Sioux Falls, SD KELO-AM) – In a continuing effort to make a positive difference in lives across the country, Fresh Coat Painters recently awarded a free whole-house painting to Bob and Inez Buller of Sioux Falls through the company’s national Senior Appreciation Contest.

The Bullers were randomly selected from several hundred of contestants from around the United States. The painting, which was completed in February, took 112 hours and more than 25 gallons of Sherwin-Williams paint to cover everything from floor to ceiling, totaling 12 rooms.

“Winning the Fresh Coat contest means everything to us as we are both retired and the upkeep on our home can be challenging at our age,” Bob Buller said. “The last time we painted our home was when we built it 16 years ago. This fresh coat of paint provides a comforting atmosphere throughout every room, and it brings more value to our property.”

The retirees were nominated by their daughter, Paula, who recently hired Fresh Coat to paint her own home.

“I had such a wonderful experience with Fresh Coat Painters of Sioux Falls that I went on the company’s website to provide positive feedback and that’s where I learned about the Senior Appreciation Contest,” Paula said. “I knew I had to enter my parents because their home was a bit outdated and it is difficult for them to tackle a project of this scale. I am thrilled they were selected as the winners!”

The Senior Appreciation Contest is part of Fresh Coat’s contest program through Facebook, providing community members across the country an opportunity to experience Fresh Coat’s variety of painting services including interior and exterior painting, wood staining and refinishing, wallpaper removal and many other services for nearly every protective coating application.

“Our seniors are the backbone of our families, our communities and our country and it’s society’s responsibility to lend them a helping hand when they need one,” said Kory Jons of Fresh Coat Painters of Sioux Falls, the local franchise that did the painting work for the Bullers. “The Senior Appreciation Contest is our way of giving back to these important people in our lives. The entire Fresh Coat team is thrilled for the Bullers to have this experience.”

To learn more about Fresh Coat Painters and future contests, please visit FreshCoatPainters.com.

About Fresh Coat Painters

With more than 100 locations nationwide, Fresh Coat Painters brings quality customer service, top-notch painting products, professionalism and affordable pricing to the residential and commercial painting industry. They use quality, environmentally safe materials and offer a 24/7 customer service center, online scheduling, in-home color design consultations, and detailed quotes. All painters are bonded and insured employees. For more information, visit FreshCoatPainters.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

The company was founded in 2004 as part of Strategic Franchising Systems. In the last year, Fresh Coat has been included in the Bond’s Top 100 and named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list. Fresh Coat is also part of the International Franchise Association, the Small Business Association’s Franchise Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Mayor Mike Huether sent a letter on Friday, March 6, 2015, to the Sioux Falls City Council regarding the state of the City of Sioux Falls. 

In his letter, the Mayor writes that while Sioux Falls tackles grand things, we also maintain great financial strength. The City added to its reserves or “piggybank” for the fifth year in a row, a credit to a strong economy and prudent budgetary management. Key economic indicators, including a 5.1 percent growth in city sales taxes and a local unemployment rate of 3.1 percent, clearly reflect a robust Sioux Falls economy.

The State of the City Address will provide a blueprint for how our City government will meet the challenges of a growing community and offer insight into goals for the future.

The presentation will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. at Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West Tenth Street. The public is encouraged to attend.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Beginning on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2015, the outermost eastbound lane of East 57th Street will be closed between South Mac Aruthur Lane and South Cliff Avenue.  All traffic movements will be maintained throughout the duration of this closure.

Elliot Construction will be performing directional boring which is anticipated to be complete by the evening of March 11, 2015.

Drivers are urged to use caution and reduce their speed while travelling near the construction area and may want to consider alternate routes.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) THE POPULAR RETRO TELEVISION NETWORK DISAPPEARED FROM SIOUX FALLS IN NOVEMBER BUT IT’S COMING BACK THANKS TO A DISTRIBUTION DEAL REACHED BETWEEN “RETRO TV” AND LOCAL TELEVISION STATION KCPO.

ON NOVEMBER 25^TH LOCAL RETRO TV AFFILIATE KAUN CEASED BROADCASTING LEAVING A BLUE SCREEN ON THEIR ASSIGNED CABLE CHANNEL IN MANY COMMUNITIES INCLUDING CHANNEL 18 ON MIDCO CABLE IN SOUX FALLS.

