SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Some work release inmates in Minnehaha County will be at home thanks to an electronic monitoring service.

Sheriff Mike Milstead says the program will reduce the number of jail beds at the work release center. Milstead calls the service a relief valve.  But he say it won't have an impact on the downtown jail which housed 425 inmates over the weekend.  He prefers an inmate count of 360.            

Milstead says inmates at home are will still submit to drug and alcohol testing and site checks.  

The Minnehaha County Commission unanimously apprioved the plan

PIERRE, S.D.(KELO-AM)  – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture announces Jerseydale Farms of Brookings, South Dakota, has resumed distribution of bottled raw milk.

 Jerseydale Farms’ permit was suspended on Jan. 21, 2014, due to a positive test for Listeria from a sample of bottled raw milk. A follow-up sample was collected; this second sample tested negative for Listeria.

 Further testing of the original sample determined the species to be Listeria innocua. This species of Listeria is generally not considered pathogenic bacteria.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Another armed robbery early this morning in Sioux Falls.

Police say two men, both armed with handguns, came into the Fireside Lounge and Casino on South Carolyn Avenue just after one.

They fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.  There were no injuries.

The suspects are described as possibly American Indians, both average height and build, wearing black masks, dark jackets, gloves and pants.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Larry Zamora is armed and dangerous.

Sergeant Jason Gearman says Zamora was last seen January 30th when he ran from the Drug Task Force serving a warrant on South Franklin Avenue in Sioux Falls.  During the search Zamora fled on foot and hasn't been seen since.

Gearman says they know Zamora is in the area because he has contacted some aquaintanances. Authorities believe Zamora has a handgun and if you see him do not approach but all 9-1-1.

Zamora is described as a Hispanic, about 5' 10'' and 185 pounds.

Gearman says Zamora has told others that he is not going back to prison. 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls police needed plenty of backup this morning trying to arrest a 31-year-old Sioux Falls man at a home on North Lewis Avenue.

Officer Sam Clemens says Rocky Thomas Traversie is accused of hitting his mom in the knee and his sister in the face with a brick.

Traversie is charged with five counts of kidnapping for locking the door preventing the occupants from leaving prior to the assaults.  There were others in the home besides the mother and sister. When police arrived, Traversie fought with the first three on the scene and managed to injure them.

Clemens says a 17-year-old boy in the house escaped through a window, ran to a neighbor and called police.

Three officers were treated for their injuries.

Traversie is also charged with aggravated assault against law enforcement and domestic aggravated assault.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) The Sioux Falls School District is getting $768,454 to help add two new classrooms to it's Career and Technical Education Academy.

The money is part of over $8.5 million that Governor Dennis Daugaard announced Wednesday in Governor's Grants for Career & Technical Education projects across South Dakota.

The Governor says CTE programs are crucial in preparing students for all the job opportunities after graduation.The grants come from the South Dakota Future Fund, created to help South Dakota's workforce and build the economy.

Grant recipients are:

§  Aberdeen School District – $2 million for the construction of a new regional CTE facility

§  Burke School District – $604,010 to go toward mobile units, in cooperation with Andes Central School District, Colome School District, and South Central School District

§  Madison Central School District – $376,808 for health science, transportation and manufacturing programs to serve area schools

§  Meade School District – $89,967 to go toward welding and machining programs

§  Mitchell School District – $1,240,228 for the renovation and expansion of the regional CTE center

§  Northeast Technical High School – $150,000 to go toward middle school courses and dual credit ag courses

§  Northwest Area Schools Multi District – $830,800 to go toward mobile units

§  Rapid City Area School District – $2 million to enhance dual and concurrent enrollment options for regional high schools

§  Sioux Falls School District – $768,454 to add two new classrooms at the CTE Academy

§  Todd County School District – $103,560 to expand middle school and high school course offerings, in cooperation with White River School District

§  Vermillion School District – $99,380 for a public-private partnership in construction trades

§  Yankton – $280,325 for regional CTE offerings

In all, 26 applications were received, requesting a total of $20 million.

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Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) Surrounded by supporters in 'My Man Mike' T-shirts, Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether on Wednesday officially kicked off his re-election campaign at Hilton Garden Inn downtown.

Huether says that Sioux Falls has come a long, long way in the past four years, but there is so much more to be done and he wants the chance to help lead that effort.

He says he wants the voters to look at the last four years and what was accomplished as they consider giving him another four years.

Huether says he wants the opportunity to continue to run Sioux Falls like a business, continuing to add to the city's piggybank.  

Huether declined to talk about his challenger, City Counciler Greg Jamison, saying he only wants to talk about the city and to let his record do the talking.   

