Man arrested after escape attempt

A Pierre man, who escaped from a Pierre police vehicle, was captured after a brief search this morning.

Pierre Police Captain Elton Blemaster says Samuel Swift Bird, who had been arrested on other charges, had been handcuffed and placed in a police car, parked in the 500 block of W. Missouri Ave. . Blemaster says the car’s door was open and Swift Bird was able to flee. He was arrested about two blocks away in the 300 block of S. Roberts St.

Swift Bird was eventually charged with Simple Assault, False Impersonation, Underage Consumption of Alcohol and Escape. The incident occurred at about 4:35 a.m.

Rural water available today in Fort Pierre

Rural water is starting to flow through the pipes in the city of Fort Pierre today.

After several months of discussion, a referendum election and a permitting process, the city will start to receive water from the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural System.

City Council members had first discussed the idea of purchasing the water, which supporters say will be a better quality drinking water, early last year. After the city council approved the proposal – with Mayor Sam Tidball casting the tie-breaking vote – the decision was referred to a public vote. City residents upheld the council’s decision in the November election, but it took almost another three months to get the permits needed for the water.

Officials say it will take time today for all of the city lines to be cleared of well water so the change may not be immediately noticed. If cloudiness is noticed in the water, residents are asked to run water until the condition clears.

Governor “open” to discussion alcohol age bill

Gov. Mike Rounds says he is open to discussing an alcohol-age bill, introduced by his brother, as long as it does not impact the state’s federal highway funding.

Rep. Tim Rounds has introduced HB 1267, which would allow young people, ages 19-21, a chance to drink alcohol in controlled establishments. Those establishments would have to have a special liquor license and those eligible young people would have to buy memberships to the establishment.

A concern about the legislation is how it may impact the state’s federal highway funding. The federal government has withheld such money to states where the drinking age is lower than 21. Rep. Rounds says his bill would not affect such funding. The Governor says he wants to be sure before he would support such legislation.

The two brothers say they have not talked about the legislation and the Governor says having his brother involved will not impact his decision. The Governor says the bill has to get through the Legislature before he has to make a final decision.

The bill has been assigned to the House Commerce Committee, where Rep. Rounds is the chairman. A date for its initial hearing has not yet been posted.

Gassen: Won’t take long to open Food Bank

An official says once the final papers are signed, it will probably take a month or less to open Pierre’s new food bank.

A verbal agreement for the Community Food Banks of South Dakota to purchase the old Pepsi building on Airport Road was announced Thursday. A formal, final agreement is expected to be announced later, perhaps still sometime this month.

The Community Foods Banks of South Dakota has been working with the local Pierre Food Bank Task Force on opening a facility. Community Food Banks executive director Matt Gassen says once the final paperwork is signed, it should take about three to four weeks to get the building ready for use.

Gassen says at least one full-time employee will be hired to manage the food bank.

The food bank, which will receive 2,000-4,000 pounds of food a week from the local Wal-Mart, will distribute food to organizations throughout Central South Dakota. Gassen expects the building to be open regular business hours Monday through Friday, but also other times as needed.

Gassen says the building itself, which includes some shelving and ports for trucks, is in good condition and will likely need little renovation.

Three young ladies got their hair cut Saturday morning – and it was more for a good cause than a fashion trend.

Best friends Emma Lusk and Paige Isburg, both age 7 and first graders at St. Joseph’s Elementary School, each had 10-12 inches of their hair cut with the remains going to Locks of Love. That program uses real hair to make wigs for children with cancer.

Also Paige’s younger sister, Lauren Isburg, age 4 and a St. Joseph’s pre-schooler, donated locks of her hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which also provides wigs to cancer patients and survivors.

The hair cutting, watched by family and friends, took place at Cut In Style.

A Pierre Riggs High School graduate is one of 17 undergraduates from South Dakota colleges and universities who will display their work Thursday in the Capitol Rotunda.

Nathan Huft, who attends the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, will participate in the 2010 Student Research Poster Session. The poster session, now in its 13^th year, allows students from the state’s public, private and tribal colleges, to present their research to the public and state legislators.

The poster session runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The public is invited to attend and ice cream, courtesy of South Dakota State University, also will be available.

School boards hold meetings

Both the Stanley County and Pierre School Boards will hold their regular scheduled meetings tonight.

The Stanley County School Board will hold its meeting starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Middle School Learning Center in Fort Pierre.

Meanwhile, the Pierre School Board will hold its meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the board room of school administration building.

The public is invited to attend.

Pierre’s School Superintendent says when school is in session next Veteran’s Day, students will observe the holiday in some fashion.

School board members last month approved the new 2010-2011 calendar which includes having school on Veteran’s Day. That day has been a traditional holiday off from school. But board members, on the recommendation of the calendar committee, decided to break with tradition and have school on that day this year.

That decision has led to discussion on how schools will observe the holiday. In past years, each school held some type of observance the day before Veteran’s Day and then the traditional community Veteran’s Day observance was held in the Riggs Theatre on that holiday.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt says he has talked to some veterans about how to observe the holiday. He says there will likely be a melding of the Veterans Day observances into one celebration.

This year’s Veterans Day is being held on a Thursday. Glodt does not think the district will have school on every Veterans Day. He says it will likely depend on the day of the week.

