South Dakota

Western South Dakota Community Action saves money, lives with home weatherization

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Western South Dakota Community Action saves money, lives with home weatherization

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Western South Dakota Community Action welcomed the community to view demonstrations of their weatherization processes to celebrate the 48 anniversary of weatherization programs with the Department of Energy on Wednesday.

Demonstrations included how carbon monoxide moves through a house, insulation blowing and how to prevent catastrophic events like fire in homes.

WSDCA has many programs for those working their way out of poverty, the weatherization of homes is just one. Auditors will check doors, windows, insulation, HVAC systems and more. After the audit is done, auditors put all the information from the audit into a computer software system created by the Department of Energy to find the most cost-effective way to improve the home if necessary. They will finish with installing the material and final inspection.

The weatherization is not just to save money, but also to keep people healthy.

“Low-income people survive by making things happen, and sometimes that’s not up to code. In other words, they make themselves in dangerous situations. As part of the final inspection is making sure everything is operating the way it’s supposed to be as far as HVAC goes and making sure no carbon monoxide is going to happen in that home,” William Thompson, an energy auditor with Western South Dakota Community Action, said.

Thompson added saving energy is huge for people with low income, so the organization tries to save the homeowner at least 15 percent their first year after weatherization.

WSDCA’s operations manager, Laura Fletcher, said weatherization of homes doesn’t just benefit the current occupant but also the community.

“Rapid City has increasing aging housing stock and the more we can keep these older homes livable, the longer that those homes are available to live in,” Fletcher said.

Thompson said he knew of many people who had their lives saved by the weatherization work WSDCA provides.

“It‘s one of the most gratifying things you can do, especially when you find life safety issues, and you actually save peoples’ lives. Personally, I know of at least five to 10 people that we’ve actually saved their lives. They medically had carbon monoxide poisoning and by our process we ended up making their homes safe after that. It’s a very gratifying job,” Thompson said.

Fletcher is hoping to put on another day of demonstrations for the 60 anniversary of Western South Dakota Community Action.

For more information about Western South Dakota Community Action and their programs like weatherization, visit WSDCA’s website.

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South Dakota

South Dakota State will host New Hampshire for First Round matchup

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota State will host New Hampshire for First Round matchup

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – For the 14th consecutive season, SDSU is in the playoffs.

With a record of 8-4 they will host 8-4 New Hampshire.

A little over four weeks ago South Dakota State was undefeated.

On Saturday they snapped a 4 game losing streak.

The Jacks are happy to keep playing football.

Graham Goering, SDSU wide receiver said, “We’re just blessed for any opportunity we are given. I think having some losses, there’s really never a doubt there actually and I think just seeing our name on screen ignites a little fire for everyone on the team. So obviously just blessed and excited for new season.”

Head coach Dan Jackson said, “This team has been close and galvanized for a long time, but what I do think it does it breathes a little bit of new life in them and last four weeks have been pretty heavy for them because they have been giving us all they have while at the same time not getting results they wanted. For them to be able to take a deep breath and remember who they are, and remember we can win and win in big moments, I think we have a really confident team that feels amazing right now not only after that play but how they competed the entire game.”

SDSU hosts New Hampshire at noon at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

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South Dakota

2025 South Dakota state volleyball championship results, all-tournament teams

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

2025 South Dakota state volleyball championship results, all-tournament teams

RAPID CITY — The 2025 South Dakota state high school volleyball tournament came to a close on Saturday, Nov. 22, from the Summit Arena in Rapid City.

Below are the pairings for each match on Saturday in the three classes in action to put a bow on the high school volleyball season.

Seventh place

Sioux Falls Jefferson def. Mitchell, 25-22, 25-12, 25-10

Fifth place

Sioux Falls Lincoln def. Sioux Falls Washington, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-20

Third place

Brandon Valley def. Watertown, 25-15, 25-19, 25-21

Championship

Harrisburg def. Sioux Falls O’Gorman, 25-16, 25-16, 25-13

Seventh place

Rapid City Christian def. Wagner, 25-12, 25-16, 25-12

Fifth place

Clark/Willow Lake def. St. Thomas More, 27-25, 26-24, 12-25, 25-23

Third place

Sioux Falls Christian def. Hamlin, 25-19, 25-15, 25-18

Championship

Dakota Valley def. Dell Rapids, 26-24, 26-24, 24-26, 25-22

Seventh place

Herreid/Selby Area def. Harding County, 23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-12

Fifth place

Gayville-Volin def. Parkston, 25-8, 26-24, 25-21

Third place

Northwestern def. Bennett County, 25-20, 25-19, 25-12

Championship

Chester def. Warner, 25-23, 25-16, 25-18

Class AA: Logan McGuire, Brandon Valley; Jersie Melcher, Brandon Valley; Josalyn Samuels, Harrisburg; Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg; Addie Siemsen, Mitchell; Sienna Sabers, Sioux Falls Jefferson; Julia Blom, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Mallory Schneider, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Londyn Smith, Sioux Falls O’Gorman; Lauren Venenga, Sioux Falls O’Gorman; Jade Jere, Sioux Falls Washington; Kynsee Russell, Watertown

Class A: Shelby Begeman, Clark/Willow Lake; Kelsey Hofer, Clark/Willow Lake; Samantha Kimball, Dakota Valley; Claire Munch, Dakota Valley; Madie Munch, Dakota Valley; Tenley Anderson, Dell Rapids; Madelynn Henry, Dell Rapids; Addison Neuendorf, Hamlin; Chloe Weber, Rapid City Christian; Leighton Scherr, St. Thomas More; Meredith Nelson, Sioux Falls Christian; Tavyn Sichmeller, Sioux Falls Christian

Class B: Peyson O’Neill, Bennett County; Reagan O’Neill, Bennett County; Lily Van Hal, Chester; Jacy Wolf, Chester; Paisley Dimmer, Gayville-Volin; Taylor Hoxeng, Gayville-Volin; Jordyn Rossow, Herreid/Selby Area; Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern; Ashley Haven, Northwestern; Keeara Oakley, Parkston; Jaycee Jung, Warner; Keira Steger, Warner

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “Mitchell Republic.” Often, the “Mitchell Republic” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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South Dakota

Live box score: South Dakota State at UND, 1 p.m.

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Live box score: South Dakota State at UND, 1 p.m.

GRAND FORKS — UND and South Dakota State kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alerus Center with both teams chasing an eighth win of the season.

Scoring recaps will be posted below.

UND 7, SDSU 0, 2:59 left: On fourth-and-1 from the 14, Jerry Kaminski takes a designed keeper up the middle and dives into the end zone for a touchdown.

UND 14, SDSU 0, 1:10 left: UND’s first play of a drive is an 89-yard slant pass from Jerry Kaminski to B.J. Fleming.

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.

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