Thursday, May 8, 2008

Federal Prisoner at Jail Taken to Hospital

Pheasant Season Spending in South Dakota Hits Record Level in 2007

The 2007 Pheasant Season in South Dakota resulted in more than $200 million dollars in spending by both resident and non-resident hunters.  Due to the number of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and weather conditions that favored nesting and brood rearing, the pheasant population reached its highest number since 1945.  Game officials say that about 2.1 million ring necks were harvested during the 2007 pheasant season.  Wildlife Division Director Tony Leif says hunters who stayed in local motels, purchased gas and ammunition and stopped in cafes and restaurants across the state, spent $219 million dollars during the pheasant season.  Leif says 2007 was a great year for pheasant hunters and now believes all South Dakotans must turn their attention to the continuing debate on a new Farm Bill.  He says more than 300,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program land was lost last year and more acreage is likely to be taken out of CRP this year.  For those reasons, he believes that the future of South Dakota wildlife should be made a priority and says game officials will be working with congressional delegates on the CRP issue.  The G F & P website has a listing that details the economic impact of pheasant hunting in the state last year at the website http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Pheasant/Economics.htm

Oahe Chapter of the American Red Cross Needing Assistance to Help Disaster Victims

The Oahe Chapter of the American Red Cross has exceeded its disaster response budget following more than the usual amount of calls for help to the organization.  Mary Tveit, who leads the local chapter, has been with the Red Cross for 20 years and says she can’t remember the last time that too many disasters have depleted local emergency funding.  She says unfortunately, there have an unusually high number of residence fires since last summer, and that alone has played a role in the organization handing out its entire disaster budget. 

The most recent house fire in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area was Tuesday morning, in which a home on South Polk Avenue in Pierre was destroyed.  Tveit says just because the disaster budget has been depleted doesn’t mean that the Red Cross won’t respond when needed-as money will be taken from budgets that fund other segments of the local organization.

The national Red Cross steps in to help with budgetary needs when large scale disasters occur, but Tveit says the Oahe Chapter is responsible for gathering money to assist victims of various adversities like residential fires.  Anyone wanting to help the Oahe Chapter of the American Red Cross can send donations to P.O. Box 941 in Pierre or by dropping funds at their location at 1351 North Harrison Avenue.  On a related note, a separate fund has been started to offer financial help to Mike and Lori Koch, whose home on South Polk was burned earlier this week.  Donations can be sent to BankWest in attention to the Mike Koch Benefit Fund at P.O. Box 998 in Pierre.  Money can also be given at any BankWest location.

Oahe Habitat for Humanity to Note Women’s Build Day Saturday

A Women’s Build Day will be held this weekend as women construction volunteers work to put up roof trusses and set fly rafters at the site of the latest Oahe Habitat for Humanity home to be constructed.  The home, to be owned by Samantha Watkins, is located at 1500 East Park Street and Saturday’s gathering of women construction workers is part of “National Women Build Week”.  One of the goals of the week is to invite new women volunteers to join a nationwide effort to provide decent, safe, affordable housing.  National figures show that one in six children live in poverty housing.  Habitat for Humanity’s “Women Build” program has resulted in the construction of more than 1,200 Habitat houses nationwide.  For more information on this week’s effort or on Oahe Habitat for Humanity, visit the website www.oahehabitat.org.

Pierre to Shut Off Water in Pierre Neighborhood Monday

The City of Pierre Water Department will be replacing water main on Lakeside Lane on Monday.  Crews will shut off water at 8:00 a.m. Monday morning and service should be returned around five that afternoon.  Water Superintendent Steve Diez says water service will be affected by the outage for those living on Lakeside Lane and residents are being asked to make preparations for water needs while the water is off.  Diez says the main water valve in your home should be turned off if possible.    Those with questions can contact the Public Works Office at 773-7341.

Area High School Student Councils Honored as Outstanding by SDHSAA

Governor Rounds to Appear on Dakota News Network Stations Monday

Governor Mike Rounds makes his monthly visit to the KGFX studios for the Dakota News Network program “A Conversation with Governor Rounds” on Monday, May 12.  On the second Monday of each month, the governor spends an hour answering your questions and talking about recent issues that impact South Dakota.  If you have questions for the governor, please e-mail them to governor@amfmradio.biz or call and speak with the governor during the program on Monday afternoon.  It’s “A Conversation with Governor Rounds” on Monday starting at 2:05 p.m. on 1060-KGFX and 1300-KOLY!

Candidate Forum for Pierre City Commission and Mayor Candidates to be Next Week

The Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce along with several other local service groups are sponsoring a City Commission and Mayoral Candidate Forum next week.  The forum is planned for May 15 at the Chamber’s Community Room.  Interested residents can submit questions for the candidates by e-mailing them before next week’s event at contactchamber@pierre.org.  Questions can also be dropped off at the Chamber.  The questions will be considered by a group of panelists and a moderator, Steve Willard of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association, will pose the questions to each candidate.  On the June 3 ballot for Mayor are Laurie Gill and Terry Hipple and running for a three-year-term as City Commissioner for Pierre are Steve Harding, Jamie Huizenga and Hal Rumpca.  Next Thursday’s forum will begin with questions for commission candidates and at 7:30 p.m., the focus will turn to mayoral candidates.  Join 1060-AM KGFX for complete coverage of the May 15 forum, with our broadcast to begin at 6:30 p.m.  Besides the Chamber, other organizations sponsoring the event include Democracy in Action, Zonta and AAUW.

(Copyright 2008 Dakota Radio Group.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)

Your contributions are welcome in the Dakota Radio Group’s News and Sports Departments!   If you have news or sports tip or even a digital picture that Rod Fisher or Jeri Thomas could use-let us know.  Thousands of people listen for the latest information on the air and read it on our website feature “My Daily News”.  E-mail the information or picture to news@dakotaradiogroup.com, call 224-8686 or 1-800-658-5439 (after hours extension 32).  Include your name and phone number so we can contact you-because the person who sends the top contribution each month will receive a certificate for a large pizza, breadsticks and beverage from Pizza Hut in Pierre.

