Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Falls Community Health is pleased to announce that students at Hayward Elementary can receive dental services at the school beginning on August 26, 2013.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this service,” says Lonna Jones, Dental Clinic Services Manager for Falls Community Health. “By offering full-service dental care right at the school clinic, students spend less time out of the classroom, and parents don’t have to worry about leaving work to transport their children to dental appointments.”

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes that poor oral health can negatively affect a child’s ability to learn. Children with dental pain may be irritable, withdrawn, or unable to concentrate. Pain can affect test performance as well as school attendance. In fact, dental problems are the leading cause of school absences across the nation.

“The Sioux Falls School District is excited to again partner with Falls Community Health in providing dental services to students,” says Molly Satter, Health Services Supervisor for the Sioux Falls School District. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, ‘Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems such as eating, speaking, playing, and learning.’ The District recognizes the importance of overall health and well-being and the relationship to student learning. Programs such as this help us achieve our goal of “educating and preparing each student to succeed in a changing world.”

Families with students at Hayward Elementary can register the students for dental care through the school. Dental services, including exams, X-rays, and teeth cleaning will be provided during regular clinic hours at Hayward Elementary on Monday and Thursday mornings and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.

Falls Community Health opened its third school-based clinic at Hayward Elementary in April. The other school-based clinics are located at Terry Redlin Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary. These school-based clinics provide medical services for students, families, and others.

For more information, please call 605-367-8022.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM)-Beginning at 8 a.m., Monday, August 26, 2013, the Public Works Street Division will be repairing storm sewer on 17th Street between Euclid Avenue and Covell Avenue.

17th Street will be closed and detour signs will be in place. This project is expected to be completed by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27.

On Monday morning, August 26, 2013, part of the southbound lane on Cliff Avenue will be closed at 85th Street. Traffic will be maintained in all directions at all times.

Runge Construction will be installing an approach. The work is anticipated to be finished by the evening of August 30, 2013.

Motorists are urged to use caution and reduced speeds while travelling through the construction area.

Sioux Falls S.D. (KELO AM) - The City of Sioux Falls reminds residents that City ordinance requires property owners to control nuisance vegetation on their property, including street boulevards.

Kevin Smith, Assistant Director of Planning and Building Services, noted that the staff of the Property Maintenance Division is proactively enforcing the nuisance vegetation ordinance. Residents are urged to keep their lawns below the required eight inches in height to avoid potential citations and mowing assessments. Smith stated, “Even though summer is coming to a close, grass and weeds are continuing to grow, so home and business owners need to keep their lawn mowers active before preparing their snowblowers for the upcoming winter season.”

Residents are urged to use the “Lawn Enforcement Hotline” if they see noxious weeds or grass that has grown taller than eight inches in height. The phone number is 978 6900. Citizens can call the number during normal business hours or leave a voice message after hours or on weekends. In addition to the Lawn Enforcement Hotline, residents can also report potential violations online through the City’s website at www.siouxfalls.org.

Sioux Falls S.D. (KELO AM) - Falls Community Health is pleased to announce that students at Hayward Elementary can receive dental services at the school beginning today.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this service,” says Lonna Jones, Dental Clinic Services Manager for Falls Community Health. “By offering full-service dental care right at the school clinic, students spend less time out of the classroom, and parents don’t have to worry about leaving work to transport their children to dental appointments.”

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes that poor oral health can negatively affect a child’s ability to learn. Children with dental pain may be irritable, withdrawn, or unable to concentrate. Pain can affect test performance as well as school attendance. In fact, dental problems are the leading cause of school absences across the nation.

“The Sioux Falls School District is excited to again partner with Falls Community Health in providing dental services to students,” says Molly Satter, Health Services Supervisor for the Sioux Falls School District. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, ‘Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems such as eating, speaking, playing, and learning.’ The District recognizes the importance of overall health and well-being and the relationship to student learning. Programs such as this help us achieve our goal of “educating and preparing each student to succeed in a changing world.”

Families with students at Hayward Elementary can register the students for dental care through the school. Dental services, including exams, X-rays, and teeth cleaning will be provided during regular clinic hours at Hayward Elementary on Monday and Thursday mornings and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.