RETRO TV IS THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC TELEVISION NETWORK AIRING PROGRAMS SUCH AS ROUTE 66, LASSIE, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, DRAGNET, PETTICOAT JUNCTION, ZORRO, TARZAN, THE LUCY SHOW, BONANZA, HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, OZZIE & HARRIET, CISCO KID AND MORE. THERE ARE ALSO NEW ADDITIONS SUCH AS DR. WHO AND MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000.

“THERE ARE SEVERAL “ME TOO” NETWORKS THAT OFFER OLDER TV SHOWS BUT WE FELT RETRO STILL HAD THE BEST VARIETY AND WHEN WE LEARNED THAT RETRO HAD ADDED  DR. WHO EVERY WEEKNIGHT AND MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 EVERY WEEKEND IT WAS A PRETTY EASY DECISION TO CHOOSE RETRO AS OUR SECOND CHANNEL” SAID KCPO PROGRAM DIRECTOR CALI ADAMS.  “YOUR SOUTH DAKOTA STATION KCPO WILL CONTINUE TO BROADCAST THE TOP TEIR SYNDICATED AND LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAMS WITH KCPO RETRO AIRING THE NETWORK SCHEDULE AS IT IS.”

RETRO TV IS AVAILABLE TO CABLE OPERATORS IMMEDIATELY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL mail@kcpo.tv   OR CALL 595-7740.                                                                                                                                                       

                                                         ABOUT KCPO TV

KCPO IS THE ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED TELEVISION BROADCAST GROUP IN THE AREA AND IS KNOWN FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. IT’S SLOGAN “SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE” IS EARNED, IN PART,  BY BROADCASTING COMEDY SHOWS LIKE AMERICAN DAD, FUTURAMA, MAD ABOUT YOU AND STEVE HARVEY IN ONE DAYPART AND THE COUNTRY’S MOST COMPLETE BIBLE STUDY SERVICE AND FORENSIC FILES IN ANOTHER. KCPO ALSO BOASTS THE BEST IN HUNTING AND FISHING SHOWS, GAME SHOWS, MOVIES AND BRODCASTS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAN IS REQUIRED BY THE FCC.

LOCALLY PRODUCED THE FACTS IS THE LONGEST RUNNING CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM IN SIOUX FALLS AND LAST WEEK KCPO PRODUCED THE 483^RD WEEKLY EPISODE OF THAT COUNTERY VIDEO SHOW .

SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue responded to an early morning structure fire at 2100 E. Edgewood Road.  A neighbor noticed smoke and flames coming from the home and called 911.

First responders reported the fire was on the main level of the home extending through the roof. Crewsused several hose lines extinguishing the fire on the main floor. They entered the home on two levels and conducted a preliminary search finding no one inside. 

Crews monitored the home for an additional 30 minutes.  The home sustained heavy fire and smoke damage and will be uninhabitable.  One adjacent home suffered minor exposure damage from the heat. 

Sioux Falls PD interviewed several neighbors and relayed information to Fire Command that the homeowner was not home at the time of the fire. 

The fire is under investigation by Fire Investigators from Sioux Falls Fire Prevention and ATF.  Sioux Falls Fire Rescue will remain on scene throughout the night to monitor for hot spots.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue was assisted on scene by the Sioux Falls Police Department, Rural Metro Ambulance, Mid-American Energy, Xcel Energy, and the American Red Cross.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue reminds residents to have working smoke detectors and a practiced escape plan in the event of a fire emergency. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  A Louisiana man was arrested last night at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls for trying to get prescription medicine under a false name.

Officer Sam Clemens says 60-year-old Jessi Ray Mayeaux told doctors he had chest pains and listed the medicines he is allergic to.

Doctors told Mayeaux that they couldn't help him.  Clemens says that's when he specifically asked for a schedule 2 drug, which are classified as addicting. 

Mayeaux asked for dilaudid and was charged with obtaining a controlled substance by deception. Dilauded is an opioid. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  Splitrock Township wants Minnehaha County to take control of the East Maple-West Park Street road south west of Brandon Valley.

Assistant Highway Superintendent Shannon Schultz told the County Commission the Township can’t maintain the gravel road.

