SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM)  SIOUX FALLS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION - With another record-setting year behind us and the Sioux Falls area economy looking strong for 2014, it’s tempting to leave the question of future prosperity to the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and our partners in city and state government. But one of the reasons we have seen strength in our local economy and growth numbers is that our business community and local residents are involved and active in making this region the best place in America. In fact, it’s easy to contribute to local prosperity. Here are three things YOU can do to help:  

1.         Invest in our community. We all know that maintaining infrastructure, putting money into our educational facilities and keeping Sioux Falls and surrounding towns looking good for visitors, newcomers and potential new employers is vital. Those building blocks of progress require investment, in good times and in bad. Expanding our development parks, maintaining our streets and continually enhancing quality of life advantages like good schools and attractive parks can make the difference to expanding or relocating companies.  

2.         Network—and share your ideas. There are lots of good ideas out there, as community leaders in our area and throughout the country meet challenges just like the ones we face to build a prosperous future. But if we don’t open the lines of communication that might bring those good ideas to our community and our local leaders, we could find ourselves reinventing the wheel. By sharing ideas for community development with others, and being open to fresh concepts that have worked in other places, we can keep Sioux Falls growing.  

3.         Believe in our future. Having confidence in what we will achieve together can shape the future. You can show your confidence in a variety of ways. Support our local companies and city, county and state government initiatives. Share your belief in the future of Sioux Falls with your neighbors, your out-of-town friends and business acquaintances, and especially, with your children. Be realistic in your community views, but believe in our ability to realize a prosperous future.             Let’s not wait for someone else to keep economic prosperity going—let’s work together to make it happen in our regiontoday.

Source: Slater Barr  

Sioux Falls S.D. (KELO AM) - All Veterans are invited to a Healthy Living Fair at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center February 21, from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Veterans (both those who use and those who do not use VA services) and their families are encouraged to attend.

VA staff will be on hand to help Veterans be more involved in their health care, manage stress, eat wisely, be physically active, and learn how to get recommended screening tests and immunizations. In addition, healthy cooking classes, yoga, and tai chi classes will be available.

Veterans can learn more about VA services – the patient centered care teams, diabetes prevention, weight loss program, low vision program, crisis intervention, MyHealtheVet internet service, secure messaging with health care providers, plus other wellness information. Attendees are also invited to pick up giveaways and enjoy healthy snacks while browsing the displays.

The health fair is sponsored by the VA Health Promotion Disease Prevention Committee. Please join us at the fair on February 21, 2014 in the front foyer and 4^th floor auditorium of the medical center at 2501 W. 22^nd Street.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - To date, only one U.S. Senate campaign has submitted petition signatures to the South Dakota Secretary of State.

Republican Stace Nelson says his campaign submitted close to 2,700 signatures yesterday.  1,950 signatures must be verified to officially become a Republican canidate for U.S. Senate.

Nelson describes his campaign as grass roots and opposes having another special interest, bought and paid for career politician going to Washington D.C.  Nelson says his campaign has enough money to continue to the general election.  He says many South Dakotans who can't afford to give a lot of money have donated to him.

Nelson says says his campaign will take aim at professional politicians.  He says they're drunk on special interest money and not acting as a public servant.

The South Dakota primary is June 3.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council recently changed its name but the mission continues to be teaching adults to read.

Executive Director for REACH, Paige Carda, says people who can’t read are missing out on life. From enjoying the simplest things such as reading nutrition lables on cans, billboards, restaurant signs, reading a newspaper or spending time with a favorite book.

Carda says their youngest pupil is 18 and their oldest is 79.  Since they don't read it's only by word of mouth or the radio where the illiterate can learn of an organization that can help.  The service is free and REACH is funded by donations and United Way.               

REACH is holding the “Third Annual Brewhaha” fundraiser Saturday at the Museum of Visual Materials.  Carda says tickets are $40 a person or $75 a couple and are available online at SiouxFallsLiteracy.com or call 332-2665.  

