South Dakota
Fatal single-vehicle crash near Newell, SD
![Fatal single-vehicle crash near Newell, SD Fatal single-vehicle crash near Newell, SD](https://gray-kota-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LS4QXWMJ5HYJETINR6OTCH37Q.jpg?auth=5587a9d786f43bc3078e84676a190785e9fa585e38c5cf5821ef7d332e3bc60b&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A 56-year-old woman died last month in a single-vehicle crash near Newell County.
South Dakota Highway Patrol said the crash occurred on Aug. 8 when the driver of a 2001 Harley-Davidson traveling on Highway 79 near mile marker 157 drifted from the road and struck a pole. She was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but later died on Sept. 3.
The name of the driver has not been released, and highway patrol is still investigating the crash.
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South Dakota
California wildfires grow as heat wave creates worry; South Dakota conditions improve
South Dakota
Fears decrease but work remains to control wildfire near Rapid City • South Dakota Searchlight
![Fears decrease but work remains to control wildfire near Rapid City • South Dakota Searchlight Fears decrease but work remains to control wildfire near Rapid City • South Dakota Searchlight](https://southdakotasearchlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8445-1-2048x1536.jpg)
RAPID CITY — A leader in the fight against a wildfire near South Dakota’s second largest city said Wednesday morning he’s less concerned, even as work to contain the fire continues.
“My comfort level is a lot higher now than it was yesterday,” said Brandon Sanchez, the U.S. Forest Service official who serves as incident commander.
The First Thunder Fire began Monday evening in a rocky and forested area cut by deep canyons in the Black Hills, several miles west of Rapid City. Since then, crews of local, state and federal firefighters have worked to keep the flames from spreading toward residential areas on the city’s western edge.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause, Sanchez said. The fire is burning an area of the Black Hills National Forest that’s mixed with parcels of private land. There have been no reports of injuries or damaged structures.
Some road closures remained in effect Wednesday morning, as did a flight restriction aimed at preventing drones and other aircraft from interfering with helicopters and tanker planes used by firefighters.
Authorities are asking those who live near the fire to stay prepared in case they’re ordered to leave, said Lt. Jason Mitzel of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
![A map of the First Thunder Fire area provided by the U.S. Forest Service on Sept. 4, 2024.](https://southdakotasearchlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_8432-scaled-e1725469571947.jpg)
“Right now we’re not doing any evacuations, and it doesn’t look like there’s going to be a need for any evacuations,” he said. “However, whenever there’s an incident like this, we always just ask people to be prepared in case that time may come.”
The estimate of the fire’s size Wednesday morning was 155 acres, only 5 acres larger than Tuesday’s estimate. About 150 firefighting personnel were on the scene.
Sanchez said firefighters have established a perimeter around the fire. The perimeter consists of earthen lines dug by hand or bulldozer, and also includes manmade and natural fire breaks such as roads and rocky outcrops. Tanker planes have dropped retardant chemicals ahead of the fire’s advance, and helicopters have dropped water.
Despite those efforts, estimated containment of the fire remained at 0%. That’s because fire remained close to the lines in some areas, and firefighters were working to knock those flames down. Sanchez said an updated containment estimate would probably be issued later Wednesday.
Weather remains a wild card. Clouds gathering Wednesday over the Black Hills were expected to bring helpful rain, but Sanchez said firefighters were also monitoring potential thunderstorms that could produce fire-fueling wind.
Sept. 2-3, 2024, images of the First Thunder Fire just west of Rapid City.
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South Dakota
South Dakota high school football media poll: Jefferson enters the top five in 11AAA
![South Dakota high school football media poll: Jefferson enters the top five in 11AAA South Dakota high school football media poll: Jefferson enters the top five in 11AAA](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/08/15/PSIF/74820473007-jefferson.jpg?auto=webp&crop=4779,2689,x0,y159&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Sioux Falls Christian football players discuss season-opening win
Sioux Falls Christian football players Cole Snyder and Lincoln Prins discuss their season-opening win over West Central.
Sioux Falls Jefferson has entered the top five in 11AAA in the latest South Dakota Prep Media football poll for the week of Sept. 2.
They take the place of Washington, who fell to Brandon Valley 20-7. In 11AA Tea Area fell out of the top five with an upset loss to Spearfish. Canton and Sioux Falls Christian remain atop 11A after wins in Week One while West Central was dropped from the top five.
The South Dakota Prep Media football poll for the week of Sept. 2 is listed below, ranking the top-five teams in each class, record, total points and previous ranking. First-place votes received are indicated in parentheses.
Class 11AAA
1. Harrisburg (17) 1-0 104 1
2. Lincoln (5) 1-0 90 2
3. Brandon Valley 1-0 66 3
4. O’Gorman 0-1 33 4
5. Jefferson 1-0 28 RV
Receiving votes: Washington 6, Roosevelt 3.
More: South Dakota high school football: Harrisburg earns ‘redemption’ in 14-0 Dakota Bowl win over O’Gorman
Class 11AA
1. Pierre (21) 1-0 109 1
2. Yankton (1) 1-0 89 2
3. Spearfish 1-0 47 NR
4. Watertown 0-1 26 4
5. Aberdeen Central 0-1 22 5
Receiving votes: Tea Area 18, Brookings 10, Mitchell 9.
Class 11A
1. Canton (13) 1-0 99 1
2. SF Christian (8) 1-0 93 T2
3. Dakota Valley 1-0 51 RV
4. Lennox (1) 1-0 48 5
5. RC Christian 0-1 14 RV
Receiving votes: Dell Rapids 13, Tri-Valley 8, Madison 2, West Central 2.
More: Sioux Falls Christian football makes a statement in ‘historic’ 42-13 win over West Central
Class 11B
1. Winner (16) 2-0 103 1
2. Elk Point-Jefferson (4) 1-0 89 2
3. Sioux Valley (2) 1-0 69 3
4. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 2-0 47 4
5. Beresford 2-0 13 RV
Receiving votes: Mount Vernon/Plankinton 5, Wagner 3, Hot Springs 1.
Class 9AA
1. Parkston (18) 2-0 106 1
2. Hamlin (4) 2-0 91 2
3. Elkton-Lake Benton 2-0 64 3
4. Hill City 2-0 30 RV
5. Viborg-Hurley 1-1 18 5
Receiving votes: Hanson 8, Kimball/White Lake 6, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy 5, Bennett County 2.
Class 9A
1. Howard (21) 2-0 109 1
2. Wall (1) 2-0 81 2
3. Warner 2-0 69 3
4. Wolsey-Wessington 2-0 48 4
5. Harding County/Bison 1-1 13 5
Receiving votes: Alcester-Hudson 5, Gayville-Volin 3, Chester 1.
More: Vote now for the Argus Leader Athlete of the Week from Aug. 26-Sep. 1
Class 9B
1. Avon (22) 2-0 110 1
2. Faulkton Area 1-0 73 2
3. Corsica-Stickney 2-0 67 3
4. Dell Rapids St. Mary 2-0 46 4
5. Sully Buttes 2-0 14 RVReceiving votes: Kadoka Area 8, Canistota 6, Herreid/Selby Area 6.
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