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Local News

— Man Sentenced for Embezzlement

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:36)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - An Iowa man who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $150,000 from a religious store in Sioux Falls has been sentenced to six months in jail. Anthony Weber of Lansing, Iowa, will face 10 years in prison if he fails to pay $151,873 in restitution and court costs over the next five years. Prosecutors say Weber, 42, wrote himself checks from the business account of Hurley's Religious Goods in Sioux Falls, where he worked for his aunt and uncle for nine years. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
— Card Company Reducing Workforce

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:33)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A credit card company is further reducing its work force in South Dakota. Premier Bankcard President and CEO Miles Beacom says about 50 employees statewide recently were offered different positions within the company in areas of more demand such as collections, and half opted to take a severance package instead. The move is the latest in a series of work force reductions at Premier Bankcard, which has centers in Sioux Falls, Dakota Dunes, Huron, Spearfish and Watertown. Several hundred jobs have been cut this year, mostly through attrition. Beacom says that after the latest reduction, the company employs about 2,200 people, down from about 2,600 at the end of last year. Company officials blame financial regulation changes that went into effect earlier this year, making it harder to issue credit cards. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
— Daktronics Boards in NFL Stadiums

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:31)

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) - Several jumbo video displays built by Brookings-based scoreboard system maker Daktronics Inc. will soon be making their pro football regular season debuts. Four Daktronics high-definition video displays adorn end-zone corners at the New Meadowlands Stadium, home of the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants. Daktronics also supplied an upgraded video display system to the Baltimore Ravens, two giant video boards and digital ribbon boards to the Washington Redskins and new end-zone displays to the New England Patriots. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
— SHIINE Volunteers Needed

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:29)

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota officials are seeking local volunteers to help senior citizens get answers to questions about Medicare. The volunteer counselors will work with the South Dakota Senior Health Information and Insurance Education program, which is administered by the state Department of Social Services. The program helps educate people on Medicare and other related health issues. Volunteers are now being sought so they can be trained before November and December, when people on Medicare make decisions on plans that offer Part D prescription drug coverage. Volunteers are trained in all parts of Medicare, how to counsel people, how to provide referrals and how to convey information to small groups. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
— Politicians Spar over Grasslands

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:27)

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Republican congressional candidate Kristi Noem says she opposes a bill that would designate a part of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in southwestern South Dakota as a wilderness area. Noem says the wilderness designation could reduce or eliminate cattle grazing in the area and harm control of wildfires, prairie dogs and noxious weeds. But Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, sponsor of the bill, says Noem is putting out false information about the plan. He says the bill would protect the area while also preserving grazing and giving federal officials authority to protect against fire, prairie dogs and invasive species. Noem's opponent, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, has not taken a public position on the wilderness bill. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
— County Official Investigated

(Thursday, September 09 2010 02:25)

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - Brown County's director of equalization has been ordered to take ethics and administration classes after an investigation of her handling of agricultural land assessments. The state Department of Revenue and Regulation ruled that Mary Worlie used an unethical assessment practice and was untruthful in telling landowners that large shifts in property assessments were the result of a new state system. The investigation was done at the request of agriculture groups that questioned how Worlie implemented the new model. It does not order the land values determined by Worlie be changed. The state says if Worlie fails to meet the requirements of the order, her certification will be revoked. Worlie declined comment. She can appeal. County Commissioners defend the process Worlie used. One landowner, former state legislator Al Waltman, has sued. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)