Carda says the money raised will pay for progamming and tutors.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Mayor Mike Huether’s monthly listening and learning sessions are a pledge he made during his first campaign

City Communications Specialist Heather Hitterdal says attendees can ask the Mayor about any topic. Hitterdal says Huether answers most questions on the spot but if he doesn't have it on his fingertips, he'll do some research and get back to the person. 

Hitterdal says listening and learning sessions are usually held every other month at the Roll N' Pin but anyone can host a session by calling her at 367-8800 or email at hhitterdal@siouxfalls.org.

Huether says he learns something new from the people he serves everyday.             

Huether’s next session is Saturday morning at nine at the Roll N’ Pin on West Russell Street.

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) if you’ve driven around or through that pothole once, it’s one too many times.

The Public Works Street Division is increasing its emphasis on patching potholes during this stretch of warmer weather and asks residents to report potholes in need of attention. The Public Works Street Division is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is ready to assist. To report a pothole, please call the Pothole Hotline at 367-8002.

“We currently have four teams working across the city to repair potholes, but we may not know about the pothole on your daily commute,” says Galynn Huber, Street and Fleet Operations Manager. “Drivers really are our eyes and ears, and we want you to reach out to us and let us know if there is a pothole in need of patching.”

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) Sioux Falls florist Patrick Gustaf will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15.

Events officially kick off at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, with the traditional reading of the proclamations and Painting of the Shamrock at 9th Street and Phillips Avenue. The parade forms at 5th Street and Main Avenue at 12:30 p.m. and the parade begins at 2 p.m.

The parade provides an excellent opportunity for people throughout the Sioux Falls region to visit the city for a day of family activities. In 2009, the St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza Committee, which plans the parade with support from the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce staff, decided to move the parade permanently to the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.

Sponsorships from Sanford Health, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Holiday Inn City Centre and Xcel Energy help underwrite the costs of bringing the Khartum Temple Pipes and Drums, a Shrine unit from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They have performed in the parade almost since the start and make guest appearances in local schools, nursing homes and hospitals leading up to the parade. A complete performance schedule will be released in March.

The “Vanguard Squadron,” an ethanol-powered stunt team performing in-formation aerobatics again will perform during the parade, weather permitting. It is sponsored by POET, a South Dakota ethanol producer.

There is no entry fee to participate in the parade but each entry must have some kind of Irish theme. Each participant 16 and older must purchase and wear an official St. Patrick’s Day Parade button costing $3. This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade button has a green carnation, a nod to Gustaf, 61, co-owner of Gustaf’s Greenery.

The proceeds help cover parade costs and a portion is donated to Special Olympics and to youth programs run by El Riad Shrine Temple. Buttons are available at the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200), at various businesses and at the start of the parade.

No candy can be distributed at the parade. Sioux Falls City Council Ordinance (Section 38-143) states: “It is unlawful for any person conducting, managing or participating in any parade to distribute or permit the distribution of any candy or balloons to persons in attendance during the parade.”

To say that Pat Gustaf is excited about being Grand Marshal would be an understatement: “I feel very honored and I just can’t believe it. I just pinch myself once in a while,” Gustaf said.

Gustaf, 61, says he actually is three-fourths Irish. His great-grandfather was Swedish and moved to Cork, Ireland, in the mid-1800s. His mother Gertrude Eloise Fleming Gustaf, who was 100 percent Irish, was born in Montrose, S.D. The Fleming and the Gustaf families are part of the Montrose history.

“I truly love the Irish part of me!” he says. “I think that’s my best feature.”

For more information about the St. Patrick’s Day activities, go to www.siouxfallschamber.comand click on the Events & Programs/Annual Events link to find more information about St. Patrick’s Day, including the parade information packet, or call Wendy Neuharth at the Chamber, (605) 336-1620.

Hip-Hop HustleKenny Anderson Community Center, 3701 East Third Street, 978-6924Hip-Hop Hustle combines choreographed, easy-to-learn moves and high-energy music to create a wonderfully unique class that focuses on total body fitness. No previous dance experience needed. Instructor is Sydney Diederich. $20 for the four-week series. Registration closes five business days in advance. For ages 18 and older.  

