SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  Sioux Falls Parks and Rec announced a record number of special events hosted on city property last year.

Alicia Luther, Recreation Manager for Parks and Rec, says there were over 140 special event applications last year with over 375,000 people in attendance.

Luther says an event application introduced two years ago streamlined the process.  It now involves a centralized approach in taking and processing event applications

Luther says there are many things to consider when planning special events, from dates and locations to insurance and security so a number of city departments are involved.

There were 50 special events four years ago compared to over 140 last year.

SIOUX FALLS. S.D. (KELO AM) - A final draft of future planning for Minnehaha County is close to coming before the Commission.

County Planner David Heinold says the plan sets goals and priorities for county landowners.  Heinold says Envision 2035 balances the needs of different types of landowners.

He says a public open house last night at the West Central Middle School was attended by abour 35 county residents who generally had favorable comments about the new plan.  He says it balances three key items:  agriculture, rural and urban life-style choices and natural environmental resources.

Heinold says the plan will go before the planning commission and then to the County Commission by late spring or early summer.

WASHINGTON (KELO AM) - With the goal of making the application process easier and more efficient for our Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now requires Veterans seeking disability benefits to use standardized claim and appeal forms. These standardized forms guide South Dakota Veterans to clearly state the symptoms or conditions for which they are seeking benefits and provide the information necessary for the Sioux Falls Regional Office to start processing their claims and appeals.            

“Standardized forms will allow the Sioux Falls Regional Office to provide faster and more accurate decisions to our Veterans, their families and survivors,” said James Brubaker, Director of the Sioux Falls Regional Office. “Standard forms are essential to better serve Veterans, build more efficiency into VA’s processes and bring us in line with other government agencies such as the Social Security Administration.”

The easiest and fastest way for a Veteran to submit an application for compensation is online through the eBenefits (www.ebenefits.va.gov) portal. VA encourages Veterans to work with representatives of Veterans Service Organization (VSO), or South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs or county representatives, who can assist with filing electronically or in paper form. Standardized forms are a key component of VA’s transformation, which will help achieve the Department’s goal to eliminate the backlog by the end of this year.

There are two claim actions that now require standardized forms:

1. Veterans’ or Survivors’ applications for disability compensation or pension – Specific forms are designed to capture information necessary to identify and support benefit claims.

§  Veterans filing for disability benefits must now use  VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.

§  Wartime Veterans filing for needs-based pension must use VA Form 21-527EZ, Application for Pension.

§  Survivors filing a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), survivor’s pension, and accrued benefits must complete VA Form 21-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or AccruedBenefits.

2. Notices of Disagreement with any aspect of VA’s decision on a disability claim – The standardized Notice of Disagreement form is used when a claimant wishes to initiate an appeal.

§  Veterans disagreeing with a VA compensation decision should use VA Form 21-0958, Notice of Disagreement.

§ Veterans and survivors will not be required to use a standardized notice of disagreement form to initiate appeals of pension or survivors benefit decisions at this time.

VA recognizes that some Veterans may need additional time to gather all of the information and evidence needed to support their claim and therefore established a new intent to file a claim process. Applicants may notify VA of their intent to file a claim in order to establish the earliest possible effective date for benefits if they are determined eligible. An intent to file a claim may be submitted in one of three ways:

1.     Electronically via eBenefits or with the support of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) through the Stakeholder Enterprise Portal.

2.     Completing and mailing a paper VA Form 21-0966, Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension, or Survivors Pension and/or DIC)

3.     Over the phone with a VA call center or in person with a public contact representative.

Veterans may appoint a duly authorized representative, such as a VSO, who can notify VA of a claimant’s intent to file using any of the methods listed above. VA will provide an individual up to one year from the date they submit theirintent to file a claim to complete the required application form. Veterans may wish to use this one-year period to gather evidence necessary to support the claim so that evidence can be submitted along with the application form.. 

VA’s move to standardized claim and appeal forms will make the process easier and more efficient for both VA and the Veterans, and allow VA to establish a quicker, more streamlined benefits delivery system.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  Highway11 through Corson is now open again after a wind-whipped fire had closed it for several hours Thursday.

County Emergency Manager Lynn DeYoung says the property owner was burning wood piles when the fire spread out of control to the main structure of an old grain elevator.  DeYoung says the elevator is very old and the wood was very dry so it burned like a huge bonfire.  Pictures taken from overhead by the Civil Air Patrol highlight the extent of the blaze.

DeYoung says firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to other structures.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - South Dakota’s best high school musicians, 175 strong, are coming to O’Gorman this weekend for All State Band.

O’Gorman Director Ben Koch says three days of rehearsals peak with the Grand Concert Saturday in the Lorang Theatre.

Koch says the Theatre is a great hall for the students to play because the accoustics are so good.  He says concert-goers will also enjoy the comfort of the seating.  He says O'gorman is excited about sharing its hall with the students.  

This is the first timne O'Gorman has hosted the All State Band performances.             

