shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com June 4, 2019 • Page 3 Ag Summit Features U.S. Deputy Secretary Noem Statement On Of Agriculture And Next Generation Panel Rising Missouri River Water Levels PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture today announced two headline items for the 2019 Governor’s Agriculture Summit: a keynote address by Stephen Censky, the Deputy U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Governor Kristi Noem’s Next Generation of Agriculture panel. Deputy Secretary Censky will be the keynote speaker on July 10, discussing timely topics in agriculture and providing updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Censky grew up on a soybean, corn and diversified livestock farm near Jackson Minnesota. He obtained his B.S. in Agriculture from South Dakota State University and received his postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Governor Noem will be hosting the Next Generation of Agriculture panel on July 11. The next genera- tion is vital to the continued success of agriculture in South Dakota. Therefore, Governor Noem is excited to welcome four up and coming agriculturalists to discuss the opportunities and challenges that they face as the next generation. These panelists include Calli Williams, a Livestock and Farm Sales Producer for Fischer, Rounds & Associates and first-generation cow-calf producer; John Eilertson, an animal science major at South Dakota State University; Logan Wolter, an ag business major at Mitchell Technical Institute; and Taylor Mc Martin, the SD 4-H Ambassador Treasurer and senior at West Central High School. The summit will be held July 10 and 11 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The event brings together leaders in business, finance, education, government and production agriculture to demonstrate agriculture's comparative advantages and discuss ways to harness the industry's potential for economic development. The summit is open to anyone who is interested in the ways agriculture impacts South Dakota. Registration is required and is open through June 28. For more information and to register, go to www.sdagsummit. com. There is no cost to attend. For those unable to attend in person, a live web stream of the event will be available at www.sdagsummit.com. Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Connect South Dakota Grants Awarded PIERRE, S.D. – Connect South Dakota, the state program designed to fund broadband projects in unserved and underserved areas across the state, recently awarded $5 million to its first grant recipients. The money was approved by legislators last March. The initial $5 million will leverage more than $11.4 million in project costs. “Sixty-five percent of kids in elementary school today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist. These jobs will almost certainly require access to a highspeed internet connection,” said Noem. “Raising the next generation with access to online resources is our responsibility as parents and citizens.” “Connect South Dakota is a step toward closing the broadband gap in South Dakota and equipping our kids for the jobs of the future. The greatest need we found in our assessment was for funding in some of the outer rings around communities that don’t have the population density of a city or town and aren’t rural enough to qualify for federal rural broadband dollars. In our first round of awards, we will be able to impact more than 100 businesses and about 4,800 homes,” continued Noem. These eight projects are “shovel ready” and will be completed by the end of 2019. “It’s imperative that we continue moving projects forward in a timely fashion. Broadband speeds are improving continuously so we need to stay ahead of the curve,” Noem added. The following companies were awarded grants: Alliance Communications Garretson $269,428 Serving northeastern Minnehaha and southeastern Moody counties Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority Eagle Butte $474,500 Serving Timber Lake Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative Clear Lake $253,300 Serving rural Codington County Midco Communications Sioux Falls $306,199 Serving rural Clay and Union counties Mitchell Telecom Mitchell $441,470 Serving rural Davison County RC Technologies New Effington $361,500 Serving Kranzburg and rural Codington Vast Broadband Sioux Falls $128,844 Serving Irene Wakonda & Alsen areas Venture Communications Highmore $2,764,759 Serving rural Hughes County “This program is about public-private partnerships and how we can work together to impact the lives of South Dakotans,” Noem concluded. “I commend all the telecommunications companies for their sizable financial commitment to improving service in their communities. Thank you to all of the companies that applied. We look forward to continuing this program in the future.” Get Your Ad In! 