Airplanes and Choo-Choo Trains Kuehn Community Center, 2801 South Valley View Road, 978-6926Let your child’s imagination run wild! We will drive cars, fly around like airplanes, sing, and do other fun activities that involve revving your child’s little engine. For ages 4 to 5. $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

Michael Jordan and More!Kenny Anderson Community Center, 3701 East Third Street, 978-6924No. 23 has become a revolutionary number when it comes to Michael Jordan. Learn about his best years, his sports records, his ever popular shoe line, and much more. Scheels shoe expert Rob Ramm will take you back in time from the first shoes Jordan ever wore to the latest styles of J’s. Personalize your own indoor slam-a-jama hoop to take home. For ages 10 to 13. $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

Work Out with the DollzMorningside Community Center, 2400 South Bahnson Avenue, 978-6930If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a roller derby Roller Dollz, but aren’t quite ready to strap on some skates, then this workout class is just for you. Join the Roller Dollz as they lead you through a plyometric workout that will encompass every muscle you have in your body—even the ones you didn’t know you had! Every fitness level is welcome to participate. No experience required. Fishnet stockings are not required, but highly encouraged! $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. For ages 18 and older.

Fun and Fit Friday for Wee OnesKenny Anderson Community Center, 3701 East Third Street, 978-6924Children ages 6 and under can come out and enjoy some fitness activities. Ride or drive one of the toys, jump in the inflatable, or participate in fitness games with the staff. Children must be supervised by someone 16 years or older. A 5-to-1 ratio of children to adults will be enforced. Free. No registration required.

Scribble and ScrambleMorningside Community Center, 2400 South Bahnson Avenue, 978-6930Double your fun! It’s two activities in one! This class will run in sections. You will have time to “scramble” in the gym, while another group “scribbles” in the meeting room, and then we will trade places. Sneakers and paint shirt required. For ages 2 to 5. $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

“No Limits” After-School Fitness for Tweens and Teens MariCar Community Center, 400 North Valley View Road, 978-6928 “No Limits” is a free high-energy class featuring a wide variety of sports conditioning cardiovascular activities and exercises mixed with strength exercises in an interval training format. Exercises may use agility dots and ladders, exercise tubing, jump ropes, and more. Every class will be different. The kids will have so much fun that they won’t realize they are exercising. Sponsored by Sanford Wellness Center, Family Wellness Center, Sioux Falls YMCA, and SFPR. For ages 7 and up. Free. No registration required.

Crunch TimeMorningside Community Center, 2400 South Bahnson Avenue, 978-6930This quick 20-minute class will focus on core muscles. Learn new moves to improve your fitness. Join us after morning walking (8 to 10 a.m.) for a quick toning session. For ages 18 and older. Free. Registration required.

Cake Decorating BasicsMorningside Community Center, 2400 South Bahnson Avenue, 978-6930Do you want that specialty cake or theme, but not the expense that goes with it? We are here to help. Join us as we have hands-on activities for beginners and share tricks of the trade to decorating your own cake or cupcakes for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, or a holiday event. For ages 18 and older. Cost is $10. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

Texture TuesdaysKenny Anderson Community Center, 3701 East Third Street, 978-6924Join us on Tuesdays when we explore and work with interesting textures to create a craft. Projects include texture paintings and rubbings. Use salt, sand, rice, and much more. Each week is sure to be a surprise. For ages 4 to 5. $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

Simple Cooking with HeartMorningside Community Center, 2400 South Bahnson Avenue, 978-6930Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but a rewarding one for your diet and lifestyle (and your wallet). Making small changes in your diet is important to your heart health. If you’re ready to start cooking at home, this 45-minute cooking demonstration from the American Heart Association will give you the basics you need to make low-cost, heart-healthy meals. Each session will feature a different set of affordable and healthy recipes to give you the basic skills and techniques to get started and inspired—and have fun! Adults 18 and over. Free. Registration required.

Toddler TryoutsOyate Community Center, 2421 West 15th Street, 978-6932Toddler tryouts are for stay-at-home kids with their parents. We will provide the equipment and toys; parents provide the supervision. Each week will feature a different sporting event that will help develop toddlers’ motor skills while they’re having fun! For ages 2 to 3. $5 per class. Registration closes five business days in advance. 