Local Newscasts can be heard on your favorite Dakota Radio Group station Monday through Friday at the following times:

KGFX 1060 AM -  6:09 a.m.; 7:09 a.m.; 8:09 a.m.; 12:16 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.

River 92.7 FM -  5:57 a.m.; 6:57 a.m.; 7:57 a.m. and 4:57 p.m.

KPLO 94.5 FM -  12:03 p.m. and 3:03 p.m.

KMLO 100.7 FM -  12:03 p.m. and 3:03 p.m.

KOLY 1300 AM -  6:10 a.m.; 7:10 a.m.; 8:10 a.m.; 12:10 p.m. and 5:06 p.m.

Star 99 99.5 FM -  6:00 a.m.; 7:00 a.m.;  8:00 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; Noon and 5:00 p.m.

100.1 FM The Eagle - 6:18 a.m.; 6:54 a.m.; 7:18 a.m.; 7:54 a.m.; 8:18 a.m.; 8:54 a.m.; 5:18 p.m.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say an 18-year-old man has been indicted for a house fire that killed two children on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. U-S Attorney Marty Jackley says Akeem Rooks is charged with arson that endangered human life. His first appearance in Pierre federal court is scheduled for Friday. Killed in a fire last week at Cherry Creek were Keya Rooks, who was 4, and her 2-year-old brother, known both as Marvin Evenson and Marvin Rooks. Jackley says the suspect is a brother of the two victims. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The owners of an Alcester farm that was searched for clues in a 37-year-old cold case can question investigators and have access to some evidence before a judge decides whether to let the case continue. The decision, by a federal judge, is based partly on claims that detectives unplugged a freezer so its contents spoiled, refused to let the owners finish chores and prevented the feeding of newborn kittens -- many of which died. Esther Lykken is the mother and Kerwyn Lykken is the brother of David Lykken, who was accused of the 1971 disappearance of two Vermillion teens. State prosecutors dropped the charges after a fellow inmate, Aloysius Black Crow, acknowledged having another prisoner pose as David Lykken to make secret recordings of a supposed confession to the crime. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A Sisseton man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of his 6-week-old son. Nicholas Eastman Jr. died by asphyxiation on March 15, and prosecutors say his fathers negligence is to blame. Additional details about the death were not released. Nicholas Eastman Sr. was indicted in federal court on both the manslaughter charge and abuse of a minor. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A federal judge has cleared tribal police in the chase of a man who crashed his car on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and later died. Nathan Dreamer's mother brought the lawsuit, alleging that her son ran into a ditch when his car was rammed by a tribal patrol car. Dreamer was being pursued on Jan. 7, 2002, after police received a report that he'd threatened someone with a knife. U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue says evidence showed that no police car came into contact with Dreamer's car or forced him into the ditch. Dreamer died seven weeks after the accident. 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Supreme Court says an auto insurance policy covers injuries caused when a rifle accidentally fired in a pickup being used to drive deer hunters to the field. A 14-year-old boy was shot in the ankle November 2001 when a rifle accidentally fired in the back seat of a pickup in Beadle County. Milbank Insurance Co. argued that the incident was not covered because it was not an auto accident. In a 3-2 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a circuit judge's ruling that said Milbank was responsible for covering the boy's injuries. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - High gas prices are bringing out the crooks in Rapid City. Police say they've had several reports from people who say gasoline was siphoned from their cars in the dark of night. 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -The late Woodrow Wilson Keeble, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War, will be given the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award in North Dakota. It is the state's highest honor. A ceremony to present the award to Keeble's family is being planned for this summer. Keeble will be the 36th person to receive the award since it was established in 1961 to recognize outstanding contributions of current and former North Dakotans. He was born at Waubay, South Dakota and was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe. He is the first full-blooded Sioux Indian to receive the Medal of Honor. 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The governor has asked that flags be flown at half staff today in honor of an airman from Ellsworth Air Force Base who was killed in Afghanistan. Senior Airman Jonathan Yelner died last week when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Governor Rounds asked that flags be lowered from 8 a.m. to sunset. A memorial ceremony is planned today at Ellsworth Air Force Base. A memorial service was held earlier in the week in Yelner's home state of California. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A Rapid City gun shop owner thinks state Sen. Bill Napoli should run for governor in 2010. The outspoken Republican, who announced earlier that he will not seek re-election to the Legislature, may be interested. Businessman Jack First has put a petition in his shop, urging people to sign if they want Napoli to run for governor. Ten people had signed by Wednesday, and $10,000 in pledges were made. First says Napoli would make a good governor because he says exactly what he means - without beating around the bush. Napoli is flattered and says he'd consider the race if he gets enough support. 

HURON, S.D. (AP) - The state director of the USDA's Office of Rural Development in Huron is calling it quits. Mike Jaspers was appointed to the position by President Bush just over a year ago. He is resigning this week to return to his farming operation near Sioux Falls. The Office of Rural Development provides financial programs for water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, electric service and other essential public services for rural residents. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Senator Tim Johnson says the nomination process should be allowed to play out through the June 3rd primaries in South Dakota and Montana, the last in the nation. Johnson, a superdelegate who has endorsed Barack Obama, says the Democratic superdelegates should make up their minds as soon as June 3rd is over -- and that whichever candidate is losing at that time should withdraw. He also says he's sure that former Senator George McGovern's decision today to withdraw his endorsement of Hillary Clinton was painful. 

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - The White House says an agreement on a farm bill is looking less and less likely this year. A bipartisan group of congressional negotiators has been working on the five-year, nearly 300-billion-dollar bill for several weeks. They say they've reached agreement, but they're still far apart from the White House on several issues, including the amount of subsidies that would go to wealthy farmers. President Bush has called the proposed measure "bloated" at a time when crop prices are at record highs. He has threatened a veto. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino raised the possibility of Congress drafting a one-year extension, if lawmakers can't pass a bill the president would sign. The House and Senate are expected to take up the compromise next week.

