KDLT News Syndication http://www.kdlt.com Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:10:28 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.kdlt.com/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.kdlt.com KDLT News Syndication http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27623&Itemid=57 The site of a 1927 Charles Lindbergh landing north of Pierre has been recognized with a historic marker. Lindbergh came to South Dakota during his nationwide stop of capital cities following his historic flight to Paris. Community dignitaries honored Lindbergh that day with a celebration, a parade and other activities. The Pierre-Fort Pierre Historic Preservation Commission's Don Zeller says Lindbergh's trip aimed to show people that aviation was the wave of the future. Zeller says it has taken about two years to raise the money needed for the marker. He says it is an important part of the city's history. A dedication of the new marker will be held later. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:43:45 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27622&Itemid=57 A helicopter contracted for mosquito control spraying crashed in a suburban neighborhood just east of St. Paul. Police say the small helicopter crashed in the backyard of a home in Maplewood, igniting the chopper and a detached garage. Maplewood Lt. Kerry Crotty says no one was in the house or garage when the helicopter went down shortly after 8 a.m. Police declined to say if anyone was hurt. Donna Basler lives four houses from the crash site and says she heard a big rattling type noise but didn't know what it was. Basler says she didn't hear a crash, but saw smoke billowing from the neighbor's garage. Metropolitan Mosquito Control District spokeswoman Jill Sederholm says the plane was under contract to spray for mosquitoes in Maplewood. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:36:46 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27621&Itemid=57 A Rapid City man convicted of causing severe brain damage in his 6-week-old daughter has been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. Forty-two-year-old Patrick White Face was charged with aggravated child abuse after his daughter was flown to a Denver hospital in March 2011. Prosecutor Josh Hendrickson says the child has permanent internal injuries and was not expected to live but did survive. She now is in medical foster care. White Face also has been ordered to pay more than $435,000 in restitution. His attorney plans to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:35:35 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27620&Itemid=57 Officials in Mitchell must prove there's no reasonable alternative to razing one of the city's oldest homes before they can demolish it. The structure known as the Goodykuntz House is 130 years old and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It was damaged in a 2002 fire. City officials declared it a public nuisance last October and filed a complaint seeking a court order to raze the property. City Attorney Carl Koch says officials were unaware at the time of the National Register listing. But he says the city still plans to take the necessary steps to tear down the house. Owners Clarence and Lauretta Larsen deny that the house is unsafe and unsightly, and say it has historical and architectural value. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:39:53 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27619&Itemid=57 Authorities say a man shot by law officers following a chase in southwestern South Dakota is expected to recover. Attorney General Marty Jackley said two Pennington County deputies and a Highway Patrol officer chased suspected drunken driver Travis Ross on Monday afternoon and shot him when he brandished a rifle. Ross was taken to a Rapid City hospital. He was not listed on the hospital directory on Tuesday. The state Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into whether the officers were justified in shooting Ross, who has a history of drunken driving arrests. Jackley said Ross has an active warrant for violating parole on a felony drunken driving conviction. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:10:53 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27618&Itemid=57 The lead prosecutor in South Dakota's Brown County wants commissioners to ban convicted sex offenders from the fairgrounds during the annual county fair. State's Attorney Larry Lovrien says many of the events at the fair are geared toward children, and that many volunteers and vendors who work at the fair are sex offenders. His proposal aims to keep the fairgrounds safe for children. Lovrien is suggesting the county declare the fairgrounds a public park or playground each year during the fair. That would make the fairgrounds a community safe zone, and sex offenders are forbidden by law from coming within 500 feet of such areas. County commissioners have not taken any action on the proposal. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:06:06 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27617&Itemid=57 The fire chief in South Dakota's capital city plans to retire. 51-year-old Bill Alexander said he'll step down from the position he's held in Pierre for eight years on November 1. Alexander has been involving in firefighting for 31 years, including 20 years with the Air Force. He was the first full-time fire chief for Pierre's volunteer fire department. Alexander plans to move to Cheyenne, Wyoming where his wife works for a law firm. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:48 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27616&Itemid=57 The Sioux Falls City Council is taking $8 million from the city's reserve fund to cover most of the cost of cleaning up from a three-day snow and ice storm in April. Reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency could replace much of that amount, but city officials are still debating whether to accept federal help. Some officials believe other disaster-stricken areas of the country could use the money more. Sioux Falls Councilman Kermit Staggers says the storm cleanup in Sioux Falls largely amounted to tree branch cleanup. City Finance Director Tracy Turbak says if Sioux Falls turns down the FEMA money, it could put itself in a vulnerable situation if a major disaster happened. The city has about $40 million in its reserve fund. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:54:44 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27615&Itemid=57 South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard has ordered flags at the Capitol lowered to half-staff Wednesday for the funeral of former state legislator Stanley A. Johnson.Johnson died Saturday at the age of 88.He served in the House of Representatives from 1968 to 1977. Governor Nils Boe appointed Johnson to fill a vacancy in the district, and he was re-elected to serve three more terms. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:50:18 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27614&Itemid=57 Governor Dennis Daugaard has appointed a South Dakota State University student to the Board of Regents. Daugaard appointed incoming-sophomore Joe Schartz to serve a two-year term as a member of the board. He is one of the board's nine voting members. Schartz is double majoring in journalism and agriculture business and minoring in political science. He serves as a student association senator at SDSU and is a member of the Journalism Student Advisory Board and the Honors Dean's Student Advisory Council.He's also involved with the Honors College Student Organization, concert choir, Fellowship of Catholic University Students and the College Republicans. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:43:41 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27613&Itemid=57 A Spencer man has caught a $1,600 walleye on Big Spirit Lake in northern Iowa.Joe Larson caught a tagged fish that was part of a contest sponsored by the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.In early May, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources released six tagged walleye in Big Spirit Lake, West Lake Okoboji and East Lake Okoboji for the contest. For anglers who paid $15 and registered for the extended contest, there's still a chance to win some money for catching one of the tagged fish up until Sept. 1. Larson caught his fish Thursday and the Chamber of Commerce released details on Tuesday.Proceeds from the Great Walleye Weekend contest go to the Easter Seals of Iowa. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:38:49 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27612&Itemid=57 2 people have been arrested after an overnight pursuit that began as a robbery. It all started at the Walmart on E. Arrowhead Parkway in Sioux Falls just after midnight. Officers were called to the store for a strong armed robbery, assault and shoplifting, but by the time officers arrived the suspects had fled.Only a few minutes later, the suspect's vehicle was located and officers attempted to stop the car near 6th and Cleveland Avenue. At that point the vehicle refused to stop and officers began a pursuit which eventually made its way onto I-229 and then I-90. The pursuit continued until the vehicle exited on Timberline Avenue and ended near Rice Street and Timberline Avenue. It was then discovered that children were riding in the vehicle.The 28-year-old Driver, Joanne M. Swallow of Mitchell, was taken into custody without a struggle. She is charged with aggravated eluding, 3 counts of abuse and cruelty to children, shoplifting, and driving while suspended.The passenger, 34-year-old Robert Salinas of Sioux Falls, was charged with aggravated eluding, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, 3 counts of abuse and cruelty to children, second degree robbery, resisting arrest and fugitive from justice.There was a passenger in the back seat who was not arrested and suffered non-life threatening injuries throughout the incident. All three children have been taken into protective custody. KDLT News - KDLT News Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:44:23 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27611&Itemid=58 LAREDO, Texas. – The Sioux Falls Canaries suffered a 5-3 loss to the Laredo Lemus on Tuesday at Uni-Trade Stadium as a season-high losing streak reached five games.Laredo (20-12) never trailed after scoring three runs in the first inning on four consecutive two-out doubles. Sawyer Carroll, Palmer Karr and Jon Gaston each had an RBI.The Canaries (12-20) responded in the second inning by plating two runs on back-to-back singles by Jared Clark and Cory Morales following a leadoff walk by John Alonso and Tim Pahuta’s double. Pahuta had a productive night, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.The Lemurs scored a pair of runs on Mike Sheridan’s double in the fourth inning off Canaries starter Adam Champion (3-2), who snapped a three-game winning streak. Champion yielded all five runs, four earned, while walking four and striking out one.David Newmann (3-1) earned the victory. He gave up three runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out five. Four Lemurs relievers combined to shut out the Canaries in the final four innings, allowing just two base runners and striking out five more batters. Mike Benacka pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.The Canaries had opportunities early on to score more runs, but they stranded nine runners, including six in scoring position.The finale of the three-game series against the Laredo Lemurs at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, in Laredo. KDLT News - KDLT Sports Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:59:01 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27610&Itemid=58 SF West pounded out 15 base hits and outscored Mitchell 15-9 at Harmodon Park. KDLT News - KDLT Sports Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:45:54 