The Garretson Gazette

Santa’s Elves share what Garretson students want for Christmas, Nintendo tops the list

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December 22, 2022

Santa’s Elves share what Garretson students want for Christmas, Nintendo tops the list

Dear Santa,

Can I have a Lanky box big mystry box? Can I have rideabel unicorn toy? What is snow made of? how does every know to make cookies for Santa? Can I aslso have omes ficker, who ceated letteds and hammder?

Love, Anadale

Dear Santa,

I want a hatchmal, candy, wat time do you stop given presis?

Love Ailyn

Dear Santa,

I hope you think I been good this year. Please can you get me this. I want a Nintendo Switch. Mini Teeny Mates Football. Iphone 14 pro. Are you magic? wath's your favorite candy. A Jolly Rancher. X box.

Love, Hudson.

Dear Santa,

Hi 🙂 I want tobots for christmas and. I also want a farm House too. And how you get your magic. I want too know how you get the Magic

Love, Tate

Dear Santa,

I want a nintendo swich, and how Do the elf go to plas to plas. I want you to giv poor people presence to

Love, Joseph and elf orca Bart

Dear Santa,

I would realy realy want a lot of barbeis, vikngs stuff, books, grinch stuff, slime and fidgets. Santa are you going to eat my cookies that I made?

Love, Ella

Dear Santa,

I would like a Nintendo switch, another game for the will, and how Do you Go around the world in one night?

Love, ____ (scribbles)

Dear Santa,

I want an i Phone 13 please and can I have a tv and a smart-wacth and a gismo wacth and a PS 5 and a nintendo swicth and a super power May I PLEASE- have all the super powers can I have a car and an elf and a invetation to the north pole May I have all the i phones

Love, Lincoln

Dear Santa,

What I want for Christmas is a watch that you can do all the fun thigs on and it includes texting my family. what kind of cookies do you like? I have a joke for you what kind of key opens a banana A monkey

Love, Gracelyn K

Dear Santa,

I want an Elf, alos roblox card, a lego titanic, a toy dog, a toy lizard, a lego Dinisare set, a fitbit charge 5, a Minecraft creeper, a scelitin Dinisar, a toy Parit, a bag of coal Please.

Love, Hudsyn

Dear Santa,

I want to know how many children are in the world? I would like an apple watch, bring my parents joy to their harts, a natendo switch, avengers lego set, Iowa state blankets, giant bear, Jack rabbit's pillows.

Love, Carter

Dear Santa,

I want a boxing toy set with the boxing people. I want Nintendo Switch. I want a remote helicopter. I want a boomeRAng. Mini Teeny Mates. football. I want a Piano. i Phone 14. How do you git to one place to a another? Some chimneys are small how can you git in the chimneys and some don not got chimney?

Love, me

Dear Santa,

I want Minecraft Nohey and rainbow friend plush the vr toe the black widow PS4.

Love, Liam

Dear Santa,

I wont an Elf. I want a ningaGo Book Set. I want a red and a Blue Smart watch I wont Bolits an anrhrf gun. I want a Braslit Bag. I want a Drownan a map. I want a tv and a gloB. I want a Bag of ce chans. I want ely De lite's I want a roBot. I want a Ifown 14 prow!

Love, Zacharie

Dear Santa,

I want a Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5, Cards, Dog Man, Dog Man Mothering Heights, VR, Bunny, J.J Watt stuffed animal Cardinals, dog, Hot Wheels, TV, Kyler Murry Jersey, Teeny Mates, Ultimate Garage, Iphone 14 pro, b Kane Brown Tickets, Trumpet and Tickets to the Super Bowl. What do you call a train that holds a lot of gum? What is your favrite candy?

Love, Coyer

P.S. Ansers A: A choo choo train B: Jolly Rancher

Dear Santa,

I want a whole gameing set up. I want to spend time will my famly and frends. I would really like cowboy boots, caw boy hat, dirt bike gear, electric dirt bike, 5 Pokemon Packiges, Apple wache, and footBall Rug That I can put on my lawn. I Don't really want all this stuff. I just want to spend time with my famly and friends. Love You Santa. How much People are at North Pole?