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) - Just 10 percent of corn acreage in South Dakota had been planted at the beginning of the week. That is well behind schedule. Cool, wet weather is blamed. The Agricultural Statistics Service says the five-year average for corn planting progress in early May is 32 percent in South Dakota. At this time last year, 14 percent of corn had been planted in the state. Corn planting this spring also is behind in other states. Only 8 percent of corn has been sown in Minnesota, 18 percent in Iowa, 4 percent in Wisconsin and 16 percent in North Dakota. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Warm weather on the heels of a record-setting blizzard late last week in western South Dakota has led to threats of flooding as the snow melts. Rain is in the forecast, adding to the flood threat through the weekend. Melissa Smith with the National Weather Service says some places still have snowdrifts 3 to 4 feet high. High water could be a problem on the Little Missouri River at Camp Crook and on streams and creeks in the Sturgis, Spearfish, Whitewood and Boulder Canyon areas. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A report from the National Safety Council says South Dakota has the fourth highest death rate from accidental falls among people over age 65. The state had 100 such deaths in 2005, a rate of 76 per 100,000 population in the 65-and-older age group. The rate was highest in New Mexico at 99 deaths per 100,000 and lowest in Alaska at 15 per 100,000. The National Safety Council says a fall is now the leading cause of injury deaths nationwide in that age group. 

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - Kitchen Tune-Up, an Aberdeen-based company, is teaming up with Best Buy stores in a nationwide effort to drum up more business. The two stores have announced a partnership aimed at making kitchen remodeling easier for consumers. The referral program will offer Kitchen Tune-Up customers discounts on Best Buy appliances. Test displays of Kitchen Tune-Up cabinets were installed in two Pennsylvania stores in December, and cabinets have been ordered for a third store in the Minneapolis area. Kitchen Tune-Up was founded in 1986 and began franchising in 1988. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Preliminary work is set to begin on a $90 million cancer center at Avera McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls. The health system's new five-story cancer institute will join a host of other projects that are under way, including renovation of the emergency center and women's health and childbirth facilities. Many other improvements also are planned by Avera McKennan in coming years. 

GRAFTON, N.D. (AP) - There's a shortage of carnivals available for county fairs this year. The secretary of the North Dakota Association of Fairs, Neil Fleming of Cavalier, says there'll be a lot of county fairs in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota that won't have one. Fleming says the high cost of fuel is one reason for the shortage. He says other factors are a dwindling rural population, higher insurance and transportation costs, and a lack of local help at each stop to run the carnivals. 

MADISON, S.D. (AP) - Funeral services will be Saturday for a Madison woman who was listed as South Dakota's second-oldest resident. Neva Gist died Tuesday at age 109. She was born April 26th, 1899 at Maryville, Missouri. The South Dakota Health Care Association tracks the state's oldest residents through its Century Club, whose members are 99 years and older. An association official says 109-year-old Myrtle Bunting is officially the oldest living person in South Dakota. She was born February 28th, 1899. At one time, Gist was thought to be the oldest state resident but actually was the second oldest. Beryl Kapaun, who is 109 and was born on June 4th, 1899, is the next oldest state resident. 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 9-25-26-28-42 Powerball: 26 Power Play: 2 Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $15 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $20 million for Saturday. Tickets that match the first five numbers, but miss the Powerball, win $200,000 each, and there were three of those. They were sold in: Minnesota (2), Tennessee. There was one Power Play Match 5 winner in Iowa. 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press.  Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The next court hearing in the case of a teenage boy accused of killing his sister in Fargo has been delayed until June. The attorney for 15-year-old Sergei Carlson has been given more time to review an expert's report. The teenager is charged with murder and a deviate sexual act in the death of 16-year-old Whitney Carlson of Fargo last July. 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The chairman of the University of Mary's board of directors says Sister Thomas Welder's plans to retire as president next year were a shock to the board. Chairman Martin White says a search will start immediately for Welder's successor. The 68-year-old Welder, who has battled kidney problems, says she plans to retire on June 30, 2009. 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The state Public Service Commission has approved a plan to expand a wind center near Langdon. The plan by Langdon Wind, LLC would add 27 turbines to its existing project, which already covers nearly 40 square miles in Cavalier County.

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota House has voted to loosen funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research at the University of Minnesota. And that's prompting a renewed veto threat from a spokesman for Governor Pawlenty. The governor has called for stricter limits on research involving human embryos. 

ST. PAUL (AP) - A transportation policy bill is headed for a floor vote in both houses today -- without a booster seat requirement. Conferees removed mandatory booster seats for children ages 4 to 8 from the package after Governor Pawlenty objected to the provision. 

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) - A bank robber is on the loose in Duluth. A man robbed the US Bank in downtown Duluth of an undisclosed amount of money yesterday. He gave the teller a note demanding money but didn't show a weapon. Police believe he stayed at a local hotel before the robbery. 

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) - Residents of Rochester plan to tell gang members they've had enough. A rally is being organized for next week after two recent shootings that appear to be gang-related. 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press. Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
From the Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - The U.N. says one of its planes has touched down in Myanmar as part of the first major international airlift of aid to cyclone victims. Three more planes are due in Myanmar later today. The deliveries were delayed by two days because the country's military rulers didn't grant clearance. 

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi soldiers, using loudspeakers, have warned residents of neighborhoods in Baghdad's embattled Sadr City district to leave their homes. The move signals a new push by the U.S.-backed forces against Shiite extremists. 

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Congressional votes are expected today on proposals aimed at helping homeowners facing foreclosure. One measure would provide 300 billion dollars in federal backing for new loans. Another would help communities buy up foreclosed property. President Bush says he'd veto both plans. 

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Senate Democrats are calling for a temporary tax on big oil company profits and a rollback of 17 billion dollars in oil industry tax breaks. Senate Republicans strongly oppose the measure the taxes are widely viewed as having little chance of being enacted. 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic House leaders have delayed voting on a war-funding measure that also includes money for GI education benefits and relief for the jobless. Some Democratic moderates are concerned about the price-tag. And Republican leaders have griped they were shut-out of crafting the measure. 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Democrats are offering a new solution to the flap over the state's delegates to the national convention. They want to give 69 delegates to Hillary Clinton and 59 to Barack Obama. Clinton won the primary back in January, but Michigan was stripped of its delegates for holding the contest too early. 