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and are available Saturday  afternoon at 3 at the theater box office.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  The U-S Senate will finish work late tonight into early tomorrow morning on a budget.

Senator Mike Rounds offered an amendment requiring Congress to include findings from Inspector Generals that reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

Rounds says he's worked with IG's in committee and he says their reports are valuable in helping Congress in oversight.  Rounds' amendment would add IG semi-annual report to the Government Accountability Office's High Risk List.

Rounds says lawmakers refer to the long work day as "voterama."

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) In his annual State of the City address on Thursday, Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether talked about the big challenges the city's already tackled and those that are still ahead.

From the new events center to the indoor aquatic center, from crumbling roads to handling bad neighbors, Huether ticked off recent accomplishments. He then turned to the biggest needs moving forward.

Huether told city council that job number one should be workforce development, helping find the people for the thousands of vacant jobs in booming Sioux Falls. Other big needs include finally getting a deal on the 10 acre railroad development land downtown.

Sioux Falls' biggest cheerleader said that the citizens know that it's just not "butterflies, tulips, and honey" in town and he knows that too. 

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - The employees of Rowdy Hogs Smokin’ BBQ say they were just fed up with having to lie to their customers about why they have never participated in RibFest. “We always tell all the people we know, all our customers, we are just too busy – we can’t do it” said Mark Lambert, owner of the Sioux Falls restaurant.

Those lies ended on Tuesday when Lambert’s son posted the real story to the restaurant’s Facebook page, saying “2 years in a row now we have tried to compete in our "local" ribfest. Only to be turned away so that big name out of state operations can have exclusive rights.” Within 24 hours over 100 people responded to the post, may supporting the business or saying they will no longer spend money at the event, which has become a summer staple in Sioux Falls.

Lambert told KELO Radio’s Mark Russo he isn’t upset with the lack of local competition for the national traveling vendors; it’s more about where the money RibFest generates goes to. “Every dime that gets spent at our location, we spend it with local businesses. That’s not happening with national vendors. When they leave, the money leaves with them.” He said he has nothing against the national touring vendors, it’s their job to tour and showcase their products, but he thinks there should be a spot or two reserved for local joints in the competition as well.

“What’s right is right, ya know we are South Dakota boys and very proud of it. We should be able to be part of an organization at large, and keep some of that money local.” He went on to say. “I’m standing my ground; everything you eat at Rowdy Hogs Smokin BBQ was created by us, we’re very proud to say we have South Dakota BBQ.”

While they may not get to test that barbecue against the national chains, in the days since they broke the silence Strawbale Winery said they would be willing to host a local BBQ showcase at their location near Renner. The 605 Summer Classic outdoor concert also offered Rowdy Hogs a free vendor both at their event as well. 

SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Living Legend Rod Stewart will perform at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Saturday, July 25.

Tickets range from $49 to $129 and go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at the KELOLAND Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

The singer-songwriter of such staples as “Tonight’s The Night,” “You Wear It Well,” “You’re In My Heart,” “The Killing of Georgie,” and the indelible “Maggie May,” Stewart currently is on a world tour and preparing to star in a new reality TV series, according to recent news reports.

Stewart’s “profound lyricism and fabulous self-deprecating humor” (The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll, 1980), paved the path to the top of the record charts.

In 2013, Steward released the album Time, his first work of original material in nearly two decades.

Presented by Pepper Entertainment and Live Nation.

HURON SD (KELO AM) - “Farm Bureau is very pleased to be able to help families who are dealing with the illness of a child,” said Cindy Foster, a farmer from Fulton, S.D. and Chair of the South Dakota Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Team. “A kitchen well-stocked with groceries and milk means that these families can have a snack or a meal that they don’t have to go out for and don’t have to pay for, alleviating one more concern and expense for these families who are going through a difficult time.”

Donations from County Farm Bureau organizations across the state made the grocery donation possible. In addition to the food delivered to the Sanford campus Ronald McDonald House, both Ronald McDonald Houses will receive weekly delivery of fresh milk throughout the year. Hy-Vee Food Stores in Sioux Falls helps coordinate the milk delivery. 

“I’d like to thank South Dakota Farm Bureau for all that they do for us,” said Kevin Miles, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota. “In the past year we’ve had over 1,200 families come through our charity, and it’s through gifts like this that we’re able to provide for them.”  The grocery donation to the Ronald McDonald House is South Dakota Farm Bureau’s way to celebrate “Our Food Link,” a program of the American Farm Bureau Federation that recognizes the safe, abundant and affordable food provided by America’s farmers and ranchers. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Most outdoor sportsmen in the upper Midwest take their ability to hunt and fish for granted.

But the Outdoor Adventure Foundation takes disabled veterans and terminally ill children on outdoor adventures.

Vern Boer with OAF, and host of Wild Dakota Outdoor Television, says the hunting and fishing trips allow the kids and veterans to focus on the outdoors and for awhile forget about their personal situations.             

Vern Boer says the Foundation is holding a fundraiser dinner and auction tomorrow (3/28) at the Ramada on Russell. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls, bi-annual children’s consignment sale has grown ten-fold over the years to tomorrow’s over 360 contributors.

