Actor lucky to grow up in Pierre

PIERRE — Growing up in Pierre gives children the benefit of being able to be outdoors — on their own or with friends — without constant supervision. That is one thing Pierre native Mary Gen Fjelstad, 38, won’t forget or take for granted.

Clean up begins after fire

PIERRE — The day after a fire was started in the Longbranch bathroom, it was clean up time. Thursday afternoon investigators ruled an arsonists lit a toilet paper dispenser on fire around 6 p.m. Thursday in the upstairs men’s bathroom.

Work ethic serving civil servant well in US gov

PIERRE — When Dick Gregg was growing up on a ranch near Harrold, he learned the importance of hard work. Now that South Dakota work ethic is serving him well as he finds himself overseeing government offices responsible for keeping the United States government running.

Downtown parking lot closed for reconstruction

Capital Journal staff

Herseth Sandlin backs bill for veterans training

Capital Journal staff

Kleinsasser sentencing rescheduled for Aug. 31

Capital Journal staff

Huffing a deadly act for teens

PIERRE — When the South Dakota Highway Patrol concluded a Pierre teenager was huffing chemical vapors before his fatal June car accident, it cast a light on a practice many educators and counselors say is becoming disturbingly common among teens.

State to receive $333,100 for juvenile program

Capital Journal staff

Racing to repair

FORT PIERRE — The city of Fort Pierre is racing time and the weather to try to repair Verendrye Drive before the Aug. 14 grand opening of the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center.

Hughes County budget in works

PIERRE — Putting together the Hughes County budget is rarely an easy process but this year’s duty comes with one big question mark — the new jail. 

Governor: Economic rebound will take time

PIERRE — The economies of South Dakota and the nation will take longer to rebound than was earlier thought, Gov. Mike Rounds said Wednesday.

Rounds says H1N1 flu poses threat to schools

PIERRE — Teenagers seem to be most susceptible to contracting the H1N1 flu virus, and the strategy of keeping sick children home will challenge the normal operations at schools as well as the employers of the parents, Gov. Mike Rounds said Wednesday during a meeting with South Dakota school superintendents.

Heritage travel itinerary highlights local treasures

PIERRE — Locals and those visiting the community now have a list of things to see.

South Dakota smoking ban vote fails

Associated Press

Pierre plans for flooding

PIERRE — It’s been more than a year since torrential rains caused flooding in southeast Pierre streets and homes. Tuesday, the Pierre City Commission took a step toward minimizing those problems in the future. 

Murphey pleads guilty

PIERRE — Ryan Murphey pleaded guilty to sexual contact with a minor and fourth-degree rape and no contest to a second count of sexual contact with a minor Tuesday in Hughes County court.

United Way announces co-chairs

PIERRE — The Capital Area United Way celebrated a day of new beginnings Tuesday, cutting the ribbon on a new office and announcing new co-chairs for its 2009 fundraising campaign.

Home sweet home

PIERRE — Lenaire Azure, 14, is entering her final year as a student at the Pierre Indian Learning Center. She likes the existing two dorms she and other students sleep in, though she joked Thursday she is contemplating drastic action to enjoy the new, modern, spacious and air-conditioned dormitory scheduled to open in August 2010.

Work on terminal to begin

PIERRE — As construction crews make a haul road over North Airport Road next week, they will be making a short path to what should be a lasting project.

Horse theft affecting state, nation

FORT PIERRE — When Marsha Swanberg heard about what had happened to the rodeo horse Dually after the Fourth of July Rodeo in Fort Pierre, she said she got sick to her stomach and cried for an hour. She still follows the case of the injured horse on a daily basis.

3 more projects receive DOT funds

PIERRE – The state Transportation Commission gave its OK Thursday for the communities of Spearfish, Wolsey and Madison to receive federal stimulus grants for bike-path and historic train-depot projects.

State, MIT to train laid-off workers

Capital Journal staff

Sentences issued in Crow Creek trial

PIERRE — Scott Raue, former CEO and superintendent of Crow Creek Tribal School, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $129,467.70 with another man for a running bribery and kickback scheme at Crow Creek school in 2005 following a dormitory and kitchen fire. Raue will self-report to authorities at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials: Local banks not in danger of collapse

PIERRE — The national banking crisis came to South Dakota Friday when government regulators closed BankFirst, a Sioux Falls-based bank. BankFirst was the 55th federally insured bank to fail this year — and the first in South Dakota in more than 20 years.

Nystrom gets 2 years probation

PIERRE — “It’s a serious crime you’ve plead to,” said Judge Karen Schreier to John Nystrom, a local contractor who pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in April and Monday morning in federal court was sentenced. 

Schaunaman to serve at USDA

Capital Journal staff

Architect to serve probation

PIERRE — A Colorado architect who pleaded guilty to bribery of federal funds in April was sentenced Monday for his role in a financial wrongdoing scheme at Crow Creek Tribal School.

Task force set up to make Pierre food bank a reality

PIERRE — A refrigerated food bank to accept surplus Wal-Mart food could be up to a year away but community members and city officials took an important first step Monday to making that food bank a reality.

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