4 Broadcaster Press January 2, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference BROOKINGS, S.D. - The SDSU Extension Community Vitality Team and the Community of De Smet will host the Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference May 8-9, 2018 in downtown De Smet businesses. Designed to energize South Dakota's rural communities by inviting them to network with community leaders from across the state, share success stories, get ideas and take action to improve their own communities the conference will offer several sessions for community members and area business owners including: Funding for Community Projects, Entrepreneurial Experiences, Agritourism and Value Added Agriculture and Engaging Community Members. "This event will have information for communities, resources and ways to become involved as well as information for current and potential entrepreneurs," said Paul Thares, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist. The event will feature Sarah Calhoun, as the keynote speaker. Calhoun is the owner of Red Ants Pants. She is also the Executive Director of the Red Ants Pants Foundation and Producer of the Red Ants Pants Music Festival. She will share her story of successful business growth and development in the rural community of White Sulphur Springs, Montana (population 906). In addition she will share information on a large community event and a foundation that were started as a result of her successful business growth and community involvement. There will also be a panel of young entrepreneurs. "This event is a collaborative effort between leaders in the De Smet community and SDSU Extension Community Vitality Team," said Thares. The idea for this event, Thares explained, came out of a conference members of the SDSU Extension Community Vitality Team attended the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference in McCook, Nebraska. This conference, hosted by University of Nebraska Extension, offered an interesting venue twist: conference sessions were held in main street businesses. "McCook shop owners and managers shared their entrepreneurial journeys, while resource providers like Extension, Small Business Development and Economic Development discussed tools to assist entrepreneurs. The combination was powerful, with both groups learning from each other," Thares said. "We hope for a similar experience in De Smet." More on Sarah Calhoun Sarah Calhoun has nearly two decades of leadership experience in both the nonprofit and small business sectors, working in the outdoor education industry before founding Red Ants Pants in 2006. Raised on a farm in rural Connecticut, Calhoun was inspired to move to Montana by Ivan Doig's This House of Sky. From her home in the small town of White Sulphur Springs, she has become an inspiration to entrepreneurs nationwide and is known for her dedication to supporting rural communities. Calhoun has been called a "revolutionary figure in rural business today" and a "powerhouse of inspiration for women in business." Her dynamic style and inspiring experiences as an entrepreneur make her a highly sought after keynote speaker. She has given dozens of keynote addresses, and has been featured on national television programs such as CNBC, CNN, and Bloomberg. Calhoun has risen to the top echelons of success as a rural entrepreneur. Registration information To Register for the Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference event, visit iGrow.org/events to register after January 15, 2018. Contact Thares with any questions at 605.374.4177 or e-mail. Highway 50 Project How Livable is Your Community? Moving Forward PIERRE, S.D. – The planning phase of a project to reconstruct portions of Highway 50 between Tyndall and Tabor has been completed according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation. This section of Highway 50 has seen an above average number of crashes, including serious injury crashes, over the past 12 years. Several public meetings have been held over the past few years and comments received have helped to shape the plan for the proposed reconstruction. The department was originally planning to eliminate all four-lane sections on Highway 50 from the Highway 37 north junction east through Tabor. The newly modified plan will retain the four-lane section at the Highway 37 north junction (to Mitchell) and also includes constructing two passing lanes along the rural portion of Highway 50. The remaining four-lane sections will be reduced to two lanes with a center turn lane at four locations; one at Tabor, one at the intersection with Highway 25 and two near Tyndall. Right turn lanes will be added at many of the affected intersections and will address concerns for vehicles slowing to turn right. The plan also calls for straightening some curves, improving sight distances and potential speed reductions. “The amount of public participation in this project has been impressive and as we look to meet our mission to efficiently provide a safe and effective transportation system, it’s essential to invest in safety improvements and plan for the future”, says Mike Behm, director of Planning and Engineering. “Two lanes with a center turn lane through these sections will provide more consistent speeds and greatly decrease the risk of high speed intersection crashes.” Additional information on the project along with a map of the construction area can found at: http://www.sddot. com/dot/publicmeetings/pubmeet_SD50Tyndall.aspx Stories you missed this week because you’re not a Plain Talk subscriber A report on the Vermillion School District’s attendance policy, approved by the Vermillion School Board last month. A story that shares a portion of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s recent message to the Vermillion Rotary Club regarding the business climate in South Dakota. A story from a recent meeting of the South Dakota Transportation Commission regarding the new facilities scheduled to be constructed at the Interstate 29 rest stop near the Vermillion exit. And if you want to see: A story about steps that will be taken soon to get the next phase of improvements to the DakotaDome underway. Coverage of the 35th annual Dakota Farm Show which begins this week in the DakotaDome in Vermillion. The latest information on the benefit being planned for local musician Nick Schwebach. Pick up this Friday’s Plain Talk! Local news since 1884! Here for you yesterday, today and tomorrow. 