MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, May 14, 2004

CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Stephanie Tveidt, (605) 773-3212

News Tips for the week of May 16, 2004

PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota state government:

Monday, May 17, Rapid City, 9 a.m. (MDT) - The South Dakota Board of Education will convene its May meeting at Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City. Five public hearings will be held beginning at 9 a.m. (MDT). A complete agenda and listing of the proposed administrative rules scheduled for first readings and public hearings are available online at http://www.state.sd.us/deca/secretary/BOARD/minutes.htm. For more information, contact Nicole Kranzler, (605) 773-3426.

Tuesday, May 18, Winner, 6 p.m. (CDT) – Department of Social Services Child Protection Services will hold a foster parent dinner at Rich's Rec, 126 E. Fourth St., for Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness Month. For more information contact, Jessy Kenzy, DSS Child Protection Services, at (605) 842-0400.

Wednesday, May 19, Faith, 8 a.m. (MDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds, Cabinet members and staff will bring the capital city to the citizens of Faith for Capital for a Day to allow government officials to talk with people and to get input on how to improve state government. The day’s activities will be hosted at the Faith Community Center, and the agenda is as follows: 9 a.m. - Gov. Rounds and Cabinet will meet with the public, and booths will be open for visitation; 11:30 p.m.- lunch will be served with the governor (sponsored by Missouri River Energy Services and the city of Faith); and, 12:30 p.m. - Gov. Rounds addresses the community, followed by a Q &A session.

Wednesday - Friday, May 19 - 21, Mitchell, 9 a.m. (CDT) – The Board of Minerals and Environment will meet at the Holiday Inn, 1525 W. Havens St. The board will hold a contested case hearing on the solid waste permit proposed by DENR for a new municipal solid waste landfill to be located just south of Mitchell. The board will also hold a contested case hearing on a request from Luff Exploration Company of Denver, Colo., to amend orders for the Buffalo Field in Harding County to form a single spacing unit and issue a permit to drill a new oil well using horizontal drilling technology. For a complete agenda, visit www.state.sd.us/denr/Boards/2004/bme0504.htm. For more information, contact Jenny Hegg, DENR, at (605) 773-3153.

Wednesday - Friday, May 19 - 21, Custer – The South Dakota Department of Corrections Juvenile Division hosts the Council of Juvenile Corrections Administrators Midwest Region Spring Workshop and Training at the State Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR) Academy near Custer. For more information, contact the Department of Corrections at (605) 773-3478. For an agenda, visit the DOC website at http://www.state.sd.us/corrections/juvenile_corrections.htm. 

Wednesday, May 19, Chamberlain, 7 p.m. (CDT) – Department of Social Services Child Protection Services will hold a presentation for foster parents at the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Building, 1550 E. King Ave., for Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness Month. Joyzelle Godfrey, through the S.D. Humanities Council, will speak about Native American culture. For more information, contact Leanne DuVall, DSS Child Protection Services, at (605) 734-4501.

Thursday, May 20, Pierre, 9:30 a.m. (CDT) – Media is invited to attend the South Dakota Risk Pool Governing Board’s and South Dakota Risk Pool Advisory Panel’s meeting and teleconference call from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the governor's large conference room at the state capitol. Visit http://www.state.sd.us/news/items/risk_pool_agenda.pdf for an agenda.

Thursday, May 20, Watertown, 6:30 p.m. (CDT) – Department of Social Services Child Protection Services will hold a foster parent appreciation dinner at Past Times Restaurant, 16 West Kemp, for Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness Month. For more information, contact Michelle Kays, DSS Child Protection Services, at (605) 882-5050.

Friday, May 21, Sioux Falls, 8 a.m. (CDT) – The Board of Pardons and Paroles will hold its monthly meeting at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, 3rd floor conference room. For more information, contact the Board of Pardons and Paroles at (605) 367-5040.

Friday, May 21, Pierre, 10:30 a.m. (CDT) – The Lottery Commission will meet in room 412 of the state capitol. Agenda items include: updates on Lottery activities including scratch ticket and lotto sales, marketing and video lottery reports; continued discussion of parts and service for video lottery machines; and requests for proposals for jackpot signs and advertising services. A license contested case hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Mike Mueller, (605) 773-5770.

Friday, May 21, Brookings, noon (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will be they keynote speaker at the South Dakota Newspaper Association Annual Convention at the Brookings Inn. For more information, contact Dave Bordewyk at (605) 692-4300.

Sunday, May 23, Sioux Falls, 2:30 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the University of Sioux Falls graduation commencement at Washington Pavilion Grand Hall. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Benedetto at (605) 331-6684.

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