Sunny Radio News

Adopt-A-Neighborhood Seminar

2013-04-30T01:37:00.003-07:00

: Sioux Falls businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations are invited to attend the Adopt-A-Neighborhood Seminar on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Main Library at 200 North Dakota Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls.
The City of Sioux Falls Community Development Department is sponsoring this
free seminar that will feature information on Adopt-A-Neighborhood opportunities within
the city of Sioux Falls and how your organization can get involved in partnering with
service-based organizations to make a difference in your neighborhood.

Planning Commission Meeting Canceled

2013-04-30T01:37:00.001-07:00

The Planning Office announced today that the agenda items scheduled for the May 1 Planning Commission meeting have all been deferred to later public hearing dates. With no items on the agenda, the Planning Commission meeting has been canceled.

75 Branch Out Volunteers Still Needed For Saturday

2013-04-30T01:36:00.001-07:00

Sioux Falls Area companies and groups are being encouraged to spend Saturday, May 4 “branching out” to help seniors and people with disabilities who need storm cleanup assistance. The Sioux Empire United Way, Argus Leader Media and the Helpline Center will host the event, and 75 more volunteers working in teams are needed. Each team will be assigned to help at least one homeowner. Volunteers will be asked to haul branches out of backyards and rake the properties. They will also be encouraged to haul the branches to a drop off site if possible. Businesses and groups can register to participate at www.helplinecenter.org or they can dial 211. Volunteers must by 18 years of age or older. Companies that can’t provide volunteer assistance can contact the Helpline Center for other ideas on ways to get involved, including raising funds for the Storm Recovery Fund at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

Burning Fallen Trees/Branches in a Fire Pit

2013-04-29T01:46:00.001-07:00

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Prevention Division has received several questions regarding burning fallen trees and branches in a recreational fire pit. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue’s policy states that firewood or charcoal is allowed to be burned in a contained recreational fire pit. Sioux Falls Fire Prevention Division would like to remind everyone that most
of the trees and branches that have recently fallen due to the ice storm will be green. Therefore, the branches and trees will not burn well and will produce greater amounts of smoke. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue’s policy also states that any recreational fire producing a smoke nuisance or reported to 9-1-1 must be extinguished immediately. The recently fallen branches and trees will be much better firewood if they are allowed to dry this season and then split and used next summer. Fire pits must be no more than 3 feet in width, and the fuel arrangement cannot be more than 2 feet in height. The fire must be at least 15 feet away from all combustible structures including fences, decks, and sheds. A garden hose, dirt and shovel, or a fire extinguisher must be in the immediate vicinity to extinguish the fire in case of an emergency.

Residents Can Help With Second Pass of Branch Pickup

2013-04-29T01:45:00.001-07:00

Sioux Falls, we need your help even more on our
second pass of the city,” said Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works. Crews have
finished the initial citywide pass to remove downed tree branches from the
neighborhoods throughout Sioux Falls. As the second pass begins, here are guidelines
that residents are being asked to follow:
Please consolidate your branch piles.
Cut large branches into segments that are less than 8 feet long.
Branches MUST be placed between the sidewalk and the curb.
Do not park in front of branch piles.
Sacks or bags of twigs and branches will not be picked up. Please take them to
one of the free branch drop-off locations. Do not place them by your branch pile.
In the spirit of volunteerism, consider helping your neighbors with the cleanup
effort. Residents needing assistance with branch cleanup should contact the Helpline
Center to register for assistance. The Helpline Center can be reached by calling 2-1-1.
Individuals or groups interested in volunteering to help with branch cleanup can also
register with the Helpline Center.

Parks Cleanup Continues

2013-04-26T01:34:00.001-07:00

The warmer weather on Thursday was a good reason to be outdoors, but after the recent ice storm destroyed many Sioux Falls parks, some residents said they were having a hard time just finding a nice place to enjoy the weather. While many parks may still be considered a disaster zone littered with branches and debris, Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation for the city, says he is determined to change that as quickly as possible.

Yankton Archery Weekend

2013-04-26T01:33:00.001-07:00

World class archers will be flooding into Yankton this weekend as they get ready for the IFAA world indoor tournament. But the world class Yankton archery complex will also be getting some new land. The city of Yankton has agreed to give the facility 12 acres that used to be a dump. With only so many ways the land can be used, the archery range gladly took the extra acreage for their outdoor range.