Love, Mitchell

Dear Santa,

I want to have an electric dirt bike and an dirt bike grar. I also want an iphone 14 gaming cet up an rc car. an a PS5. I have a qustion. haw old are you

Love, Dalton

Dear Santa,

I would like a mini Saddle that fits a real horse and a mini halter that fits a fits a real horse and a brush for my miniature horse and spurs that fit me an mini reins that fits my miniature horse for christmas PleaSe?

Love, Brody

Dear Santa,

I want a pogo stick, nintendo switch, PS5, an electric Rc ccar, and a lego set. How can reindeer fly?

Love, Malakye

Dear Santa,

I want to spend tiem with my family and friends. Hey Santa one of your elfs. we named him Frosty. He's been funny. He peed in cups. He put up a sign and he wrote lemonad for 25¢. Santa how does your raindeer fly?

Love, Brexton

Dear Santa,

for Christmas I want a fat Monkey noodle. I also would like a bike with big wheels. even a stufey is a Dragon. also a lunchbox. how ued are you?

Love, (unsigned)

Dear Santa,

I want a computer. I also want iphone14 Also I want a pogo stck. Also an Apple watch would be awesome too! A stffed animal it would Be grat if I could have figit toys What do you do when it's not christmas?

Love, Kaleigh

Dear Santa,

I want an electric dirt bike and dirt bike gear. I also want a gaming set up and an iphone 14. A Ninteado Switch would be awesome too! I also would want Smart watch. How do your reindeer fly? Do all of your elves make the toys or do you make the toys with mrs. claus?

Love, Miles

Dear Santa,

What I would like from the North Pole is a spirograph, scratching notebook, a Nintendo Switch, a mini Christmas tree that can fit in my room & lights to hang up on it, & ornaments & IPad. Is Dasher flying fast and quick?

Love, Luciana D

Dear Santa,

my wishes for christmas are: 1. spirograPH 2. Blanket with Name on it 3. Stuffed animal with name on it 4. scratchy noteBook 5. speacl crayola crayons 6. apple watch 🖤 How Do your rein Deer fly?

Love, Kinley

Dear Santa,

This Chrstmas I'm thinking about other kids that can't afford presents. But I have a couple things I want. Like a blanket, stffed animal bat, 96 pack of crayons, and that is all. I have a question for you, "Are you magic."

Love, Alison

Dear Santa,

I want a RC Peterbilt flat nose which means engine is underneath the cab of the semi. I also want a real live foal with big horse gear and a foal halter and foal blanket, horse blanket, and calf blanket. I also want a female herfod show calf. Maybe a Elf on the Shelf. What are your rengdeer's names?

Love, Charles J. B.

Dear Santa,

I want a stuffed animal a cute one a Apple pen Soft Blanket Some polly poket a Apple wach Do you like your elfs?

Love, Parker

Dear Santa,

I will want a ipad. I also want specil crayons. I want fidget toys. I have a question How many elvs are in the North pole. I also want a new Lego. I want a new watr bottol.

Love, Miranda

Dear Santa,

I wont a RC Bowser car. I haeve a question For you. how to You fly across the world in one night?

Love, Boston

Dear Santa,

I want a Super mario Lego set. I want a Nintendo Switch. I would like an Ipad. I will want an Pokimon set. I will like a RC car. How Many Pepole are at the North Pole?

Love, Rashane E

2022 Holiday Drawing Contest!

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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We had a Christmas Miracle this week at the Gazette. With all the bad weather and snow days at the Garretson School, we were worried that the student drawings and letters to Santa wouldn’t be ready on time for our Christmas issue of the Gazette. However, like the champs they are, the staff and students at the Garretson School came through. We will announce our holiday drawing contest winners in the first paper of the New Year! You’ll see the entries throughout this issue.

