South Dakota

South Dakota Veteran’s Affairs honors 3 Bristol-area WWII heroes

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2024

South Dakota Veteran’s Affairs honors 3 Bristol-area WWII heroes

Staff Reports
| Special to the Aberdeen News

The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs is honoring three of Bristol’s heroes in August. During World War II, three brothers from the Bristol area died in uniform while serving the U.S.

The department will be hosting a State Bridge Dedication Ceremony to honor three brothers, U.S. Navy Radio Man Second Class Ordien F. Herr, Naval Air Force Lieutenant LeRoy M. Herr, and U.S. Navy Radio Man Second Class Eugene L. Herr.

The ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., Aug. 5 at the high school gym in Bristol.

The US 12 Westbound bridge over the railroad, three miles west of Groton will be dedicated to RM2, LT, and RM2 Herr.

Eugene Herr was first reported as missing in action when he was serving on the USS Johnston, which was sunk at the Battle of Samar. He survived the sinking, but died two days later, Oct. 25, 1944, from exhaustion and exposure.

Having completed more than 38 missions during the war, LeRoy Herr’s PV1 Ventura bomber crashed while flying over Catalina Island Sept. 25, 1945.

On June 8, 1943, a transport carrying personnel to Sydney, Australia crashed leaving Tontouta Airfield, New Caledonia. Approximately three minutes after takeoff, the plane was seen going into a low turn and disappeared from sight. During the initial climb, one of the engines failed. The pilot tried to return to the airfield, but the aircraft stalled and crashed. The wreckage of the plane was in the water of St. Vincent’s Bay about 100 yards from shore. A total of 24 men were killed, one of which was Ordien Herr.

Naming bridges in honor of South Dakota’s combat veterans who died while serving their country is an initiative of Gov. Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Departments of Military, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.

“Our fallen heroes are no longer with us, but their memories live on in the hearts of their loved ones and our state,” said Greg Whitlock, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs in a release. “Naming our South Dakota bridges in honor of our fallen gives us the opportunity for remembrance, reflection, and respect. It helps us to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation. They cherished liberty and loved freedom so much, they were willing to lay down their lives to preserve our way of life.”

“We can never underestimate, or over appreciate, the costs they bore for us,” said Whitlock. “We must never forget that our fallen sacrificed their future and their dreams. Their memories can only live through the accomplishments to present and future generations.”

Source link

Click to comment

South Dakota

Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources announces $48 million for statewide projects

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources announces million for statewide projects

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has the approval of over $48 million in loans and grants for statewide projects.

Together with the Board of Water and Natural Resources, a total of $36,958,000 in state loans, including $425,000 in principal forgiveness, was authorized for drinking water and wastewater improvements.

More funding was distributed to the following programs:

BDM Rural Water:

Received an additional $233,450 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to construct a new water treatment plant, install a new water reservoir, install a pipe to expand the water system, and replace water meters

Clay Rural Water:

Received $334,250 in ARPA grant funds to construct two ground storage reservoirs near the Greenfield reservoir and the Wakonda Water Treatment plant

Mid-Dakota Rural Water System:

Received $917,357.85 in ARPA grant to update the existing water system

Mitchell:

Received $3,930,000 in Clean Water State Revolving Funds to upgrade the clay sanitary and storm sewer

Rapid City:

Received a $14,512,000 Drinking Water State Revolving loan to make improvements to an existing well and also construct two new wells

Shared Resources:

Received $1,500,000 in ARPA grant funds for a treatment plant, well field, distribution pipeline, and two storage tanks

Sioux Falls:

Received $7,648,000 to complete a third connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System
Received $17,746,000 to construct a new Southeast Basin sanitary force main

South Lincoln Rural Water System:

Received $328,250 in ARPA funds to install an elevated water tank, new pump station, and new water treatment plant

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources:

Received $1 million in ARPA funds for its statewide Riparian Buffer Initiative

Toronto:

Received $770,000 Drinking Water Revolving Loan to accommodate the Department of Transportation installing new storm sewers and highway surfacing

These programs are funded through a combination of federal appropriations, loan repayments, and bonds.

The board approved the funding during a January 8 meeting in Pierre.

Source link

South Dakota

SD Lottery Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 8, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13

Check Lucky 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.

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.

Source link

South Dakota

Sheridan Lake rescue prompts winter ice safety warning

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Sheridan Lake rescue prompts winter ice safety warning

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A harrowing scene at Sheridan Lake ended without serious injury Tuesday after a man, a woman and their dog fell through thin ice near the swimming beach, authorities said.

Keep pets on a leash and never attempt a risky rescue if someone falls through the ice, officials said. Call 911 immediately.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks agency advises that ice three inches or less is unsafe. Four inches is generally considered the minimum for walking, ice fishing or skating.

Lt. Casey Kenrick of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said the incident is a reminder to take extra precautions this winter.

“Usually at this time the ice is significantly thick on the lakes around the area, well, some aren’t even frozen all the way at this point. The temperatures have been up and down so much that the ice isn’t solid even though it may look like it is, so make sure you know the ice depth that you’re getting onto,” Kenrick said.

Kenrick said those precautions could mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Source link