The condition of an 81-year-old Pierre man is unknown after he was found Wednesday night, almost four full days after he had been last seen.
Authorities are releasing few details about finding LeRoy Nye. He was found in a field close to the county borders of Jerauld, Buffalo and Hand counties.
Hand County Emergency Management Director Nehemia
Volquardsen says more information will be released mid-morning Thursday out of respect for the family.
Nye, who suffers from dementia, was last seen at 10:30 p.m.-10:45 p.m. Saturday night at a family member's home in St. Lawrence. At about 1 a.m. Nye apparently left the home, driving a family vehicle in an unknown direction.
Volquardsen tells KCCR News that a Civil Air Patrol plane discovered the vehicle, a green 2001 Chrysler Intrepid, during a flight search Wednesday. Authorities reached the scene at about 9 p.m. Nye was near the vehicle.
During the four-day search, authorities had searched central and eastern South Dakota. They also had checked with neighboring states as well. Authorities had stressed the need to find Nye quickly because of his medical condition and the fact that he was not dressed for the environment.
Because of weather, this was the first day that the Civil Air Patrol had been able to do an aerial search.
Authorities had asked law enforcement and property owners to check fields, buildings and other areas were Nye might be. Volquardsen says he is not sure if the field where Nye was found had previously been searched.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Updated at 5:16 p.m.
Aerial search results in no new leads for Nye
Despite an aerial search Wednesday, authorities say they
still have no real leads on finding a missing Pierre
man.
LeRoy Nye, 81, has been missing since late Saturday night or
early Sunday morning. Nye, who suffers from dementia, left in a family vehicle
from a family member’s home in St. Lawrence. Neither he nor the car, a 2001
Chrysler Intrepid, have been seen since.
Hand County Emergency Management Director Nehemia
Volquardsen tells KCCR News that the Civil Air Patrol flew search flights Wednesday
along Highway 281 from Aberdeen to Wagner; Highway 34 from the Missouri River
to the Minnesota border and Highway 14 from Pierre to the Minnesota border.
Volquardsen says the Civil Air Patrol did locate a dark
green car in Miner County,
but the license plates did not match. He says volunteers and the Hand County
Sheriff’s Office continue to search that county.
Nye, who is from the Pierre and Canning area,is 6-feet-tall and weighs 280 pounds. He was
last seen wearing a white t-shirt and underpants. He was not wearing glasses
when he left the house. Nye also did not have any possessions such as money,
wallet or phone with him.
The license plate on the car is 33M 202.
People are once again asked to check buildings on their
property. If people have contact with Nye or the vehicle, they are asked to
call 9-1-1.
Volquardsen says the search will continue Thursday.
Noem looking for input during conference call
South Dakota U.S. Representative Kristi Noem is going to be
on the telephone early Thursday morning.
Noem is hosting her first “Ag Talk with Kristi” conference
call. She is inviting all South Dakotans to take part in
the discussion on the work in putting together a new Farm Bill.
While the work on the Farm Bill has started, Noem says she
wants to hear from South Dakotans about what a new Farm
Bill must include for South Dakotans.
The call takes place at 6 a.m.
Central Daylight Time Thursday; that is 5 a.m.
Mountain Daylight Time.
People can participate by calling the toll-free number at
1-877-229-8493. The pin number is 17590.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Updated at 12:50 p.m.
Power outage disrupts large portion of city
A private contractor working for the city hit a power line that caused a 20-minute power outage in a large area of Pierre Wednesday morning.
Utilities Division Director Brad Palmer says the outage was reported at about 10:50 a.m. The power was restored by about 11:10 a.m.
Palmer tells KCCR News that the outage occurred near the intersection of Ree Street and Dakota Avenue where the contractor was working on a city project. Palmer says when the contractor hit the line, that triggered the outage.
The outage went from the Evans Street substation south on Evans to Highland Avenue, then to Sioux Avenue, Ree Street and Dakota Avenue. Palmer says he is not sure how many customers were actually impacted.