Schultz says it's a matter of time before Brandon Valley expands west toward Sioux Falls and may control the road.  He recommended that the commission continue monitoring traffic on the road and evaluate traffic impacts once a connection is made with highway 100.               

The Commission was only briefed and took no action.

The Township understands the process is going to take time but wanted to get it started.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The South Dakota Senate, on an 18 to 17 vote, today passed a bill establishing a bureau to collect the state’s debt.

Senator Arthur Rusch of Vermillion says $125 million is owed to the state.

Rusch says he knows the newly formed center won't be able to collect all of the state's debt but says it's time to stop kicking the can down the road.

The South Dakota Collectors Association spoke against the bill in committee saying that it will reduce their business.  The state has past bad debt over to state collectors.             

A less amended version earlier passed the House      

SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) - Summit League Tournament attendees will find ample parking at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center tonight and are asked to park in the free lots whenever possible.

Free parking is available in the four lots adjacent to the PREMIER Center. Additional parking also is available at Earl McCart Fields located a few blocks south of the PREMIER Center, allowing people to walk to the venue.

Parking is available after 5 p.m. in the Sioux Falls School District’s Operational Services lot directly west of the venue on Western Avenue. Additionally, public on-street parking is available in nonresidential areas to the east of the facility.

Adequate parking is available for everyone attending this event, and attendees are asked to be courteous to those living in the neighborhoods around the PREMIER Center by following proper parking etiquette.

When using public on-street parking near the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center:

• Park with the direction of traffic and within 12 inches of the curb.
• Parallel park adjacent to the curb except where diagonal parking is allowed.
• Park at least 4 feet from vehicles to your front or rear.
• Do not park on the grass.
• Do not park within 30 feet of a stop sign.
• Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
• Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Do not block any part of a crosswalk, driveway, or sidewalk.
• Abide by no parking signs.

For additional parking information, as well as driving directions, go to www.dennysanfordpremiercenter.com and click on Plan Your Visit.

HURON (KELO AM) - The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be published later this year as a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Dietary Guidelines, which have been reviewed and updated every five years since they were first introduced in 1980, set the foundation for the government’s nutrition policy – including school lunch programs.

Specifically, a report created by the 14-member Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reads, “dietary patterns with positive health benefits are described as high in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, seafood, legumes, and nuts; moderate in low- and non-fat dairy products; lower in red and processed meat; and low in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and refined grains.” 

The 572-page report developed by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was made public in late February and will be considered by HHS and USDA as they develop the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Of the recommendation for less red meat consumption, Stacy Hadrick, shown below with husband Troy, who raise beef cattle with their family near Faulkton, S.D., says she is concerned and frustrated that the committee did not heed more of the existing research that shows beef can be utilized in a healthy diet. 

Hadrick, who represents South Dakota Farm Bureau on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, points out that the American Heart Association has endorsed several lean cuts of beef included in a heart healthy diet. 

Additionally, she notes that the BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) study conducted by Penn State University with beef checkoff funding found that people consuming lean beef daily as part of a heart-healthy diet experienced a 10% decline in LDL “bad” cholesterol. 

Recognizing that the Dietary Guidelines dictate what foods will be served for the school lunch program across the country Hadrick adds, “This [reducing red meat] concerns me as a mom. The school lunch may be the only solid meal many kids have for the day.” She notes that leaving out red meat deprives millions of kids of quality protein to satisfy hunger and provide essential nutrients such as zinc, iron and B vitamins.

And, she is concerned about obesity. Hadrick notes that Americans have moderated red meat consumption over the last five years – as was suggested in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines – but obesity rates have still continued to increase. She believes if the 2015 Dietary Guidelines recommend taking out lean beef, the rising obesity trend will continue.

Hadrick encourages consumers and producers to visit FactsAboutBeef.com for more information about beef nutrition.

She also encourages proponents of beef to submit comments to USDA and HHS. A 45-day comment period began Feb. 19 and runs through April 8. Submit comments at http://tinyurl.com/dgac-report-submit-comments. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s full report can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/dgac-report.

Hadrick suggests, “Comment as a producer or as a mom concerned about kids getting enough protein in their school lunch. People need to share their own personal stories.” She points to beefnutrition.org or beefresearch.org as resources to help provide individuals with an overview of the positive beef research information as they prepare to submit remarks for the public comment process.

