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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: May 6, 2005
CONTACT: Mark Johnston at 605-773-3212
News Tips for the week of May 9
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:
Saturday-Sunday, May 7-15, Statewide - National Tourism Week - Officials with the South Dakota Office of Tourism will travel the state promoting the importance of travel and tourism as a major South Dakota industry. They will also promote the “Explore South Dakota” campaign, which urges South Dakotans to explore their own backyard for close-to-home vacation ideas. Contact Nicole Nordbye at 222-1168 or Lee Harstad at 280-4337.
Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8, Sioux Falls, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday (CDT) – DENR Geological Survey Program staff will have a booth at the Sioux Empire Gem and Mineral Society’s gem, mineral and fossil show. The show will be held at the Volunteers of America Bollinger Center located at 1309 West 51st Street in Sioux Falls, and is open to the public. The Geological Survey will display some of their products, such as the new Geologic map of South Dakota, and the Bedrock geologic map showing configuration of the bedrock surface in South Dakota east of the Missouri River, as well as the Minnehaha County aquifer materials map, and maps from the Geology of Minnehaha County. Also on display will be various rock samples found in eastern South Dakota. The Geological Survey will also have available several slide presentations, explaining some the aspects of eastern South Dakota geology, and the various functions of the Geological Survey. For more information on the Geological Survey’s involvement, contact Dennis Tomhave at 677-5227.
Monday, May 9, Pierre, 11 a.m. (CDT) - The Governor's Red Tape Task Force will meet by DDN from Pierre, Watertown, Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Corsica, Burke, Lemmon, and Rapid City. The Task Force is part of the state's 2010 Initiative. For more information, contact Julie Johnson, 773-6850.
Monday-Tuesday, May 9-10, Pierre, 3 p.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission will meet at 111 E. Capitol Avenue. New business includes past non-graduated student records, continuing education, seminar planning for 2005, new equipment purchases, investigation service and violation consent order. Individuals needing assistance, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, should contact the Cosmetology Commission at 773-6193 at least 48 hours before convening to make any necessary arrangements.
Monday-Wednesday, May 9-11, Various locations – Game, Fish and Parks will again be holding a series of open houses across the state to solicit input regarding mountain lion management in South Dakota. The dates and times for this week are as follows:
May 9 (Monday) 7 p.m., Watertown, Event Center theater
May 10 (Tuesday) 7 p.m., Aberdeen, Ramkota Convention theater
May 11 (Wednesday) 4-8 p.m., Mitchell, MTI Technology Center, 1800 E. Spruce
For more information on the Watertown and Aberdeen meetings, contact Doug Alvine, GFP Regional Supervisor, 882-5200. For information on the Mitchell meeting, contact Arden Petersen, GFP Regional Supervisor, 362-2700.
Tuesday, May 10, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CDT) - The Board of Economic Development will hold its monthly meeting at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. For more information, contact Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-3301.
Wednesday, May 11, Pierre, 8 a.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will kick-off the Pierre leg of the SD Law Enforcement Torch Run for the SD Special Olympics from the front steps of the State Capitol. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Wednesday-Thursday, May 11-12, Rapid City, 8:30 a.m. (MDT) - The South Dakota Real Estate Commission will meet in the Lincoln Room of the Ramkota Convention Center, 2111 LaCrosse Street. Meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. both days. For more information, contact Dee Jones Noordermeer, Executive Director, 773-3600.
Wednesday, May 11, Pierre, 9 a.m. (CDT) – The Department of Social Services will hold a public hearing to adopt rules relating to the Medical Services Program. The rules are being amended to update and clarify existing rules, institute form and style changes, expand the items and services covered, repeal rules that are no longer necessary, change the method used to inform a provider of the existence of a third-party payment source, and amend the claim requirements that must be met when submitting either an electronic or a paper claim for a covered item or service. The hearing will be held in the DSS Conference Room, First Floor of the Kneip Building, 700 Governors Drive. For more information, contact Jill Wellhouse, DSS Division of Legal Services, 773-3305.
Thursday, May 12, Brookings, 9:45 a.m. (CDT) – DENR Geological Survey Program staff will participate in the Big Sioux Water Festival on the SDSU campus and will host an outdoor demonstration of panning for gold. This hands-on activity will teach 4th graders about gold panning and how water is used as a tool. The participants will be able to find “gold” (fool’s gold or pyrite) as well as learn a little about South Dakota’s gold. For more information on the Geological Survey’s involvement, contact Sarah Chadima at 677-5227.
Thursday, May 12, Sioux Falls, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (CDT) – The South Dakota Office of Tourism and Citibank South Dakota are partnering to host a travel planning day for Citibank’s 3,200 Sioux Falls employees. The planning day is part of the Office of Tourism’s National Tourism Week campaign, “Explore South Dakota.” The event features exhibits by the Office of Tourism, Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association and convention and visitors bureaus from across the state. Representatives of each group will also distribute travel literature and help plan vacation itineraries. Contact Lee Harstad at 280-4337.
Thursday, May 12, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CDT) – The Department of Social Services will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY 2006 State Plan for Home Weatherization Assistance for Low Income Persons, the FY 2006 State Plan for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, and the FFY 2006 Community Assistance Program. The hearing is to obtain final comments on the proposed plans. The hearing will be held at 206 W Missouri Ave., Pierre. For more information, contact Wayne Schaefbauer, DSS Office of Low Income Energy Assistance, 773-3766.
Thursday-Friday, May 12-13, Sioux Falls, 10 a.m. (CDT) – The South Dakota Board of Regents will meet at the South Dakota School for the Deaf (SDSD) for its regular business meeting. All meetings will be held at the Berry Wright Education Building on the SDSD campus. The business meeting begins at 10 a.m. Thursday. The regents will honor university faculty with e-learning awards. The board will also consider requests to approve 15 more articulation agreements with technical institutes and create two new certificate programs through the University of South Dakota. For more information, contact Janelle Toman, 773-3455.
Thursday, May 12, Sioux Falls, Noon (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak to Citibank South Dakota employees during their travel planning day, a partnership promotion with the SD Office of Tourism, to highlight Tourism’s “Explore South Dakota” campaign. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Thursday, May 12, Yankton, 4:15 pm (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will be at the Technical Education Center for the Yankton Regional Technical Education Center Grant presentation. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Friday, May 13, Sioux Falls, 10 a.m. (CDT) - The Corrections Commission meets at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. An agenda will be posted at http://www.state.sd.us/corrections/corrections_commission_Agendas&Minutes.htm once it is finalized. For more information, contact the Department of Corrections, 773-3478.
Friday, May 13, Rapid City, 6 p.m. (MDT) - Jafar Karim, director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, will speak at the Black Hills Community Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. For more information, contact Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-3301.
Friday, May 13, Rapid City, 6:30 p.m. (MDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will participate in the South Dakota National Guard Welcome Home Ceremony for the 109th Engineer Group Headquarters. The event will be held at the Rapid City Central High School Gymnasium. The 109th Engineer Group has spent the last year in Afghanistan. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
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