UNDATED (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter says delegates from Florida and Michigan should not have a vote at this summer's Democratic National Convention. Carter says the states "disqualified themselves" when they cut in line to hold early primaries in defiance of party rules. 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Clinton is pushing on in her race for the Democratic White House bid, despite calls to drop out. She has events scheduled today in the upcoming primary states of Oregon, South Dakota and West Virginia. Barack Obama will be in Washington today. 

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to make Vladimir Putin prime minister. The confirmation comes a day after Putin handed over the presidency to his protégé Dmitry Medvedev. 

BEIJING (AP) - A Chinese mountain climbing team has scaled Mount Everest with the Olympic flame. Chinese officials hope the feat of bringing the flame to the world's highest peak will counter bad publicity from anti-China demonstrations that dogged the international leg of the relay. 

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (AP) - A 37-year-old man is under arrest in St. Anthony, Idaho, charged with raping a 10-year-old girl. Police began investigating last month after doctors reported the girl was pregnant. The 10-year-old gave birth two weeks ago. 

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The body of a Montana woman has been found in the Yellowstone River, a month after she disappeared. Susan Casey's ex-husband had been charged with violating a protection order two days after she vanished last month. He remains free on bail. 

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin judge says the father accused of reckless homicide in his 11-year-old daughter's death will get a court-appointed attorney. The mother is a hiring private lawyer. Dale and Leilani Neumann are charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the Easter Sunday death of their daughter, Madeline, at the family's rural home. Prosecutors say they acted recklessly by praying instead of seeking medical help as their daughter got progressively ill from undiagnosed diabetes. 

DUBLIN, Ga. (AP) - A woman who won 5 million dollars in the Georgia lottery a year ago has been found stabbed to death in her home. Authorities say Doris Murray's former boyfriend has been charged with murder. 

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A woman arrested in San Diego 32 years after escaping a Detroit prison is on her way back to Michigan to serve out a drug sentence. Susan LeFevre was arrested last month outside her home. Authorities say the 53-year-old woman hadn't told her husband and children about her criminal past. 

NEW YORK (AP) - Dan Rather claims other television networks refused to hire him because of the damage CBS executives did to his reputation after a disputed 2004 report on President Bush. Rather has filed an amended lawsuit against the network. CBS plans to file a motion to dismiss the claim. 

WHITE HOUSE (AP)- President Bush heads to his ranch in Texas today to get ready to become a father-in-law. Daughter Jenna is marrying Henry Hager Saturday evening at the family ranch. News cameras won't be there, but the White House promises a picture or two afterward. 

CHICAGO (AP) - A federally approved drug for helping smokers quit has been linked with depression and suicidal behavior. Consumer advocates say it's not known how safe Chantix is because the drug has only been on the market since 2006. New guidelines recommend that people who use it, also get counseling. 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press.  Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

UNDATED (AP) - It's fair to say that Papa John's has made a lot of dough from the Internet. It has been taking online pizza orders for the past seven years -- and is now marking a milestone. It says its online orders have broken the 1 billion dollar mark. An official with the company says while it took seven years to reach that first one billion plateau, forecasts indicate at the company's current pace it will take fewer than three years to hit the next billion. On the 'Net: Papa John's Pizza site: http://www.papajohns.com

LONDON (AP) - Best Buy Company says it's paying $2.1 billion dollars for a 50 percent stake in Europe's largest cell phone retailer. The U.K.-based Carphone Warehouse will place its 2,400 U.S. and European stores in the new joint venture. The deal also includes the Web and direct businesses of The Carphone Warehouse, the insurance operations, and its airtime reselling businesses. Carphone Warehouse says it will use the proceeds to pay down debt, invest in broadband customer growth, infrastructure and other areas. The deal is subject to approval by Carphone Warehouse shareholders at the annual general meeting in August. An RBC Capital Markets analyst says the deal lets Best Buy get into consumer electronics retailing in Europe with less risk that building its own branded stores. Best Buy is based in Richfield, Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Target says April sales at stores open at least a year rose 3.1 percent, which was below what the retailer had been expecting. Consumers shopped for necessities such as food and skipped 
items with higher profit margins such as jewelry. Target says sales began to improve toward the end of the month. But it says markets under housing-related stress are still weak, especially Florida, Arizona, Nevada and parts of California. Target expects May same-store sales to move between a 1 percent loss and a 1 percent gain. 

CHICAGO (AP) - It is not a vote in favor of a possible merger. The head of United Airlines' pilots union says that combining with US Airways should be only a last resort for the carrier, saying it could take as long as seven years to integrate the two. Steve Wallach, also sits on the board of directors at United parent UAL Corp., reiterated the pilots' "serious concerns" one day after flight attendants of both airlines also questioned the potential deal. The unions spoke up as Chicago-based United and US Airways Group Inc. continue talks about a tie-up that could create the world's largest airline. A decision on whether to proceed is expected soon. 

TOKYO (AP) - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates says the company isn't pursuing any other major deals immediately following the withdrawal of its 47.5 billion dollar takeover bid for Yahoo. Yesterday, he said the company put "a lot of effort" in the talks with Yahoo and has decided the two should pursue "independent paths." Over the weekend, Microsoft withdrew its three-month-old unsolicited bid for Yahoo after seeing the impasse with Yahoo's board over a mutually acceptable sales price. Gates told reporters in Tokyo that at this point Microsoft is focused on "its independent strategy." Those comments seem to set a different tone than on Tuesday in South Korea, where he said the company wasn't ruling out alternative partnerships after the failure to buy Yahoo. Microsoft trails Google in the online search and advertising markets, and the bid for Yahoo was an attempt at turning that around. But Gates said that Microsoft was determined to make "advances" in its own search offering and meetings were in the works in Seattle to hammer out more specific plans. 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press.  Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A biographer for country music superstar Eddy Arnold says the singer has died at the age of 89. Belmont University Professor Don Cusic says Arnold died at a care facility near Nashville Thursday morning. Arnold was just days short of his 90th birthday. Arnold's mellow baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" - a crossover hit on the pop charts in 1965 - made him one of the most successful country singers in history. He became a pioneer of "The Nashville Sound," also called "countrypolitan," a mixture of country and pop styles. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966. The following year he was the first person to receive the entertainer of the year award from the Country Music Association. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ashton Kutcher can relate to his character and Cameron Diaz getting together in the spur of the moment in "Whatever Happens in Vegas" because that's kind of what he did with Demi Moore. Kutcher says logically, getting married at that time wasn't the right thing to do. He was much younger than Moore, his career was going great and he was enjoying being single. But Kutcher says while logic told him not to do it, his heart told him to go ahead. And he says it was the "smartest decision" he ever made. "Whatever Happens in Vegas" opens today. 

