PIERRE, S.D. – Sixteen rural hospitals will receive a total of $244,376 in grants for technology projects from laboratory electronic medical records to a medication labeling and bar code system, a health official announced today. Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center in Wessington Springs will receive $17,500 to participate in the Avera eEmergency project.

“From electronic medical records to telemedicine capabilities, technology is increasingly important in delivering health care in both urban and rural settings,” said Doneen Hollingsworth, Secretary of Health. “However, it can be challenging for rural hospitals with limited resources to keep up with these rapid changes. That’s why we’re pleased to provide these grants to help support technology projects in rural facilities.”

CORDELL MUILENBURG (RIGHT) is shown against Kingsbury County’s Clinton McKee during championship action at Salem in the McCook Central/Montrolse wrestling tournament. The Springs wrestler took the match and the tournament championship with an 8-4 decision.

A state plow pushes snow on SD Highway 34 Wednesday afternoon. The wind came up during the night and really left some drifts around the area as the Christmas Blizzard that dropped 15 inches of snow had already blown the tree belts and ditches full.

You could barely see South Gulch, which is immediately south of Wessington Springs, during the New Year blizzard on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.