South Dakota

Lennox City Council reviews projected windfall from possible state prison sewer deal • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

2 years ago

October 29, 2024

Lennox City Council reviews projected windfall from possible state prison sewer deal • South Dakota Searchlight

LENNOX – The Lennox City Council could pay off three infrastructure projects and eliminate a monthly sewer surcharge for its residents if it agrees to accept wastewater from a men’s prison proposed by the state Department of Corrections, according to a city official.

That’s if the state agrees to a deal similar to one rejected by Harrisburg earlier this year.

The Lennox City Council did not vote to accept an agreement during Monday’s night’s council meeting, as there’s currently no proposal on the table.

Instead, the council reviewed the financial windfall a deal to service inmate sewage could bring to the town of 2,400 if the city were offered a deal like Harrisburg’s.

Council members gave City Administrator Nathan Vander Plaats their blessing to work with the DOC to prepare an agreement.

If a deal comes together, the council could vote on the matter on Nov. 12.

“I think we need to see a deal before we make any decisions,” Council Member Chad Swier said. “We’re just theorizing numbers here.”

Harrisburg says NOPE to state prison wastewater deal

The city of Harrisburg, about six miles from the prison’s proposed location in rural Lincoln County, rejected a state proposal for sewer services after pushback from rural residents with property near the site. That deal would have dropped a $7.1 million one-time payment into city coffers, in addition to annual payments.

The prison proposal would replace the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. The building was erected in 1881, and Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko has argued that the facility is too antiquated to operate safely. Lawmakers have committed $569 million to the project, but there is no guaranteed price yet.

The project has drawn intense criticism from the proposed site’s rural neighbors. Some of those neighbors filed a lawsuit that sought to force the state to adhere to Lincoln County’s zoning ordinances. A circuit court judge dismissed that case last week.

Lennox is about 15 miles from the prison site, across Interstate 29 to the west. Vander Plaats said the city approached the state after Harrisburg’s vote against a sewage deal.

Vander Plaats presented a fiscal analysis of what a deal with Lennox might mean, based on the Harrisburg proposal. It suggests the deal could come in the form of a $10.5 million one-time payment.

That’s enough money for the city to retire its debt on a wastewater treatment facility and two clean water basins. Clearing that debt from the city ledger and adding the state’s payments would boost the city’s bottom line by $350,000 annually, according to an analysis prepared by Vander Plaats. He said the city wouldn’t see the money until 2028 at the earliest.

But that figure drops by $150,000 annually when factoring in around $4.5 million in necessary upgrades to the city’s facilities. The city would take on 200,000 more gallons of sewage each day, the analysis says.

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Related Topics:Featured Harrisburg Lennox penitentiary Prison prisons South Dakota Department of Corrections South Dakota State Penitentiary

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South Dakota

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

Published

2 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Human trafficking survivor advocate to speak at Rapid City church event

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A Rapid City church is hosting a free community event Thursday to raise awareness about human trafficking, with organizers saying the danger may be closer than people think.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is opening the presentation to the entire community because organizers say awareness alone can save a life.

“If we can get 20 people to understand what to look for — if we can get 20 people to understand that this organization exists — then we can start shining light into every corner, and suddenly it’ll be a better world,” said Alexandra Loverink, co-president of LWML Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Event details

The free presentation is Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rushmore Street. The speaker is Reverend Tess Franzen, founder of Freedom’s Journey, a Rapid City-based ministry that has assisted hundreds of trafficking survivors over more than a decade.

Franzen said the problem in South Dakota is far more widespread than most people realize.

“We see mostly sex trafficking, but much of what we see is — some people might call it homegrown or familial,” Franzen said. “We see trafficking here where young people are being trafficked out, their family members are selling access to them when they’re children. And in many cases, they don’t really even realize there’s anything wrong with it.”

Organizer Cari Garwood-Beard said Franzen’s presentation changed how she sees her own neighborhood, and she wants others to have that same wake-up call.

“She told a story about her neighbor one time — just a good old guy — and found out that he was a trafficker. Her neighbor, who she thought was above boards,” Garwood-Beard said. “And it really hit home. My next-door neighbor could be.”

A freewill offering will be collected for Freedom’s Journey at Thursday’s event. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is at 1630 Rushmore Street.

Resources

If you suspect trafficking, dial 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

For more information about Freedom’s Journey, visit their website or call 805.380.8009.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for May 8, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing

37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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