Thank you to

for sponsoring this holiday drawing contest!

From the Desk of Commissioner Dean Karsky: Serving high-needs residents

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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From the Desk of Commissioner Dean Karsky: Serving high-needs residents

Counties in South Dakota play an integral role in the health and welfare of citizens. The services provided by the county include rent assistance, assistance for those experiencing homelessness, and financial assistance for utility bills and hospital bills, to name just a few. In Minnehaha County, our Human Services and Jail were seeing a trend of the same people coming in for services or returning to jail. These “familiar faces” became a point of emphasis and prompted the development of unique programs. Minnehaha County partnered with the National Association of Counties Familiar Faces Initiative to better serve the high-need residents of our community.

Leaders in the health and justice communities began to notice that individuals released from jail were often returning to jail – but the cause was unclear. After looking closely at the issue, they found there was a lack of available resources for individuals being released from jail. To help ease this transition, the Minnehaha County Human Services Department developed the Alliance Reentry Program (Alliance). Alliance provides intensive case management for individuals on a voluntary and referral basis. The Alliance staff develop relationships with clients, determine their needs, connect them to employment, housing, and other critical services. The Human Services staff went a step further to develop the Coordinated Assessment Reentry Team (CART) which meets weekly to identify potential clients and connect them with the services they need to be successful.

While reentry support is vital, Minnehaha County recognized we had a limited ability to support individuals who experience behavioral health emergencies and substance abuse disorders. A unique collaborative partnership between Minnehaha County, Sanford, Avera, and the City of Sioux Falls produced a community triage center named The Link. This project was supported through grant funding from the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge. The Link opened in 2021 and in its first six months, supported residents with 2,332 triages with 20 percent of clients accepting referral to other services.

Partnering with the MacArthur Foundation has been vital in producing improved outcomes for reintegrating justice-impacted individuals back into our community. Minnehaha County was recently selected as one of four communities to participate in the launch of the Just Home Project. Just Home is designed to improve access to housing for those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. The Just Home Project is in its early planning stages, but is an exciting opportunity for our county to continue to be a national leader in improving the lives of our citizens. Early intervention and support for those in need are proactive ways the county is working to maximize tax payer dollars.

Big Sioux River CREP is Open

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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Hooray, the Big Sioux River Conservation Enhancement Program (CREP) is finally here! This new voluntary habitat program for landowners kicked off in November and farmers and ranchers can begin enrolling their land today. CREP is essentially designed the same way as a 10–15-year CRP contract where cropland and marginal pastureland are restored to native grasses, shrubs, and wetlands, with the landowner agreeing to provide hunting and fishing access for those 10-15 years. By providing public access, the landowner will receive extra payment incentives, which raises their yearly rental rate. Average rental rates/acre for the surrounding areas are as follows: Brookings - $277, Kingsbury - $232, Lake - $294, Moody - $352, and Minnehaha - $310. There is a minimum public access area requirement of 40 acres. This minimum can be achieved with just CREP acres or a combination of CREP and GFP’s Walk-In Area program. “These CREP rental rates are really exciting and should be quite attractive” according to area Private Lands Biologist Lucas Zilverberg.

Aside from landowners, sportsmen and urbanites should be very excited about CREP along the Big Sioux River for various reasons. Obviously, the biggest reason on paper is the opportunity for 25,000 more acres open to public hunting, but other ecosystem services are improved as well. Water quality will improve through reduced sediment, phosphorous and nitrogen runoff from cropland. The Big Sioux River aquifer provides many families with drinking water especially in Sioux Falls, so improved water quality is very important. “SDGFP considers this program a grandslam by protecting and improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, creating additional forage resources for livestock producers, and generating additional public hunting and fishing access opportunities. ” said Access Coordinator Mark Norton. “While the investment from the department is substantial, we feel it is important to maintain and grow the hunting heritage in a part of the state home to many of our resident hunters” Norton continued.

