Article Body
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, January 26, 2007
CONTACT: Roxy Everson at 605-773-3212
News Tips for the week of January 29, 2007
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:
Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 27-28, Chicago, Ill. – Melissa Bump and Natasha Bothun from the Office of Tourism’s Visitor and Industry Relations team will attend the Adventures in Travel Expo in Chicago. This is the largest adventure and active outdoor travel show series in the United States. For more information, contact Wanda Romkema at Wanda.Romkema@state.sd.us or 773-3301.
Saturday-Thursday, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, Grapevine, Texas – Vicky Engelhaupt, Trade Sales Representative, will attend the American Bus Association’s Annual Marketplace. Vicky, along with 29 South Dakota suppliers, will meet with tour operators from around the country and Canada in pre-scheduled appointments. For more information, contact Wanda Romkema, 773-3301 or Wanda.Romkema@state.sd.us.
Monday, Jan. 29, Ellsworth Air Force Base, 1 p.m. (MST) - Army National Guard unit loads helicopters on Air Force C-5A Galaxy aircraft - Soldiers and Airmen will load three South Dakota Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters aboard one of the largest aircraft in the world, the C-5A Galaxy, at Ellsworth Air Force Base. This joint operation between the U.S. Air Force and the South Dakota National Guard is in support of a humanitarian assistance exercises known as New Horizons, which involves construction of schools, clinics, and water wells in countries throughout the U.S. Southern Command region. These humanitarian assistance exercises, which last several months each, provide much needed services and infrastructure, while providing critical training for deployed U.S. military forces. These exercises generally take place in rural, underprivileged areas. The helicopters that will be loaded belong to Company C, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, which is a South Dakota Army National Guard air-ambulance unit based in Rapid City. The National Guard unit will be providing general aviation and casualty evacuation from Feb. 4 to May 6 in support of the exercise in Nicaragua.
MEDIA - Media should arrive at the VisitorControlCenter (Building 2901 at 2868 Davis Drive) near the main gate by 12:45 p.m. for an in-place time of 1 p.m. Media must have valid driver's license, proof of insurance and current registration to access the installation. DIRECTIONS: Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., is located 10 miles east of Rapid City, S.D., off of Interstate 90. Media traveling eastbound on I-90 should use exit 67B and follow the signs to the Ellsworth's main gate.
For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 605-737-6721, cell 605-431-8753 or Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson at 605-385-5056, e-mail 28BW.PA2@ellsworth.af.mil or Chief Warrant Officer Bill Waeckerle at (605) 737-6100.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, Pierre, 1:15 p.m. (CST) – Gov. Mike Rounds will make presentations to seven school administrators at the Outstanding School Administrator Awards Luncheon. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, Rapid City - 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 Rapid City Fire Department, 1205 N. Maple Ave., to demonstrate child seat use and installation. Please call 605-342-6464 for an appointment. 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.
Thursday, Feb. 1, Britton 1–3 p.m. (CST) - The Department of Labor will be holding Career Center office hours at the Marshall County Community Hall. These hours are available for both job seekers and businesses interested in receiving employment services at no cost, including veteran services, training programs and unemployment insurance. Parties interested in using these services can visit or call (605) 448-2682 during this time. Additional information on programs and services can be found at www.sdjobs.org.
Friday, Feb. 2, Pierre, 9:30 a.m. (CST) – First Lady Jean Rounds will be handing out “Go Red for Women” lapel pins on 3rd Floor of the Capitol to highlight the American Heart Association’s national call to increase awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for women, and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health. The Wear Red for Women Day campaign unites hundreds of companies and organizations throughout the nation, encourages all participants, men and women alike, to wear the color red on Feb. 2 in support of ongoing research and education about women and heart disease. For more information, contact Deb Bowman, 773-3165.
Friday, Feb. 2, Pierre, 11 a.m. (CST) – Gov. Mike Rounds will hold his weekly legislative press conference from the governor’s large conference room on the 2nd floor of the Capitol. Media outlets not able to attend in person can call 1-888-809-4012 and enter access code 7733213 to join the conference. Please keep phones muted to ensure audio quality. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Saturday, Feb. 3, Yankton, 10 a.m. (CST) - Charlie Battery Freedom Salute Ceremony - Soldiers from Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery will be honored during the National Guard Freedom Salute Ceremony at the Yankton National Guard Armory. The National Guard Freedom Salute Campaign is a dedication to the Soldiers, family members, and employers of units deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and peacekeeping operations across the globe. On behalf of the National Guard, each eligible Soldier will be presented with an encased American flag, a sequentially numbered commemorative coin, a certificate of appreciation and a lapel insignia. Families and employers will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice. For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 605-737-6721, cell 605-431-8753.
Saturday, Feb. 3, Sioux Falls, 3:30 p.m. (CST) - 114th Fighter Wing Welcome Home Ceremony - Airmen of the 114th Fighter Wing will be officially welcomed home after completing a deployment to Southwest Asia at the South Dakota Air National Guard Facility in Sioux Falls. Gov. Mike Rounds; Maj. Gen. Michael A. Gorman, adjutant general; Brig. Gen. Steven R. Doohen, assistant adjutant general; and Brig Gen. David Holman, chief of staff, will be among many to greet the Airmen and thank them for their service. For more information, please contact Lt. Col. Reid Christopherson at 988-5644. Media must call ahead and arrive early in order to pass through the base security.
Saturday, Feb. 3, Watertown - National Guard conducts SWAT and individual readiness training with local law enforcement - Approximately 95 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Section, 2nd Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, South Dakota Army National Guard, will conduct special weapons and tactics (SWAT) training and individual readiness training (IRT) with local law enforcement at the Lake Area Technical Institute, 230 11th Street Northeast. The purpose of the training is for Soldiers to be acquainted with the procedures and techniques used by local civilian law enforcement to better support local, state and federal agencies in times of emergency. Tasks to be trained will be respond to a bomb threat, conduct a cordon and search, secure a facility, treat a casualty, provide perimeter security and various other types of security missions. This training event will allow for an excellent opportunity to capture imagery and video for local media representatives as well as demonstrate the cooperation between state agencies and the National Guard to support disaster and emergency response and provide for homeland defense. For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 605-737-6721, cell 605-431-8753, or Staff Sgt. Jay Roberts, at (605) 520-5480.
-30-