SD leaders heading to Texas to promote oil jobs
- RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – A group of western South Dakota business and civic leaders is heading to Houston to stake a claim for oil business. Officials from Rapid City say the trip is meant to lure oil-related businesses to the area and to tout the Black Hills as a tourism destination. Economic development directors in the city say the booming energy production in western North Dakota is a good reason to promote Rapid City as a home base for businesses that serve the oil patch. Officials also plan to promote seasonal daily flights between Rapid City and Houston, which are slated to start on June 6th.
South Dakota Legislature: What to know this week
- PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota lawmakers have a lot to tackle in Pierre this week as they head into the final week of the annual legislative session. Legislators are expected to vote on measures meant to spur economic development and allow schools to arm teachers. But first, the Joint Appropriations Committee will decide Monday how much revenue to expect for the rest of the current budget year and the new budget year that starts July 1st. The committee, which includes both House and Senate members, will meet later in the week to finish the spending plan so it can move on to the full Legislature and get passed by Friday. Governor Dennis Daugaard has proposed a $4.1 billion state budget, with $1.3 billion of that to come from general state tax funds.
SD Ag Department holding forums this week
- MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture is hosting three forums this week focusing on the next generation of farmers and ranchers. The sessions titled “The Next Generation of Livestock Production” are scheduled for Tuesday evening in Mitchell, Wednesday in Yankton and Thursday in Sioux Falls. Farmers and ranchers are invited to talk about the opportunities and challenges in livestock production and the impact of agriculture to rural communities and statewide revenues and infrastructure. Eight other locations will host forums through March 21st.
SD team honors late teammate, captures state berth
- TEA, S.D. (AP) – Members of the Sioux Falls Christian high school girls basketball team say they accomplished what their late teammate would have wanted. The Chargers are going to state. Sioux Falls Christian defeated Madison 62-32 Saturday to win the South Dakota Region 3A championship in the school’s first game since teammate Alyssa Vollmer and three family members died in a one-vehicle crash. The February 23rd accident killed Alyssa’s parents, James and Julie, and her 13-year-old brother, Caleb, a Chargers football player. The Charger girls honored Alyssa and Caleb by wearing bright green t-shirts that displayed her basketball number and his football number. The shirts read, “We Will Always Remember The Vollmer Family.”
Parkston man charged after 2-hour armed standoff
- PARKSTON, S.D. (AP) – A man has been charged in an armed standoff with police in Parkston. Authorities say 18-year-old Nicholas Heisinger barricaded himself in an apartment early Saturday morning and held police at bay for about two hours. He eventually left the apartment unarmed and was arrested without incident. Heisinger is charged with simple assault on a law enforcement officer and obstructing law enforcement. Police say they don’t believe Heisinger lived in the building, but the suspect knew the occupant, who was in the apartment at the time. The resident reportedly left unharmed after about 45 minutes.
Sioux Falls building permits set February record
- SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Building permits in February set a record for South Dakota’s largest city. Sioux Falls officials say $84.5 million in permits were issued last month, topping the 2006 record of nearly $73 million. The figure is a dramatic jump from February 2012, when building projects totaled $26.5 million. Several major projects contributed to the record, including $17.5 million for Scheels sporting goods, $11.5 million for the Hilton Garden Inn and $5 million for the Glanbia Nutritionals plant.
Evans Plunge’s future flows to Hot Springs voters
- HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) – Voters in Hot Springs will get the chance to decide whether the city should try to buy Evans Plunge, the warm mineral water park that is the longest operating tourist attraction in the Black Hills. A referendum is set for March 26th. It’s an important vote because if the council buys the Plunge, it could keep it open as a tourist attraction that generates tourism revenue and jobs. Private groups that have shown interest in buying the legendary spring-fed water park have indicated that they would likely close it to the public. City Administrator Harley Lux says that petitions were circulated that ultimately gathered more than enough signatures to force the vote.
Flooded SD golf course scheduled to open this year
- PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota golf course that has been closed for nearly two years because of Missouri River flooding is scheduled to open this year. The Hillsview Golf Course in Pierre shut down in late spring of 2011 when the high water caused extensive damage to trees, greens, fairways and other areas. The course was closed last year for repairs. Golf course manager Carin Hayn says the recovery is going well. No date has been set for the opening.
Lawrence County losing longtime local lawmen
- DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) – Lawrence County in western South Dakota is saying goodbye to two deputies with more than 90 years of combined law-enforcement experience. Chief Deputy Joe Harman and Civil Deputy Rick Hagerty retire June 15. Both turn 65 soon. They’ve worked together for more than a decade and have been friends much longer than that. Both have retired before, only to return after getting restless. But they say this retirement will stick. Harmon says he and his wife will spend their time running their farm near Vale. Hagerty says he’ll most miss the people the people he’s worked with, both on and off the force. He says that if he had to do it all over again, he’d do it “the same way.”
SD man sentenced to 18 months on sex abuse charge
- SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota man has been sentenced for having sex with a minor. Twenty-two-year-old Ty Middletent, of Lower Brule, pleaded guilty in November to sexual abuse of a minor. Authorities say the victim was 13 years old. U.S. District Judge Roberto Lange sentenced Middletent to 18 months in custody, followed by five years of supervised release.