Remembere the old wind mill building in Hawkeye Valley - south of Wessington Springs? Photo Duke Wenzel - 2002

This old True Dakotan file photograph was taken in October of 2002. Yes, that’s snow on the Wessington Hills in the background, but it’s rare in October. You can see this photo and a lot of others in the new feature under the “cagegories” portion of this website. We’ve begun adding photographs regularly and will keep adding to the file as time permits. Click away, remember, and enjoy– Craig

 Anything going on in Springs over the Fourth of July? Click here and find out!  fourth of july 2010

 A Wessington Springs area native with twelve years of law enforcement experience has announced that his name will appear on the November 2 general election as a candidate for Jerauld County Sheriff. Thirty-five year old Troy Swenson, of Pierre, has served in many capacities of law enforcement including patrol officer, drug investigator, dispatcher and detective. A certified drug instructor he also has specialized training in missing and exploited children, death and homicide investigations, FBI crisis negotiations and interview and interrogations. He also has specialized training in narcotic investigations. He has been awarded an “Award of Merit” and police medals from the Pierre Police Department. One of his arrests results in the only drug-related life sentence in the state of South Dakota. Another arrest brought a 100-year sentence for a child pornography conviction. Swenson grew up on a Jerauld County farm, the son of the late Clint and Julie Swenson, and graduated from Wessington Springs High School. He and his wife, Cristi (Jost) have three children, Tyler (8), Madison (5) and Tucker (born in April-2010). “I would like to be your sheriff and bring my law enforcement, experience, common sense and family back home to Jerauld County,” he said. He can be contacted at ctswenson@pie.midco.net. Or call 605-224-2312. Swenson will face a Republican challenger in this fall’s election as Jason Weber, a Jerauld County deputy sheriff, is on the ballot. Present Jerauld County Sheriff Roger Thompson will retire when his term expires at the end of this year.

The Wessington Springs wind farm north of town - Duke Wenzel photo

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s expanding wind energy industry took another leap forward today when the state Public Utilities Commission approved PrairieWinds SD 1, a 165-megawatt wind farm that will spread over parts of Jerauld, Aurora and Brule counties. Basin Electric Power Cooperative expects to begin construction of the facility in mid-July 2010 and be operational by March 2011.

The project will be constructed near Crow Lake in Jerauld County and include up to 110 wind turbines and a 13-mile 230 kilovolt transmission line as well as other associated facilities.

National guard called to help with flooding in Woonsocket

 June 22, 2010 

WOONSOCKET – National Guard soldiers have joined state prison inmates in Woonsocket to fight flooding from swollen Sand Creek.

A Mitchell Daily Republic reporter on the scene said this morning that the Guard is bringing a bridge and is considering cutting a swath through a ditch to alleviate the flooding.

Woonsocket resident Jo White told the reporter that she’s lived in Woonsocket for 23 years and has never seen flooding this severe. White said she had 10 inches of water in her basement last night.

Entry blanks must be sent or called in by the 23rd, and delivery of all entries to the Opera House is on Friday the 25th from 3 to 6 PM. Anyone having an unusual item for the “What’s it” display should deliver it during those times also.

TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/DUKE WENZEL

DOCTORS BEGAN SEEING PATIENTS at the newly-remodeled Jerauld County Dental Clinic on June 1. Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Shown above are Dr. Jack Krueger, Dr. Jennifer Day and Dr. Josh Day. Dr. Jennifer begins her practice at the clinic on July 1. More pictures appear on page eight.