She notes several ag industry organizations are also submitting comments and says, “I’m proud of the scientific evidence that supports lean beef in a healthful dietary pattern, much of that research has been supported by the beef checkoff over the years.

But in addition to those efforts, she reemphasizes, “Each of us also need to tell our story in our own words to USDA and the Department of Health. It does make a difference.”

Once the comment period closes, USDA and HHS staff will review the comments received and continue to work at the staff level and with the Secretaries to accept, modify or reject the report as written. It is expected that the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines will be finalized and published by the end of 2015.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  Senator John Thune is prodding the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to end a hold on H-2B visas for seasonal employees.

Thune says H-2B’s are critical to South Dakota’s tourism and construction industries.

Thune says his office heard from businesses from all across South Dakota concerned that the stall could threaten their ability to fill important seasonal positions as the tourism season nears.

Thune says if there’s no movement in a few days a broader coalition of Senators will join the fray. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A Minnehaha County Jail inmate from Sioux Falls hanged himself with his bed sheets this morning.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Michelle Boyd says 40 year-old Phillip Sean Bland was found in his cell after midnight.  Boyd says deputies administered CPR and took Bland to the hospital where he died at 1:08 am.

Bland, whose trial was set to start at the end of the month, was charged with robbery and aggravated assault.

He was being held on $200,000 cash bond.

Boyd says staff checks on jail inmates every half hour

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Time is ticking for South Dakota legislators to decide how long to keep increasing the gas tax by two cents.

Mark Lee with the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce says the House version is two cents for three years and the Senate version is two cents for eight years.

Lee says the conventional wisdom in Sioux Falls is that the tax will fall somewhere in the middle, maybe four or five years.               

Lee says a House bill increases license fees by 20% while the Senate measure is a 10% increase.

The funds are for road and bridge repair.

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Saturday, June 27, 2015- in Woonsocket “A Celebration of the People on the Prairie.” The Swenson melon farm and St. Wilfrid Catholic Church, Woonsocket will be the host locations for the 125th events honoring the role of farming, ranching and agriculture on Saturday, June 27, 2015. This family friendly day will include farm tours and presentations, a petting zoo, a blessing of land, animals and machinery, Mass, and a meal. This is one in an ongoing series of events which began last fall and will culminate August 14-16 with a large diocesan event in Sioux Falls. The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls was established in 1889 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary, and particularly in this gathering is recognizing the role agriculture has and continues to play in the lives of so many Catholics. “People of faith will be joining together to celebrate their Legacy, both what they inherited from those who shaped the faith on the prairie and what they will be leaving to generations yet to come,” said Bishop Paul J. Swain, who will celebrate the Mass. The Swenson farm is located on the south edge of Woonsocket – 23020 397th Ave. As one of the 125th events being held around eastern South Dakota, this one will also recognize the people of the central portion of the diocese. “We will pay tribute the pioneers who nurtured and nourished the land, and the farmers and ranchers who continue to do so today,” said Jan Feterl, director of Special Events for the diocese who has worked with a dedicated local committee on details for the day. History boards will be on display, to provide a glimpse of all the parishes that have made up the central part the diocese over the past 125 years. “This summer Saturday afternoon will be a great time for families to connect or reconnect with the rural roots of our diocese,” Feterl said. Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls Office of Communications 523 N. Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (605) 988-3789 (605) 988-3746 fax dcannon@sfcatholic.org Registration is requested to help plan for food. Visit www.sfcatholic.org/125thAnniversary/ for more details, and to register. Or stop by your local parish to sign up. Event Agenda: 2:30-4:30 p.m. Farm Tours / Petting Zoo / Diocesan Exhibits 3:00-3:15 p.m. Presentation: Life on a Melon Farm 3:20-3:35 p.m. Presentation: Life on a Family Farm 3:40-3:55 p.m. Presentation: Life on a Ranch 4:30-4:45 p.m. Blessing of the land, animals, machinery 4:45-6:15 p.m. Mass with Bishop Swain 6:15-6:30 p.m. Moving of crowd 6:30 – End Meal / Tours of Church All guests will receive a commemorative prayer coin honoring the 125 years of faith. Other events remaining as part of the series of celebrations: July 12 – St. Paul, Marty, honoring the Legacy of Faith through the Native American community. Sunday Mass, speakers and food. August 14-16 – Sioux Falls – LEGACY – a diocesan gathering featuring nationally known speakers and musicians, great opportunities to pray together and great fun as well at the Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center. Details on all events at www.sfcatholic.org/125thAnniversary/