Falls Community Health opened its third school-based clinic at Hayward Elementary in April. The other school-based clinics are located at Terry Redlin Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary. These school-based clinics provide medical services for students, families, and others.

For more information, please call 605-367-8022.

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) -- Veterans, active military personnel and their families will be honored with “Military Appreciation Day” when the University of South Dakota kicks off its 2013 football season vs. University of California-Davis on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Thanks to a special coupon that can be obtained locally and redeemed at the Coyote Ticket Office, veterans and military personnel will be admitted free to the football game while tickets for family members of veterans and military personnel will be discounted half the price of regular admission. Coupons are available at local military establishments and will also be published in Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 editions of the Equalizer. Military Appreciation Day also includes free admission to Coyote Tailgate Nation for all active military and veterans along with their families courtesy of the Equalizer and Riverfront Broadcasting (KDAM 94.3 FM).

Military Appreciation Day activities will feature a special performance by soldiers of USD’s Military Science Department, who will repel from the rafters of the DakotaDome down to the stadium floor with the game ball in hand prior to the Coyotes taking the football field. Led by Lt. Col. Ross Nelson, a U.S. Army Aviation Officer and USD Professor of Military Science, who has been deployed three times to the Middle East and once to the Balkans and USD ROTC Cadet Mathew Scharn, a senior majoring in criminal justice, the soldiers will present the football to the game’s honorary captain. Additional activities include the singing of “God Bless America” at halftime and the Sound of USD will honor service men and women with an “Armed Forces Salute” also during halftime.

“It’s a special day for students and fans of USD to show their support for military personnel and veterans who have volunteered to serve this nation and to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Jason Dean, USD Veterans Coordinator. “It’s also a great way for us to promote awareness of student veterans and their families at the first football game of the season for the Coyotes.”

Military Appreciation Day coupons are available for veterans, retired or active duty military members, National Guard and reserves from all branches at the following locations: the Muenster University Center Information Desk, USD ROTC Office (Burr House, corner of Cherry and University Streets), the Vermillion Eagles Club, Vermillion National Guard Armory, Yankton National Guard Armory, Sioux City Air National Guard Base and Army National Guard Armory, Sioux Falls National Guard Armory or online at www.GoYotes.com. The coupons must be redeemed for a game ticket at the Coyote Ticket Office, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or the day of the game. The coupon is also available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Voucher_2013_militaryappreciation.jpg.

 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Officers, troopers and deputies issued 185 citations between 8 a.m.and 4 p.m. during Saturday’s daytime saturation patrol in Sioux Falls.

     Police Lieutenant Jerry Miller says the extra patrol included 22 officers and supervisors.

     Miller says they also worked about fifty complaint zones.  He says patrols worked one complaint street for awhile and moved to another.  He says there's an active list of between 40 and 60 complaint zones.  Streets make thelist when citizens call to complain about speed and other violations.             

     Miller says there were two arrests for D-W-I and four misdemeanor drug arrests.

     He says the efforts is to watch for speeders, red light runners and other moving violations.  The Sioux Falls police, the Minnehaha County Sherif's office and the South Dakota Highway Patrol participated.

     Miller will have a further breakdown of the citations later this week.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  The Sioux Falls National Weather Service says Wednesday’s high of 89 may be the coolest reading for the next ten days.

     Meteorologist Todd Heitkamp says the extended forecast doesn’t show a break in the heat until well into next week.

     Heitkamp says the dew point, the measure of water in the atmosphere, is the real culprit.  He says it makes it difficult for our bodies to acclimate to the heat and makes it difficult to sweat.  The dew point makes the heat feel that much more oppressive.

     Heitkamp says when people ask what it feels like outside, that's the heat index in play.  He says it's where the dew point plays a role.  He says when the dew point temperature climbs into the 60's and 70's, the air feels uncomfortably warm.          

     Heitkamp says this week could be the warmest last week of August on record 

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM) - United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man charged with Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion was sentenced on August 26, 2013, by United States District Judge Karen E. Schreier.   

