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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, June 2, 2006
CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Roxy Everson at 605-773-3212
News Tips for the week of June 5, 2006
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:
Saturday, June 3, Gettysburg, 1-4 p.m. (CDT) - The Governor’s Child Seat Program: Project 8 is designed to educate South Dakota’s parents and guardians about proper child seat use and installation. Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available at Great Western Bank, 111 N. East St., to educate and demonstrate child seat use and installation. Project 8 reminds all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are less than 4’9” tall; they need to be in a booster seat. For more information, contact Melissa Stech, 773-6949 or visit www.state.sd.us/project8.
Sunday, June 4, Ft.Meade, 9 a.m. (MDT) - SDNG Pinning Ceremony for Lt. Col. Ross. A pinning ceremony will take place at Fort Meade, Parade Group Field, to recognize the promotion of Lt. Col. James Ross of Whitewood to the rank of Colonel. Col. Keith Corbett, assistant adjutant general of the South Dakota Army National Guard, will perform the pinning and serve as guest speaker. For more information, contact Maj. Orson Ward, 737-6721.
Sunday-Thursday, June 4-8, Sioux Falls, 1 p.m. (CDT) – The 5th annual Youth Leadership Forum for South Dakota youth who have disabilities will be held at the University of Sioux Falls. Thirty seven junior and senior high school youth from various South Dakota communities will participate. For more information, contact Betsy Valnes or Robert Robbennolt at 224-6287 or 1(800) 224-5336.
Sunday, June 4 through July 14, Rapid City, 2:30 p.m. (MDT) – More than 160 Native American high school students will participate in a pre-college enrichment program at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. An Opening Ceremony takes place in the Electrical Engineering and PhysicsBuilding, Room 252. The program is an essential component of South Dakota's GEAR UP initiative. GEAR UP is designed to encourage more Native American students to pursue higher education and to provide the students and their families with academic and social support to reach that goal. The program – part of Governor Rounds’ 2010 Education Initiative – is a partnership between the South Dakota Department of Education and the Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium. It is funded by a six-year $6.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For information, contact Mary Stadick Smith, South Dakota Department of Education, 773-7228. mary.stadicksmith@state.sd.us.
Monday-Friday, June 5-9, Madison - The Governor's NewTeacherAcademy will be held at DakotaStateUniversity, KennedyCenter. About 140 first- and second-year South Dakota teachers are expected to attend the event. Gov. Mike Rounds will address the group Wednesday, June 7, at 10 a.m. (CDT). Introduced in the summer of 2005, the Governor's NewTeacherAcademy is an event designed to assist in the retention of young teachers across South Dakota. Teachers new to the profession gather for several days of workshops, idea sharing and networking. A second academy will be held July 10-14 at Black HillsStateUniversity in Spearfish. An agenda is available online at doe.sd.gov/oatq/newteacher.asp. For more information, contact Mary Stadick Smith, South Dakota Department of Education, 773-7228 or at mary.stadicksmith@state.sd.us.
Monday-Tuesday, June 5-6, Sioux Falls, noon (CDT) - Rural HealthSymposium & CriticalAccessHospital Update, Strategic Transformation: The Future of Rural Health. The Department of Health, USDSchool of Medicine, and the Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas are sponsoring their annual symposium for health care professionals who deliver health care in a rural environment. The event will be held at the Best Western Ramkota. For more information contact Bernie Osberg, Office of Rural Health, 773-3361 or see the web at http://www.state.sd.us/doh/Calendar/participant2006.pdf.
Monday, June 5, Deadwood, 9 a.m. (MDT) - The South Dakota Commission on Gaming will hold administrative hearings and their quarterly business meeting in the City Commission Chambers of the DeadwoodCity Hall. View the proposed agenda online at http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/reg/gaming/calendar.htm. For more information, contact Larry Eliason, Executive Secretary, SD Commission on Gaming, 773-6050.
Monday, June 5, Rapid City, 7 p.m. (MDT) - DENR Geological Survey staff will address Rapid City’s City Council on the topic of aquifer sensitivity in the vicinity of a proposed Canyon Springs development area northwest of Rapid City. The council meeting will be held at the City/School Administration Center, 300 Sixth Street. For more information on the topic, contact Foster Sawyer, DENR, 394-2229.
Tuesday-Friday, June 6-9, Brookings - SDSU Campus - The 17th Annual Independent Living Teen Conference will take place in Brookings on the campus of South Dakota State University (SDSU). Approximately 80 teens, ages 16-18, will attend the conference. They will learn about the following topics: Meth, Parenting Education, Dating Violence, Self-Defense, Resume Writing, and Filling Out Job Applications. Other activities include: a dance, local youth comedian, campus tours, cultural activities, and plenty of social time with one another. On Thursday, June 8, there will be a "Real Life Fair" with motivational speakers. The four-day conference is designed to help youth improve their independent living skills as they transition from foster care into self-sufficiency. For more information, contact Joyce Panzer, http://www.state.sd.us/social/CPS/IndepLiving/index.htm or call 773-3227.
