Northeast Radio SD News Recap for Tuesday, July 7, 2026

"Cruise Through South Dakota History Markers," we take a trip to Kranzburg to uncover the amazing story of the District No. 5 schoolhouse

Ever wonder what school was like on the South Dakota frontier? 🎒🌾 In our latest "Cruise Through South Dakota History Markers," we take a trip to Kranzburg to uncover the amazing story of the District No. 5 schoolhouse! Back in 1879, local settlers gathered at the Kranz Hotel and pooled their money to build this one-room school for under $1,000. The very first teacher, C.E. South, managed 29 students ranging from 5 all the way up to 21 years old—all for just $30 a month! After serving the community for 90 years, the schoolhouse closed its doors in 1960 and almost faded into history. But thanks to a promise kept by local resident Charles Strang, and the elbow grease of his daughters Carol, Mary, and Eileen (along with a grant from the Watertown Area Community Foundation), this incredible piece of prairie history was saved, restored, and transformed into a community museum. It’s a beautiful reminder that our local history never truly fades away when a community comes together. 🎧 Tune in to Northeast Radio SD for the full story, and be sure to check out the schoolhouse the next time you're in Kranzburg for their famous 4th of July parade! 🎆

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