Tajahn Clinton, age 36, was sentenced to 402 months of imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, restitution to the victim in the amount of $1,100, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Judge Schreier will recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Clinton participate in the drug and alcohol treatment program during the time of his incarceration.Clinton pled guilty on May 15, 2013, to Count 2 of the Fourth Superseding indictment charging Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion.United States Attorney Johnson stated that, “Today’s sentence demonstrates that sex traffickers will pay a heavy price for victimizing women in South Dakota. 

Federal, state and local law enforcement will continue our work to investigate and prosecute individuals such as Clinton who prey on the most vulnerable in our community.”   The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Koliner and Jeff Clapper prosecuted the case.The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Vermillion, S.D. (KELO AM) - Students in the SDSU pre-chiropractic program have the opportunity to condense their path to chiropractic school from four years to three, thanks to articulation agreements with three universities.

Those who complete at least 90 credits of specified coursework and maintain a minimum grade-point average set by each program are guaranteed admission to one of three chiropractic programs, according to pre-health professional adviser Greg Heiberger.

They then receive a bachelor's degree in biology from SDSU based on credits they earn during the first year of chiropractic school.

"We want to provide opportunities for our pre-professional students while they're still here," explained Provost Laurie Nichols. This is part of the Impact 2018 strategic plan, to partner with other institutions to create these pathways for SDSU students.Students have three choicesIn the Midwest, Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minn., which has 513 students enrolled in the chiropractic program, offers the 3-3 early admission program.

"For decades, bright students and graduates from SDSU have enrolled in our health science programs, and now, with this articulation agreement, the process has become student-centered and streamlined," said Provost Michael Wiles of Northwestern Health Sciences University.At the National University of Health Sciences, students can choose from two campuses—Lombard, Ill., which is a suburb of Chicago, and St. Petersburg, Fla.  

"We look forward to providing South Dakota State University students the opportunity to launch an exciting chiropractic career with a focus on integrative medicine," said Nicholas Trongale, vice president for academic services at National University of Health Sciences.Those students who would like to go west can consider the nation's second-oldest chiropractic school, the University of Western States in Portland, Ore. Patrick Browne, UWS vice president of enrollment and student services, said, "We are excited to work with SDSU students to help them achieve their professional goals.

"Juniors can apply nowJuniors who meet the course requirements can apply this fall, according to Heiberger. More information about the specific programs at each school is available at http://www.sdstate.edu/academic/transfer/index.cfm or by contacting Greg Heiberger at greg.heiberger@sdstate.edu or 605-688-4294.These three chiropractic schools were chosen because they are among the best in the nation, explained Nichols.

The land-grant university's strong science curriculum and the high caliber of its pre-professional students make this possible."We are combining the best of what each of us has to offer into one package," Nichols said. She estimated students will save about $14,000 with the accelerated programs, plus they'll be earning a salary a year earlier when they would otherwise have still been in school.Opening doors to chiropractic school is just the beginning, explained Nichols. SDSU plans to explore similar agreements for students who wish to become medical doctors, dentists and optometrists."We want students to come to SDSU and know there is a path to go on in the professional health-related fields," said Nichols.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM) – Thursday evening, as the Sioux Falls Canaries played against Fargo Moorhead, there was also action outside the stadium.  Members of Save Our Neighborhood were asking Canaries fans to sign their petitions to force a vote on whether Walmart can build a store in their neighborhood.  Save Our Neighborhood members said police asked them to move to the stadium parking lot to gather their signatures at the request of Canaries management.

Today on the KELO AM Greg Belfrage Show, Mayor Huether and Dana Palmer, Spokesperson for Save Our Neighborhood discussed what happened at Canaries Stadium.  In their words:

Palmer:  I listened to the first few comments of what the mayor had to say and I wanted to respond and get his response to my questions.  First if all, we are offended that you call what we brought to the media’s attention ridiculous.  Nobody has made up these things; they’re true.  We have good sources that tell us that city employees were told not to sign this petition.  Time and again we hear you say to trust in the process, but when people try to squelch our rights, there is no reason to trust in the process.  Two city councilmen came out and said they have made up their minds with the conditional use permit for this Walmart; how are we supposed to trust in this process, please respond.