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) -- Adele Benoit of Yankton, Kadarkaraisamy Harshavardhan of Vermillion and Nana Addo of North Sioux City advanced to the 2014 University of South Dakota Scripps Spelling Bee after taking top honors at the Southeast South Dakota Regional Oral Spelling Bee, Saturday, Feb. 15 at Aalfs Auditorium on the USD campus.

Benoit, the daughter of Joseph and Caprice Benoit of Yankton and a student at Sacred Heart Middle School, was the top oral speller. Harshavardhan, a student at Jolley Elementary School in Vermillion, and Addo, a student at Dakota Valley Elementary School in McCook Lake, finished second and third, respectively, to advance to the state competition, which is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 22 at Farber Hall inside of Old Main. They will compete against the top three places from each of these South Dakota regional locations: Rapid City, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Castlewood. The event will be streamed live on www.usd.edu.

Thirty-five students, representing nine area elementary and middle schools, competed at the 2014 Southeast South Dakota Regional Spelling Bee. In addition to the oral bee, students completed a written exam prior to the oral competition. Benoit and Erica Okine of Dakota Valley Middle School tied for first place in the written bee with a perfect score while Owen Dudley from Vermillion Middle School was second and Yasha Doddabele of Dakota Valley Middle School was third.

The winner of the University of South Dakota Scripps Spelling Bee will participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 25-31, in Washington D.C. The competition is open for students in first grade through the eighth grade.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO AM) – Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue and Xcel Energy crews were called at 8:45a.m. for an electrical fire on the pole behind the Midcontinent building at Phillips and 13 street.

Xcel crews are working to fix the cross arm on top of the pole that caught on fire.

Midcontinent Officials said that services should not be interrupted.  

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A Sioux Falls man had a busy day yesterday that started with violating a protection order and ended with grand theft.

Officer Sam Clemens says in the middle 46-year-old James Roland Wolfe allegedly shoplifted at Family Dollar at 8^th and Spring.

Clemens says when police were booking Wolfe they found keys in his pocket from a stolen car.  That abandoned car, with the front door open, was found earlier by police in a parking lot at West 11^th Street.

Wolfe is accused of violating a protection order when he repeatedly called and texted a women he was ordered to stay away from.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Golfers are being teased by longer days and this weekend’s Golf Expo at the Sioux Falls Convention Center offers indoor rewards. Coralee Jorgensen with the South Dakota Golf Association says custom fitting can improve every part of your game.  Jorgensen says you can be the first in the region to test new clubs in the indoor driving range.

She says there's more than $200,000 dollars of golf merchandise at really low prices.  There's a Sanford $10,000 putting contest and complimentary Golf Digests or Golf World subscriptions           

Meet and greet with Sioux Falls own L-P-G-A player Kris Tschetter.

The Expo runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.  Admission is $10 at the door or $7 in advance at both Austad's locations in Sioux Falls.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - It’s opening night for the Sioux Empire Community Theater’s production of “Noises Off” at the Orpheum Theater.

Executive Director Patrick Pope says the comical farce is a play within a play.

In the play, Director Lloyd Fellowes desperately tries to get the production together.  Theater goers will see rehearsals, actors behind the scenes and in the final act the play itself. The liner states:  what's happening on stage is nothing compared to what's going on backstage.               

The play runs Friday and Saturday nights with Sunday matinees this weekend and next.

Tickets are available online or at the Orpheum Box Office.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) The Sioux Falls Police Department on Friday was looking for a missing elderly man who is memory impaired.

73-year-old Gene Richard Raymond Bergland was last seen at home early Friday morning.  He was discovered missing around 11:30 a.m. 

Gene was last wearing a blue/gray coat, brown plaid shirt and jeans.  He may be in a tan colored 2001 Chevy Silverado, South Dakota License 1VV692.  If anyone sees Gene or his pickup, please call police.

Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - A man has been taken into custody after a short stand-off in Sioux Falls.

Police responded to a call on North Timberline Road around 9:15 Friday night on a call of a domestic disturbance.  While the reporting party wasa on the phone to 911, the 911 operator heard a gunshot.