In addition, benefits to both resident and migratory wildlife will be significant with and anticipated 71,000 additional ring-necked pheasants and 15,000 ducks produced annually once fully enrolled. Other wetland and grassland dependent species like deer, wild turkeys and grassland songbirds will also see population benefits. Many of the CREP grassland seedings will be comprised of diverse mixes of forbs and wildflowers, providing valuable habitat for pollinators. “The Big Sioux CREP will directly increase local populations of many game species, paying dividends to hunters and viewers alike” according to Senior Waterfowl Biologist Rocco Murano.

There will be a public online training via Microsoft Teams Wednesday Jan. 4th at 5:00PM for landowners interested in learning more about the new CREP program. In the meantime, feel free to call South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Habitat Biologist Lucas Zilverberg at 612-865-9980 or Pheasants Forever Habitat Biologist William Gallman at 704-689-9091 for more details.

Microsoft Teams Meeting: January 4 @ 5:00PM

Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 286865925505

Passcode: MCQcdg

Large crowd says ‘farewell’ to retiring commissioners Barth, Heiberger

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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Large crowd says ‘farewell’ to retiring commissioners Barth, Heiberger

By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent

SIOUX FALLS – With one meeting still left, Minnehaha County held a “farewell reception” for retiring county commissioners Jeff Barth and Cindy Heiberger was held after the regular Minnehaha County Commission meeting this week.

Barth ended the meeting reminding people that the county is the “service station” for government.

He said while a city might rebuild pools, etc., when people want to do business with the government, they go to the county.

Whether it involves renewing license plates, paying taxes, getting married, being born, or dying, citizens use sources provided by county offices.

Barth’s point seemed to be that the county takes care of its people.

In an interview on Monday, Barth looked at Sioux Falls as a government run by real estate developers, while the county is run by the people.

As he prepares to end his 16-year commission tenure, Barth talked about accomplishments and regrets during that time.

“I always learned we should leave things better off when than we found them.”

And while he was hesitant to say how he is leaving the commission better off, that became apparent when he looked at commissioners serving when he took over for the retiring Jim Zweep in 2007.

The other commissioners at that time were Carol Twedt, Anne Hajek, Bob Kolbe and Jim Pekas.

Like many governing bodies around the state, there seemed to be a lot of animosity on the county commission at that time.

He explained how some commissioners would “roll their eyes,” as others spoke, but he added that has greatly changed with the current commission.

“We are a family,” he said of the current commissioners.

And that statement was evident during a program at the reception when the three remaining commissioners spoke.

Commissioner Gerald Beninga said, “Cindy…I’ve never worked with someone more committed or dedicated in what she does.

“We will miss you, and we love you a bunch!”

Although he didn’t tell Barth, “we love you,” the affection and admiration Beninga had for a colleague came across loudly.

“I sat next to him for the last four years, and I had to learn to keep my mic off.”

He said there were things Barth whispered to him that the general public probably shouldn’t hear.

“His entertainment factor was beyond belief!”

Beninga also complemented Barth on his ability to be heard.

“Even if you didn’t agree with him, he was always respectful, and Jeff, I’ve enjoyed working with you for the past 12 years.

“Thank you for making sure we were heard.”

Barth was instrumental in getting extensive coverage for commission business from all of the independently owned county newspapers back in 2017.

He is also well known for letting his opinions be known at the weekly commission meetings, as Commissioner Jean Bender said, but she also qualified that statement.

“He (Barth) knows how to get his point across with humor, which is the best way to communicate.”

She also spoke of the entire current commission when she added, “We trust one another, and we are the envy of others.”

Commissioner Dean Karskey said to the retirees, “You are leaving at the top of your game. Both of you have made a difference.”

Heiberger, who served four terms as chairperson of the Minnehaha County Commission since she was first elected in 2010, was very moved at the reception, but her first thought upon leaving was thinking back over the journey.

