LYMAN COUNTY, S.D.- A 38-year-old man and 59-year-old man died Monday evening in a two-vehicle crash in Lyman County.
The names of the people involved have not been released pending notification of family members.
Preliminary crash information indicates a Ford F-350 was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of SD I-90 near Reliance. At the same time, a semi-truck was traveling eastbound in the eastbound lanes of I-90. The vehicles crashed head-on. The driver of the F-350 received fatal injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was transported to a Chamberlain hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. All information released so far is only preliminary.
The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem signed HB 1057, which creates the Commission on Indigent Legal Services and Office of Indigent Legal Services, into law.
“A strong criminal justice system supports our American way of life. It upholds the rights of our people. That includes the Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel,” said Governor Noem. “The Commission on Indigent Legal Services will oversee a statewide appellate defender office to handle criminal appeals, child abuse and neglect appeals, and habeas appeals. This office would also provide training and mentorship to rural attorneys.”
Governor Noem has appointed Larry Long of Sioux Falls, Heather Lammers Bogard of Rapid City, and Dick Travis of Sioux Falls to serve on the Commission on Indigent Legal Services.
Governor Noem has signed 230 bills into law this legislative session.
WATERTOWN, S.D.–An elderly man who struck a child with his vehicle near the Watertown Boys and Girls Club, then left the scene, has been sentenced after reaching a plea deal.
Ninety eight year-old Sylvester Korbel of Watertown was initially charged with Felony Hit and Run in connection with the January 4th accident.
Korbel pleaded guilty today to reduced charges of Careless Driving and Failing to Yield.
An eight year-old boy was crossing the street in a school zone in the 1000-block of Third Avenue Northeast when Korbel’s eastbound vehicle struck him.
The boy, identified in court documents by the initials S.F., then got up and ran across to the other side of the street. He suffered abrasions, but no serious physical injuries.
Korbel briefly got out of his vehicle, but made no contact with the boy, and then left the scene.
He was arrested by Watertown police three blocks away, where defense attorney Roger Ellyson says he was handcuffed, given a field sobriety test and then booked into jail.
The prosecution requested a 30 day jail sentence with 28 days suspended after reading a victim impact statement from the boy’s father, who’s a highway patrolman.
Ellyson told the court that Korbel was sorry for what happened, and acknowledged that his client should have stayed with the boy. But he noted that as part of the plea agreement, Korbel agreed to relinquish his driver’s license, which he said is a “big deal, even for a 98 year-old man.”
Ellyson said he’s known Korbel for 30 years. He says his client is, “a good man, a World War II veteran who proudly served his country, has no criminal history, and spends each week raising money for children through volunteer work at Immaculate Conception School.”
As for the state requesting two days in jail for a 98 year-old man, Ellyson asked, “what’s the purpose, to humiliate him?”
After hearing sentencing recommendations from both sides, Magistrate Judge Bob Pesall sentenced Korbel to a combined $237.50 in fines, but no jail time.
LINCOLN, NE – March 25-29 is Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Week. This week gives Nebraskans an opportunity to review their plan when severe weather strikes.
“The devastating impacts of extreme events can be reduced through improved readiness,” said NEMA Assistant Director Erv Portis. In addition to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, we need to prepare for hazards that could happen due to drought conditions impacting the state.”
“In a time of drought, wildfires are a top concern, Portis said. “Even the smallest spark could ignite and threaten entire communities. If you are ordered to evacuate, know where you would go and what route you would take to get there.”
Every Nebraskan should make a safety plan, create a preparedness kit, and review proper safety precautions with your family.
Make a Plan
Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during and after a disaster.
Build a Kit
Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget the unique needs of each person or pet. You can find a list of items to help you get started here: https://nema.nebraska.gov/files/doc/preparedness-kit.pdf.
Prepare for Disasters
Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards.
Teach Youth about Preparedness
Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.