Palmer says crews hope to have the line repaired this afternoon.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Good morning from the KCCR Newsroom...
Search for Nye to do done by air today
Weather permitting, the search for a missing Pierre man is scheduled to be done by air today.
Rain this week has hampered the aerial search for LeRoy Nye, 81. He has been missing since late Saturday night or early Sunday morning after leaving from a family member’s home in St. Lawrence. Nye suffers from dementia and took no personal identification, money, or phone with him. Nye left in a green 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. License plate number is 33M 202.
Hand County Emergency Management Director Nehemia Volquardsen tells KCCR News the search has been extended from Hand County statewide and then to other states like Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota.
Volquardsen says based on possible sightings of the vehicle early Sunday at Wessington and then Huron, officials believe Nye traveled east. While the vehicle had a full tank of gas and could have gone up to 300-400 miles, Volquardsen believes now the “car is resting somewhere.”
Rain Tuesday postponed search flights by the Civil Air Patrol. If the weather permits, flights will be done today searching along Highway 14 from Pierre to the Minnesota border, Highway 281 from Aberdeen to Wagner and Highway 34 from the Minnesota border to the Missouri River. Volquardsen says those are the highways Nye knows best.
Authorities have asked for the public’s help. Volquardsen says people are being asked to check their properties for Nye and the vehicle. Hospitals are also asked to check for patients fitting the description.
No evidence of a missing man was found in a search of the city of Pierre or Hughes County Tuesday.
LeRoy Nye has been missing since late Saturday or early Sunday after leaving a home in St. Lawrence. He is from the Pierre and Canning area.
Hughes County Emergency Management Director Rob Fines says HandCounty authorities asked local officials to check HughesCounty. Fines says there was no evidence that Nye had returned to this area.
Fines says Pierre Police searched the city. Staff from the Hughes County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management Office searched the rural county area including towns like Harrold and Blunt. Fines says while the weather hampered some search efforts, crews were able to do a good search.
When Nye was reported missing Sunday, officials had searched the county both Sunday and Monday.
Traffic system to be removal as part of project
While the actual work on the major Dakota Avenue project is scheduled to start next week, people will start to notice activity at the site on Friday.
The project is on Dakota Avenue from Highland Avenue to Fort Street. It is considered the most important construction project of Pierre’s construction season.
While the first phase of the work is scheduled to start Monday, a major event happens Friday at the intersection of Pierre Street and Dakota Avenue. Utilities Division Director Brad Palmer says that is when the intersection’s traffic light system is removed – permanently.
When the project is completed, the three-way stop sign will remain. Palmer says at first, it may take some motorists time to get used to it.
The project will be done in phases, starting first near Fort Street. He says the first work will be placement of sewer inlets.
Officials say traffic will be maintained through the work area as much as possible. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by October 1.
Pierre students fight cancer with recess
It may have been raining outside Tuesday morning, but in two Pierre elementary schools, students ran, walked and jumped all in the name of finding a cure for cancer.
Relay Recess, an American Cancer Society program, was held for the first time in South Dakota at the two schools. The event is designed to promote healthy living while giving students a chance to honor those who have dealt with cancer.
Megan Deal, a second grade teacher at Washington and gym teacher Nancy Boe, had worked with students about healthy living. They also held a fund-raiser to raise money for the Pierre American Cancer Relay for Life. Classes were able to donate money in two large fish tanks – one at each school.
The fundraiser raised $1,787.07. And while the Relay Recess itself had to be moved from Hollister Field to the gyms of both schools because of the rain, Deal says it was still a success.
Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill, who was one of the speakers at Washington, thanked the students for doing their part to fight cancer. She says the way to get children to be good citizens as adults is to get them involved now.
The four stations included exhibits about eating healthy food, the harms of smoking and the benefits of physical exercise – walking and jumping rope. Deal says she hopes the day impressed upon the students the need to remain healthy.