Glodt says it is possible in the future, when the day falls on a Friday or Monday, there may be a recommendation to have a three day weekend for the district.

It won’t take so much money to send 10 dignitaries leaping into the frigid Missouri River Wednesday.

The Polar Plunge is the fund-raising event for the South Dakota Special Olympics where dignitaries leap into Missouri River based on how much money is raised. There was an original goal of $50,000, but the dignitaries now say they will all take the plunge if $25,000 is reach.

So far, $14,325 has been raised. Based on the new donation system, that means there is enough money raised for the first five dignitaries to hit the water – Joel Perry of the Brookings Police Department, Monte Farnsworth of Pierre, Traffic Services Coordinator; Pierre Police Chief Bob Grandpre; Hughes County State’s Attorney Kelly Marnette and state Division of Criminal Investigation Director Bryan Gortmaker.

Others still on the list and their funding levels are: state Sen. Sandy Jerstad, $15,000; State Rep. Joni Cutler, $17,500; Attorney General Marty Jackley, $20,000; state Sen. Gordon Howie, $22,500; and Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, $25,000.

The public is allowed to take a plunge starting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday behind the Pierre Post 8 American Legion Cabin – and all money there donated also will go to the Special Olympics. The dignitaries begin to take the leap at 4 p.m.

Local students recognized at One-Act  Play Festival

Several local high school students were honored at the state One-Act Play Festival held this weekend in Brandon.

Outstanding Individual awards went to Brandon Sieck, Sully Buttes and Colby Smith and Marcus Martinez, both of Philip. Faulkton’s cast received an Outstanding Ensemble award.

Philip’s One-Act advisor, Laura O’Conner, was named as one of the Class B Superior Play coaches.

Local Democrats hold Legislative Session Dinner

Hughes and Stanley County Democrats hold their annual Legislative Session Dinner Thursday night.

Guest speakers will be Democratic Legislative Leaders Sen. Scott Heidepriem of Sioux Falls and Rep. Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton. Other Democratic legislators are also expected to attend.

The event, being held in the Fort Pierre Senior Citizens Center, starts with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20.10 each and are available at the door.

Thune to speak at Hughes County Republican Dinner

U.S. Sen. John Thune will be the guest speaker at the Hughes County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner which is Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Local GOP supporter Tom Leckey will be honored as the Local Republican of the Year. Local and statewide Republican candidates also will make comments.

The event, being held at the Ramkota RiverCentre, starts with a mixer at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased at the Pierre Flower Shop or by contacting Hughes County Chairman Scott Olson at 224-9091 or by email at scott@bpro.com

Weather permitting, several local schools will participate in the One-Act Play Festival today at Brandon Valley.

Pierre Riggs High School will perform at 11:45 a.m., Sully Buttes, 1:15 p.m., Philip, 3:30 p.m. and Faulkton, 6 p.m.

This is the second day of the three-day event. The awards ceremony is Saturday.

Stanley County teams to be honored for academics

Students from six Stanley County High School programs will be honored Monday night for their academic excellence.

Stanley County School Board members are expected to honor the six high school groups that have been recognized with Academic Achievement Team awards by the South Dakota High School Activities Association. All varsity teams with a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for the award.

The six Stanley County teams being honored are the boys cross country team, girls cross country team, football cheerleaders squad, girls volleyball team, boys golf team and oral interpretation team.

Superintendent Dr. Don Hotalling says this is a well deserved recognition for the students and the school.

Hotalling says Stanley County was only one of 24 schools to have at least six teams qualify for the honor.

Governor says state preparing for spring flooding

While it is still winter, state officials have started to prepare for expected flooding this year.

Gov. Mike Rounds says spring flooding is a concern because of all of the snow. He says officials are starting to meet now to prepare.

Rounds says he plans to meet with officials next week to discuss the issue.

Fire sirens being checked

Lately, when Pierre’s two fire whistles have sounded,  they have sounded a little too long for some people.

Pierre Fire Chief Bill Alexander says he has received several calls lately about the fire whistle, especially the one located on Pleasant Avenue by the Pierre Senior Citizens Center, sounding for almost three minutes. For a fire call, the regular length is about 30 seconds.

Alexander says the Pierre Police Dispatch Center is working on the problem.

The city’s other fire whistle is located on North Garfield Avenue near the state Department of Transportation lot.

A community H1N1 vaccination clinic is Monday at St. Mary’s Healthcare Center in Pierre.

The clinic is from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. in the Dakota Conference Room at the hospital.

Vaccinations are available on a first come, first served basis. There is a $13.56 administration fee for each vaccination. People should bring their insurance cards since some companies will cover the cost.

St. Mary’s will submit the item to the person’s insurance company.

Eagles and Bagels Saturday

The annual “Eagles and Bagels” Walk is Saturday at the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre.

The program begins at 9 a.m. CST at the Oahe Downstream group lodge. There will be a talk by Doug Backlund followed by a 1½ mile to observe the eagles in their natural setting.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, cameras, comfortable hiking shoes and cold weather clothing. After the walk, Pier 347 will contribute the bagels while coffee and juice also will be served.

There is no cost for the walk, but a South Dakota park entrance is required. The 2010 park entrance licenses  are available at the park. For more information, 223-7722.