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem released the following statement May 30: “In recent days, state officials have been notified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of rising Missouri River water levels. Those levels are expected to remain higher than average for the next several weeks. Any additional rainfall could mean even higher levels. Since this spring’s blizzard and floods, my team and I have been in regular communication with the Corps to ensure we remain responsive and engaged during this unusually wet year. While Corps officials have told us that they are confident in their ability to manage the Missouri River system, we remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the state’s citizens have the most updated information regarding levels and are prepared should the situation change. As a precaution against possible flooding, the Department of Public Safety has worked with several South Dakota cities to ask the Corps to review their flood prevention plans to make sure they are updated and ready if needed. We have received requests for assistance from the following cities: Pierre, Fort Pierre, Vermillion, Oacoma, Dakota Dunes, and Yankton. I support the cities in their requests, and I urge the Corps to immediately begin that review process. Our communities need to know they are ready to respond if flooding does occur. Many South Dakotans have vivid memories of the 2011 flood. We will not sit and wait for possible flooding to happen. We will be proactive. We will prepare for the worst and hope for the best. As I have told Corps officials this spring, the protection of people and property remains my number one priority. We continue to stay in contact with the Corps and will hold them accountable for any unscheduled increases in the river’s water levels.” Eighth Grader Wins $10,000 In Highway Safety’s “Lesson Learned SD” Program PIERRE, S.D. – Angie Lockett just received her we had even more students participating than last year,” learner’s driving permit two weeks ago. Friday, she won says South Dakota Broadcasters Association president $10,000 for her promise to remain a safe driver. Steve Willard. “Those stories are real, powerful and comThe New Holland student was announced Friday as pelling. I wish everyone would see them, because if they the winner of this year’s “Lesson Learned SD” program did, they’d wear seat belts from then on. Kudo’s to the during a ceremony at the Sioux Empire Mall in Sioux kids for speaking the truth.” Falls. Governor Kristi Noem announced Angie’s name at Angie will be a freshman this fall at Platte-Geddes the end of a Safe Summer Driving Program. and her school also has benefited from her name being “Angie, who is now also taking driver’s education, is a drawn. The Broadcasters Association has contributed fine example of how all of us can be safer and better driv- another $10,000 that Angie can designate to school ers,” Noem says. “We want our young drivers to learn at programs or activities of her choice. Angie has decided an early age to be safe drivers. These are life-long good to give $5,000 each to the school’s band and theatre habits.” programs. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety designed “Having the schools benefit from a student winthe program to encourage young people to be safe drivning has been a major piece to this program,” says Lee ers. The cash prizes are sponsored by the South Dakota Axdahl, director of the State Office of Highway Safety. Broadcasters Association. This is the fourth year for the “We are getting more teachers and schools all the time program. encouraging their students to take part in the program. Drivers between the ages of 14 and 19 are encouraged It is a cooperative effort to help give young drivers the to go to the “Lesson Learned SD” website, which features skills they need to be safe on the roads.” safe driving videos on issues such nd & 3rd, 9th & driving, th & 17th • 1-3:00PM Office of Highway Safety is part of the South Dakota’s December 2 as distracted 10th, 16 seatbelt use and driving under the influence. Particistate Department of Public Safety. Bring Your Cameras! pants who then answer the follow-up safety questions The Lesson Learned website can be found at: http:// are entered in the contest to win the cash prizes. Alexa www.lessonlearnedsd.com/student/. was one of 2,600 eligible entries. “This was the fourth year for the program and •Busch & Busch Light 30 pks ........... $15.79 Always LOW Liquor Prices! •Old Milwaukee & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 •Miller High Life & Light 30 pks ........$14.99 •Bud & Bud Light 24 pks ........................$17.99 109 W. 3rd St. • 605-665-7865 * Yankton Meridian District * www.yanktonrexall.com Wow! What a Price! SOYBEANS - MAKE MORE PROFIT Premiums of $1.30 - $1.70 (over cash market) paid for Non-GMO Soybeans Delivered to St. Lawrence, SD plant & Arlington, SD Congratulations A & E Basements The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors hosted a ribbon cutting for A & E Basements, located at 1701 Broadway Avenue. A & E Basements is a locally owned company. They use pressure relief systems to remove water, transforming your basement into a dry, healthy and enjoyable living space. Owners are Azariah Fayas and Eric Anderson. 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