✈️ FLY LOCAL: Record Growth & Seasonal Updates at Watertown Regional Airport! ✈️

Northeast Radio SD News Recap for Wednesday, 7/23/26

Newscast 2: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 * Clear Lake Public Access Opening: A new public access site on Clear Lake in Hamlin County is now open, featuring a plank boat ramp, roll-in dock, paved access, and deep-water launching built in partnership with Game, Fish and Parks. * Watertown Garage Fire: Watertown Fire Rescue knocked down a fully engulfed garage fire in the 900 block of 1st Avenue Northwest. The garage and a vehicle were total losses, but surrounding homes were protected and no injuries occurred. * Optimist Club Youth Grant: The Optimist Club awarded $500 to Watertown Trap and Skeet to purchase shooting rounds and clay targets for its youth trap league. * Codington County Tax Relief Ordinance: County Commissioners voted 4–1 to pass Ordinance 83, introducing a 0.5% gross receipts and use tax starting January 1, 2027, to provide property tax relief for owner-occupied homes. * County Facilities & Infrastructure Updates: * Facility Manager Steve Molengraaf outlined 2027 budget plans, including courthouse air register repairs and a new network firewall. * Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey reported the closure of the Cottonwood Street bridge due to structural deterioration, with plans to reapply for bridge improvement (BIG) grants. * Property Values Certified: The SD Department of Revenue certified Codington County's 2026 property values, with agricultural land values rising approximately 4%. * Updated Building & Fire Codes: The City Council adopted the 2024 residential building and fire codes, keeping the ground snow load requirement at 50 lbs/sq ft to prevent extra construction costs. * Local Business Acquisition: South Forty Specialties acquired long-time local business Roy's Sport Shop, keeping ownership local while expanding custom apparel and equipment offerings.

Northeast Radio SD News Recap for Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Newscast 1: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 * Crenlo Expansion & Job Growth: Crenlo Engineered Cabs hosted South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden for a tour, highlighting a multi-year expansion in Watertown driven by new manufacturing contracts for skid steer and terminal tractor cabs. The company has invested over $5 million in its local facility and expects its local workforce needs to double by 2028. * Watertown Event Center Long-Term Planning: General Manager Britney Scott urged the City Council to adopt a long-term plan to stabilize the facility following a decline in bookings (wedding bookings dropped from 35/year to 14) and the departure of WR Hospitality. * Federal Injunction on Abortion Pill Ads: Federal Judge Camela Theeler temporarily blocked South Dakota's ban on abortion pill advertising while a First Amendment lawsuit proceeds, ruling that the law impermissibly regulates content-based speech. * Search for Missing Sex Offender: Authorities are seeking public tips to locate 46-year-old Benjamin Kelly, a non-compliant sex offender missing since 2008 who may be living in rural South Dakota. * Boys & Girls Club Recognitions: The Boys & Girls Club of Watertown celebrated regional honors for board members Jason Hutt and Ashley Johnson, as well as the induction of Finance Director Cindy into the Hall of Fame for 33 years of service. * Local Traffic Incidents: * A 24-year-old Watertown woman was hospitalized and arrested for a second DUI and multiple traffic violations after rear-ending a vehicle on 1st Avenue Northeast. * Two Brookings residents were hospitalized after their motorcycle struck a deer west of Volga on 464th Avenue.

Are you a "Silver Tsunami" business owner ready to retire, or thinking about what's next for your company? 🌊

Are you a "Silver Tsunami" business owner ready to retire, or thinking about what's next for your company? 🌊 On the latest episode of The Entrepreneur's Edge, Dr. Melissa Meidinger joined Steve to talk about a critical topic for our local economy: Succession and Exit Planning for Small Businesses. Small business owners are the superheroes of our communities—they sponsor local sports teams, drive our economy, and keep our main streets vibrant! But what happens when those superheroes are ready to hang up their capes? Here are a few key takeaways from Dr. Meidinger: * Plan Ahead: Succession planning isn't something you do overnight when you're ready to retire. It should be a strategic process that takes 2 to 5 years! * Look Within: The best person to take over your business might already be working for you. Training key employees on the business side of operations (not just the day-to-day tasks) is a great succession strategy. * Know Your Value: Understand what makes your business valuable—whether it's cash flow, physical assets, or income potential—so you can set yourself up for a successful exit. * Free Resources Are Available: You don't have to figure this out alone! The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a free resource available to help you navigate succession planning, business valuation, and connecting with the right tools. Don't let your hard-earned legacy close its doors. Whether you're looking to retire, sell, or pass the torch to a family member or employee, start planning your strategy today! 👉 Need help getting started? Reach out to the Small Business Development Center or check out the entrepreneurship programs at Mitchell Technical College! #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SuccessionPlanning #SupportLocal #BusinessStrategy #SilverTsunami #NortheastRadioSD

🎉 TONIGHT: Free Family Block Party & "Win Something Wild" Jeep Drawing! 🚙🎈7/22/26