Get Informed
Find out what disasters could impact your area, and where you would go if you and your family need to evacuate. Keep a NOAA weather radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV and radio. Follow mobile alerts and warnings about severe weather in your area. For more information on severe weather awareness, or preparing for severe weather, visit: nema.nebraska.gov/.
SIOUX FALLS, SD – South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, the political group backing a proposed 2024 cannabis legalization ballot measure, announced today that it will be holding “Petition Sign & Drive” events across the state this Saturday, March 23, in support of its ongoing signature drive.
The campaign will offer drive-thru petition signing at six locations across South Dakota from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time. There will be two locations in Sioux Falls, two locations in Rapid City, and one location each in Brookings and North Sioux City. Visit www.legalizeSD.com/sign for full details of the events.
“Voters can sign the petition from the comfort of their own vehicles and the process usually takes less than a minute,” said Matthew Schweich, campaign director for SDBML. “Our staff and volunteers can also quickly check a voter’s registration status and register new voters.”
The campaign must collect 17,508 valid signatures from registered South Dakota voters in order to qualify its initiative for the November 5, 2024 ballot. The deadline for submitting petitions to the South Dakota Secretary of State is May 7.
“With just 49 days until the deadline, it’s time to shift into high gear,” Schweich added. “Our drive-thru events in 2022 were very popular and we’re hopeful that our supporters will step up again this Saturday.”
SDBML was established in 2019 and spearheaded the cannabis reform ballot initiative campaigns in 2020 (enacting South Dakota’s medical cannabis law) and 2022. In 2021, it played an important role in defeating legislation backed by Governor Kristi Noem that would have delayed implementation of the medical cannabis policy approved by 70% of South Dakota voters.
The “Petition Sign & Drive” events are a partnership between SDBML and Grow South Dakota, a statewide ballot question committee established last year that is also backing the 2024 cannabis legalization campaign.
Visit www.legalizeSD.com/about for more information about SDBML.
DES MOINES, IA – On Tuesday the Iowa house approved a bill the senate already passed to make “illegal entry” a crime. The bill is similar to a Texas law that is being bounced around the courts.
The bill makes it a crime for people to enter the state after they have been previously deported or denied entry in the country.
“We are in unchartered waters these days,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Representative Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison, retired U.S. Marine and former police officer.
Holt believes the Biden administration has failed to properly secure the country’s southern border, which allows the potential for those wishing to do harm to enter the U.S.
Under the bill the punishment for someone caught illegally coming into Iowa in most cases would be an aggravated misdemeanor, but, charges could be upgraded if the person was committing a felony.
Democrats, including state Representative Sami Scheetz of Cedar Rapids, question the legislature’s place in this issue. “Illegal immigration is a serious problem that requires action,” he said.
But Scheetz doesn’t believe that it’s the job of the Republican-led state legislature to pass laws to address it. “The approach laid out in this bill misses the heart of what it truly means to address this issue with compassion, wisdom and effectiveness.”
Following the house’s 64-30 vote, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds sent out a statement in support of the legislature’s action and saying that she looks forward to signing the bill into law.
The bill stipulates that law enforcement may not arrest/detain a person suspected of illegally entering the state if the person is:
–on the grounds of a public/private primary or secondary school for educational purposes
–at a religious institution
–in a health care facility if the person is there to receive treatment
–at a facility that provides examinations for sexual assault survivors.
BROWNS VALLEY, Minn.–The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is investigating a significant fish kill on Lake Traverse on the South Dakota-Minnesota border.
Fisheries Supervisor Chris Domeier says the fish kill was reported March 14th.
He says the DNR fish health lab concluded the likely cause of the kill was from what’s called gas bubble disease.
The mild winter, sunny days and thin, clear ice provided good conditions for algae to grow. Heavy algae growth can lead to high amounts of oxygen and other gases in the lake.
Under those conditions, the dissolved gases enter the blood and tissues of the fish, causing them to die.