NEW YORK (AP) - A Wall Street Journal reporter is sharing details about her experience as a juror in the trial of Uma Thurman's stalker. Emily Steel writes in the paper that some jurors questioned whether Thurman's testimony was genuine, or whether she "exaggerated her fear." She writes, "the fact that she was a famous movie star made us partly charmed, partly suspicious." But the decision on whether to convict Jack Jordan of stalking and harassing Thurman actually came easy to the jury after they heard about Jordan's visit to Thurman's house last August. She says the nonstop doorbell-ringing and kind of letter he left clearly sounded like intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm. 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are getting a last-place ranking when it comes to being environmentally friendly. U.S consumers are at the bottom of the National Geographic Society's new survey. One-thousand consumers in each of 14 nations were asked about their homes, energy use, transportation, food and buying habits. The United States is last in transportation, housing and purchases of goods and is near the bottom on food. Brazil and India are tied at the top of the survey. Brazilians live in small homes, and most have no heat or air conditioning. Homes in India are similar to those in Brazil. National Geographic vice president Terry Garcia says this first annual óGreendexó survey will serve as a baseline for future surveys. He says it will allow observers to see the progress people are making to conserve, minimize waste, and protect natural resources for the future.  He stresses that the goal of the study is not to rank counties but to gauge consumer behavior in different locations. 

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho high school student says he may file suit against a teacher who he says tossed his Mexican flag in the trash. Froylan Camelo had brought the flag in for Cinco de Mayo. He was one of several students who brought flags to mark the Mexican holiday. 

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Texas state worker Connie Thiele is a new millionaire. She's won a 21 million dollar jackpot playing the slots at a Las Vegas casino. She says she wasn't having much luck with one Megabucks slot machine at the Palms Casino Resort, so she switched to another. Thiele says she put in 20 bucks and won on the first pull. According to the casino, Thiele works as a travel coordinator for the Texas Department of Information Resources. She and her husband are regular visitors to Vegas. 

BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) - No security video needed to ID this suspect. Police in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, report a man chatted-up three women at a bar and even snapped some pictures with them. According to officers, a short while later the man robbed the women at a Bucks County convenience store. Public Safety Director Fred Harran says Andre Smith was busted after the victims showed police the pics they had takenin the tavern. Smith was arrested at his apartment and is now charged with robbery and theft. 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) - Garth Brooks will receive the first-ever Crystal Milestone Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards next weekend in Las Vegas. The honor is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement. Brooks says he's "flattered and humbled" by the award. He's also slated to perform a special medley of his greatest hits during the telecast. Brooks has won a total of 18 Academy of Country Music Awards throughout his career, including Artist of The Decade in 1998. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The seller of the alleged Jimi Hendrix sex tape says it will give his estate $100,000 if they can prove it isn't Hendrix. Vivid Entertainment has released what it claims is footage of Hendrix and two women involved in sex acts. Experience Hendrix, which represents the Hendrix estate, says it is not him. Vivid claims Experience Hendrix's experts had never met Hendrix. Vivid quotes former Hendrix road manager Neville Chesters and a famed groupie who knew Hendrix as saying the tape is the real deal. 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press.  Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Today in History 

Today is Thursday, May 8th, the 129th day of 2008. There are 237 days left in the year. 

Today's Highlight in History: 
On May 8th, 1945, President Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe. 

On this date: 
In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. 
In 1794, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror. 
In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by General Zachary Taylor were able to beat back the invading Mexican forces. 
In 1884, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, was born near Lamar, Missouri. 
In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru. 
In 1962, the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway. 
In 1970, antiwar protests took place across the United States and around the world; in New York, construction workers broke up a demonstration on Wall Street. 
In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for ten weeks surrendered. 
In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with one of the "Son of Sam" shootings that had terrified New Yorkers. 
In 1988, science-fiction author Robert A. Heinlein died in Carmel, California, at age 80. 

Ten years ago: Big Tobacco settled with the state of Minnesota for 6.6 billion dollars as the state's lawsuit was about to go to a jury; Minnesota became the fourth state to settle with the tobacco industry over the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses. 
Five years ago: The Senate unanimously endorsed adding seven former communist nations to NATO: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. A federal grand jury indicted Chinese-born California socialite Katrina Leung on charges that she'd illegally taken, copied and kept secret documents obtained from an FBI agent. (A federal judge later dismissed the case against Leung, rebuking prosecutors for misconduct.) A Russian-built cargo plane lost a door over Congo, hurling more than 100 Congolese soldiers and their families to their deaths. 
One year ago: The Pentagon announced that it had notified more than 35,000 Army soldiers to be prepared to deploy to Iraq beginning in the fall. Bitter enemies from Northern Ireland's bloody past joined forces atop a new Northern Ireland government. 

Today's Birthdays: Comedian Don Rickles is 82. Naturalist Sir David Attenborough is 82. Singer Toni Tennille is 68. Actor James Mitchum is 67. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 66. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 63. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 57. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is 
57. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 55. Rock musician Alex 
Van Halen is 55. Actor David Keith is 54. Actor Stephen Furst is 54. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 44. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 44. Country musician Del Gray is 40. Rock singer Darren Hayes is 36. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 33. Singer Ana Maria Lombo (Eden's Crush) is 30. Actress Julia Whelan is 23. 

Thought for Today: "What you see is news, what you know is background, what you feel is opinion." -- Lester Markel, American editor (1894-1977). 