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27609&Itemid=57 The Sioux Falls City Council held an informational meeting Tuesday afternoon to get a chance to hear more about the cost of April’s ice storm. Last week the council was asked to appropriate $8 of the $9 million cleanup is estimated to cost. The city has around $45 million in its general reserve fund where the money would come out of. City leaders said though the price tag could rise as cleanup continues. Around 1,100 trees still need to be trimmed by crews contracted out by the city. And city leaders said branch pick up on streets won’t be done for another three weeks. Grinding all the branches into mulch could also take until October. “The team has actually mobilized their grinder to 69th Street and Cliff Avenue so they can demobilize that sight as fast as we possibly can. And then the big site is chambers and we will start putting equipment there by the end of the week,” said Mark Cotter, Director of Sioux Falls Public Works. If the city council decides to seek assistance from FEMA, up to 75 percent of the cost of cleanup will be reimbursed. The city’s finance director strongly urged council members to OK the aid to be able to put some money back into the reserve fund. KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:29:50 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27608&Itemid=57 One Sioux Falls business that has had its fair share of troubles announced Tuesday that it has closed. The Vault Night Club, off of South Carolyn Avenue, posted on its Facebook page it is no longer in business. The Vault has had some extra eyes on it after multiple complaints of noise and lack of security. Back in December, the Sioux Falls City Council debated whether to renew the venue’s liquor license. The council decided it would renew the license, but council members said the club needed to make some serious changes. Now that the Vault's doors are closed, it has left some wondering why.“It doesn't come as a big shock to me. That location has struggled a lot in the past, and to see it change again wouldn't be a surprise,” said Greg Jamison, Sioux Falls City Council.Jamison said even though it isn't a shock to see the business close its doors, it’s sad to see it go. “I spent some time there investigating how operations are like and things,” Jamison said. “And I saw some interesting business models there and how it all worked. So I guess from seeing it on the inside, I could see its vulnerable parts.” Jamison said there might be another reason why the venue decided to close up shop. “We kind of gave them a stern warning to change their practices in order to renew their license,” said Jamison. Those changes included... KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:23:41 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27607&Itemid=57 Sioux Falls City Council members had the chance to see rezoning plans for land a new Walmart is set to be built on. The Sioux Falls Planning Commission presented council members with the plans to rezone the plot of land on 85th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Two weeks ago they gave the council their recommendation to rezone the land from agricultural to commercial. The 39 acres sits across from a residential development with more than 100 single family homes. As we've reported, the rezoning of this land has stirred up a lot of controversy.Residents of the neighborhood are worried a big box store will create too much traffic and make the area unsafe. A second reading and hearing where residents can voice their opinions is set for July 2. KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:30:54 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27606&Itemid=57 The founder of Best Buy says he has plans to make his family foundation one of Minnesota's largest.Dick Schulze says he will expand the $100 million foundation to about $1 billion and will donate most of the money to education and medical research. The 72-year-old Schulze says that he and his wife, Maureen, plan to donate about half their net worth to the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation based in Minneapolis. Schulze says Mark Dienhart, an executive at the University of St. Thomas, will lead the foundation.Schulze left the Best Buy board in 2012 amidst a rebuilding strategy. He remains Best Buy's single largest shareholder. KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:27:44 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27605&Itemid=57 The new events center in Sioux Falls is getting state of the art scoreboards and lighting. City officials announced Tuesday that Daktronics will build and install a center hung scoreboard. It will be visible to all 12,000 seats in the building.Daktronics will also install a 900 foot video ribbon and two end wall scoreboards. They will also build an exterior marque above the main entrance to promote ongoing events. But that's not all, Public Works Director Mark Cotter says the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center will be the first building in the country built with LED sports lighting.Cotter says they were able get these enhancements and stay within their budget. Sanford Health donated an additional$ 2 million to pay for the scoreboards. KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:24:34 +0100 http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27604&Itemid=57 With more rain this spring compared to last year, lawns are sprouting up nicely throughout South Dakota. But in most cities if you don't cut your lawn you could face a fine. So far this year the city of Mitchell has collected nearly $2,000 from residents that have kept their yards too long. Charges can range up to $150. Most of the fee comes from charging workers to cut the lawns. City officials say if you do plan to leave your home for a while you should get someone to take care of your yard. KDLT News - KDLT News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:19:45 +0100