“This has been so fun,” she said. “(During my time in office I have) traveled and worked with some amazing people, and I’m not just talking about the other commissioners, the staff here is incredible.”

Heiberger said she was going to take some time off to return to “normal ‘mom’ life,” but that she is planning to continue to work for her passion, which is juvenile justice reform.

She said that her one regret was that she wouldn’t be around for the final conversations on building the new juvenile justice center, as that was being left to the new commission in 2023.

At that meeting on Jan. 3, newly elected commissioners Jenn Blyenberg and Joe Kippley will be taking over on the county board.

However, Heiberger and Barth have one more meeting next week, Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 9 a.m. in the third-floor commission meeting room of the Minnehaha County Administration Building in Sioux Falls.

Streaming Continues to Shake Up TV Industry

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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Streaming Continues to Shake Up TV Industry

By Ross Petrick, Alliance Communications General Manager/CEO

Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, OH MY! As the number and cost of streaming services continue to rise, one thing is certain: Viewers are consuming more streaming content. According to Nielsen data from September 2022, streaming content consists of 37 percent of total viewing, while cable TV is at 33 percent and broadcast TV is around 24 percent.

cable transmission fees graph — Graphic courtesy Alliance Communications

Programmers still want more money for TV channels

You may have noticed that content providers are moving more shows to direct-to-consumer apps, which decreases the value of their cable TV channels.

This football season, for example, the NFL Network is only carrying seven out of 272 games. Major League Baseball aired some of their games only on Apple TV, and Thursday night NFL games are only on Amazon Prime. Disney’s Mandalorian can only be viewed exclusively online. Monday night football games are shown both on ESPN and the ESPN+ app, which further dilutes the value of the ESPN channel. Additionally, Bally Sports and Midco Sports have launched their own direct-to consumer apps.

I wish I could say that a decrease in TV content has come with a decrease in rates from programmers, but in fact it’s just the opposite. Content providers continue raising their traditional cable TV rates while reducing the programming on their traditional TV channels.

Broadcasters are no different

Over the last few years, viewing for local broadcast channels like KELO-CBS, KSFY-ABC, and KDLT-NBC has decreased dramatically while more content is moved to Paramount+, Peacock, etc. However, the retransmission fees they charge to access the local channels have increased by 31 percent, and they’re increasing again on January 1, 2023. Broadcasters are raising your rates to cover reduced viewership and advertising revenue. These higher prices and lack of ala carte options have shifted people’s viewing habits toward streaming. Those who haven’t considered streaming are left paying the bill.

In general, we’re okay with customers switching to streaming. Over the past few months, we’ve seen a substantial uptick in internet bandwidth usage as viewing habits switch to streaming, and we’re growing our capacity to meet those demands. Our goal is simply to connect our communities and customers to the world via voice, video, and internet services.

Alliance TV service transitions to streaming devices

Alliance TV is moving to the streaming world as well. This past fall, we launched AllStream Now, which is an app-based video service. With AllStream, you can watch our TV service on Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Apple TVs, and mobile IOS and Android devices rather than DVRs or set-top boxes. While AllStream doesn’t help with increasing content costs, it gives you five simultaneous streams and eliminates monthly equipment rental fees.

We’re not launching AllStream to compete with Netflix, Disney+ or Hulu. We’re moving to app-based services to continue offering Alliance TV services in a streaming world. As our set-top boxes age, they’re not keeping up with technological changes and can’t handle better signals or new features. We’re also finding it harder to purchase custom network components, DVRs and set-top boxes because of supply chain and manufacturing challenges. By moving to a more ubiquitous platform, we can offer advanced services while controlling costs and equipment availability. It’s cheaper and more flexible to move our TV service into the streaming world than to move the streaming world into our set-top boxes.

Where can I watch AllStream now?

