Tony Mangan 
News Director

Updated at 5 p.m.

Pierre man pleads innocent in mail allegation

A Pierre man has pleaded not guilty to sending chicken feces to the Dewey County Treasurer.

Tom Parsons, 49, entered the plea to a single count of Injurious Articles as Nonmailable Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno in Pierre Federal Court. A trial date has not yet been set.

Prosecutors say Parsons, following a dispute with the county treasurer over a vehicle registration, placed the registration card in chicken feces and mailed the material to the official in a zip-lock bag.  The first-class mail piece was sent from the Pierre Post Office.

Parsons faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.

Following a discussion on conditions, Moreno released Parsons on a personal recognizance bond with supervision meaning he has to remain in contact with the parole office. Parsons also can have no contact with postal service employees except for regular transactions during the normal business day.

A new safe travel campaign is being started by the state Highway Patrol this Memorial Day Holiday.

“Obey the Sign and Avoid the Fine” is a summer-long safe-travel campaign designed to reduce highway crashes and increase safety. The campaign includes a high-visibility highway saturation patrol, involving virtually all uniformed troopers,  on Monday, which is Memorial Day.

In a press release, Colonel Craig Price says the top two priorities for the campaign will be speed and alcohol. He says officials believe that focus will have the largest impact on reducing fatal crashes.

The Patrol also plans to promote the campaign through public education via the use of social media. Safe-driving messages also will be displayed on state Department of Transportation permanent and portable message boards on interstates and other high-traffic areas in the state.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Updated at 1:10 p.m.

Candidates debate experience, new perspective

Whether the Pierre City Commission needs a fresh perspective or proven experience was the centerpiece of Thursday night’s candidate forum.

Incumbent commissioner Jeanne Goodman is being challenged by Troy Bowers for the one open seat in the June 4 election.

In the one-hour forum, the two agreed on many issues and disagreed on others. Bowers says the city should be more helpful in bringing new businesses to the city and do a better job in offering more affordable housing.

Bowers says a new face is needed on the commission; one who is not willing to just accept the norm.

But Goodman says she has a proven record of working on city issues such as the flood recovery and improving the infrastructure. She says the next decade will be important for the city’s progress regarding development of all kinds.

The two candidates will meet in an on-air KCCR candidate forum at 9 a.m. Friday, May 31.

Board candidates demonstrate few differences

Only a few differences were evident among the three Pierre School Board candidates Thursday night.

Cari Leidholt, Mike Mehlhaff and Paul Turman are running for the two seats open in the June 4 election. Leidholt is an incumbent and the other two challengers.

During the one-hour forum, the three candidates all agreed that a quality education should be the district’s top priority. They also agreed that the district should not provide weapons to teachers as  possible under the state’s school sentinel law and all three want to keep moving forward with the discussion on a possible new elementary school.

Leidholt, who is the current school board chairman, says she is proud of her record in her first three years on the school board. She hopes that service will convince voters she deserves another term.

Mehlhaff says as a board member, he wants to be an advocate for the students and a willing listener for the public.

Leidholt and Mehlhaff graduated from Pierre; Turman from Fort Pierre. Turman, who is an official with the state Board of Regents, has worked at various levels of education. He says that combination of experience means he will bring a different perspective to the board if elected.

The three school board candidates will participate in an on-air KCCR Forum at 9 a.m. Monday, June 3.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Good morning from the KCCR Newsroom....

Offices at the Stanley County Courthouse are experiencing telephone problems this morning.

 

Mascots making friends on road trip

They don’t say much – they are stone faced after all – but everybody else seems to be talking about the state Department of Tourism’s Presidential mascots.

The mascots, looking just like the Mount Rushmore quartet of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, stopped in Pierre Thursday on the first day of their 18-day bus tour. The tour, which will stop in places like Omaha, Kansas City and Chicago, is designed to encourage people to come to South Dakota to see the real Mount Rushmore and other tourist attractions.

At the state Capitol Thursday, the mascots posed for photos with Lt. Governor Matt Michels, the Governor’s staff and the general public. Michels says his favorite has to be Lincoln.

Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen says out of the four mascots, Roosevelt always seems to be the crowd favorite. Michels says he can understand why.

The mascots, who have been in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade the last two year,  have become an important part of the state’s tourism efforts, according to Hagen.

Traffic light system at intersection being removed

Starting today, the intersection of Dakota Avenue and Pierre Street will have a whole new look to it.

Three-way stop signs are being installed at that intersection. The familiar existing stop lights will be permanently removed from service.

Starting Tuesday, installation of new storm sewer pipe will be installed west of the intersection near Fort Street. There will be no parking allowed on either side of Dakota Avenue in that area and one way traffic will be maintained as long as possible. 

Utilities Division Director Brad Palmer says officials hope to keep traffic moving as much as possible.

Drivers are asked to consider using an alternative travel route at all possible to avoid the construction area. The project is expected to be done by October 1.

When the project is done, Palmer says the three-way stop signs at the intersection of Pierre Street and Dakota Avenue will remain.

Pierre's business manager-finance officer resigns

Pierre city officials are looking for a new business manager-finance officer.

Twila Hight has resigned to take a job with the Pierre firm of Stulken Petersen Lingle Walti and Jones LLP.

Hight has been with the city for four years. She had come to the city hall from state government. She is expected to remain with the city until late June or early July.

City officials are now advertising the position.

Flags posted across Missouri River Bridge for holiday

The flags will be flying across the Missouri River Bridge this Memorial Day holiday.

The American and South Dakota State Flags will be posted across the bridge for the holiday. The Flags Across the Missouri River Bridge is a Pride in America and fundraising program promoted by the Pierre-Fort Pierre Exchange Club. 

The flags on this holiday are sponsored by Trusted Choice – Independent Insurance Agents.  

Pierre man arrested for assault

A 24-year-old Pierre man was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly strangling a woman.

Brent Larvie was arrested for Aggravated Assault Domestic after officers responded to a call at a local hotel.

Pierre Police Captain Elton Blemaster says the report indicates that the victim, 21, was almost at the point of losing consciousness after being strangled. Blemaster says the report does not indicate if the woman required medical treatment.

Hartley retires from state Highway Patrol

A top official of the state Highway Patrol has retired.

Major Randy Hartley spent 25 years in the Patrol and had been the assistant superintendent of the Highway Patrol.

Hartley has been assistant superintendent for field operations, supervising the patrol's district headquarters in Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. He also supervised the Motor Carrier Division and was responsible for SWAT, the canine program, Capitol Protective Services, executive protection, accident reconstruction and aircraft operations.

Hartley began his career in Presho and served as a trooper in Brookings before being promoted to sergeant in 1999 and transferring to Rapid City. He received a promotion to major in 2008 and became assistant superintendent of the Highway Patrol.

Hartley also served as acting superintendent from June 2010 until January 2011.

Colonel Craig Price says in a press release that Hartley was committed to protecting the citizens of South Dakota.

End of KCCR/KLXS News for 5/24/2013. 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