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) (Mar. 11, 2015) – The Sioux Falls Skyforce and South Dakota Corn announced today that last week’s “Corn Week” raised $9,075 and 500 pounds of food for Feeding South Dakota. The money was raised via a jersey auction of the specialty corn themed jerseys the Skyforce wore during last Friday’s game and the food was raised via daily food drives conducted at five separate Lewis Drug locations.

"A big thank you goes out to all of the people who submitted bids on the players' autographed uniforms to support such a worthwhile cause," said Teddi Mueller, the Corn Utilization Council's director of industry affairs. "Feeding South Dakota is so important to our state and the uniform auction, which was well-promoted by the Skyforce, was a novel way to raise money that will help feed people in need."

“Feeding South Dakota is so grateful to work with partners like the Sioux Falls Skyforce, South Dakota Corn and Lewis Drug Stores.” Jennifer Stensaas of Feeding South Dakota said, “In our state there are more than 100,000 people that struggle to feed themselves and their families on a daily basis. With continued partnerships like these, Feeding South Dakota will continue to work to ensure that no one goes hungry.”

About Feeding South Dakota

Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest charitable hunger relief organization whose mission is to eliminate hunger in South Dakota with distribution centers in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City. Last year, Feeding South Dakota secured and distributed over 12.5 million pounds of quality nutritious donated and purchased food providing 10.4 million meals to individuals in need.  Feeding South Dakota is able to distribute this food through its network of over 350 charitable organizations across the state. These organizations then provide this food to individuals who are “food insecure” through youth programs, senior centers, on-site feeding programs, emergency food pantries, after school programs, and homeless shelters.  For more information on Feeding South Dakota, please visit www.feedingsouthdakota.org.

*   *   *   *   *

FEEL THE HEAT

Joe Millar

Media/Public Relations Director

Sioux Falls Skyforce

NBA D-League Affiliate of the Miami HEAT

Office: (605) 332-0605

Fax: (605) 332-2305

Cell: (605) 376-3682

skyforceonline.com

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Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Additional parking options will be available for people planning to attend the Professional Bull Riders: Built Ford Tough Series and the Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Show events this weekend at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

The public is encouraged to arrive early and use free shuttles to and from the PREMIER Center.

Free park-and-ride shuttle service will begin at 6 pm on Friday, March 13, and at 5 pm on Saturday, March 14. Shuttles will be located at Elmwood Golf Course at Russell and Kiwanis, and at Burnside Park at Burnside and West Ave.

Free parking is available in the four lots at the PREMIER Center. Additional parking is available at Earl McCart Fields located a few blocks south of the PREMIER Center, as well as on the streets south and east of the facility, allowing people to walk to the venue.

Parking is available after 5 p.m. weeknights and all day on weekends in the Sioux Falls School District’s Operational Services lot directly west of the venue on Western Ave.

When using public on-street parking near the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, attendees are asked to be courteous to those living in the neighborhoods around the PREMIER Center by following proper parking etiquette:

• Park with the direction of traffic and within 12 inches of the curb.
• Parallel park adjacent to the curb except where diagonal parking is allowed.
• Park at least four feet from vehicles to your front or rear.
• Do not park on the grass. Do not park within 30 feet of a stop sign.
• Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
• Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Do not block any part of a crosswalk, driveway, or sidewalk.
• Abide by no parking signs.

Traffic control measures include controlling traffic lights at key intersections and directing drivers to follow pre-determined roadway paths as they leave the events

For additional information, as well as driving directions, visit www.dennysanfordpremiercenter.com and click on Plan Your Visit.

BROOKINGS (KELO AM) - A team of cadet cyber-sleuths from the Big Sioux Composite Squadron in Brookings, members of the Civil Air Patrol’s South Dakota Wing, are competing in the national finals of CyberPatriot-VII which began today in Washington, D.C. The national finals competition runs from11-15 March.