Due to contract restrictions, most channels on AllStream will ONLY work at your home while connected to Alliance Internet. Even though Allstream can’t be viewed outside of the Alliance network, you’ll have more flexibility within your home. With AllStream, you can watch up to five different devices at one time on any TV or mobile phone within Wi-Fi coverage for only $12/month. So, you could have AllStream running on the living room TV but also watch it on your phone while in the garage. AllStream essentially eliminates multiple DVRs, set-top boxes, rental fees, and the need to run wire throughout your house. But if you’re looking for a streaming service to take with you on the road, Allstream isn’t the service for you.

How and where do I install the AllStream Now app?

AllStream currently is compatible with Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, iOS mobile and Android mobile, but we hope to expand availability to other devices soon. You should be able to download the AllStream app from the app stores and start watching as soon as you activate service with us. AllStream is meant to be a self-install service, but we’re happy to walk you through the steps over the phone.

Please note that AllStream won’t work well on smart TVs and many Roku devices because they don’t have suitable Wi-Fi antennas or processing power.

What’s going to happen to my DVRs and Set-Top Boxes?

We’ll continue supporting the boxes that are in homes today, but we’ll transition away from them over the next few years. We understand that streaming may not be for everyone, but Alliance is looking to adapt to the TV industry rather than relying on older technology to work forever.

Starting in early 2023, AllStream will be the only option for new TV customers. We aren’t installing DVRs or set-top-boxes for new TV customers.

For current TV customers, the pricing for DVR and set-top boxes now in your home won’t change. You can continue using them until they no longer work on our system or you want to convert to our AllStream service.

If you’re already a TV customer and you need to replace your current DVR/set-top boxes after Jan. 1, 2023, the following options will be available:

You can replace your box(es) with a new model for $12/box/month. The rising costs of providing cable TV along with supply chain problems have caused us to change our pricing for new boxes.
You can switch to AllStream Now. For $12/month, you’ll receive five streams and 80 hours of DVR, plus we’ll give you one complimentary Amazon Fire TV Stick.

What other changes is Alliance making to its TV service?

Along with these technology changes, we’ll no longer offer paid video on demand or pay-per view as of Jan. 1, 2023. Demand for paid movie rentals has decreased over the years because many titles are available online for free or for a lower cost. However, free local content, such as high school games, church services, or community events, will still be available through video on demand.

Additionally, the AllStream channel lineup will be slightly different from the traditional lineup. For AllStream only, we’re repackaging channels in our Elite package by genre to give you more purchasing flexibility and possibly cost savings. We also might consider dropping less-viewed channels to help control future price increases. Making channel lineup changes is difficult due to content restrictions.

Change isn’t always easy and often comes with a learning curve. We’re making these technology adjustments to adapt to new viewing habits while navigating higher programming costs and supply chain challenges.

If you have any questions about Alliance TV or our other services, please contact us by dialing 611 from any phone with Alliance service or (605) 582-6311.

Pipeline trespassing case against SD man goes to court in Iowa

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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Pipeline trespassing case against SD man goes to court in Iowa" title="Pipeline trespassing case against SD man goes to court in Iowa" />

By Jared Strong, South Dakota Searchlight in partnership with Iowa Capital Dispatch

A company that wants to build a sprawling carbon dioxide pipeline in northwest Iowa should have obtained a court order before attempting to survey private land from which it had been previously barred, a Dickinson County prosecutor argued Thursday.

At issue is a trespassing charge against Stephen James Larsen, 28, of Arlington, South Dakota, who was part of a land survey crew from Summit Carbon Solutions that attempted to evaluate farmland east of Spirit Lake in August.

Summit intends to build about 680 miles of pipe in the northwestern half of the state to transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground sequestration. The company is surveying land to help determine the pipeline’s path and depth.

State law allows pipeline companies to gain access to private land after they have held informational meetings in affected counties and have given 10 days’ notice through certified mail to landowners and tenants.

“The entry for land surveys … shall not be deemed a trespass and may be aided by (court) injunction,” the law says.

Alan Ostergren, a Des Moines attorney who is defending Larsen, said it’s unnecessary to get a court order to be protected against a criminal trespassing charge by the survey law.