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press.  Used With Permission.  All Rights Reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

      AMERICAN LEAGUE

Oakland Athletics   6  Baltimore Orioles    5, 10 innings

Detroit Tigers     10  Boston Red Sox       9

Cleveland Indians   3  N.Y. Yankees         0

Toronto Blue Jays   6  Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2

Kansas City Royals  9  Los Angeles Angels   4

Minnesota Twins    13  Chicago White Sox    1

Texas Rangers       2  Seattle Mariners     0 

      NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cincinnati Reds       9  Chicago Cubs         0

N.Y. Mets            12  Los Angeles Dodgers  1

Atlanta Braves        5  San Diego Padres     2

Pittsburgh Pirates    3  San Francisco Giants 1

Florida Marlins       6  Milwaukee Brewers    2

Houston Astros        4  Washington Nationals 3

Colorado Rockies      4  St. Louis Cardinals  3

Philadelphia Phillies 5  Arizona Diamondbacks 4

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PROBABLE PITCHERS (All Times EDT)

                    AMERICAN LEAGUE                        

Cleveland Indians (Paul Byrd 1-2) at New York Yankees (Mike Mussina 4-3), 1:05 p.m.

Minnesota Twins (Kevin Slowey 0-1) at Chicago White Sox (John Danks 2-3), 2:05 p.m.

Boston Red Sox (Josh Beckett 3-2) at Detroit Tigers (Justin Verlander 1-5), 7:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay Rays (Edwin Jackson 2-3) at Toronto Blue Jays (Jesse Litsch 4-1), 7:07 p.m.

Baltimore Orioles (Daniel Cabrera 2-1) at Kansas City Royals (Luke Hochevar 2-1), 8:10 p.m.

Texas Rangers (Kason Gabbard 1-0) at Seattle Mariners (Felix Hernandez 2-2), 10:10 p.m.

                    NATIONAL LEAGUE                        

San Francisco Giants (Matt Cain 1-2) at Pittsburgh Pirates (Paul Maholm 2-3), 12:35 p.m.

San Diego Padres (Justin Germano 0-3) at Atlanta Braves (Jo Jo Reyes 1-0), 1 p.m.

St. Louis Cardinals (Kyle Lohse 3-1) at Colorado Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa 0-1), 3:05 p.m.

Philadelphia Phillies (Brett Myers 2-2) at Arizona Diamondbacks (Brandon Webb 7-0), 3:40 p.m.

Milwaukee Brewers (Carlos Villanueva 1-3) at Florida Marlins (Mark Hendrickson 5-1), 7:10 p.m.

Washington Nationals (John Lannan 2-3) at Houston Astros (Brandon Backe 2-3), 8:05 p.m.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Sioux City at Wichita, ppd., rain

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE

Grand Prairie at St. Paul

Lincoln at Pensacola

Shreveport at El Paso

Sioux City at Wichita

Sioux Falls at Fort Worth                 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

      QUARTERFINALS (Best-of-7)

Orlando Magic 111  Detroit Pistons 86                               Pistons lead series 2-1

Los Angeles Lakers 120  Utah Jazz 110                            Lakers lead series 2-0

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (All Times EDT)

Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m.                   Celtics lead series 1-0

New Orleans Hornets at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m.     Hornets lead series 2-0

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

No Games Scheduled

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE (All Times EDT)

      Western Conference Final

Dallas Stars        at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

No Games Scheduled

SOUTH DAKOTA SCOREBOARD

High School Baseball

Chamberlain 8, Winner 0

College Baseball

Ashland College 7, Presentation 2

Women's College Golf

NCAA Division II North Regional (King's Walk G.C., Grand Forks, ND)

1-Nebraska-Omaha, 931

2-Augustana, 940

T3-MSU-Mankato, 941

T3-Upper Iowa, 941

T5-Truman St., 946

T5-North Dakota, 946

Boys High School Tennis

O'Gorman 9, Sioux Falls Washington 0

Sioux Falls Lincoln 6, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 3

LOCAL AND REGIONAL SPORTS
From Dakota Radio Group Sports

 Follow the Minnesota Twins during the 2008 season on 1060 KGFX

   Day                         Game                                                    First Pitch              Pregame Start

Today:           Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox             1:05 p.m.                     12:35 p.m.

Friday:           Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins                  7:10 p.m.                       6:40 p.m.

Saturday:       Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins                  6:10 p.m.                       5:40 p.m.

Sunday:         Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins                  7:05 p.m.                       6:35 p.m. 

Monday:        Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins                  6:05 p.m.                        5:25 p.m.

Tuesday:       Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins               7:10 p.m.                        6:40 p.m. 

Wednesday:  Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins               7:10 p.m.                        6:40 p.m.    

And be sure to listen to 1060 KGFX Sunday Mornings at 9:30 a.m. for the “Ron Gardenhire Show” with the Twins Manager.  And Sunday’s also feature “The GM Show” with Twins General Manager Bill Smith heard just over 35 minutes before the beginning of the Twins Pre Game Show.

In Sports today:

CHICAGO (AP) - Carlos Gomez became the first Twins player since Kirby Puckett 22 years ago to hit for the cycle, Livan Hernandez took a shutout into the ninth and Minnesota beat the Chicago White Sox 13-1 on Wednesday night. One night after Chicago's Gavin Floyd lost a no-hitter in the ninth, Gomez homered off Mark Buehrle (1-4) on the game's third pitch. He added an RBI triple in the fifth, doubled in a run in the sixth and completed the cycle with an infield single to lead off a six-run ninth. The ball deflected off reliever Ehren Wasserman, forcing a rushed throw by shortstop Alexei Ramirez that sailed wide. Nick Punto added five RBIs, sending Minnesota to its sixth win in seven games. Hernandez (5-1) was in line for his eighth shutout and his first since July 31, 2004, until Jermaine Dye hit a solo homer with one out in the ninth.

CHICAGO (AP) - The Minnesota Twins have decided to put right-hander Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list. They will bring up lefty Glen Perkins from the minors to take his place in the rotation. The Twins announced Wednesday that Baker was going to the DL because of a strained right groin that forced him out of his last start after three innings. Baker's roster spot will be filled by right-hander Kevin Slowey, who will be reinstated from the DL to start against the White Sox on Thursday. Slowey has been recovering from a strained right biceps. Perkins went 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA for Triple-A Rochester. He will be recalled in time to start on Saturday at the Metrodome against the Red Sox.