Huether's campaign website is: www.mymanmike.com

BROOKINGS, SD (KELO-AM) - it's a first for South Dakota women who give birth this year—and an opportunity to help improve the health of future mothers and infants.For the first time, some of these new moms will be asked to participate in the annual Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitor Survey, or PRAMS, as part of an effort to determine their needs and whether they are being met. South Dakota State University professor Bonny Specker, director of the E.A. Martin Program in Human Nutrition, and her research team will be responsible for PRAMS data collection through a partnership with the South Dakota Department of Health.

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that on January 29, 2014, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann entered a civil judgment in favor of the United States in the amount of $1,376,670 against Howard “Jack” Aleff and Reena Slominski, a married couple from Knoxville, Iowa.  Aleff and Slominski did business as L & J Wool & Fur, a South Dakota corporation.  They illegally submitted 132 separate false claims to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Services Agency (FSA), in Iowa and South Dakota.   Over a period of six years, the couple presented bogus documents to the FSA, Commodity Credit Corporation, that appeared to be legitimate business transactions to support their requests for wool loan deficiency payments when in fact they owned no sheep.  As a result, the United States paid them $303,890 to which they were not entitled. The False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729) imposes liability on persons and companies who knowingly submit false claims to the government or causes another to submit a false claim to the government, or knowingly makes a false record or statement to get a false claim or benefit paid by the government. Persons who submit a false claim must pay to the United States a civil penalty of not less than $5,500 and not more than $11,000 for each false claim, plus three times the amount of damages which the government sustained. 

Previously, Aleff and Slominski pled guilty to the criminal charge of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, and on September 13, 2012, they were sentenced to five years’ probation, fined $60,000, and ordered to pay restitution of $303,890 to the Commodity Credit Corporation.  The United States Attorney’s Office places a high priority on criminal and civil enforcement in cases involving all types of fraud committed against the government, and works with various law enforcement agencies to identify and investigate these matters. The investigation in this case was conducted by the USDA, Office of Inspector General (OIG).  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Wright and  Cheryl Schrempp DuPris prosecuted the criminal and civil cases respectively.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Heart disease in the nation's number one killer.

Chrissy Meyer with the American Heart Association says Friday, February 7, is National Wear Red Day celebrating the 10th anniversary of "Go Red For Women."  

The Association says over 40 million American women are living with one or more types of cardiovacular disease.  Meyer says only one in five women see heart disease as a health threat.

64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease show no early symptoms.

Meyer says the "Red Dress Dash" through donwtown Sioux Falls is Friday at 5:30 p.m. and the Falls of the Big Sioux River will also "Go Red."

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Quick, where is the Pioneer Monument located in Sioux Falls?

Even lifelong residents might struggle with that.  But somebody vandalized the Pioneer Monument perched over the Big Sioux River at the end of North Drive.  That's right behind the John Morrell plant on top of North Cliff Avenue.

Minnehaha County Historical Society President Jim Carlson says the vandals used spray paint.  He's not sure how much it will cost to clean the tower. 

He's opposed to erecting a fence around the monument which stands beside the "Amidon Massacre" plaque.  Jim says that's only surrendering to the vandals and keeps others from getting a close look.

Carlson says the weather will have to improve first.

He says the Society is accepting donations and  volunteers.  You can calll him at 366-8403.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Add drug charges to the laundry list against 31-year-old Rocky Traversie after Wednesday’s assaults against family and Sioux Falls police.

Officer Sam Clemens says investigators found almost 6 grams of cocaine on Traversie after fighting with three policemen.  Traversie is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Clemens says no blood tests were taken after the incident so it’s unknown if Traversie was abusing cocaine.

He’s also charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault against law enforcement. 

Traversie's mother and sister both refused an ambulance saying they'll seek treatment on their own. He's accused of hitting them with a brick, his mother in the leg and his sister in the face.  

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM)  The public is invited - for free - to observe the construction progress inside the new Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

A special viewing area on the event level will be available Saturdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. through March 30.

“This really is a unique opportunity for the public to see inside the largest, publicly funded project in Sioux Falls’ history while it is being built,” says Kendra Siemonsma, Special Projects Manager for the City of Sioux Falls. “This building truly is for the people of Sioux Falls, and we want them to see it before the doors open this fall.”

During the time frame of the sneak peek events, the installation of the seats will begin, work on the center-hung scoreboard and the ribbon board around the event level will occur, and more. The construction of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center continues on schedule and on budget.

There is no need to RSVP—all are welcome! To attend, please go to the area near Meeting Room 14 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, 1101 North West Avenue. Signs will direct you. SMG staff also will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

For a list of exact dates and parking information, go to www.siouxfalls.org/eventscenter.

South Dakota State Senator Jeff Monroe put down his own bill that would have allowed teachers to teach and discuss intelligent design in the classroom.  Monroe says the idea is right, and that he wants students to be able to hear both sides of the story, but he says there were just too many misconceptions about what the bill would do.

“Even though it was a good bill, and had tons of support, I think that the good that would have come from it would have been outweighed by the trouble that it would have caused.”