Beef Plant Layoff

2013-04-26T01:32:00.003-07:00

A northern South Dakota beef processing plant says it's laying off 108 of its 420 employees until it can raise enough money to buy more cattle. Northern Beef Packers president David Palmer says the plant has raised more than $150 million, but it's putting a planned ramp up on hold until it can raise about $20 million more. Palmer says the plant is working with additional foreign investors, international trading companies, established food companies and financial investors.

State of the City

2013-04-26T01:32:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, Sioux Falls city leaders took a look back into 2012 to reflect on last year's accomplishments. During Mayor Mike Huether's State of the City Address at Carnegie Town Hall, he said the people of Sioux Falls have a lot to celebrate. The weather has started to warm and the sun is shining, adding a little extra sparkle to the city of Sioux Falls. The city itself has seen a lot of growth over the past year, growth Mayor Mike Huether said residents support.

State Parks Take Reservations

2013-04-26T01:31:00.001-07:00

Though temperatures are just now warming up, area state parks like Newton Hills have been planning for camping season for quite some time; but the recent winter weather has impacted some of their plans. As the snow melts along the hiking trails, people are finally getting out to enjoy everything Newton Hills has to offer. Newton Hills and other area state parks are currently taking reservations through the month of July. If you’d like to know more about making reservations, you can visit their website http://travel.campsd.com/Campgrounds-and-RV-Parks/All/Newton-Hills-State-Park/Reservations

Kingswood Rummage Kicks O

2013-04-25T01:42:00.001-07:00

The largest rummage sale in the region, attracting thousands of people from South Dakota and nearby states, took place as planned Wednesday, despite recent winter weather. This marks the 35th annual Kingswood Rummage Sale and every year nearly 100,000 people head to Sioux Falls to shop for a good bargain. On Wednesday, the weather went from sunny and warm, to cloudy and chilly, then ending with some rainfall, but that didn't stop people from scoping out the sale for some deals.

No Screen Week for Tweens

2013-04-25T01:41:00.001-07:00

Celebrate National No Screen Week with numerous games and other fun activities instead of watching TV. Learn games and activities for both individuals and groups. Take these ideas home to share with your family. Proper gym shoes are required. No Screen Week is for tweens, ages 10 to 13 years old, and will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kuehn Community Center. Registration is required by April 30 and costs $5 per participant. Kuehn Community Center is located at 2801 South Valley View Road.

Branch Out Volunteers, Homeowners Needed

2013-04-25T01:40:00.001-07:00

Sioux Falls Area companies are being encouraged to have their staff spend May 4 “branching out” to help seniors and people with disabilities who need storm cleanup assistance. The Sioux Empire United Way, Argus Leader Media and the Helpline Center will host the event, and 250 volunteers working in 25 teams are needed. Each team will be assigned to help at least one homeowner. Volunteers will be asked to haul branches out of backyards and rake the properties. They will also be encouraged to haul the branches to a drop off site if possible. Businesses can register to participate at www.helplinecenter.org or they can dial 211 for more information. Volunteers must by 18 years of age or older.

Dine and Ditch

2013-04-24T02:51:00.001-07:00

Five people who police say tried to get a free meal from Denny's have been arrested for allegedly skipping out on their bill. Rapid City Police say they tracked down and arrested three men and two teenage girls after they walked out of the North Lacrosse Street restaurant without paying for their meals. One of the men is accused of flashing a gun.

Summit League Tournament

2013-04-24T02:50:00.003-07:00

The Summit League Tournament had a record breaking turnout and provided millions of dollars in revenue for the city of Sioux Falls. This year, nearly 45,000 fans between the men's and women's sessions, attended the nation-wide tournament, which is 4,000 more than last year. Fans traveling to Sioux Falls stayed in hotel rooms, a number that increased for the fifth consecutive year and the city saw an economic impact of more than $2 million. Next year, the tournament will be held at the arena again.

