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500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, May 4, 2007
CONTACT: Mitch Krebs or Roxy Everson at 605-773-3212
News Tips for the week of May 7, 2007
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:
May 1 - May 31 - People who forget to buckle up will get plenty of friendly reminders to wear their seatbelts during the month of May. Dozens of student groups across the state are working in unison this month to promote seatbelt use. Students will conduct community seatbelt surveys and remind shoppers to buckle up on their way out of stores. The activities are part of the national “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt campaign. For specifics locations and times of the student activities, contact Brooke Bohnenkamp, 773-3178.
Saturday, May 5, Brookings, 10 a.m. (CDT) - Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard will be the Spring Graduation speaker at the 121st Annual Commencement at South Dakota State University in Frost Area. For more information, contact Mary Reeter, SDSU Academic Affairs, 688-5042.
Sunday-Saturday, May 6-12, Statewide - Gov. Mike Rounds has declared May 6-12 as Correctional Employees Week in South Dakota in honor of those responsible for the supervision, custody and care of more than 3-thousand adult inmates, more than 2-thousand parolees and approximately 1-thousand juvenile offenders in placement and on aftercare. For more information, contact Michael Winder, Department of Corrections, 773-3478.
Sunday, May 6, Pierre, 11 a.m. (CDT) - Army Valorous Unit Award Ceremony - The 200th Engineer Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, will conduct a formal ceremony awarding the Army Valorous Unit Award to its Soldiers who were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from April 2003 to March 2004, at RiggsHigh School in Pierre. SDNG Assistant Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Keith Corbett will preside over the presentation of the award that is presented to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an individual. For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 605-737-6721 or Sgt. Robert Stickney at 605-773-3449.
Sunday, May 6, Sioux Falls, 1-3 p.m. (CDT) - May is National Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness Month, and with that the 2nd Annual Foster Care Information Fair will be held at the Outdoor Campus in Sertoma Park. This fair is open to all current foster families as well as those wanting to become foster parents. Others are also encouraged and welcome to attend the fair. Resources and education materials will be available and many professional foster care and adoption specialists will be on site to answer any questions related to the foster care process. This outdoor event will also have two classrooms as well as a theatre featuring rotating presentations, videos and entertainment. For more information, please contact Children's Home Society, 334-3431 or the Department of Social Services, 773-3165.
Monday-Friday, May 7-11, Eastern U.S. – Maureen Droz, South Dakota Office of Tourism, along with representatives from the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Crazy Horse Memorial and Hospitality Central, will be attending GLAMER (Group Leaders of America) meetings with group tour leaders in Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Baltimore, Md.; and Philadelphia, Pa. The GLAMER meetings provide the opportunity to educate group tour leaders on South Dakota travel opportunities and help to increase motor coach travel numbers to the state. For more information, contact Wanda Romkema, 773-3301 or Wanda.Romkema@state.sd.us.
Monday, May 7, Harrold, 7 p.m. (CDT) -The South Dakota Highway Patrol will award Kathy Harn of Harrold with a “Saved by the Belt” award. Harn and her two young children were recently involved in a crash and likely avoided serious injury because they were properly buckled in. The Highway Patrol will present her with a “Saved by the Belt” award during the Harrold City Council meeting at the Harrold Fire Hall. For more information, contact Brooke Bohnenkamp, 773-3178.
Tuesday, May 8, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CDT) - A public hearing to consider the amendment of proposed rules numbered 10:02:02:01 and 10:02:02:02 will be held in the Executive Board Room, Becker-Hansen Building, 700 E. Broadway Avenue. The effect of the amended rules will be to increase the maximum fees chargeable for legal publications required by state law. For more information, contact Jeff Bloomberg, 773-3688.
Tuesday, May 8, Redfield, 1-3 p.m. (CDT) - The Department of Labor’s Career Center will be holding office hours at the Spink County Courthouse, third floor. Both job seekers and employers interested in receiving employment and career services at no cost may visit or call (605) 472-0435 during these office hours. More information on programs and services is available at www.sdjobs.org.
Tuesday, May 8, Pierre, 1:30 p.m. (CDT) - SDSU Cooperative Extension and the Department of Health are sponsoring a web conference, West Nile Virus is Here to Stay - Planning for the Long Haul. The conference is targeted at public health mosquito control personnel and will be available at Cooperative Extension offices across the state or via broadband internet connection. For more information, contact Jim Wilson, Cooperative Extension, 668-4752, or see the Web site at http://sdces.sdstate.edu/westnile/community.htm.
Wednesday, May 9, Pierre, 8 a.m. (CDT) – The Department of Labor’s Cosmetology Commission will be holding a meeting at 111 East Capitol. A public hearing will follow at 9 a.m. To view the meeting agenda, visit http://www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/cos/calendar.htm. For more information, call 773-6193.
