March 15 there were no new confirmed cases.

The total recovered cases is 681.The deaths in Tripp County due to COVID-19 remain at 16.Monday statewide, there were 17 new confirmed cases and 7 new probable cases.

The active cases in the state are 2,106. Currently there are 64 persons hospitalized.

The number of deaths in the state is 1,912.

This week saw South Dakota closing in on a major milestone in the fight against COVID-19.

Nearly a third of the state’s adult population had received at least one dose of the vaccine. The South Dakota Department of Health reported more that 158,000 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

That number did not include 12,800 people vaccinated by veterans affairs, thousands through Indian Health Service and thousands more through Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which has expanded rapidly during the past three weeks.

And the vaccine surge will only intensity. Department of Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon announced an increase in the state’s weekly allotment with thousands more doses expected from a third vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

Since the vaccinations began in December, South Dakota has consistently ranked in the top five or per capita vaccine administration.

Despite the positive numbers, South Dakota continues to see a  stubborn level of new infections.

A week ago the state  was averaging 157 cases and now that is up to about 167 cases.

Tripp County has seen an increase in the number of new cases.

Tripp County has 17 active cases of COVID-19. As of Monday, there were no new cases.

The total number of recovered cases in Tripp County is 655.Tripp County recorded one new death bringing the total since the pandemic started to 16.

Statewide as of Monday, 20 new cases were reported. The total active cases is 1,933. South Dakota reported six more deaths on Saturday.

There are now 1,863 total deaths in the state since the pandemic started.

The number of persons currently hospitalized is 91.

Last week, the state and its health providers had vaccinated 101,053 people. On Friday, that increased to 116,143.

Tripp County has 17 active cases of COVID-19.

 As of Monday, Feb. 15, there were no new cases.

Since the pandemic started Tripp County has had 643 recovered cases.

There have been 15 COVID deaths in Tripp County.

Statewide, a total of 44 new cases were reported Monday. The state total active cases is 2,092 with 106,440 recovered.

Currently, there are 86 persons hospitalized.

There have been 1,844 statewide deaths.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

South Dakota lawmakers hear from persons in their district that the state needs to do more to help fund road and bridge repair.

This was one of several topics discussed at a legislative cracker barrel Saturday in Winner.

The meeting was sponsored by the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce.

District 21 lawmakers attending were Sen. Erin Tobin, Rep. Rocky Blare and Rep. Caleb Finck.

Rep. Finck said HB1237 makes an appropriation for the purpose of funding county, township roads and bridges.

The request is for $4 million to match a federal program for repairing bridges in South Dakota. Last year this money was able to fix 49 bridges and Finck hopes more bridges can be repaired if funding is approved.

The representative from Tripp also has a concern for townships. He is introducing a bill to repair small structures at the township level. The funds would come to the county and then be distributed to the townships.

“This is something that has not been done before,” said Finck.

He hopes the legislature will fund $9 million for this program.

The three legislators said this year there is more money available due to COVID-19 funds that the state received from the federal government.

Blare said there will be one time money available this year.

With the advent of electric cars the legislature is looking at how to charge a fee.

Currently, there are about 167 electric cars in South Dakota.

A representative from Sioux Falls has introduced a bill that would charge owners of a electric cars a yearly fee. The fee proposed is $50. Finck does not think this is enough. He noted the average South Dakotan pays more than that in fuel tax.

The proposed legislation only applys to cars and pickups.

“As much as we would like to think electric semis are a thing of the future it will happen sooner than we think,” said Finck. The new Amazon facility slated to be built in Sioux Falls has ordered 100 electric semis. “In the next two years we may see electric semis on the interstate,” added Finck.

Also discussed were term limits, infectious diseases and redistricting.

In addition to Winner, the lawmakers made stops in Platte and Gregory.

Horizon Health Care has announced that Len Wonnenberg, PA-C, has been recognized as the 2020 Horizon Health Care Provider of the Year.

Wonnenberg is the son of Roger and Jackie Wonnenberg of Winner. Wonnenberg is a graduate of Winner High School.

Each year, Horizon Health Care recognizes an employee who embodies the spirit of care that Horizon strives to provide to its patients and communities. Selection is based on several items, including patient satisfaction, quality of care, service to community, and effective leadership. This is the fifth year a provider has been recognized with this honor.

Len is a primary care provider at Horizon’s James Valley Community Health Center in Huron.

 Len joined Horizon Health Care in 2012. A South Dakota native originally from Winner, Len attended graduate school at University of South Dakota and holds a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant studies.

Len is a dedicated provider, colleague, and part of the Huron community. His investment in patient care is evident in his patient satisfaction scores, where 93% of Len’s patients indicated he is the “best provider possible.” Though Len maintains a complex panel of patients, he works diligently to improve the quality of care provided to his patients. One of his patients shared, “I grew up never going to the doctor, until I came to Horizon Health Care and started getting medical care. I have diabetes and I have learned to take care of myself through my provider, Len. Len always makes sure I come in for my diabetes and pain control appointments. I can see he cares, he takes time to talk to me, and I’m not scared to come to the doctor anymore.”

Len is passionate about providing education and treatment for diabetes not only for his patients, but in his community and at the state-level. He is vice president of the South Dakota Diabetes Coalition and has been involved with many panel discussions and trainings surrounding diabetes. Locally, Len has collaborated with several other members of the Huron medical community to form the James Valley Diabetes Group and helped organize the Diabetes Day educational fairs in the past. He continues to speak regularly to community and civic groups.

Len and his wife, Amanda, reside in Huron with their three children.