Tuesday, June 6, Fort Thompson, 12-2 p.m. (CDT) - The Governor’s Child Seat Program: Project 8 is designed to educate South Dakota’s parents and guardians about proper child seat use and installation. Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available at Lynn’s Dakotamart, located on SD Highways 34 and 47, to educate and demonstrate child seat use and installation. Project 8 reminds all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are less than 4’9” tall; they need to be in a booster seat. For more information, contact Melissa Stech, 773-6949 or visit www.state.sd.us/project8.
Tuesday, June 6, Aberdeen, 2-5 p.m. (CDT) - The Governor’s Child Seat Program: Project 8 is designed to educate South Dakota’s parents and guardians about proper child seat use and installation. Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available at the Aberdeen Fire Station, 111 2nd Ave SE, to educate and demonstrate child seat use and installation. Project 8 reminds all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are less than 4’9” tall; they need to be in a booster seat. For more information, contact Melissa Stech, 773-6949 or visit www.state.sd.us/project8.
Tuesday, June 6, Rapid City, 4:30 p.m. (MDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will attend the Children’s Home Society Ribbon Cutting Ceremony being held at 1330 Jolly Lane. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Tuesday, June 6, Ipswich, 8 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the FEM (Faulk, Edmunds and McPherson counties) Electric Association Annual meeting, being held at the Ipswich High School gym. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Wednesday, June 7, Pierre, 8 a.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation, South Dakota Department of Labor, SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter and Small Business Administration will hold a Small Business Tax Workshop for new and expanding businesses. The workshop will be held at the State Library, 800 Governors Drive, and registration is required. For more information, contact Jo S. Riley, Business Education Coordinator, 773-3311.
Wednesday, June 7, Madison, 10 a.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will address first and second year teachers attending the New Teacher Academy being held all week at Dakota Prairie Playhouse Theater. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Thursday, June 8, Brandon, 1 p.m. (CDT) - Gov. Mike Rounds will be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony for the 2006 StateFireSchool. The ceremony, a tribute to South Dakota firefighters who passed away during the past year, will be held at the Brandon High School Performing Arts Center. The public is encouraged to attend. The training runs through Saturday. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212 or Brooke Bohnenkamp, 773-3178.
Friday, June 9, Sturgis, 8 a.m. (MDT) - SDNG Sling Load Operations. Beginning Monday, June 5, members of the 200th and 250th Engineers will participate in a Sling Load Certification Course to train on rigging different types of loads under helicopters for airlift. The loads will range from military vehicles to large amounts of liquid. The participants will practically employ their new skills on June 9 at the Sturgis airport by hauling equipment to designated landing zones. For more information, contact Maj. Orson Ward, 737-6721.
Friday, June 9, Deadwood, 3 p.m. (MDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the South Dakota Retailers Association Board of Directors meeting, being held at the Holiday Inn Express. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Friday, June 9, Ft. Pierre, 7 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary State Convention, being held at the Ft.PierreYouthCenter. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.
Saturday, June 10, Brandon, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (CDT) - The Governor’s Child Seat Program: Project 8 is designed to educate South Dakota’s parents and guardians about proper child seat use and installation. Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available at Brandon Med-Star Ambulance, 918 E. Redwood Blvd., to educate and demonstrate child seat use and installation. Project 8 reminds all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are less than 4’9” tall; they need to be in a booster seat. For more information, contact Melissa Stech, 773-6949 or visit www.state.sd.us/project8.
Saturday, June 10, Pierre, 1:30 p.m. (CDT) - SDNG Adjutant General address to VFW. Maj. Gen. Michael Gorman will provide the opening address to the VFW members during the VFW Seventy Six Department Convention, at the Ramkota Inn, 920 W. Sioux. Gorman will address past and current SDNG deployments and veteran's issue. For more information, contact Maj. Orson Ward, 737-6721.
Sunday, June 11, FortMeade, 3 p.m. (MDT) - SDNG Commander's In-Brief. A Joint Task Force Commander In-brief involving all unit commanders and key leadership for the Joint Thunder 2006 Training Exercise will take place at Custer Hall. The conclusion of this briefing will mark the commencement of the Joint Thunder 2006 Training Exercises. For more information, contact Public Affairs Officer, Maj. Orson Ward, 737-6721.
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