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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
MEDIA ADVISORY: Friday, June 16, 2006
CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Roxy Everson at 605-773-3212
News Tips for the week of June 19, 2006
PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:
Saturday, June 17, Salem, 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 Salem Reality, 300 N. Nebraska, to 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 17, Brookings, 10:15 a.m. (CDT) – SDNG Col. Keith Corbett, assistant adjutant general of the South Dakota Army National Guard, will address the 88th annual American Legion Convention at the BrookingsHigh School, 530 Elm Avenue. For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 737-6721.
Through June 21, Black Hills, and Pierre, South Dakota, various dates, events – Continuing SDNG Joint Thunder 2006 Exercises. From Saturday, June 10, through Wednesday, June 21, the South Dakota National Guard is hosting Joint Thunder 2006, a scenario-driven exercise providing participants with realistic wartime training and relevant instruction in their areas of specialization. Joint Thunder 2006 has brought together approximately 2,250 Soldiers from 22 states and four nations, making it the first multinational exercise in the event’s 22 year history. It also represents a cooperative effort between the Army National Guard, Army and Navy Reserve, Civil Air Patrol, US Forest Service, and various civilian agencies. Some of the prominent events scheduled for Joint Thunder 2006 include:
- Monday, June 19, Fort Meade, SD, 9:00 a.m. (MDT) – Chemical Decontamination Exercises. A Chemical Decontamination Exercise will be held on 9:00 a.m. at the FortMeade gymnasium. The organizing unit, the 490th Chemical Battalion, will be lining up a triage area to initially treat civilian casualties from a simulated WMD event. Onlookers can expect to also see the decontamination process used to treat victims. The exercise also pairs the Fort Meade Fire Department with the 82nd Civil Support Team.
- Tuesday, June 20, Pierre, 11:00 a.m. (CST) – Bridge Training. Members of South Dakota’s 200th Engineer Company and Connecticut’s 250th Engineer Company will join forces with Chinook flight crews from Singapore to test the skills they’ve acquired during a recent Sling Load Certification Course and their capabilities with the RibbonBridge, using 7 boats and 6 bays. For those interested in attending the exercise, please make your way to the West Shore Boat ramp at LakeOahe by 11:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, June 21, CampRapid, 5:00 p.m. (MDT) – KNBN Picnic. At the conclusion of the Joint Thunder 2006 military exercises, Soldiers are invited to a picnic and cookout on the Camp Rapid Parade Field at 5:00pm on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. Sponsored by KNBN, the dinner will give Soldiers from many different units a chance to get together, unwind and celebrate after their two-week active training
For more information, please contact Maj. Officer Orson Ward, 737-6721.
Monday, June 19, Brookings, 4 p.m. - 6 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 Kid’s WorldLearningCenter, 2220 6th St, to 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 20, Aberdeen, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Department of Labor’s AberdeenCareerCenter will be holding a Job Search Assistance Program (JSAP), which is provided at no charge 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, finding the hidden job market, resumes, applications, and proper interview techniques. The training will be held at the South DakotaCareerCenter, 420 S. Roosevelt Street. Call (605) 626-2340 to reserve a spot prior to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 19.
Tuesday, June 20, Faith, 12:30 p.m. (MDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the dedication of the new PublicSafetyBuilding. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Tuesday, June 20, Huron, 2 p.m. - 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 Huron Public Health to 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 20, Volga, 4 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the biodiesel groundbreaking ceremony for High Plains Biofuels and the South Dakota Soybean Processors. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Tuesday, June 20, Presho, 7 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will host an Education Town Hall Meeting at the LymanCountyHigh School gymnasium. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Wednesday, June 21, Mitchell, 9 a.m. (CDT) - The SD Dept. of Revenue and Regulation is hosting a Basic Tax Seminar for new and expanding businesses. The Sales Tax session runs from 9:00am - noon with a Contractors' Excise Tax session from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Both sessions are free and will be held at the MitchellTechnologyCenter, 1800 East Spruce Street. For more information, contact Jo S. Riley, Business Education Coordinator, 773-3311.
Wednesday, June 21, Sioux Falls, 10 a.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the PREMIER Bankcard groundbreaking ceremony. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Wednesday, June 21, Pierre, 10 a.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Transportation Commission will hold a video conference originating out of room 255 of the Becker-Hansen Building. SDDOT Secretary Judy Payne will give a broad overview of the 2007 - 2011 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. An agenda is available online at http://www.sddot.com/geninfo.asp. For more information, contact Tina Freeman, 773-5105.
Wednesday, June 21, Pierre, 10:30 a.m. (CDT) - The South Dakota Railroad Board will hold its monthly meeting in the Commission room of the Becker-Hansen Building. For more information, contact Nanette Daily, 773-3222.
Wednesday, June 21, Vermillion, 1 p.m. (CDT) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak at the American Indian Journalism Institute being held at the Al Neuharth Media Center, University of South Dakota Campus. For more information, contact Roxy Everson, 773-3212.
Wednesday, June 21, Brookings, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 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 UnitedRetirementCenter, 405 First Avenue, to 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.
Wednesday-Thursday, June 21-22, Pierre, 6 p.m. (CDT) - The State Aid Study Task Force will meet at the Ramkota. The task force was formed to advise the Department of Education as it studies the current education funding formula in South Dakota. For information, contact Mary Stadick Smith, SD Dept. of Education, 773-7228.
Thursday, June 22, Sioux Falls, 8 a.m. (CDT) – The Board of Pardons and Paroles will hold their monthly meeting at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, Third Floor Conference Room. For more information, contact the Board of Pardons & Paroles, 367-5040.
Thursday-Friday, June 22-23, Brookings, 9:30 a.m. (CDT) - The SD Board of Regents will meet at South Dakota StateUniversity for its regular business meeting being held in the Student Union on the Brookings campus. The regents will consider approval of new degrees, authorize additional South Dakota programs to be offered as WICHE Student Exchange Programs, and receive an annual report on the operations of USDSU in Sioux Falls. For more information, contact Janelle Toman, 773-3455.
Friday-Saturday, June 23-24, various locations – Combat Action Badge Presentations
In the space of two days, the Combat Action Badge (CAB) will be awarded to Soldiers from six South Dakota National Guard units. The CAB was approved in May of 2005 by the Army Chief of Staff in order to provide special recognition to Soldiers who personally engaged or were engaged by the enemy in combat.
The June 23, 2006, ceremonies will take place:
Vermillion (Company B / 109th ASMB) at 3:30 p.m.
Scheduled to include a dinner for military unit members and their families are invited to stay for dinner at the armory. Following the dinner, a social will take place.
Madison (Company B, 153rd Engineers) at 3:00 p.m.
Platte (Detachment 1, C/153rd Engineers) at 9:00 a.m.
The June 24, 2006, ceremonies will take place:
DeSmet (Detachment 1, Company B) 9:00 a.m.
Parkston (Company C, 153rd Engineers) 5:00 p.m.
This ceremony will also serve to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Parkston National Guard. All former members of Company C, 137th Engineer Battalion and Company C, 153rd Engineer Battalion will gather together for a pork feed (noon) and CAB presentation, followed by a street dance.
Huron (HHC 153rd Engineers) noon