Pantry space needed

PIERRE — Another meeting about construction of a new food pantry large enough to hold 4,500 pounds of donated food from Wal-Mart is in the works, according to Mayor Laurie Gill. In May, Mitch Weiss, Wal-Mart store manager, city officials and Catherine Mercer, executive director of the Pierre Area Referral Service,  met to discuss a project that would put thousands of pounds of fresh foods in the hands of those in need each week.

3 men arrested in Izaak Walton break-in

PIERRE – Three men were arrested Tuesday morning at the scene of a break-in at the Izaak Walton League  building.

Director of Indian Education moves on to higher education

PIERRE — Keith Moore has championed the education of American Indians at South Dakota schools for the last four years. Now he’s moving on to higher education, having accepted a position as Chief Diversity Officer at the University of South Dakota.

State to receive more than $5.4M for affordable housing programs

SIOUX FALLS — U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, D-S.D., announced South Dakota will receive a federal grant of $5,405,055 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Tax Credit Assistance Program.

City: Beer and amateur baseball don’t mix at Hyde Stadium

PIERRE — You couldn’t buy a beer at Pierre Amateur Baseball games before Tuesday’s city commission meeting and a unanimous vote means you won’t be able to do so in the immediate future. At the weekly commission meeting, local amateur baseball officials went before the board for a malt beverage license to sell beer to raise funds for activities.

House passes Herseth Sandlin’s women veterans resolution

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1211, a bill introduced by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to expand and improve VA health care services for women veterans. The bill will improve health care for women veterans, including treatment and services for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and newborn care.

PUC seeks input on energy initiative

PIERRE — The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is requesting input on its Small Renewable Energy Initiative, a five-part approach to encourage common sense development of distributed generation.

State revises contract process

PIERRE — Gov. Mike Rounds said state agencies are well-prepared for a new law that expands the scope of state government professional services contracts that must be awarded on a competitive application basis.

Regents approve design, funds for University Center-Black Hills

PIERRE — Plans for a new off-campus higher education center in the Black Hills region moved another step closer to reality Friday as the South Dakota Board of Regents approved a design plan and financing for the $13.4 million facility.

Regents approve new Master’s degree programs

PIERRE — Two public universities that prepare master’s-level counselors are taking their degree programs to University Center in Sioux Falls.

Corn, soybean acres up in state South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS — Acres of both corn and soybeans are up in South Dakota, mirroring national trends.

School districts awarded grants for food service

PIERRE — Twenty South Dakota agencies and school districts have been awarded grants to upgrade or purchase new food service equipment through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A total of $255,465 will be distributed.

Pierre schools narrow down budget

PIERRE — One Monday-marathon budget session later and Pierre School District officials believe they have a budget worth passing later this month.

Golf board on par with fundraising campaign

PIERRE — A Hillsview Golf Course fundraiser is off to a fast start and looks to come in under par in the time needed to raise $100,000. After just 12 days, $53,665 has been pledged in private contributions in an effort to build a new clubhouse at Hillsview.

POs OK in area

PIERRE — The U.S. Postal Service around the country is seeing a severe decline in the amount of mail it handles. The decrease is severe enough the USPS has announced plans to close branches around the country — but local post offices aren’t on the chopping block.

Fewer hunters pursuing ducks, geese

PIERRE — South Dakota remains a popular spot for non-residents to hunt waterfowl. But the numbers of South Dakotans hunting ducks and Canada geese continue to decline.

Area students help school

Capital Journal staff

Police: Fireworks that fly or pop banned in city

PIERRE — Inside Brian Puckett’s firework stand Monday, 12-year-old Treyton Kost-Hillmer was debating the merits of his Fourth of July fireworks.

State awarded grant to start colorectal cancer screening program

PIERRE — Gov. Mike Rounds announced South Dakota will develop a statewide colorectal screening program with the help of a $600,000 federal grant.

30s on the 30th

PIERRE — A group of downtown business owners have banded together to offer sales today, which business owners hope will promote local shopping.

Pierre School Board approves contracts

PIERRE — The Pierre School board held a special meeting Monday. Though it did more than approve seven contracts, including one for the head volleyball coaching position and the head football coaching position, the hires are significant, said Superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt.

Fort Pierre to receive $523,910 in federal grants

SIOUX FALLS — U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, D-S.D. announced Fort Pierre will receive a $523,910 federal grant from the Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program in the Department of Health and Human Services. The funding will be used to improve and expand services in rural health care in Fort Pierre.

A hero’s thank you

PIERRE — Staff Sergeant Justin Flottmeyer helped serve his country in Iraq as part of the South Dakota National Guard. When he returned, he was given a hero’s welcome — and an unexpected $500 check from the state to thank him for his service.

Deer harvest has record year

PIERRE — South Dakota hunters can look back on 2008 as another record-setting year for deer harvest.

Knuppe to Regents: Cut budget

PIERRE — Candidate Ken Knuppe left no doubt during his meeting Thursday with the South Dakota Board of Regents that if he is elected governor in 2010, he will attempt to reduce spending throughout state government in order to bring the state budget into balance during the economic downturn.

Missing ‘Swamp-Rat’ mystery solved

PIERRE — It’s hard to imagine missing anything called Swamp-Rat, but local man Steve Malsam-Rysdon felt that pang this past weekend after his family duck boat was stolen.

Solid waste officials looking to upgrade equipment

PIERRE — Solid waste department officials are thinking about a few upgrades.

SD smoking ban will go to statewide public vote

PIERRE — An expanded smoking ban approved by state lawmakers won’t take effect as scheduled next week because opponents gathered enough petition signatures to put the issue before voters, Secretary of State Chris Nelson said Thursday. Supporters of the ban immediately questioned the validity of the signatures.

DOT allows haying along I-90

PIERRE — Ranchers will be able to hay the median of Interstate 90 in western South Dakota this summer after all.

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