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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, June 11, 2004
CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Stephanie Tveidt, (605) 773-3212
News Tips for the week of June 13, 2004
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota state government:
Sunday through Saturday, June 13 – 19, 2004 – The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is teaming with the state rural electric cooperatives, investor owned utilities and municipal utilities to promote South Dakota Energy Safety Awareness Week. For more information, contact the SDPUC at (800) 332-1782, or Bob Miller at the South Dakota Energy Safety Association, (605) 224-6311.
Monday, June 14, Rapid City, 9:30 a.m. (MT) – Gov. Mike Rounds, Dr. Richard Gowen and a group of scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be available to the media at the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority Office located at 625 9th St. Gov. Mike Rounds will discuss South Dakota’s interest and commitment to converting the mine into a laboratory. The media availability is part of a two-day meeting which includes discussions about the National Science Foundation proposal processes, the feasibility design, potential experiments and economic impacts. Guests from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory include: Dr. Willi Chinowsky, senior physicist, physics division; Mr. Ken Chow, engineering division project engineer; Dr. Kevin Lesko, senior physicist, nuclear science division, group leader; Dr. Ernest Majer, earth sciences deputy division director; Dr. Kem Robinson, engineering division director; Dr. James Symons, nuclear science division director; and, Dr. Joe Wang, staff scientist, Earth Sciences division, group leader. For more information, contact Trudy Severson at (605) 394-5251.
Monday, June 14, Springfield, 9:30 a.m. (CT) – The Corrections Commission will meet at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, S.D. Agenda items include a tour of the prison construction project, discussion on the Native American Craft shop and updates on the prison population. For more information, contact the Department of Corrections at (605) 773-3478. For an agenda, visit http://www.state.sd.us/corrections/agenda_south_dakota_corrections_June142004.htm
Tuesday, June 15, Sioux Falls, 2 p.m. (CT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will participate in a news conference at 704 E. Presentation St. to announce efforts being done to raise awareness of homeownership education opportunities for residents and the efforts to expand these opportunities in South Dakota. For more information, visit http://www.sdhda.org/sdhdanew.htm or contact Dar Baum at (605) 773-3617.
Tuesday, June 15, Brookings, 6 p.m. (CT) – In honor of Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness Month, the Department of Social Services Child Protection Services will hold a foster and adoptive parent appreciation dinner in the Banquet Room at the Brookings Country Club, 46850 219th St. Speakers include Anne DeReu and Kathy Dennis of Siouxland Foster Parent Association. For more information, contact Deb Riley or Nancy Christensen, DSS Child Protection Services, at (605) 688-4334.
Tuesday, June 15, Sioux Falls, 6:30 p.m. (CT) - There will be an open house meeting on the S.D. 42 project in Sioux Falls, which includes 10th, 11th and 12th streets from Western Avenue to Main Avenue. The meeting will be held at the Sioux Falls Area Office at 5316 W. 60th St. For more information, contact Craig Smith at (605) 367-5680.
Wednesday, June 16, Britton, 9 a.m. (CT) – Gov. Mike Rounds, Cabinet and staff will travel to Britton for Capital for a Day to visit with people from the area and get input on how to improve South Dakota and government. The day’s activities will be hosted at the Britton Hecla Arena. The agenda is as follows: 9 a.m. – Gov. Rounds and Cabinet arrive at Britton Airport; 9:20 a.m. - Ribbon cutting at the Britton Real Estate Office; 9:30 a.m. - Gov. Rounds and Cabinet meet with the public, booths open for visitation, and town/business tours; 10 a.m. - first lady Jean Rounds’ story hour with Britton’s children at the Britton Public Library; 11:30 a.m. - lunch with Gov. Rounds in the Amacher Auditorium; 12:25 p.m. - Gov. Rounds addresses the community, followed by a Q &A session; 1:15 p.m. - Gov. Rounds and Cabinet meet with the public, booths open for visitation; and, 2 p.m. - Gov. Rounds, Cabinet and staff depart for Pierre. Britton is the ninth “Capital for a Day” in South Dakota, following Brookings, Sturgis, Wessington Springs, Lemmon, Aberdeen, Hot Springs, Yankton and Faith.
Wednesday - Thursday, June 16 - 17, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CT) – The Board of Minerals and Environment will meet at the Matthew Environmental Education and Training Center in the Joe Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Ave. The board will consider a Petition for an Order to Show Cause and Declaratory Judgment involving Broin and Associates, conduct a public hearing on proposed changes to several hazardous waste rules, and conduct oil and gas hearings on several requests from Luff Exploration Company of Denver, Colo. For a complete agenda, visit www.state.sd.us/denr/Boards/2004/bme0604.pdf. For more information, contact Jenny Hegg, DENR, (605) 773-3153.
Wednesday - Friday, June 16 - 18, Pierre - The South Dakota Real Estate Commission will meet beginning at 12:30 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. (CT) on Thursday and Friday. The meetings will be held at the Soldiers and Sailors Building, 425 E. Capitol Ave. For more information, contact Dee Jones Noordermeer at (605) 773-3600.
Wednesday, June 16, Pierre, 7:15 p.m. (CT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will throw the first pitch for the Pierre Post 8 Legion baseball game against Spearfish at Hyde Stadium.
Thursday, June 17, Belle Fourche, 5 p.m. (MT) – There will be an open house meeting on the U.S. 85 project, running from Hay Creek Bridge through Belle Fourche. The meeting will be held at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center at 1111 National St. For more information, contact Joel Gengler (605) 773-3433.
Thursday, June 17, Sioux Falls, 7 p.m. (CT) – Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be the keynote speaker at the annual Sioux Valley Energy meeting at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Sioux Valley - Southwestern Electric (Sioux Valley Energy) provides electricity and related services to nearly 20,000 farm, residential, and commercial customers in South Dakota and Minnesota. For more information, contact Martin McGrane, Sioux Valley Energy director of Communication Services at (605) 234-1960.
Sunday – Tuesday, June 20 – June 22, Santa Fe, New Mexico – Gov. Mike Rounds will attend the Western Governor’s Association Meeting. Topics include: developing a clean energy system; improving drought preparedness and mitigating impacts, the presidential nomination process; and, strengthening U.S. competitiveness. Visit http://www.westgov.org/index.htm for a complete meeting agenda. Gov. Rounds will moderate a discussion regarding carbon sequestration partnerships on Sunday, June 30, from 3:45 – 5:30 p.m. (MT).
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Media Note: Maj. Mark Johnston, Press Secretary for Gov. Mike Rounds, will be out of the office from June 11 until June 21 attending National Guard training. Please direct all inquiries to Stephanie Tveidt at (605) 773-3212 or stephanie.tveidt@state.sd.us.