RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – Representative Dusty Johnson continues to voice concern over the restructuring of mail processing and delivery centers in South Dakota.

Kota News previously spoke with Representative Johnson about his concern over the possible restructuring of a processing and distribution center in Sioux Falls.

In a separate interview, United States Postal Service Strategic Communications Manager Mark Inglett told us that despite the concern from lawmakers the postal service has no plans to shut down any facilities or to downsize in any way, and noted that USPS was hiring.

After recent news of mail delivery now being routed through Omaha, USPS Representative Johnson met with the President of the South Dakota Rural Letter Carriers Association Brandon Delzer to discuss potential issues he sees happening.

“Their official decision is to move 13 jobs out of Huron and also downsize operations in Sioux Falls. It’s hard for me to imagine how this is going to make delivery better for South Dakota. We’ve got real concerns. The delegation, we’ve been working together to try and tell the post office that we don’t understand how this moves us in the right direction,” Johnson said.

Johnson also said that irritation is growing not only in Washington D.C. but in South Dakota and that he will continue to write to the post office to help sway their decision back.

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GRAND FORKS – The UND football program has already experienced six players from the 2023 roster enter the transfer portal for FBS opportunities this offseason.

Former UND offensive lineman Sam Hagen won’t be adding to that FBS total, but he’s joining the back-to-back FCS national champions.

On Monday, the rising junior from Fordville, N.D., announced he’ll transfer to South Dakota State, rejoining with former UND offensive coordinator Danny Freund, who’s now the co-offensive coordinator in Brookings.

According to Herald sources, Hagen was deciding his transfer destination between two former UND coaches: Freund and former offensive line coach Joe Pawlak, now at Montana.

It wasn’t the only good news this month for the Jacks, who also heard from starting quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has elected to return to SDSU for another season.

UND’s offseason has included losing three expected starters on the offensive line, leaving Seth Anderson as the lone returning starter up front.

Starting center Cade Borud, a redshirt freshman in 2023, left after spring ball and has announced he’ll transfer to Iowa, while Easton Kilty left after the regular season and is at Kansas State.

Other departures include quarterback Tommy Schuster to Michigan State, offensive lineman Brayden Bryant to San Diego State, wide receiver Jack Wright to Tulsa and defensive end Ben McNaboe to Ohio.

Hagen, who’s 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, made his college debut as a 19-year-old, starting at right tackle for UND in the season opener at Nebraska in 2022.

Hagen has played both guard and tackle at UND, starting off and on at tackle as a redshirt freshman and consistently at guard as a sophomore in 2023.

Hagen has two years of eligibility remaining.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Education has honored five of the state’s teachers to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10. On Monday, the following were announced as the 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year:

• Region 1: Amy Verhelst, Kindergarten, Sioux Valley Elementary School, Volga
• Region 2: Erin Rieff, Art, Brandon Valley Middle School, Brandon
• Region 3: Megan Wilson, Math, Sanborn Central High School, Forestburg
• Region 4: Christy Saltsman, K-8 Physical Education and 6-8 Math, Gettysburg School District, Gettysburg
• Region 5: Michelle Abbott, 2nd grade, West Elementary School, Spearfish

A DOE panel will select one of these five teachers as the 2025 South Dakota Teacher of the Year and the state’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

Each of these teacher’s classrooms will receive a visit from DOE representatives during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.