WINNER, S.D. – Cody Schrieber and Mike Johnson combined to throw a no-hitter as Chamberlain beat Winner 8-0 in high school baseball last night.  Schreiber threw the first 4 innings with Johnson going the final 3.  Joe Hieb was triple shy of hitting for the cycle as he drove in a pair of runs.  Ryan Smith singled 3 times and had 3 runs batted in and Schrieber helped his own cause on the mound with a pair of doubles in Chamberlains 12 hit attack.  Chamberlain will wrap up the regular season tomorrow when they travel to Burke to face South Central in a make up game that was washed out Tuesday night.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Kristin Kono was named the new University of Sioux Falls softball coach yesterday, replacing Kristi Gillen, who resigned at the conclusion of this season.  The 25 year old Kono had been the top assistant at Augustana and is one of the top softball players in USF history.  Kono was a three-time All-Great Plains Athletic Conference shortstop and helped lead the Cougars to the 2005 NAIA national tournament. She was also the starting point guard on the 2003 USF women’s basketball team that reached the Final Four.  Kono inherits a program that went 6-20 this year and has won just 9 games over the last two seasons.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Gateway Football Conference got a legislative victory of sorts. The Division I Football Championship Subdivision will expand its playoff field from 16 to 20 teams starting in the 2010 season.  It means North Dakota State and South Dakota State’s new league has a better chance of qualifying more teams for postseason.  The top 12 teams will receive a first-round bye. The Big South and Northeast conferences were each granted an automatic bid, bringing the number of automatic berths to 10. The move was approved recently by the Division I Board of Directors.  The Gateway has consistently had two teams make the field – the champion and an at-large bid.  NDSU and South Dakota State left the Great West Football Conference for the Gateway, which finished last season with three teams ranked in the FCS top 25 coaches poll. Five of the seven teams reached the top 25 at some point in the season. NDSU and SDSU also finished the year in the poll.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - South Dakota State avoided sanctions in its second go-around with the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), the measure of classroom performance and student-athlete retention at the Division I level. But not by much. Three of the school's athletic programs - baseball, men's basketball and men's tennis - would not have met the minimum acceptable score of 925 on a 1,000-point scale for 2005-07 if not for a squad-size adjustment that will eventually expire. Baseball scored a 921 and men's basketball 894.  Those programs showed modest gains since last year.  It was the second year in a row that they failed to hit the mark outright, due in large part to frequent transferring by scholarship recipients.  The men's golf team was publicly lauded by the NCAA for achieving a perfect score, while the women's tennis team improved its raw score from 889 to 941.

BROOKINGS, S.D. - Leah Dietel, a 6-foot-1 junior forward from Jordan, Minn., has made a verbal commitment to play women’s basketball at South Dakota State. A two-time Minnesota River Conference MVP, Dietel averaged 20.6 points a game as a sophomore and 18.8 points and 12.2 rebounds as a junior, helping Jordan finish third and second, respectively, at the Minnesota Class 2A state tournament.  Dietel also had scholarship offers from the likes of Colorado State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.  Dietel is the fourth commitment in the 2009 recruiting class, joining Tara Heiser of Watertown and Pierre’s Steph Paluch and Katie Lingle.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Tickets are now available for the NCC Celebration Dinner. The gala event planned for June 21 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, S.D. is being designed to give individuals the opportunity to reunite and remember the 86 years of competition in one of the nation's top NCAA Division II conferences. A historical video will premiere at the event. Tickets are $50 per person and are available until June 11 online at www.northcentralconference.org, by calling the NCC office at 605-338-0907 between the hours of 8-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by mailing your request to North Central Conference, 3200 W. Maple St., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57107.

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The 3 members of the Pierre Lady Governor golf team head to Brookings for their final tournament before the Great 8 / ESD Conference tournament.  The Brookings Invitational will be played at the Brookings Country Club where the home standing Bobcats are considered the favorite.  After today, the Great 8 / ESD Conference tournament will be played Monday at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.  The two tournaments were combined after the regularly scheduled ESD tournament had to be postponed last weekend in Brandon due to weather and course conditions.

PETELUMA, Cal. – Augustana’s Matt Pridey fired a 3 over par 75 in yesterday’s final round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf West/Northwest Super Regional at the Adobe Creek Golf Club in Petaluma, Calif.  Pridey finished the 54 hole tournament 225 to finish in a tie for 12^th.  His teammate, Aaron Hieb had a final round 78 to finish at 243 and in a tie for 39^th.  The University of South Dakota’s Wally Byrne finished 34^th after a final round 78 gave him a 3 round total 236.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Augustana women’s golf team fired a 54 hole round 940 to finish second at the NCAA Division II North Regional tournament that wrapped up yesterday and in the process qualified as a team for the NCAA Division II national tournament.  Augustana started the day in 6^th place but moved up the ladder with a team round of 308 putting them 1 stroke ahead of Minnesota State-Mankato making up a 16 stroke deficit.  The Vikings had two golfers place in the top 5.  Carley Roach had a 3 round total 225 to finish 4^th while Courtney Belanger tied for 5^th with a 54 hole score 226.  Nebraska-Omaha won the team title with a 913 team score and the Mavericks Sara Wolfe won individual medallist honors with a 54 hole score 222.

SIOUX FALLS, S. D. -- Local Qualifying for the U.S. Open Championship will be held Monday at Westward Ho Country Club in Sioux Falls with 37 players competing for three spots into Sectional Qualifying. Play begins at 8 a.m.  Included in the field is Michael Berg of Detroit Lakes. Minn., who finished second in Sioux Falls last year, then advanced through Sectional Qualifying to make the field for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont CC in Pittsburgh. Also entered in the field is Springfield native Travis Stockholm, who will tee off in the 9:20 a.m. group. Sectional Qualifying will be held June 2 at various sites across the country. The U.S. Open will be held June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Queen’s University Golden Gaels Forward Brady Olsen of Enterprise, Ont., has signed a one-year contract with the Rush. Olsen is one of the first players to be officially signed by the Rush for its inaugural season. Olsen played four years as a Gael and appeared in 102 games with 59 goals 38 assists and 97 points. In 2007, he led the team in scoring and played the most minutes of any forward.  The Rush are members of the Central Hockey League and will begin play next season.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls men’s tennis team will face Graceland University of Iowa in the first round of the 24-team NAIA national tournament at 1 p.m. Monday in Mobile, Ala. USF lost to Graceland 9-0 on March 15 in St. Joseph, Mo.