The Emergency Response Teams from Minnehaha County and Sioux Falls Police responded to the scene.  After a brief negotiation, the suspect was taken into custody.

Christopher Thomas Harkless was lodged in the Minnehaha County Jail on one count of aggravated assault, domestic, aggravated assault, reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

No one was injured in the incident.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO-AM) - State troopers in Minnesota were kept busy during the winter storm that hit the state February 20 and 21. Troopers responded to nearly 1,000 crashes across the state. Overall, the State Patrol responded to over 4,400 calls for service. More than two-thousand vehicles ended up in the ditch and there were 74 jackknifed semi trucks. Gov. Mark Dayton called out the National Guard to help recue stranded drivers.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (KELO-AM) - Three crashes have left four dead this weekend. Authorities say two Sioux Falls area men were killed in a pickup truck crash west of Irene. 30-year-old Brad Johnson was driving east on Highway 46 Saturday afternoon when his truck struck the guardrail, swerved into the other lane and jumped over a bridge. The crash killing both Johnson and 28-year-old passenger Cody Kollars.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Scott Nordman, 46, of Sioux Falls is dead after a one vehicle rollover crash on 278th Street near Lennox on Saturday. He was heading east towards Lennox in a 97 Ford Taurus when he crossed the westbound lane and entered the ditch. Nordman was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A one vehicle crash on 441st Street killed David John Wilson of Lake Preston on Saturday. He was southbound in a 2011 Ford E350 utility van when the vehicle drifted onto the shoulder, crashing into a ditch and rolling. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No further information is available. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating all three crashes.

If you had a Foucault pendulum, would you know what to do with it?

High school physics students with this type of knowledge are encouraged to enter the SDSU Physics Bowl XL April 25 at the Swiftel Center in Brookings held in conjunction with the Engineering Expo conducted by the South Dakota State University Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

The first 18 teams to enter the 40th annual event will be accepted.

Joel Rauber, SDSU Physics Department head, said each school is allowed to enter a three-person team. Cash prizes awarded to each member of the top five teams. Winning team members earns $40 with $30 for second, $20 for third, $15 for fourth and $10 for fifth.

The one-hour contest begins at 11:30 a.m. with registration. Students answer 20 questions in a quiz-bowl format.Questions will be based on topics such as basic mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, basic electricity, optics and famous physicists.

SDSU faculty will conduct demonstrations following some of the questions.

"The Physics Bowl is intended to be a fun, exciting and rewarding experience. The competition puts the fun and fascination of physics out where everyone can enjoy it," Rauber said.

Last year's event attracted 11 teams and was won by the Brookings High School team of Yixuan He, Nicholas Bien and Vlad Chilom followed by Sergeant Bluff-Luton (Iowa) High School. 

To enter the 2014 contest, contact Sally.Krueger@sdstate.edu or 605-688-5428.         

P.S. — A Foucault pendulum is used to demonstrate the Earth's rotation.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) -  A man hanging around a Sioux Falls auto dealership went on a ride with customers and allegedly assaulted a salesman yesterday afternoon.

Officer Sam Clemens says the salesman and the customers each thought the other knew 26-year-old Buke James Mardanlou.  They all piled into a vehicle for a ride to another dealership to see a truck that the couple was interested in.  Nothing happened to or from the site but police say the drive was uncomfortable.             

When they got back to the original lot Mardanlou told the salesman he wanted to buy a car. Clemens says as the salesman was drawing up papers Mardanlou allegedly stabbed the him with a screwdriver leaving a small cut to back of his head.  The other salesmen held down Mardenlou until police arrived.

Mardanlou is charged with aggravated assault and possession of methamphetamine.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The director of the Heartland House says she’s always being asked if homelessness is a big issue in Sioux Falls.

Tammie Denning says the homeless here are hidden.  Denning says the homeless stay with families, in shelters but they don't often live under bridges or in the woods.             

 The Heartland House teaches homeless families the life skills that are needed to be self-sufficient.

"Give from the Heart to Heartland" a fund raising dinner, dessert silent auction and program will be held Thursday, February 27th at the new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Sioux Falls.

Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at the Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership at 505 N. Western or at their website