Charlene Lund of the American Cancer Society says the money raised by the students, along with sales of T-shirts, netted the Pierre Relay for Life $3,500. Officials say that about $34,000 of the event’s overall goal $75,000 has been raised so far.
The Pierre Relay for Life is June 7-8 at Hollister Field in Pierre.
SDSEO to open second office in Sioux Falls
The South Dakota State Employees Organization (SDSEO) plans to open a second office in Sioux Falls sometime next month.
Executive Director Eric Ollila will move to Sioux Falls to be closer to a larger number of state government employees. He says the Pierre office will remain open and that he will still be here during the legislative system. Ollila says a major reason for moving to Sioux Falls to give him more of an access to recruit more members.
The SDSEO office has been in Pierre since the organization was found in 1972.
Pierre teacher wins Regional Teacher of the Year
A PierreJeffersonElementary School teacher has been named as the ESA Region 6 Teacher of the Year for 2013.
Amber Stout is now a nominee for the South Dakota Teacher of the Year which is announced in October at the annual Systems Change Conference for educators. The state’s Teacher of the Year participates in a year of national travel and in-depth professional development.
The criteria for Teacher of the Year also takes into account positive roles the teacher assumes in the community as well as the respect expressed by students, parents and colleagues.
The South Dakota Teacher of the Year Program is made possible by the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the University of Phoenix, and People to People Ambassador Programs. Sponsors include the ING Foundation and Target.
Michels to speak at DUI Court Graduation
Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels is the guest speaker at this morning’s graduation ceremony for the Sixth Circuit DUI Court.
The court, which covers Pierre-Fort Pierre, is designed to give DUI offenders a chance to stay out of prison, keep their jobs and remain with their families while dealing with their addictions.
Today’s graduation starts at 9 a.m. followed by an open house.
May is National Drug Court Month.
Report work to begin at Avera Oahe Manor
A portion of the south basement wall at Avera Oahe Manor in Gettysburg has collapsed due to large amount of rain in a short time.
A press release from Avera St. Mary's in Pierre says all 47 residents at the manor are safe. While the area of the collapse was not located near the rooms of residents; four residents were moved to other areas.
The collapsed section sits under the portion of the building which provides support services to AveraGettysburgHospital and Avera Oahe Manor. The rooms above the impacted area house a beauty shop, storage and an office.
The release states that the damage has been assessed and repair work is scheduled to start today. The release says that should repair work require the relocation of residents, those plans have been made and have been approved by the South Dakota Department of Health.
Fort Pierre man being held without bond
A FortPierre man is being held without bond after being arrested early Saturday evening.
Tyler Goodkill, 23 was arrested for DUI Third Offense, False Impersonation and Driving Without a License.
Goodkill made his initial court appearance Monday via interactive television from the Hughes County Jail.
Judge Mark Barnett appointed the Schreiber Law Office to represent Goodkill. His next court appearance is 1:15 p.m. June 4.
Lawn Care Workshops scheduled for Pierre
A lawn care workshop for homeowners is tonight in Pierre.
The event is free and offered by the SDSU Regional Extension Center. The workshop will cover aspects of lawn care -- including types of grasses, seeding, fertilizer programs, mowing, watering and weed control.
Tonight’s event starts at 7 p.m. at the SDSURegionalExtensionCenter in Pierre, located on the ground floor of the KenyonBuilding at 412 West Missouri Avenue.
Weather from Weathereye Today: Cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind 13 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light north northeast in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a southeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East southeast wind 13 to 18 mph.
End of KCCR/KLXS News for 5/22/2013. Copyright 2013 - KCCR/KLXS Radio, Pierre, SD 605/224-1240. Material cannot be published, broadcast, edited or distributed without permission from KCCR/KLXS-Riverfront Broadcasting Web site developed and hosted by Factor 360