PIERRE, S.D. – Registrations for the 2008 Hershey Track Meet are currently being accepted by the Pierre Recreation Department.  The Meet will be held on Monday, May 19th, 2008 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Holister Field track at Phil Trautner Stadium.  Registration forms can be found in the back of the 2008 summer activities guide and can be turned in to the Recreation Superintendents office located at the Oahe YMCA/Pierre Aquatic Center, Mailed to 222 E Dakota Ave or you can bring them to the event on the 19th.  Registration forms will be available the day of event for anyone who still wishes to participate in the Meet. Registrations will be taken until 4:55pm on May 19th, 2008. For any questions about the Hershey Track Meet contact Andy Lueth at 773-7445.

PIERRE, S.D. – The Pierre Governor and Lady Governor track and field team’s will be sponsoring a benefit spaghetti feed this evening at the Kings Inn Convention Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The feed is a fund raising effort by the track teams to help fund various projects they have in addition to helping defray expenses for this summer’s trip to North Carolina.  Tickets are $3 individually or $10 for a family of four and can be purchased from any member of the team.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

PIERRE, S.D. – Online Early Registration for programs offered this summer for the Pierre Recreation Summer Rec program will close tomorrow night at 11:59 a.m.  According to Pierre Recreation Director Andy Lueth, this will allow staff to add the additional spaces that were saved for the walk-in registrations that will be held on May 17th, 2008.  Lueth says that online registration will open back up on May 19th, 2008 at 6:00am for anyone who did not get the opportunity to sign up either through the early online registration or at the walk-in registration.  Any questions on registration policies, procedures, and/or deadlines contact Lueth at 773-7445.

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota golfers can now find and enjoy golf courses all over South Dakota.  The South Dakota golf guide, is a collaborative effort between the Office of Tourism and the South Dakota Golf Association that provides information on courses all across South Dakota.  The South Dakota Golf Guides will be available at information centers throughout the state or by contacting the Office of Tourism.  For more information, call 1-800-732-5682 or visit www.TravelSD.com for a downloadable PDF version.  Promoting golf and the great outdoors of South Dakota is an integral part of Goal 1 of the 2010 Initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota.

PIERRE, S.D. – Due to the recent bad weather, the Oahe Family YMCA “Hole in One for One Million Dollars Shootout” has added qualifying rounds every day this week at Hillsview Golf Course.  Rounds will begin at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow.  There will also be a special time for qualifying on this morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the start of the Pierre Chamber of Commerce Golf tournament.  The Semi Finals for the shootout will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. with all semi final rounds at Hillsview.  The Shootout finals will be held on Thursday, May 15^th beginning at 9:30 a.m.  For more information contact the Oahe Family YMCA or check their website at www.oaheymca.org.

PIERRE, S.D. – This was to have been a scheduled weekend off at Oahe Speedway north of Pierre, but when the weather forced the postponement of last weekends racing, track officials rescheduled it to this weekend.  So on Saturday it will be a busy day with the first of the Dales A1Transmission / Midwest Construction Super Series as well as the Butler Machinery Shoot Out Races.  The first annual Mayors Challenge race.  Mayors from Pierre, Fort Pierre, Blunt, Highmore, Onida, Gettysburg, Presho,  Midland, and Timber lake will compete in "Chicago" style  runoffs to determine the winner. The mayors have also been encouraged to bring along their own cheering sections and the employees of the participating cities will be admitted for half price.  Gates Saturday open at 8 a.m. for the racers and at 1 p.m. for spectators.  Qualifying rounds begin at 1 p.m. with elimination rounds beginning at 5 p.m.  Sunday will be the first Budweiser/Coca Cola points series races with qualifying beginning at 9 a.m. and the elimination rounds 1 p.m.  Oahe Speedway is located 17 miles north of Pierre along highway 1804. 

PIERRE, S.D. – After a successful 4 weekend run at Ft. Pierre, South Dakota horse racing moves to Aberdeen for 3 weekends of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday’s feature races at Aberdeen include South Dakota bred thoroughbred Derby trials while the South Dakota bred quarter horse trials will be featured on Sunday.  The 3 weekend racing schedule at Aberdeen wraps up with a 3 day racing weekend on Memorial Day weekend.

PIERRE, S.D. - Veteran walleye pro Ron Seelhoff of Burlington, Colo., teamed up with co-angler Mark Bucholz of Sioux Falls, S.D., to take a substantial lead after day 1 of the  four-day FLW Walleye Tour event taking place in central South Dakota on Lake Sharpe, part of the Missouri River. Bucking the trend of multi-way ties and miniscule weights separating one place from another, Seelhoff and Bucholz brought in a five-walleye limit weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces, giving them each a 9-ounce lead in their respective divisions heading into day two.  Seelhoff was pitching minnows and plastic jigs, including Berkley Power Minnows, in 6 to 8 feet of water. He also pulled crankbaits, including a Rapala No. 7 Minnow Rap, in 10 to 15 feet of water in the main channel of the river to catch more than 50 walleyes on the day.  Second-year Walleye Tour pro Troy Walwood of Grand Haven, Mich., emerged in second place with a total catch of a limit of walleyes at 9 pounds 14 ounces.  That weight puts him 9 ounces ahead of the quagmire that is the remainder of the leader board and in good shape heading into today’s competition.   Day two is underway as the boats launched this morning at 7 a.m.  Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. today headquartered out of Downs Marina.  

Mark Bucholz and Ron Seelhoff at weigh-in on Wednesday afternoon. (Courtesy of Doreen Foster)