Cliff Avenue Greenhouse

2013-04-24T02:50:00.001-07:00

This spring the Midwest has experienced a lot of winter weather and while some businesses are booming with cleanup efforts, such as tree and snow removal companies, others are at a stand-still. For the past month, greenhouses and garden centers are seeing very little traffic flow, because a lot of trees and plants can't bear the extreme cold conditions. The Cliff Avenue Greenhouse and Garden Center in Sioux Falls said they receive nearly 15 calls a day from people asking when their nursery will be up and running, but with the cold and snow, the trees and flowers can't survive outside.

SD Man Charged With Threatening Sen. Tim Johnson

2013-04-23T02:16:00.001-07:00

A South Dakota man accused of threatening U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson because the senator supports gun control has been taken into custody. According to documents filed in federal court, Jonathan Constantine of Piedmont has been charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another. Constantine allegedly posted a message March 16 on the senator's Facebook page.

Pinterest for Beginners at Brandon Community Library

2013-04-23T02:14:00.003-07:00

Get Pinterest savvy at a free introductory class offered by Siouxland Libraries. Learn how people use this social site to discover and share ideas for crafts, cooking, home decoration, and more! This free class is open to everyone and will be held at the Brandon Community Library on Monday, April 29, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. Call 582-2390 to register or sign up using the online events calendar at www.siouxlandlib.org.

City to Announce Storm Recovery Process for Parks

2013-04-23T02:14:00.001-07:00

s Mayor Mike Huether will highlight steps the City is taking to clear the City’s parks of fallen branches and trees damaged in the April 9, 2013, ice storm at a news conference on Tuesday, April 23. The news conference will take place at 3 p.m. in the Commission Room of City Hall, 224 West Ninth Street.

Bear Mountain Hand Crew to Assist With Branch Cleanup

2013-04-23T02:13:00.001-07:00

Bear Mountain Hand Crew will join teams already working to clear Sioux Falls of fallen branches and debris. The hand crew is a specialized 20-member team from South Dakota Wildland Fire Division based out of Rapid City. Established in 2005 as an all-hazard incident response team, the crew is available to aid with both in- and out-of-state incidents. This experienced organization has responded to a long list of wildland fires along with the southeast South Dakota flood incident. While in Sioux Falls, they will assist with cleanup efforts in public parks and along the Big Sioux waterway.

No Screen Week for Grade-Schoolers

2013-04-22T03:00:00.003-07:00

Celebrate National No Screen Week with numerous games and other fun activities instead of watching TV. Learn games and activities for both individuals and groups. Take these ideas home to share with your family. Proper No Screen Week is for grade-schoolers, ages 6 to 9 years old, and will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kuehn Community Center. Registration is required by April 26 and costs $5 per participant. Kuehn Community Center is located at 2801 South Valley View Road.

Celebrate Spring on the Bike Trail

2013-04-22T03:00:00.001-07:00

A major milestone was reached yesterday when crews finished clearing branches and completed sweeping the Bike Trail System. Sioux Falls residents are again able to enjoy one of the City’s most precious assets. Recovery work being done in the park system is part of Operation Timber Strike! For more information on the Bike Trail system visit: http://www.siouxfalls.org/parks/

Arbor Day Extravaganza Cancelled

2013-04-19T01:22:00.001-07:00

Due to current park conditions, the Arbor Day Extravaganza scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Great Bear Recreation Park has been canceled.

SFSD Staff To See Salary Increase

2013-04-19T01:14:00.003-07:00

3,000 Sioux Falls School District employees will be seeing raises this summer. After negotiations between the school board and employee groups, it has been decided that teachers will be receiving five year contracts with more than an 8.5% increase in salary.
Other administration employees will also see a just over a 4.8% increase in pay. The raises show more investment into education, following former cuts and the recession.

Paratransit service meeting

2013-04-19T01:14:00.001-07:00

The Public Transit Advisory Board of the City of Sioux Falls will hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comments on changes to Paratransit service that limit the following:
• Limit the service coverage area during peak travel times (7-9 a.m. and
2-4 p.m.) to locations within three-fourths mile of a fixed route except for
current subscription trips.
• Limit the service coverage area after 6:30 p.m. to locations within
three-fourths mile of a fixed route.
• Do not accept any new or modified subscription trips to and from
locations that are beyond three-fourths mile of a fixed route.
The public hearing will be held at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013, at City Hall,
224 West Ninth Street in the first floor Commission Room