SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Minnehaha County Commission today deferred awarding an ambulance contract to either Paramedics Plus or Med-Star for an area north and west of Sioux Falls.

Mike Bureau with Paramedics Plus advised considering response times.  Bureau says the Commission must consider first proximity to the entire locaton of the sevice area, especially if they're looking at response time compliance.

Med-Star’s Jay Masur guaranteed he would expand to the west side of Sioux Falls.  Maysur told the Commission he would locate a garage between Renner and Hartford so response times can stay where they need to be.

The Commission delayed a vote for a week.  Paramedics Plus is Sioux Falls new ambulance beginning May 21 taking over from Rural Metro.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  Sioux Falls, Brookings and Mitchell will be under a freeze warning for the next two mornings.

Meteorologist Todd Heitkamp says lows will dip to the mid-twenties.  Heitkamp advises covering young plants or bring them indside it possible.  He says the conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

Tempertaures will be in the mid-twenties for three to five hours.  Mostly clear skies and northwest winds will allow for the cooling.            

Record lows this time of year are in the mid-teens.  High in the sixties are forecast for Monday.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Another strong month for building in Sioux Falls with close to $52 million in construction valuation.

City Building Services Manager Ron Bell says the largest commercial project is the new Harrisburg Elementary School at over $11 million dollars.

Bell says so far this month the City has issued 75 permits for single dwellings, 8 new townhouses and 35 apartment buildings.  He says the month may not be a record but it will be greater than a year ago.

Bell says the City issued just over 1,100 permits so far this month with about 900 going for re-shingling. 

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) The headliners for JazzFest 2015 in Sioux Falls will be 60s and 70s icon, Boz Scaggs, boogie blues queen Marcia Ball, and jazz rocker Grace Potter.

The free festival, with major sponsorship provided by Midcontinent Communications, is July 16-18 at Yankton Trail Park.

Marcia Ball will headline on Thursday, Boz Scaggs on Friday and Grace Potter on Saturday.

Other performers include Slim Man, Galactic, Alicia Olatuja and Tweed Funk. Go to the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blue website for a complete list.

As always, the Festival will have plenty of food and beer and a family friendly kids area.  Hundreds of volunteers make it all happen.

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO AM) –Badlands Entertainment Group has struck a deal to purchase the famed Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota. The 1/3 mile high-banked dirt bull ring hosts weekly Sunday night events featuring Hobby Stocks, USRA B-modifieds, Late Model Street Stocks, IMA Race Saver Sprints and 410 Outlaw Sprints. The speedway also hosts special events like the World of Outlaws and National Sprint League.

“I am a long-time fan of Huset’s, and the opportunity to bring it into the Badlands family is a dream come true for me,” said Chuck Brennan, CEO of Badlands Entertainment Group. Brennan is a native of Sioux Falls and a nationally renowned businessman and philanthropist who has been attending the famed speedway for more than 40 years. Several of his business enterprises were founded in the city, including Dollar Loan Center, Brennan Rock & Roll Academy and Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry, opening Thanksgiving Day 2015.

“We are planning a massive facelift for this iconic family racing facility and have budgeted millions in improvements over the next several years,” said Brennan. “It will continue to be known as Huset’s Speedway through the 2015 season and will be operated by the current owners.  At the end of the season it will officially become Badlands Motor Speedway for the 2016 season. It will be one of many entertainment options from Badlands Entertainment Group.”

Badlands plans to integrate the Speedway into its suite of services, offering guests the opportunity to purchase tickets at its box office or online. Reserved seating, general admission and a vast array of VIP experiences will also become available.  Brennan even plans to close Badlands Pawn early on Sundays to allow patrons to park and take a shuttle to the Speedway.  “You can grab a nickel cup of coffee for the road, leave the driving to us, and we will open up the Badlands Deli for a late night sandwich if you like when we get back,” says Brennan.

The improvements will start this season and continue right up until opening day of the 2016 racing season.  There will be improvements to all facets of the facility including track, grandstand area, parking, food and beverage, sound system and overall look and feel. The speedway will also feature live radio and television coverage including streaming the races on-line. New VIP options, group packages and sponsorship opportunities will also become available.

“I have so many great memories at Huset’s Speedway,” said Brennan. “From attending as a youth with my father and friends to promoting one of the biggest rock and roll concerts ever at Huset’s in 1998 with Quiet Riot, RATT, LA Guns, Firehouse and Slaughter, I’ve seen it all,” he said. “We plan to convert the infield into the leading outdoor concert venue over the next few years and will be giving the public a taste of this venue on Saturday, August 29^th for the ‘Farewell to Huset’s Speedway’ concert and festival.  The acts and details will be announced later next month at the track.”

Brennan plans to page homage to the facility, its previous owners, fans and drivers with a race track hall of fame onsite with the name dedication to Huset’s Speedway.  “We envision this facility to be open year round and a place that race fans of all ages can come by and check out the incredible history of this legendary facility for the past 60 years!,” said Brennan.  “Great retro and current merchandise will also be for sale at the Hall of Fame building and folks will be able to come in and purchase single show or season tickets to the track.  For the first time ever, like at most venues these days, you will be able to buy your seats and own those same seats for the entire racing season.” 

SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at 810 West 10^th Street at approximately 9:30 pm last night. On arrival, fire crews located smoke and fire on the second level of the single family home.    

Fire crews had to remove most of the ceiling and wall on the second floor to gain access to the fire. Five fire trucks with roughly 20 firefighters were on scene to extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue would like to remind everyone to ensure you have working smoke detectors throughout your home.

HURON (KELO AM) - Leaders from South Dakota Farm Bureau delivered some encouragement and practical advice to FFA members recently during a Career Development Event held on the campus of SDSU. Renae Gebhart, who ranches with her husband and his family near Meadow, S.D. and is a graduate of Farm Bureau’s “Partners in Agricultural Leadership” training program, advised the students to become advocates for agriculture – regardless of whether their future careers are in agriculture or not.

“You represent the future of agriculture, whether you intend to be a farmer or rancher or something else,” Gebhart told FFA attendees, citing the fact that only two percent of Americans are directly involved in agriculture. Even if today’s students pursue a different career path, they can stand up for agriculture by speaking up for America’s farmers and ranchers who are in the vast minority.

Social media is the most convenient way to advocate for agriculture and presents an opportunity to reach large numbers of people with only a few clicks. Statistics on social media use are eye-opening to its potential: There are 500 million Facebook users, 1 million of whom log in every day. On YouTube, now the second largest search engine, 89 million people will watch 1.2 billion videos today.  In the photo below, Gebhart shows members of the Clark FFA an ag-related video on YouTube.

“One post on Facebook could plant a seed,” Gebhart encouraged. “It’s so important to tell your ag story, and social media is a great way to do that.” The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is especially true in social media. Farm Bureau encourages FFA members to share pictures via social media of what they do every day on their farms and ranches. Even something they consider very ordinary – like baling hay, feeding livestock or harvesting grain – might be completely new and very fascinating to someone outside of agriculture.

Gebhart outlined other tips for online advocacy:- Use social media regularly- Set a goal of 1 hour per week of ag advocacy, or 2 ag-related posts or tweets- Make your content relevant and compelling- Use hashtags, such as #farm365- Share or retweet positive agriculture content

“Put your passion to work,” Gebhart advised. “If you didn’t have passion, you wouldn’t be wearing these blue jackets.”

To conclude the advocacy workshop, Bonnie Dybedahl with the South Dakota Farm Bureau showed some of the materials available for FFA chapters to take into their communities, including two professionally produced videos: SDFB’s “First at Scene Training” (F@ST) video helps prepare people for how to respond safely at a rural accident scene, and its new wheat video shows wheat from the kernel in the field to the foods at the grocery store. 

In addition, Farm Bureau’s “Book in a Bucket” education kit, which Bonnie is demonstrating in the photo below, is convenient for teachers or youth leaders because it delivers an ag lesson – complete with core standards curriculum and corresponding props – all in one five-gallon bucket with a lid. FFA chapters, 4-H leaders and elementary teachers are encouraged to contact South Dakota Farm Bureau if they are interested in any of these materials. 

“People are more and more removed from agriculture, and they need to know about what we do,” Gebhart concluded, encouraging FFA members to join Farm Bureau and others in the campaign to bring first-hand, positive ag information to the non-ag audience.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Senator John Thune says the Trade Promotion Authority Act will allow the United States to negotiate several important trade deals.

Thune says that includes impending deals with Asian, Canadian and European trading partners.

Thune says that since 2009, increasing exports have accounted for 1.6 million new jobs in the United States and those jobs, epecially in the manufacturing sector, pay well.             

Thune says in South Dakota alone exports support 15,000 jobs.

He hopes the legislation will be on the Senate floor in a few weeks.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Hundreds of thousands of chickens and turkeys have been destroyed in the Midwest because of bird flu but Nebraska, amazingly, hasn’t had one case.

Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach says it’s pure luck.

Iback says avian influenza is attributed to ducks, geese, cranes or any migratory birds going north this spring.  He says Nebraska is in the middle of the one the largest flyways in the nation.            

Officials say even small, homegrown poultry flocks are susceptible to avian flu.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - North Valley View residents toured Sioux Falls new Fire Station Eleven during a ribbon cutting this morning.

Battalion Chief Travis Thom says the building has a three-bay garage.  Thom says there are offices for a captain and battalion chief, five bedrooms, kitchen, living room and a weight training room

Thom says Station Eleven is needed for rapidly growing northwest Sioux Falls. 

On April 26, 2015, area American Indian Veterans and their families will honor hospitalized Veterans at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.

Hospitalized Veterans will be honored by American Indian dancers and a drum group.

Mini wacipi (pow wow) recognition of hospitalized Veterans’ military service to the United States.

The event is Sunday, April 26, 2015, 2:00-3:30 PM in the 4^th floor auditorium of the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center, at 2501 W. 22^nd Street, Sioux Falls.

SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) - The City of Sioux Falls performs silt and sediment removal in drainageways, river channels, and ponds each year to improve capacity in the drainage system.

A majority of the work performed in drainage areas is done during the winter months, which allows City crews to maximize their efforts without the possibility of a rain event flooding the work area. The frozen ground provides a stable surface for heavy equipment and trucks to access the sites and remove the excess material. In cases where the project scope is large, the City may contract the work out to a third party that can dedicate additional resources to the project.

The City works annually to ensure drainage systems are functioning at their highest capacity. Some interesting facts regarding this maintenance activity include:

●      13,700 tons of silt removed annually from the river channel in the City’s levee system

●      11,500 tons of silt and debris removed annually from drainage channels and ponds

●      10,500 tons of material removed annually from streets through street sweeping

“It is important that we keep our channels, ponds, and rivers operating at their highest capacity to help protect private property during large storm events,” says Andy Berg, Principal Drainage Engineer.

For more information regarding the City’s drainage system, call the Public Works Engineering Division at 605-367-8601.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Arbor Day celebration tomorrow at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum features the planting of the Mayor’s Grove.

Executive Director Lori Kiesow says Mayor Huether will host the dedication.

Five new trees will be planted by Huether and former Mayors Joe Cooper, Rick Knobe, Dave Munson and Gary Hanson.  Mayor's Grove will become a remembrance of the mayors of Sioux Falls who have helped to protect green spaces.             

The ceremony starts tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the park off Highway 42.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - There’s a public forum tonight on the West Central School Boundary issue concerning Cherry Lake Development.

Gary Sandholm with the Hartford Chamber says the School Board and petitioners will offer their views and take questions.

Sandholm says the forum will be courteous and very factual.  He says the Hartford Chamber, Hartford Development Corporation and the City of Hartford, sponsors of the forum, are not taking a position.    

Petitioners challenged West Central’s decision to allow the development to be part of the Sioux Falls School District and the election is May 19th.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A bit of I told you so from Mayor Mike Huether today over the success of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

Huether says the Center produced over $1 million in net operating income in the last six months.  He says that includes ticket sales, sponsorships, facility rental fees, food and beverage.             

Huether says the Denny has raised $962,000 in sales tax revenue.

To date, the City says, there have been 11 sold-out events, including seven sold-out concerts.  Nearly twice as many pop/rock acts have been booked as country music concerts.

More than 400,000 people have attended events at the Denny through the end of March.

Canton, SD (KELO-AM) The Lincoln County State's Attorney has dismissed rape charges filed last year against former teacher, Jeffrey Nolte. 

The State's Attorney's office says the nine-year-old alleged victim told authorities that something did go on with Nolte, that a "bad touch" had taken place, but was not able to testify about it in open court.  The office says inability to testify would have made it difficult to convince a jury.

Although the charges have been dismissed, Nolte could face new charges if the situation changes.

Nolte worked for the Oldham-Ramona School District when the charges were filed in February of 2014. He also served on the Canton City Council from 2008 to 2011.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Everything bacon Saturday at the 6^th Annual Sioux Falls Roller Dollz Bacon Fest.

Last year’s Bacon Fest Champion and the voice of the Dollz, Destructive, says a pork passport costs ten dollars.  With the passport you can sample all of the competitor's bacon offerings.  Judges and baconfest-goers will determine the top plates.

Fun for the whole family, there's even a pig oinking and bacon costume contests.               

The Roller Dollz Bacon Fest is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the American Legion.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - In continuing community outreach, Sioux Falls Police have coffee with a cop Wednesday.

Officer Sam Clemens says police will be at Josiah’s on South Reid and at McDonalds at 41^st and Shirley.

Clemens says the event gives residents an opportunity to talk with police officers about different issues or what's happening in their neighborhoods.  He says you can talk to officers about anything.              

Coffee with a cop is from eight to eleven Wednesday morning.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The city advises commuters to leave fifteen minutes early on Monday as four major street projects begin.

City Engineer Chad Huwe says reconstruction of the 22^nd Street and Minnesota Avenue intersection will have the largest impact on motorists.  

Huwe says Minnesota is busy almost 24/7 and he expects delays at all the projects.  But he says with 22nd closed and Minnesota reduced to one lane in both direction, that project will have the most negative impact on drivers.  

He says says all delays have ripple effects on the rest of Sioux Falls Streets especially at morning and afternoon drive times.

Construction begins Monday on West 12^th from Kiwanis to Western Avenues, the intersection of East 11^th and South Second Avenue and on South Solberg from 49^th to 57^th Streets.

Eagen, MN (KELO-AM) Hennipin County Sherrif's Office Spokesperson Lisa Kiava says the investigation into a Saturday evening shooting at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport continues. The situation started around 9:30 Saturday night, with Airport officers being called to a rental car ramp near Terminal One to investigate a report of suspicious people in the area. When the officers were investigating on foot, a vehicle was said to have driven at them intentionally, causing them to fire on the vehicle. The shots injuring a suspect as well as leaving an officer injured. They were both hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan says the rental car are back open. Investigator say it could be several days before names of the officers involved will be released.