“If you if you think of this as a sword and a shield in the same sentence, the shield is: The entry is not deemed a trespass,” Ostergren said Thursday during a district court hearing. “The sword is: The pipeline company gets the ability to go to court and get legal process to aid its entry.”

Ostergren is asking a judge to dismiss the trespassing charge against Larsen outright. The case had been set for trial, but the trial was delayed and has not been rescheduled.

Assistant County Attorney Steven Goodlow, who is prosecuting the case, argued Thursday against dismissal because the landowners and tenant refused to accept certified letters that were meant to give notice of the land survey.

Court records show Summit sent five letters in March and July. The company attempted to survey the land in April and August. In April, tenant Jeff Jones told a survey crew to leave the property and never return.

Goodlow argued the warning — in combination with the refusal to accept survey notices — meant Summit needed to get a court injunction to survey the land without risking a trespassing charge.

“My concern for property owners — landowners — is do they have to repeatedly, basically stand guard at the gate to continue to turn away the survey crews when they told them not to come back?” Goodlow said Thursday in court, according to a recording of the hearing provided by the Dickinson County News. He continued later: “What prevents them from coming back over and over and over again, and without any recourse? They’re trying to protect the property.”

District Associate Judge Shawna Ditsworth did not decide Thursday whether to dismiss the charge. She gave a deadline of next week for the defense to submit additional information and the prosecution a deadline of Jan. 12. It’s unclear when Ditsworth might rule on the dismissal request.

Larsen was cited Aug. 24 for trespassing when he and four others in his crew went to Jones’ farmland and were first approached by Jones’ father. The other surveyors left and were not charged with a crime. Jones said Larsen declined to provide their identities.

Summit sued three sets of landowners in September to get injunctions to perform the land surveys. Those cases are pending.

Landowners sued by Summit and by another pipeline company, Navigator CO2 Ventures, argue that the forced surveys are unconstitutional infringements of their property rights. The first trial to test that argument is currently set for February.

-This article was produced by South Dakota Searchlight (southdakotasearchlight.com) in partnership with Iowa Capital Dispatch.

District Associate Judge Shawna Ditsworth is considering a request to dismiss a trespassing charge against a carbon pipeline surveyor. (Photo by Seth Boyes/Dickinson County News)

Experts: More affordable housing is biggest need in state housing market

Carrie Moritz

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December 22, 2022

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Experts: More affordable housing is biggest need in state housing market

Stu Whitney

South Dakota News Watch

A greater focus on increasing availability of affordable housing in South Dakota is needed to enable more young people to reach their dream of owning a home, according to a panel of experts on the state real estate and mortgage industries.

Steve Ennis, a senior mortgage officer at CU Mortgage Direct in Sioux Falls, noted that the goal of keeping college graduates from moving away from South Dakota is tied to giving them opportunities to invest in their future by being able to afford a house.

That challenge is present in the existing market, where the statewide median home sales price rose by 54% from 2018 to 2022, according to the South Dakota Realtors Association. Meanwhile, median household incomes in South Dakota rose by only 17% during that time.

“It’s difficult for anyone on a single income to make it work and have enough disposable income to afford a house payment,” said Ennis, who spoke as part of an online panel discussion hosted by South Dakota News Watch on Dec. 15. “In Sioux Falls, we could use a hundred units where we could have a monthly payment of $1,200 or less. That’s a big need here, to have rent-equivalent ownership opportunities.”

The discussion was the latest segment in the ongoing “South Dakota Matters” series of polls and panel discussions hosted by News Watch.

Brandon Martens, a Sioux Falls real estate agent and former president of the South Dakota Realtors Association, noted that changes to design and infrastructure ordinances in municipalities could lead to more affordable houses by using a smaller footprint and less square footage.

