Category Archives: Story

News, Story

SDHDA Encouraging Struggling Homeowners to Reach Out to Their Loan Servicers

South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) is encouraging homeowners, struggling to make their mortgage payments, to reach out to their loan servicer for payment relief options. Your loan servicer is who you make your monthly payments to and their contact information can usually be found on your mortgage statement.

“Many homeowners may be feeling a bit of unease as May 1 is approaching and mortgage payments are due,” said Mark Lauseng, executive director of SDHDA. “I encourage homeowners who can’t make their monthly payments to contact their loan servicer to help navigate available payment relief options.”

Homeowners who have mortgages backed by the federal government are provided protections through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES act provides protection against foreclosure and provides the right to mortgage forbearance – a pause or reduction in mortgage payments for a limited time. Your loan servicer will be able to provide you with options for the specific loan protection terms being offered.

For homeowners who do not have federally backed mortgages, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and other financial regulators have encouraged financial institutions to work with borrowers. Again, contact your mortgage servicer for mortgage relief options due to COVID-19.

 

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SDSU Extension Develops Perennial Plant Mixtures for Alkali Areas

The Every Acre Counts program through SDSU Extension has developed perennial plant mixture suggestions suited for various types of marginal land situations, including saline, sodic and wet soil areas.
“There are numerous forage species that can adapt to alkali, or salty, areas. However, the perennial plant mixture SDSU Extension has developed helps to spread the germination risk across species within the mixture and is a well-adapted combination of salt tolerant species within South Dakota,” said Sara Bauder, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist.
Soil salinity issues often result from upward salt movement as water evaporates on the soil surface. In order to prevent this, deep-rooted perennial plants can be used to utilize excess soil moisture, rather than leaving areas fallow. Many perennial species are capable of living in alkali soils, however not all species are ideal for any particular cropping system.
According to Bauder, the key to turning around salty areas in fields begins with getting a living root established in the affected area. Once plants are established in or near the outside boundaries of a problem area, perennials slow water movement into the highly affected areas and prevent accumulation of more salts.
“This helps salt tolerant, deep-rooted plant species slowly spread across the area, allowing the land to heal over time,” Bauder said. “With proper management, saline or alkali areas may once again grow a forage or field crop successfully, however long-term management changes may be required.”
Generally, late fall is considered the most ideal time to plant forage type species into salty or wet soils. If a fall planting is not possible, winter dormant seeding can work as well if a snow-free period is available.
“Keep in mind, this type of conservation effort is not a fast process,” Bauder said. “While these perennial mixes may establish better than other plants in marginal areas, they still must acquire reasonable amounts of sunlight and moisture and may be slow to establish in some areas.Depending on the salinity levels in the soils, plants may develop at different rates and can oftentimes be less palatable during the first few growing seasons, as slower growth caused by salts could cause forages to be tougher and less palatable.”
News, Story

South Dakota to Celebrate Older Americans in May

 Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed May Older Americans Month (OAM) in South Dakota.

The 2020 theme, Make Your Mark, was selected to encourage individuals to celebrate the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities.

Department of Human Services Secretary Shawnie Rechtenbaugh said, “In these challenging times, it is even more important that we take action to safeguard, assist, appreciate, and celebrate the elders among us. South Dakotans have a reputation for taking care of themselves and their neighbors, for respecting the rich history of our state, and the pioneers that have forged our state’s path.”

South Dakotans can support our older individuals in these challenging times by:

  • Staying engaged with the elderly utilizing technology;
  • Call frequently for short conversations;
  • Send text messages and pictures throughout the day;
  • Show up for a socially distanced visit through the window of the nursing home.

 Rechtenbaugh added, “Connection is the key. The value of human connection can’t be underestimated. We encourage the use of technology to bridge the gap and help alleviate those feelings of isolation.”

This statewide observation coincides with National Older Americans Month, a national awareness campaign that takes place each May.

News, Story

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.
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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

News, Story

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.

News, Story

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”.

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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