SPIRIT LAKE, IA – A teenager from northwest Iowa, identified as Joseph Salmon, sustained a serious gunshot wound in a hunting accident in Dickinson County’s Spring Run Wildlife Management Area.
The incident occurred while Salmon was hunting with friends.
He was promptly airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital, where he underwent surgery and was placed in a medically-induced coma.
Family and friends have initiated multiple fundraising efforts to assist with his medical expenses.
Joseph Salmon had previously been recognized for his heroic efforts in helping rescue an elderly man and his dog from Lake Okoboji following a Jeep accident earlier this year.
BROOKINGS, SD – A 32-year-old Brookings man, Quentin Schmidt, was sentenced to 10 years in the state penitentiary for distributing methamphetamine, a case that initially started as a burglary investigation.
Schmidt pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and received a concurrent five-year sentence for burglary.
Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson emphasized the state’s determination to combat meth dealing.
Schmidt and his co-defendant, Breanna Pearson, were arrested in connection with the burglary investigation, during which stolen items, drugs, and firearms were recovered.
Pearson received a seven-year sentence, with part of her prison time suspended on certain conditions.
Schmidt was remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office to begin his prison sentence.
RAPID CITY, SD – Rapid City Police reported an update Friday regarding a fatal hit and run that occurred last month. The incident led to the death of Terrance Little Thunder.
Police say they have identified multiple persons-of-interest in the case and have gathered more information about the suspect vehicle and its owner.
Police say the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety located the Chevrolet Tahoe believed to be involved on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The vehicle had been modified to hide the collision damage.
The occupants of the vehicle at this time are not known, and further forensic testing will take place.
Contact Detective Nathan Senesac at 605-394-4134 with information. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting ‘RCPD’ to 847411.
RAPID CITY, SD – A New York man entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea during an appearance in Seventh Circuit Court Thursday.
Phillip Chips is charged in the stabbing death of Michael White in September. White’s body was found near Rapid Creek off Omaha St.
Chips is charged with first-degree murder and could face the death penalty or a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
The judge set a deadline of Nov. 30 for the state to determine if they will seek the death penalty.
Chips’ lawyer said his client is currently being evaluated for mental ability to stand trial. He is being held in the Pennington County Jail and will appear in court again on Nov. 16.
PIERRE, SD – The Government Operations and Audit Committee of the South Dakota Legislature got some good news in the form of the annual audit of the South Dakota High School Activities Association.
The association is required, by law, to perform an annual audit and present the findings to Legislature. The Association’s executive director, Dan Swartos, reported a clean audit with no findings.
Swartos also reported that COVID-19 no longer was affecting the schedule of sporting and scholastic events the association oversees. According to the 2022 audit, the association saw increases in attendance and ticket sales in numbers that were more in line with those seen prior to the pandemic.
State events saw an increase of 77.07% over FY 2021, that amounts to about $814,000. That increase was attributed to a lessening of restrictions and also the public getting back out to events.
The post-2022 outlook was clearly upbeat: “With the COVID-19 pandemic now mostly behind us, SDHSAA anticipates its state and sub-state events to continue to stay the course for the foreseeable future,” said Swartos.
By comparison, the 2021 audit saw decreased attendance and ticket sales at state and sub-state events. Sub-state events in particular decreased by $274,715 (or 31.66%) due to facility limitations and general public uneasiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