🎉 TONIGHT: Free Family Block Party & "Win Something Wild" Jeep Drawing! 🚙🎈 Join us tonight as the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown, South Dakota celebrates 53 years of community impact with our 17th Annual "Support a Child, Win Something Wild" Block Party and Raffle Drawing! Whether you bought a raffle ticket or just want to enjoy a fun summer evening with the family, everyone is invited! 🍔 What to Expect at the Block Party When & Where: Tonight, Wednesday, July 22nd starting at 5:30 PM at the main Boys & Girls Club site (Drawing at 6:00 PM!). Free Food & Fun: We’re serving up FREE grilled burgers and hot dogs (huge thanks to Reliabank!), along with candy tosses, scooters, the playground, and hilarious games like the "Granny Pants" hoop-toss! Celebrate Community: This annual mid-summer get-together is our way of saying THANK YOU to the families, supporters, and staff who help us serve over 350 local kids every single day! 🚙 Less Than 20 Raffle Tickets Left! 🎟️ We are this close to completely selling out! If you want a shot at our incredible prizes while supporting local youth programs, grab your tickets right now: Grand Prize: 2026 Jeep Compass Limited 2nd Prize: "Living Room Furniture" Package from Slumberland Ticket Cost: $100 each (You do not need to be present to win, but we'd love to see your live reaction!) How to Buy: Call the Club at 605-886-6666, visit our website/social media pages, or stop by the front desk in person! 🏆 Club Highlights & Fall Enrollment News Hall of Fame Honors: Huge congratulations to our retiring Director of Finance of 33 years, Cindy Williamson, who was just inducted into the Greater Midwest Area Council Hall of Fame! We also celebrate longtime board member Jason Hutt for being selected as Best Liaison! Field Trips Ahead: Some of our hard-working Club kids with great attendance and attitudes are heading to a Minnesota Twins game next week and the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls! Back to School: The summer program wraps up in late August, and our Fall/School Year program officially kicks off on August 25th. Keep an eye out for membership orientation and sign-up details coming soon! 📲 See you tonight at the Club! Let's drink some "blue Kool-Aid," play some games, and see who drives home in a brand-new Jeep! #BoysAndGirlsClub #WatertownSD #SupportLocalYouth #WinSomethingWild #BlockParty #GreatFuturesStartHere

🌟 Watertown Chamber Weekly Update: Big Wins, Wine Walks & Building Our Future! 🍷🏙️

🌟 Watertown Chamber Weekly Update: Big Wins, Wine Walks & Building Our Future! 🍷🏙️ We’ve had a whirlwind of excitement in Watertown, and we aren't slowing down anytime soon! Chamber President Tim Sheehan stopped by Northeast Radio SD for our weekly update to share what’s happening in our community. Here is everything you need to know: 🎓 Tonight: Leadership Watertown Graduation! When & Where: Join us today at 4:00 PM at Second Street Station as we celebrate our newest Leadership Watertown graduates! The Journey: This dedicated group just completed 8 intensive courses—touring the city, networking, and learning leadership curriculum provided by Kim Bellum at Mount Marty. Get Involved: Program graduates gain firsthand exposure to how local government works, preparing them to step up on local boards, commissions, and city councils. 🍷 The Downtown Wine Walk is Almost Here! Over Halfway Sold Out: Tickets are going faster than ever before, with record pre-sales! Event Details: The walk kicks off at 5:00 PM, featuring 20 different downtown businesses offering wine samples. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore brand-new shops and revisit your local favorites! Beautiful Weather: The forecast is looking like a gorgeous 85 degrees—perfect for a relaxing stroll downtown! Get Your Tickets: Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at watertownsd.com or by stopping into the Chamber office (no physical ticket needed—we'll check you in at the door!). 🍔 Cookin' on Kampeska Wrap-Up A Massive Community Effort: Thank you to everyone who made this incredible weekend possible! It takes 4 semi-trailers of equipment, foam machines, PA systems, bingo gear, and countless volunteers to bring this event to life. Special Shoutout: A huge nod to the Nygaards for organizing the fantastic pig roast cook-off, along with Search and Rescue and our amazing setup/cleanup crews. 🤝 Behind the Scenes & What's Ahead Workforce & Community Development: We are collaborating closely with SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), the Watertown Development Company, and the SD Manufacturing Technology Group. Together, we are tackling key local challenges like housing, daycare, and workforce recruitment to help Watertown thrive. New Teachers Lunch: Coming up in August at the Country Road Barn, where we will welcome and celebrate all new teachers and faculty joining our school district! Leadership Lab: Mark your calendars for September! Registration is now open online for our next Leadership Lab, moderated by Angie Sies and Melissa Meidinger. 📲 Stay Connected: Visit www.watertownsd.com [https://www.watertownsd.com] to grab your Wine Walk tickets, register for upcoming labs, and get involved in our growing community! #WatertownSD #WatertownChamber #SupportLocal #WineWalk #LeadershipWatertown #CommunityGrowth #SouthDakota LIVE w/ Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce - President Tim Sheehan - Weekly Update - 7/21/26 - www.watertownsd.com [https://www.watertownsd.com]