fire

Rep. Kevin Jensen, R-Sioux Falls, turns to ask a question during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 27, 2023, at the Capitol in Pierre. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Volunteer fire departments could get millions in state aid

BY: - February 27, 2023

PIERRE — Most of South Dakota’s land area is protected by firefighters who don’t get paid for their work. Most of the fire departments they work for aren’t government entities. That means the fundraising reality of the state’s largely volunteer fire force is one of charity drives, fill-the-boot dances, chili feeds and direct mail solicitation. […]

Smoke rolls off the roof of the Good Samaritan Center on Nov. 8, 2022 in Wagner, South Dakota.

Fire puts nursing home residents in Wagner polling place

BY: - November 9, 2022

Some poll workers in Wagner had to make space for around two dozen senior citizens on Tuesday after a late morning fire damaged the city’s Good Samaritan Center. The fire at the nursing home in the city of 1,400 broke out around 11 a.m., according to Charles Mix County Emergency Manager Mike Kotab. The roof […]