Huether:  I’ll be happy to Dana and I know you are passionate about this topic and your role with this journey that you are on is to remain passionate.  Right from the get-go, the city and the people of Sioux Falls understand this effort and what’s involved.  People committed in this process understand there is going to be some debate occasionally.  What’s really ridiculous is to try to infer that city government is out there trying to tell employees what to do or get involved in a negative way.

Palmer:  It isn’t ridiculous that we are bringing it to people’s attention, because it did happen.  What else is ridiculous is that you and your employees would tell other employees that they can’t sign the petition.  You still haven’t answered my question of how we are supposed to trust in the process when two of your counselors come out and say they have decided the conditional use permit. 

Huether:  Dana, they are not my counselors, they are the peoples counselors.  That’s one of the challenges people have to understand that when you are in this public service gig, you do your best to use your head, your gut feelings, your heart, and even your faith to help make decisions that you think are best for the people you serve.  The hardest thing about this gig, you aren’t going to please everyone, and at those times when you decide against someone else, this is the exact commentary you get.  Comments like, they weren’t open to the process or they didn’t listen, they weren’t transparent or they were against us from the beginning.  This indeed was not the case, and I am not going to defend this council all the time, and you have seen examples over the years.  I will defend this council that it is a very hard working group.  They engage the public better than any council before it.  They are out there listening, learning and debating occasionally, but they are not my council, they are your council.  I can’t tell you why someone voted the way they did, but it is up to him or her to make a decision on what they think is right based on the people they serve.

Mayor Huether was a guest on the Greg Belfrage Show August 27, 2013.  To hear the interview in its entirety, click on the following link: http://kelo.com/podcasts/greg-belfrage-show/742/dana-palmer-clashes-with-mayor-over-petitions/

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  City officials announced today that Midcontinent Communications is the first Signature Sponsor at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

     Mayor Mike Huether says the $1.6 million deal over ten years also includes signage in the Convention Center and Arena.

     Huether says Midcontinent will be the official provider of Wi-Fi and business Internet, phone and television for the complex.  Huether says the city made a committment to the citizens that the events center would be run like a business and in the black.  He says when the city cuts deals in the amount $1.6 million dollars, it helps make that happen.          

     Huether says sponsorship revenue, to fund facility operations, currently totals two million dollars a year. 

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM) – Miss Tessa Dee, Miss South Dakota departs in five days to compete for the title ‘Miss America.’ Dee a Mitchell native won Miss South Dakota and is busily making preparations for her trip to Atlantic City.

“I am humbled to have been crowned Miss South Dakota, all of the contestants were so talented and carried themselves very well,” said Dee. “I am looking forward to going to Atlantic City and being on the stage in Boardwalk Hall.”

Dee said her talent is going to be gymnastics, a sport she competed in at Mitchell High School. She graduated from the University of South Dakota this year with a degree in Physical Science. When her duties are done with Miss America and Miss South Dakota, she plans to continue her education in Physical Therapy.

“In preparation, I have been living by the what the organization recommends, living a healthy lifestyle, advocating for worthy causes, your personal platform and Miss America’s National Platform, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital,” said Dee. “I have a personal platform that I started to promote children’s literacy called ‘Project Bookworm.”

Dee said she leaves on Labor Day and will be busy with rehersals and appearances right up to when the Miss America Pageant airs live on ABC TV, September 15, 2013.

“I am going to need all the help I can get from the people of South Dakota,” said Dee. “I need everyone to log on to the Miss America website and vote for my video. If I get the most votes, I will have an automatic bid to the final 15 candidates.”

The link to vote for Miss South Dakota is: http://www.missamerica.org/videocontest/contestants/south-dakota.aspx. It can also be accessed through Tess Dee's facebook page at mssd13.  

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - There are twelve nominees for the Sioux Falls Human Relation Commission’s Humanitarian Award to be presented Thursday, August 29th.

     Human Relations Assistant Carol Gary says the reception is free and open to the public at the Avera Prairie Center.

     Gary says the award recognizes the spirit of humanitarianism.  She says the criteria include people who have gone out of their way to be inclusive, have done a community service that's related to diversity and they actively work toward creating goodwill.             