Team Big Sioux consists of Team Captain C/Maj Joshua Klosterman of Brandon, C/2^nd Lt Chris Dinnel, C/SMSgt Jaden Petersen, C/SSgt Sergeant Nathaniel Fleet, all from Lake Benton, MN, and C/2^nd Lt Laura Rudnik of Brookings. The team is coached by Capt. Shannon Hofer of Hendricks, MN and mentored by Cadet Captain Tyler Gross of Volga.

During the online qualification rounds the Big Sioux team faced realistic, complex and sophisticated online computer network threats at their home location seeking out weaknesses in simulated online networks and working to defend those networks from threat scenarios. The team was scored according to how quickly and effectively they established and maintained the secure networks.

In recognition of their success, Team Big Sioux earned an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals. In the finals, the only in-person round, the team will compete to defend virtual networks and mobile devices from a professional aggressor team. The finalists will also face-off in three additional competition components: Digital Cyber Crime Scene Challenge, Cisco Networking Challenge, and Digital Forensics Challenge. These extra challenges broaden the cybersecurity experience and expose teams to new elements of the many career opportunities available to them. The team will be scored on how quickly and effectively they establish and maintain secure networks.

Civil Air Patrol teams compete in the “All Services Division” which consists of teams from Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Junior ROTC units, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and CAP. Only the top two teams in each category of the All Services Division go to the national finals. Thirteen teams will compete in the All Service Division; two each from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC and the Sea Cadets, two CAP teams and one wildcard team.

In last year’s CyberPatriot-VI competition the Big Sioux cyber-security team made it to the national finals where they placed seventh overall, no mean achievement considering 864 teams competed in the All-Service Division. However, Team Big Sioux won first place among the 320 Civil Air Patrol teams competing. In recognition of this achievement the Air Force Association presented the team with the CAP Champion Award.

CyberPatriot is a unique educational competition that challenges high school students to resolve real-life cyber-security situations faced by industry professionals. Created in 2009 by the Air Force Association, the CyberPatriot competition provides students with hands-on learning about securing computer networks while educating, and motivating them toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, disciplines critical to the nation’s future.

The Air Force Association (AFA), the sponsoring organization, is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Its mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. AFA has 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing more than 100,000 members.

The annual CyberPatriot competition greatly benefits from the support and technical expertise of its presenting sponsor, the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Other sponsors include Cyber Diamond Sponsors, AT&T Federal, Cisco, Microsoft, Raytheon, USA Today, the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cyber Gold Sponsors URS, Splunk, Symantec Corporation, Cyber Silver Sponsors Air Force Research Laboratory, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Leidos, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, and University College of the  University of Maryland. For more information about CyberPatriot, go to www.uscyberpatriot.org.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The painting of the Shamrock at 9^th and Phillips kicks off the St. Patrick’s Day celebration and parade in downtown Sioux Falls this Saturday.

Parade Grand Marshal Betty Ordahl says downtown shines for the 36^th annual observance.              

The parade starts at two at 5^th and Main.  St. Patrick’s Day parade buttons are three dollars benefiting Special Olympics.

The first St. Patrick's Dsy Parade in Sioux Falls was held in 1980.  Anyone can participate in the parade as long as they buy the official St. Patrick's Day Parade buttons at $3 apiece

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The world’s top bull riders are in Sioux Falls this weekend competing in the Built Ford Tough Series at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

Bull riding has the highest rate of injury of any rodeo sport but North Dakota cowboy Nathan Schaper says he’s been lucky.

Schaper, who also ranches in western North Dakota, says he broke his leg early last year and doctors had to insert a rod in his leg,  Schaper says he tore his bicep two years before that and had surgery to fix it.  But the 24-year-old cowboy says he feels he's been pretty lucky avoiding serious injury.

Free park-and-ride shuttle service is available Friday and Saturday at Elmwood Golf Course and Burnside Park.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Police are putting renewed emphasis on the only unsolved murder in Sioux Falls in the last ten years.

Captain Blaine Larson says 58-year-old Daniel Eastman was found beaten and stabbed in an alley between Main and Dakota in 2011.

Larson says Eastman was a transient and he associated with other transients downtown.  Transients by their very nature don't stay in one place very long and are therefore hard to find.  They don't interview very wiil either because they're reluctant to talk with authorities.              

Eastman survived the attack, refused to cooperate with police and died two months later.