Monroe feared that there would have been lawsuits involved with the state, as there has been in other states when battling this issue.  He believes the bill should have been written more generally, encompassing more,  instead of narrowed down to just the one topic.

“It has to be done differently” Monroe says. It will now take time to rework a new bill and nothing will come to fruition until at least next year. But Monroe says someone will take this up, and if he is still there himself next year, will continue to fight for this issue that so many believe in.

Sioux Falls S.D. (KELO AM) - The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), the City of Sioux Falls, and the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are seeking public input on the I-229 Exit 5 (26th Street) Crossroad Corridor Study. The study is reviewing the final options for the alignments of I-229 and the 26th Street (Exit 5) interchange and for the alignments of the 26th Street and Southeastern Avenue intersection. Currently, the study is in the environmental documentation phase.

The exhibits and an online survey are available at the project website atwww.26thstreetcorridorstudy.com. Please take a few minutes and complete the online survey, review the animations and renderings associated with each option, and send us your comments at www.26thstreetcorridorstudy.com/getinvolved.html. We want your input!

For further information regarding this project, please contact Steve Gramm with the SDDOT at 605-773-6641, Shannon Ausen with the City of Sioux Falls at 605-367-8607, or Jason Kjenstad with HDR Engineering Inc. at 605-977-7740.

Brookings S.D. (KELO AM) - Finding new ways to raise money for children is an ongoing mission for Jade Possail.                                                                                                                                                      

Recently, the South Dakota State University senior came up with the idea of engraving Miracle Children's handwritten thank you messages to Children's Miracle Network on coffee mugs and selling them to raise money.

The advertising and apparel merchandising double major began fundraising for CMN in 2011 when she was named Miss Eastern Plains at the Miss SDSU pageant.

Possail's fundraising efforts continued in 2012 while she served as Miss Lake Alvin, and now Miss S.D. State Fair 2013.Pink, orange, blue and green Miracle Mugs will be available Feb. 14 for $15 on Possail's Miss S.D. State Fair 2013 Facebook page and at Choco Latte in Brookings.                                                                                        Possail and the Miracle Children will host a meet and greet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 15 at Choco Latte—where the Miracle Mug idea was sparked.

"I walked in one day and Donna Behrend (the owner) handed me a cup of coffee, and said 'Here, I hope it inspires you.' Not even 10 minutes later, I thought of the Miracle Mug idea," said Possail.

"I love the idea of being an entrepreneur. Donna is a local businesswoman who has a zest for life that we can all learn from."The South Dakota Wheat Commission sponsored the cost of the mugs and Huron Regional Medical Center sponsored the tag costs. All proceeds will go directly to Children's Miracle Network.

"Sometimes people may not know exactly what their money does," said Possail. "It could go to the family for gas, hotel rooms, medical equipment and treatments, or activities for their other children. CMN helps pay for all those things, and the money South Dakotans donate stays in the state."After graduation, Possail wants to advertise for a global nonprofit.

"I love to fundraise for a good cause, and it would be great to work for Children's Miracle Network in the future," she said. As for pageants, Possail will compete for the title of Miss South Dakota in June.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Feeding South Dakota fills over 3,500 backpacks with food for Sioux Falls school kids to take home over the weekend.

Program Coordinator Allison Struck says when the program started they were putting food in backpacks.  Struck says they had to put the backpacks into bags because some kids were being bullied for having a backpack full of food for the weekend.l              

For a 75 dollar donation, which provides one student with a semester’s worth of weekend food, Feeding South Dakota will deliver a rose and a card designed by a child for Valentine’s Day.

Struck says you can call 335-0364, extension 19, to order or you can order at Feeding South Dakota's website at their donation page.  All orders must be received by noon on Thursday, February 13th.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - It’s the largest and tastiest fundraiser for the Girl Scouts Dakota Horizon.

Volunteer Specialist Patty Shea says there are eight kinds of cookies for sale: Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, Shortbreads, Thanks-A-Lot and the new Cranberry Citru Crisps               

Cookies are four dollars a box and they’re available on line or call the cookie hotline at 1-800-666-2141.

Shea says the girls set cookie sales goals and develop a game plan to attain them.  Cookies are for sale through march 9th.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota: On February 7, 2014 at 6:19 PM, officers were summoned to the200 block of S. Caley Place on a call of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located the victimin the street, suffering a gunshot wound to the face. The victim, an 18 year old male, wastransported by ambulance to Avera-McKennan Hospital and treated for non-life threateninginjuries. The suspects, described as 4 late teens to early 20s males, were last seen in a darkcolored vehicle southbound from the area. No arrests have been made at this time.

Sgt. H.L. Benz

A Sioux Falls man that escaped a drug raid last week has been captured.

Larry Zamora was taken into custody by the Minnehaha County Fugitive Task Force at a townhome on West Norman Trail after a short stand-off.  He had been on the run since January 30.

He is being held in the Minnehaha County Jail on an outstanding warrant and several drug charges.