Wednesday, May 9, Pierre, 8:30 a.m. (CDT) – The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources’ Water Management Board will conduct a public hearing to consider changes to surface water quality standards in response to a petition to designate Spearfish Creek as an outstanding state resource water. The board will also consider adoption of findings of fact, conclusions of law and final decision in the matter of a water permit application from Allen Gatzke, and consider several new water permit applications, an application to amend a future use permit application, cancellation considerations, and an amendment to qualification for James River water rights. The meeting will be held at the Floyd Matthew Training Center in the JoeFossBuilding, 523 East Capitol Avenue. For a complete agenda, visit www.state.sd.us/denr/Boards/2007/wmb0507.pdf. For more information, contact Eric Gronlund, DENR, 773-3352.
Wednesday, May 9, Brookings, 8:30 a.m. (CDT) -The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation, South Dakota Department of Labor, Small Business Development Center, and Small Business Administration are hosting a Small Business Workshop for new businesses in South Dakota. The one-day workshop will be held at the Brookings Library, 515 3rd Street. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Jo S. Riley, Business Education Coordinator, Department of Revenue and Regulation, 773-3311.
Wednesday, May 9, Watertown, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (CDT) - The Department of Labor's Northeast Area Career Center will hold a 4-hour Job Hunting Tips Workshop in the Career Center conference room located at 2001 9th Avenue SW, Suite 200. The workshop will cover the basics of goal setting, skills assessment, job hunting, applications, resumes, interviewing techniques, and job retention/employee loyalty. This workshop is provided at no charge. To register, call 882-5131.
Wednesday-Thursday, May 9-10, Pierre, 12:30 p.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Real Estate Commission will hold its regular meeting at the Kings Inn, 110 E. Sioux Avenue, Jefferson Room. For more information, contact Dee Jones Noordermeer, South Dakota Real Estate Commission, 773-3600.
Wednesday, May 9, Webster, 1-3 p.m. (CDT) - The Department of Labor’s Career Center will be holding office hours at the Day County Courthouse basement. Both job seekers and employers interested in receiving employment and career services at no cost may visit or call (605) 345-4781 during these office hours. More information on programs and services is available at www.sdjobs.org.
Thursday, May 10, Pierre, 8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (CDT) - The State Conservation Committee meeting will be held at the Hughes/Stanley County NRCS Building, 1717 N. Lincoln Ave, #103. The State Conservation Committee will review and approve conservation grants submitted by conservation districts from around the state. Members of the public are invited to attend. For more information, contact Pete Jahraus, 773-3623.
Thursday, May 10, Watertown, 8:30 a.m. (CDT): The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation is hosting a SD/ND Border Issue Seminar for new and expanding businesses who conduct business in both states. The Sales Tax portion runs from 8:30am until noon, with the Contractors' Excise Tax section from 1:00 - 3:00pm. Both sessions are free and will be held in Room 514 of the Technical Education Building at Lake Area Technical Institute, 1225 Arrow Avenue. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Jo S. Riley, Business Education Coordinator, Department of Revenue and Regulation, 773-3311.
Thursday, May 10, Aberdeen, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (CDT) - The Department of Labor’s Aberdeen Career Center, located at 420 S. Roosevelt Street, will be holding a Job Search Assistance Program (JSAP) which is free and open to the public. The JSAP is designed to assist and train job seekers on how to find a job. Some of the topics included are networking, the hidden job market, resumes, applications, and proper interview techniques. Parties interested in attending should register by calling (605) 626-2340 prior to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9. For more information, visit www.sdjobs.org.
Thursday, May 10, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CDT) - The Zaniya Task Force May meeting will be held at the Kings Inn. The Zaniya Task Force was created by House Bill 1169 during the 2007 Legislative Session. The purpose of the task force is to examine South Dakota's uninsured population and to offer opportunities for health care coverage to the uninsured. The task force will meet the second Thursday of each month through September 2007. For more information, contact Kevin Forsch, 773-3212.
Thursday-Friday, May 10-11, Custer State Park, 1 p.m. (MDT) - The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission is scheduled to meet at the White Buffalo Room of Blue Bell Lodge at Custer State Park. The agenda includes finalizing the archery deer, youth deer and muzzeloading deer seasons as well as changes in archery restrictions. The commission will consider proposals for setting a variety of hunting seasons including West River deer, Black Hills deer, fall turkey and mountain lion. A complete agenda for the meeting can be found at the department Web site, www.sdgfp.info.
Thursday, May 10, Mitchell, 1:30 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the 68th Annual Disabled American Veterans and 56th Annual State Auxiliary Convention being held at the Holiday Inn. For more information, contact Mitch Krebs, 773-3212.
Saturday-Sunday, May 12-13, Aberdeen - Pari-mutuel horse racing begins at the Brown County Fairgrounds. Race times vary. For more information, contact Larry Eliason, Executive Secretary, South Dakota Gaming Commission, at 773-6050.
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