All posts by Leslie Schramm

South Dakota 4-H Hosts Operation: Healthy Habits Challenge

During these unprecedented and occasionally sedentary times, South Dakota 4-H is encouraging South Dakota residents to get active, be active and stay active by participating in the Operation: Healthy Habits Challenge.
The challenge period is April 17 to May 17 and is open to all adults and youth eight years of age and older. 4-H membership or involvement is not required to participate. The challenge is free of cost and requires little to no additional supplies to take part in the many activities included in the challenge.
To participate, individuals can register at https://extension.sdstate.edu/event/operation-healthy-habits-challenge. Upon registering, participants will receive a packet with further instructions and details regarding the challenge.
“We developed this challenge so that individuals experiencing a decrease in activity due to social distancing constraints could still maintain a healthy and active lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amber Erickson, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Field Operations Coordinator. “It’s important that youth and families stay active during these unique times.”
In addition to encouraging participants to get active, the Operation: Healthy Habits Challenge incorporates a competitive atmosphere. The challenge packet contains identified activities that can be done in order to obtain a pre-determined amount of points. Participants will compete in their respective age division, youth or adult, for the highest amount of accumulative points. The top three winners in each age division will receive a smart watch, mountain bike, and yoga starter kit, respectively.
“We wanted to be sure to incorporate friendly competition that will hopefully motivate people to participate and stay active throughout the challenge,” said Erickson.
For more information about the Operation: Healthy Habits Challenge, visit the event site listed above or email sdsu.4h@sdstate.edu.

Gregory County Business Opening Rollout Plan

The Gregory County Commissioners will be considering lifting some regulations in regards to non-essential businesses and business activities within the county via an ordinance at a special meeting to be held Tuesday, April 28, 2020.  In order for the Commission to make an informed decision, please provide all information that you can as to how your business will re-open with regards to the social distancing implementation, recommended CDC hygiene practices, and a business model that will meet guidelines defined in Governor Kristi Noem’s Executive Proclamation #2020-12 dated April 6, 2020 (copy attached).  Please complete this form and return it to the Gregory County Auditor no later than Saturday, April 25, 2020.  This plan should be forwarded to the County in one of the following three ways:

Mail:  Julie Bartling, Gregory County Auditor

P.O. Box 437

Burke, SD  57523

E-mail:                        julie.bartling@state.sd.us

Drop Box:       Next to the front doors at the Courthouse

SDHSAA news

According to the Mitchell Daily Republic, The South Dakota High School Activities Association moved one step closer to splitting the state track and field meet into three days at one location on Tuesday. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the first reading of a proposal that called for all three classes to be joined at one location for the state meet, beginning in 2022. The rationale centered around having a late start on the first day of the meet in order to avoid additional costs for teams traveling and to provide more adequate recovery time in a longer schedule. Proposals can be approved at the June 11th board meeting. Another proposal approved for a second reading allows the SDHSAA staff to schedule Class A and Class B SoDak 16 basketball games at a neutral site closer to the higher seed.

Governor Noem and GOED Announce Small Business Relief Fund Loans

Governor Kristi Noem and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced the first 94 loan recipients of Governor Noem’s Small Business Relief Fund. This fund provides small businesses in South Dakota access to capital to help during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“This crisis is historic in the worst way. So many small businesses are hurting, but my team at GOED is working to help,” said nOEM. “My Small Business Relief Fund has already approved just shy of 100 loans, equaling more than $5 million, to help South Dakota communities from Keystone to Sioux Falls stay on their feet during this unprecedented pandemic.”

Industries that have been approved for loans include hotels, restaurants, retail, tourism, manufacturing, and others.

Vikings prepping for the start of the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft gets underway Thursday! The Minnesota Vikings go into the draft with two picks in the first round as they will make selections at Number 22 overall and Number 25 overall on Thursday. The Number 22 pick came from Buffalo in the trade Minnesota made that saw Stefon Diggs go to the Bills. The Vikings in total have twelve draft picks this year. The Vikings have two picks in the first round, one in the second round, two picks in the third round, one selection in the fourth, one in the fifth, two picks in the sixth round and three picks in the seventh round.

Central South Dakota City Meeting Highlights from April 20th

The City of Winner held their meeting last night. During new business, a motion was made to amend the resolution of ordinance 946 allowing restaurants to follow CDC guidelines to have 10 people or less at one time in restaurants and bars, to open up gyms quickly, to open up the city parks, the bass pond; but not to include the playground.

The city council voted 5-1 in favor of  the amendment. Councilman Sherman was the only nay vote.

The City of Chamberlain also held their city commission meeting last night. One of the items up for city commission vote was the extension of ordinance number 638 regarding the current COVID-19 restrictions that was scheduled to end yesterday.    Mayor Chad Mutziger expressed his desire during the meeting to extend this ordinance however during the meeting he  said that over the next two weeks before the next meeting they would be looking at ways to make adjustments to it and further more expressed his wish over these next two weeks to meet with various business sectors in Chamberlain as well as working the Chamberlain-Oacoma Chamber of Commerce to see how the city can work with them to find way of helping them opening up their businesses more on a case by case basis.  The commission voted 4-1 in favor of extending ordinance 638 to May 4th.

The City of Gregory also held their meeting last night.  While no specific ordinance was discussed Mayor Anshutz during the meeting expressed his understanding of all the individuals and local businesses negatively impacted during these business restrictions and  said “We’ve just got to err on the side of caution”.

Winner City Council Meeting Tonight at 6:30 p.m.

The winner city council meeting takes place tonight at 6:30pm in the council chambers.

The consent agenda will consist of the previous meeting minutes on April 6th, the March financial statement, an arbor day proclamation and setting a public hearing for May 4th for a temporary sale of malt beverage application from the Winner chamber of commerce.

The agenda will consist of bid openings for the ground water storage tank project and public hearings for special on-sale liquor event application for the elks at St. Mary’s hall.

Recognition of visitors at the meeting will include:

  1. Buck Jedlicki regarding the 946 COVID-19 temporary emergency ordinance.
  2. Mike Brown – code enforcement officer/planning and zoning director
  3. Justin Day – public safety commissioner
  4. Troy Kruger – public works director
  5. Chandra Weidner – finance officer

Several of the key new business items that will be discussed will include:

  1. A resolution to extend ordinance 946 which is the COVID-19 temporary emergency ordinance currently in place.
  2. Amended administrative emergency policy and procedures for declared pandemic as well as administrative emergency policy. requiring the use of certain personal protective equipment.
  3. A first reading of ordinance 947 to repeal certain sections and allow dogs to be transferred to shelters after seven days.

You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/610182901

To install the app go to https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/610182901

You can also dial in using your phone.

(786) 535-3211

Access code: 610-182-901

Hutmacher named to top 100 senior athlete list

Chamberlain’s Nash Hutmacher made the top 100 senior athlete list that was put out by MaxPreps. According to the Daily Republic, Nash was the only South Dakota athlete to make the list. The list recognizes 100 of the most promising seniors in the country. MaxPreps mentioned that Hutmacher is the number one ranked heavyweight wrestler in the nation by Intermat. Congrats Nash!