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-2695 BROOKINGS, S.D. - South Dakota is infamous for its cold, windy winters and open landscapes. To many outside the Midwest, it may be difficult to imagine living in South Dakota. However, South Dakota offers great communities for people of all ages and is consistently highly ranked as a great place to age, explained Bethany Stoutamire, SDSU Extension Aging in Place Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA Member. Stoutamire pointed to a 2012 AARP survey which ranked Sioux Falls as the number one small metro to successfully age. Rapid City ranked 10th. In 2017, a MetLife Foundation report ranked Sioux Falls as the fifth best small metro to age in. "These rankings are based on a variety of sources and is a conglomeration of traits," Stoutamire explained. For instance, the engagement index contains several metrics including broadband cost and speed, voting rate, and art and cultural institutions, among others. "By being able to examine specific components, it makes it easier to see the areas where our communities excel and where they fall short," she said. "This makes the livability index a valuable tool in determining where improvement is needed." To learn more, Stoutamire encouraged readers to check out the AARP Livability Index themselves by visiting https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/compare. "Regardless of the size or demographics of our communities, there is always room for improvement," Stoutamire said. "With passion, hard work, and resources at the tips of our fingertips, we can help make South Dakota an even better place to live." GFP Commission Requests Input On Preference Point System PIERRE, S.D. – Following a presentation by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), the GFP Commission is requesting public input on a proposal to cube preference points for all limited draw seasons. This would be for all seasons in which preference points can be purchased and accrued. This proposed adjustment is intended to provide those hunters with a higher number of preference points a greater chance of drawing a limited license than currently exists. The proposed action would take the number of preference points a hunter has and add one for the current year application. That total will then be cubed and would determine the number of times each applicant's name is entered into the drawing. For example, an applicant who has three preference points going into the 2018 East River deer season drawing would have a total of four upon submitting their application for 2018. Then that would be cubed to total 64; which means that applicant’s name would be entered 64 times for the 2018 East River deer season drawing. Under the current structure this example would result in a total of four chances in the drawing. A more drastic example would be if an applicant has 20 preference points for the 2018 Black Hills elk season drawing. Adding one more point upon submitting an application for 2018 would bring the total to 21. Then this would be cubed to 9,261; which means that applicant’s name would be entered 9,261 times for this drawing. This proposal would not change the drawing to a true top down preference point system. A hunter with the most preference points would still not be guaranteed a license before another hunter with less preference points, but the odds of drawing a license would be increased. To comment on this proposal, send written comments to 523 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501, or send an email to wildinfo@state.sd.us. To be included in the public record and to be considered by the Commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy-two hours before the public hearing (not including the day of the public hearing) per HB 1006. The GFP Commission will discuss this proposal Jan. 11-12, 2018, at the Red Rossa Convention Center in Pierre. For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the discussion will be livestreamed at http://www.sd.net/home/. Romsdahl’s Repair & Remodel State of South Dakota Files Final Brief In Tax Fairness Case PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley confirmed today that the State of South Dakota has filed its final Reply Brief in State of South Dakota v. Wayfair, Overstock and Newegg. “Based upon the significant impact this issue has on every main street business, it remains my hope that our highest Court will let us be heard. We have received extraordinary support from the State Attorneys General, the National Governors Association, educational leaders, and the business community in the national fight to bring tax fairness for our local retailers and to help support main street businesses,” said Jackley. With the filing of the Reply Brief, it is now up to the United States Supreme Court to decide whether it will hear the case. The Court will likely make this decision in January. Custodial Cleaning Supplies Surplus Sale Carpentry, Decks, Windows & Doors, Refinishing, Drywall, & Ceramic Tile 19 Years in Business Free Estimates 605-670-2161 Place an ad. Make money. It works! January 4 1-4pm The sale site is located at Julian Hall, room 131 located on the southwest corner of campus. Parking is available in lot 8, next to Akeley Science Center located on Dakota Street. Signs will be posted with directions to Julian Hall. Entrance to Julian Hall is located on the east side of the building. Terms of the sale are cash only. Questions may be directed to USD Auxiliary Services at 605-677-5669 or 605-677-6623. Call Today! 624-4429