“When it comes to new construction, we’ve got to look at ways to increase density,” said Martens. “We’ve got to be able to build homes on smaller lots and work with the city on how we can do that. It’s about getting back to a smaller footprint. When you look back at the 1950s and 60s, there were homes that were built in that 600- to 700-square-foot range, with a couple bedrooms and a bathroom. That’s what people want and what people need. Give them a basement and let them finish it later.”

Such changes will take time, he admitted, which means more potential frustration for first-time home buyers. The median home sales price in the Sioux Falls metro area, which includes Lincoln and Minnehaha counties, was $265,000 in 2021 and has risen by 17% over the past year to $310,000 in 2022, according to the Realtors Association of the Sioux Empire.

Dick Werner, a former lawmaker and now president of Herreid Area Housing Development Inc., said rural communities present their own housing challenges. When the Herreid native moved back to his hometown in 2016, the school’s enrollment was just over 100 and was trending to fall below 90. Lack of housing opportunities was a problem for existing residents and new immigrant families who worked at several of the county’s largest employers, including area wind farms and the Pig Improvement Co. in Mound City.

Werner, who helped form a non-profit housing group, started with one “spec” house and kept building and branching out, helping families find homes that fit their needs and incomes while helping the town and school district prosper.

“Our population has gone from right at 400 to now we’re at 477,” said Werner, a former banking officer. “The school enrollment with the fall census was 140. Housing is critical to saving our rural communities. People want to live in those places, and they want to work there.”

Keeping college-educated young people from leaving South Dakota for brighter horizons, the so-called “brain drain,” has been a goal for decades, and Ennis said the answers can be found in better-paying jobs and more realistic housing options.

“Our state has to figure out how to pay living wages,” he said. “This isn’t a 10-year trend. This has been happening for a long time, where people leave this place and flood up to Minneapolis to go to college and stick in the Twin Cities. We’ve got to have jobs that pay more money, and we need to be able to manufacture more housing and have those opportunities. A lot of people who move to Minneapolis or Omaha or Fargo end up wanting to come back to South Dakota when they’re ready to raise a family, so how do we skip that medium step and keep them right here all along? That’s what we need to figure out.”

Also on the panel was Shaylynn Hurd, a 35-year-old Rapid City resident who shared her struggle to afford a home. Hurd said she and her boyfriend recently secured a contract on a property with land and a home but very little infrastructure and few amenities south of Rapid City, Hurd said she expects their hard work in developing the property will pay financial dividends now and well into the future.

Hurd also said she hopes the housing market can be managed to allow her 8-year-old daughter to aspire to homeownership in South Dakota when she becomes an adult.

Viewers can watch the one-hour panel discussion, hosted by News Watch Content Director Bart Pfankuch, by clicking here.

— This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at SDNewsWatch.org.

News for 12-22-2022

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Carrie Moritz

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December 21, 2022

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Our annual Christmas issue is back, with Letters to Santa from the Garretson Elementary 2nd graders and Christmas-themed drawings from the Garretson Middle School 6th grade class. Plus, the water study results outline the next steps the Garretson City Council may need to take to improve water infrastructure around town, the Garretson School Board heard from Title I teacher Kim Macziewski about the success of the program, and a greater focus is needed in South Dakota on increasing the availability of affordable housing, according to a panel of experts on mortgage and state real estate industries, plus more.

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Carrie Moritz

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December 21, 2022

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Our annual Christmas issue is back, with Letters to Santa from the Garretson Elementary 2nd graders and Christmas-themed drawings from the Garretson Middle School 6th grade class. Plus, the water study results outline the next steps the Garretson City Council may need to take to improve water infrastructure around town, the Garretson School Board heard from Title I teacher Kim Macziewski about the success of the program, and a greater focus is needed in South Dakota on increasing the availability of affordable housing, according to a panel of experts on mortgage and state real estate industries, plus more.

PSA: New e-mail service implemented

The Garretson Gazette recently implemented a new email listserve. If you were receiving our emails and now are not, please ensure you enter our email address () into your "safe emails" list and re-subscribe to our listserve using the form below. Thanks!

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