Allison Staley with “What Grows Around Comes Around” says there’s more than just clothing.

She says there are so many toys it looks like Christmas exploded and there are books, games and strollers.              

The sale is from eight to five tomorrow (3/28) at Central Baptist Church on Ralph Rogers Road.

Purchases are made by check and cash only.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Parents Matter Campaign released its latest campaign video reminding parents to have the talk with their kids about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Campaign Coordinator Darcy Jensen says research shows over 80 percent of teens feel parent are their leading influence.

Jensen says the message is to let parents know that it's never too late to sit down and talk to their kids about drinking and driving.  Spring is an especially high risk time with proms and graduations.

Jensen also reminds parents that it's illegal in South Dakota to hold drinking parties for your children and thier friends.             

Sixty-six South Dakota teens have died in alcohol related crashes.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Scammers are calling Sioux Falls residents claiming to be with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, telling victims they must pay old warrants.

Captain Paul Neidringhaus with the sheriff’s office says the caller asks for payment in pay-pal cards.

Neidringhaus says law enforcement never makes those kinds of calls and would never ask to be paid with any type of money cards           

Neidringhaus says so far victims have not lost money.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Two Sioux Falls residents were arrested after a report of shots fired in Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon.

Just after 5 p.m., Sioux Falls Police responded to a call on East 8^th Street for a report of a black male jumping out of a vehicle and chasing another vehicle with a hammer.  Officers were unable to locate the vehicles involved.

About a half hour later, police responded to the area of 11^th and Covell for gunshots.  The driver of a Jeep had intentionally rammed a Chevy Impala.  A black male then exited the Jeep with a hand gun and fired several shots at the Impala.  The driver of the Impala escaped the scene and assisted officers to locate the other vehicle.

The Jeep was located in the area of 11^th and Lake, where the occupants were attempting to leave in a different vehicle.  32-year-old Chol Hakim Aluong and 19-year-old Donna Marie Murray were arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault and other charges.

The investigation continues.

Here is what could have an effect on your Monday commute:

Lane Closure – West 11th Street

Beginning on Monday morning, March 30, 2015, the left and center lanes of West 11th Street will be closed between South Dakota Avenue and South Phillips Avenue. All traffic movements will be maintained throughout the duration of this closure.

Northwest Concrete Cutting & Crane Service will be performing crane operations which are anticipated to be complete before 12 noon on March 30, 2015.

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

69th Street and Cliff Avenue Construction

Beginning on Monday, March 30, 2015, 69th Street between Tomar Road and Charger Circle will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction to allow construction crews to construct median crossovers. Grading work will also occur in the ditches along Cliff Avenue, south of 69th Street, but traffic will not be impacted by this work.

This work is being performed as part of the Cliff Avenue, 61st Street to 85th Street Reconstruction Project.

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

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The suspect was first a victim when he says armed men took his backpack, which police suspect contained drugs and money, out of a South Marion Road apartment.

Officer Sam Clemens says 29-year-old Matthew Buczkowski chased the robbers but they got away and he tossed an aerosol can in frustration hitting a parked van.

Clemens says the can cracked the van's windshield and the owner saw the incident.  She called police and her husband began chasing Buczkowski.

Police eventually arrested Buczkowski for fleeing, resisting arrest, obstruction, intentional damage to property and possession of marijuana.

The armed suspects have not been located.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls Fire Rescue cadets are coming to the end of their academy at a rescue training exercise tomorrow at a house on North Nesmith Avenue.

Battalion Chief Michael Clauson says it includes victim search and removal.

Clauson says the cadets will train on a real house that will provide them with invaluable lessons. They'll also practice forcible entry, roof ventilation and breaching walls, floors and ceilings.

The exercise is a joint effort between Community Development and Affordable Housing Solutions.          Clauson says the thirteen cadets will graduate Thursday, becoming probies.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Absentee voting started Monday for the Sioux Falls School Board election April 14th, which includes the big question whether school should start before or after Labor Day.

Minnehaha County Auditor Bob Litz says it remains to be seen whether the start date debate will be a "hot button" issue that will increase turnout.  Typically, Litz says, school board elections have low turnouts, only about three percent of register voters.

Voters will fill two vacancies on the Sioux Falls School Board. The terms of Kate Parker and Todd Thoelke expire in July.

Absentee ballots will be available at the County Auditors Office from 8 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday, through April 13, 2015.  

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Sioux Falls Parks Chief, Don Kearney, says construction will really begin the week of April 20th on the city's first indoor aquatic center.

City officials held a news conference Monday at Spellerberg Park. Kearney says the rest of Spellerbeg will remain open during construction. He says some 70 trees will have to be taken down, but will eventually be replaced with about 90 trees.

Corner stakes are already in the ground which will give residents an idea of the size of the aquatic center.

Kearney says some site preparation will take place the week of March 30, and trees could start being removed the week of April 13.  Opening day should be in the fall of 2016.