     Gary says nominees were submitted by friends, peers and co-workers.  She says the Human Relations Commission makes the final selection.

     Mayor Mike Huether will make the award presentation.  The Humanitarian Award Ceremony is Thursday, August 29th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Avera Prairie Center

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) -- With the nation focused on Washington, D.C. this week in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic “March on Washington” and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, University of South Dakota archives reveal that the school’s basketball team, led by USD Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter, had made its own statement about diversity and equality, several years before Dr. King’s famous speech.

Clodfelter, USD’s men’s basketball coach from 1954-67, was a pioneer in the integration of college basketball in the 1950s, at a time when many public universities were not accepting of minority athletes or students. It’s one of the major themes of the forthcoming biography, “Cloddy,” which is being written by Kim Clodfelter, Dwane’s son and a 1977 USD graduate. Dwane Clodfelter, according to Kim, recruited and played minority basketball players at a time when it was uncommon -- professionally and collegiately, including USD’s run to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1958. The recruitment of the Daniels brothers took place in 1954, nine years before the March on Washington.

“My dad had recruited Cliff and Jimmie Daniels, two African-American brothers from Brooklyn, N.Y.,” Kim Clodfelter recalled. “Cliff and Jimmie enrolled at USD in January of 1955 and it was soon obvious they were splendid and gifted athletes. To their credit, the white players on the USD squad from predominantly small Midwestern towns embraced the Daniels brothers.”

Less than four years after Clodfelter made the decision to integrate his basketball team, the Coyotes won the national championship, 75-53, knocking off St. Michael’s College (Vt.) behind Jimmie Daniels’ 40 points. Jimmie Daniels became a first team Division II All-American while Cliff, who played an integral role on the 1958 championship team, established his place in Coyote lore with his clutch play in a 1956 upset at the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers, ironically, chose to integrate their program the following season.

“My dad, who was a white, 36 year-old South Dakota native, wasn’t the only ally of minority students at USD in the fight for equality and opportunity,” Kim Clodfelter said. “USD’s entire student body and faculty played a noteworthy role in accepting and embracing the Daniels brothers. If the Daniels had met with racism on campus or in the Vermillion community, they would have left. Then Athletics Director Carl ‘Rube’ Hoy and then USD President I.D. Weeks also deserve credit for being color blind in affording minority students an opportunity for an excellent education at USD.”

Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter was inducted into the USD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. For more information about his legacy and the 1958 Coyote Basketball Team, please contact Kim Clodfelter at (608) 957-9350 or email kimclodfelter@gmail.com.

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) -- With the nation focused on Washington, D.C. this week in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic “March on Washington” and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, University of South Dakota archives reveal that the school’s basketball team, led by USD Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter, had made its own statement about diversity and equality, several years before Dr. King’s famous speech.

Clodfelter, USD’s men’s basketball coach from 1954-67, was a pioneer in the integration of college basketball in the 1950s, at a time when many public universities were not accepting of minority athletes or students. It’s one of the major themes of the forthcoming biography, “Cloddy,” which is being written by Kim Clodfelter, Dwane’s son and a 1977 USD graduate. Dwane Clodfelter, according to Kim, recruited and played minority basketball players at a time when it was uncommon -- professionally and collegiately, including USD’s run to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1958. The recruitment of the Daniels brothers took place in 1954, nine years before the March on Washington.

“My dad had recruited Cliff and Jimmie Daniels, two African-American brothers from Brooklyn, N.Y.,” Kim Clodfelter recalled. “Cliff and Jimmie enrolled at USD in January of 1955 and it was soon obvious they were splendid and gifted athletes. To their credit, the white players on the USD squad from predominantly small Midwestern towns embraced the Daniels brothers.”

Less than four years after Clodfelter made the decision to integrate his basketball team, the Coyotes won the national championship, 75-53, knocking off St. Michael’s College (Vt.) behind Jimmie Daniels’ 40 points. Jimmie Daniels became a first team Division II All-American while Cliff, who played an integral role on the 1958 championship team, established his place in Coyote lore with his clutch play in a 1956 upset at the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers, ironically, chose to integrate their program the following season.

“My dad, who was a white, 36 year-old South Dakota native, wasn’t the only ally of minority students at USD in the fight for equality and opportunity,” Kim Clodfelter said. “USD’s entire student body and faculty played a noteworthy role in accepting and embracing the Daniels brothers. If the Daniels had met with racism on campus or in the Vermillion community, they would have left. Then Athletics Director Carl ‘Rube’ Hoy and then USD President I.D. Weeks also deserve credit for being color blind in affording minority students an opportunity for an excellent education at USD.”

Dwane “Cloddy” Clodfelter was inducted into the USD Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. For more information about his legacy and the 1958 Coyote Basketball Team, please contact Kim Clodfelter at (608) 957-9350 or email kimclodfelter@gmail.com.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was in Sioux Falls today checking progress on the I-90 and Cliff Avenue interchange project.

     Mendez says the reconstructed $21 million interchange, which is being built with $15.5 million dollars in federal highway funds, serves over 31,000 drivers each day.

     Mendez says the aging interchange is prime example of President Obama’s call to “Fix it First.”  He says the federal government is putting emphasis on taking care of existing assets.  He's aware that state and local governments need additional capacity or new roads.  But, Mendez says, it's difficult to build those if you can't maintain exisitng asset base.             

     The I-90 and Cliff Avenue interchange is scheduled to be fully opened by early November.

     The interchange will be controlled by a single traffic light, similar to the 10^th Street and I-229 interchange. 

PIERRE, S.D.(KELO AM) - Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that a Lake County jury returned a verdict finding Daniel Willard, 32, Sioux Falls, guilty of four counts of failing to identify the name and address of the maker of a communication within sixty days of an election, each a class 1 misdemeanor. Willard was sentenced to 30 days for each count to run consecutively with 30 days suspended on each count.Charges stemmed from “Robo-Calls” received on September 12, 2012 and September 17, 2012.This case was investigated by the Division of Criminal and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Sioux Falls S.D. (KELO AM) - The City of Sioux Falls today unveiled a new brand and a new approach to public parking downtown.

A new mobile site directs residents and visitors to the more than 3,500 public parking spaces downtown. Just go to www.siouxfallsparking.org and touch any of the gold P’s on your smartphone’s screen. The public parking lot or ramp’s address and directions from your current location will be provided. When you reach your destination, you will be greeted with another gold “P” on new blue signage on the lot or ramp. Just look for that gold “P” whenever you’re parking downtown.

Public Parking staff members will now be known as PALs. They are happy to help anyone needing:

• Assistance finding a parking space
• Information about Sioux Falls
• Directions to a business or other location
• And more

Just look for the PAL logo and the yellow “happy to help!” shirts when you’re out and about.

PALs will receive special customer service training and have a new approach to their work. Each PAL carries a notebook to document things like potholes, full garbage containers, sidewalk cracks, and more to help improve downtown Sioux Falls. If you notice a concern, let one of our PALs know.

To help promote how easy parking is downtown, the City also has launched a new public awareness effort including billboards and radio ads. The theme is “Public Parking: It’s So Easy!” Look for the blue and gold billboards coming soon, and listen for the radio ads featuring “Steve” and “Crystal” chatting about their easy parking experiences.

Public parking is easy parking, and it’s free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and City holidays. Four public parking ramps, 15 public parking lots, and more than 1,000 on-street parking spots await you.

To learn more about daytime public parking leasing rates or where to park downtown, call (605) 367-8170.

 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - This is the last day the “Save Our Neighborhood” group in Sioux Falls is collecting signatures to refer the city council’s approval of a Walmart at 85^th and Minnesota to a vote.

     Spokesman Jeff Gould says the signature count stands at 5,700 signatures but the group would like to collect 500 more today before 3:30.

     Gould says the city requires 51-hundred signatures to refer the council decision to a vote.  Gould say petitions are being circulated at the Minehaha County Administration Building, the downtown library and the Caille Library..             

     Gould says the signatures will be taken to city hall this afternoon.

     If enough signatures are ruled valid by the city, the issue would go to a vote in April.