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Daily digest, your guide to the Mitchell area, from Senior Games to a Deep Science video link/lecture to a Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking.

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News

MTI ranked 22nd best community college by US website

Mitchell Technical Institute has been ranked the 22nd best community college in the nation by a higher education/career website.

• MTI logo
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Tuition hikes may be on ice

SD regents to consider freeze for student fees.

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Thune's border fence plan nixed

SD senator offering four more immigration reform amendments.

• John Thune
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Drug court gets office space

Davison County Commissioners also learn of possible animal shelter grant.

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Fort Pierre riverfront project headed to court

FORT PIERRE (AP) — A proposed $16 million development on the Missouri River that would be the largest commercial undertaking in Fort Pierre history appears headed to the courts after the City Council rejected new petitions seeking a public vote on more aspects of the project.

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USD Indian studies program comes under fire

VERMILLION (AP) — Some University of South Dakota students are criticizing the school's Native Studies major, saying it falsely advertises coursework and doesn't have enough instructors.

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SD board seeks public comment on place names

PIERRE (AP) — A South Dakota board responsible for getting rid of offensive geographic names is seeking public comment on whether the word "Negro" is offensive.

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Arson trial begins in Tyndall

Couple accused of burning own Springfield business.

Mitchell residents to chat live via video with physicists underground

Thursday event hosted by the Roatary Club is open to the public.

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Area school districts holding elections Tuesday

At least four area school districts will hold elections Tuesday.

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Clear Lake man allegedly shoots 2 others, then kills self

40-year-old Brett Pommer, barricaded himself inside the residence.

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SD panel begins domestic abuse study

Legislators to look at issues regarding same-sex couples.

• David Gilbertson
• Craig Tieszen
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Agriculture

Hughes Co, OKs zone change for pulse plant

HARROLD (AP) Hughes County Commissioners have approved the final plat and zoning changes needed to construct a new pulse processing plant set to be near Harrold.

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Bovine TB case in ND shouldn’t hurt exporting

BISMARCK (AP) — State and cattle industry officials say North Dakota’s first reported case of bovine tuberculosis in 14 years shouldn’t threaten the state’s federally designated “TB-free” status.

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GUEBERT: Top reasons to love China’s purchase of Smithfield

There are dozens of reasons for American farmers and ranchers to be thrilled — nay, elated! — by Shuanghui International Holding Inc.’s proposed $4.7 billion purchase of Smithfield Foods, Inc., America’s biggest pork chop.

• Alan Guebert
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PHOTO: Steer rollover auction

The rollover auction raised $6,250 to support the Agriculture and Transportation Technologies Division at MTI. Click image to read more.

• PHOTO: Steer rollover auction

Much of eastern SD drought-free

Statewide moisture conditions best since last June.

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Grocers say potato group illegally boosted spud prices, spied on farmers

A U.S. wholesaler accuses America’s spud farmers of driving up prices while spying on farmers with satellites and aircraft fly-overs to enforce strict limits on how many tubers they can grow.

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Parkston farmer awarded $1 million in fraud case

A Hutchinson County jury awarded farmer Curtis Huether $100,000 in damages and $1 million in punitive damages against David Bisson.

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Life

Scavenger’s Journey planned this week

The Second Annual South Dakota Scavenger’s Journey will take place Friday through Sunday along a 90-mile stretch of old U.S. Highway 16 and Interstate 90 in central South Dakota.

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Annual Ribs at the Ranch and Running of the Pigs set

FREEMAN -- The annual Ribs at the Ranch will be held on June 29 at Freeman Academy.

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Dakota Discovery Museum to host book signing

‘Black Hills Doc’ is memoir by father of artist Hargens.

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Forging Demonstrations to be hosted at the Dakota Discovery Museum

Artist blacksmith Clark Martinek will be doing demonstrations on the museum grounds during his exhibit, “The Evolution of Iron,” which runs through Aug. 31.

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Mitchell teen to travel nation

Wenzel, others to compete across US.

• Mason Wenzel
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PHOTO: Bus driver honored

Carroll Torberson has driven every school bus route in Mitchell through the years. He received the Distinguished Service Award Monday. Click to read more.

• PHOTO: Bus driver honored

Pierre residents talk about ghostly times in buildings

At the Opera House, there are tales of a spectral presence wandering the upper balcony of the old theater. A woman fell to her death there in the early 1900s, leaving a child.

• Mad Mary's Steakhouse
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AMY KIRK: A Positive + A Negative = Ranch Life

Ranching is perpetually dealing with positive and negative situations simultaneously.

• Amy Kirk
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BACK IN TIME: Air Force guard house

Bud Homan purchased the guard house and transformed the building into a restaurant, calling it The Brig. Click to read more.

• BACK IN TIME: Air Force guard house

BOOKS: Crane poetry makes an uplifting picture book

“What Can a Crane Pick Up?” is a poetic book about the variety of objects and living things that can be lifted by a crane.

• 'What Can A Crane Pick Up?'
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Opinion

OUR VIEW: Gay or straight, people deserve protection from domestic abuse

If two people are in a domestic relationship and one takes advantage of that relationship to abuse the other, that’s wrong and potentially criminal.

• OUR VIEW
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TUPPER: Love me? Make me a mix tape

New technology just can’t capture that old magic.

• Seth Tupper
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WOSTER: Spring into Oahe guarantees tradition continues

Summer is officially here this week, for heaven’s sake.

• Terry Woster
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OUR VIEW: City right to charge high rates to mow lawns

In several cases, the same property owners were charged multiple times for mowing lawns on property they own.

• OUR VIEW
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NOEM: House working to promote a healthy economy

While the national unemployment rate is 7.6 percent, South Dakota’s continues to be substantially lower at 4.1 percent.

• Kristi Noem
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THUNE: Senate’s 2013 farm bill moves ag policy in the wrong direction

Farmers are keeping up with the latest technology using satellite steering systems for their machinery and applying seed, fertilizer, and chemicals with pinpoint accuracy and precision. I believe agriculture policy should follow this example of efficiency.

• John Thune
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MILBANK: The left turns compliant on violating civil liberties

Progressive lawmakers and the liberal commentariat have been passive and acquiescent toward the secret spying programs.

• Dana Milbank
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MERCER: Legislator values split over protection orders for same-sex abuses

During previous legislative session, House members scaled back a reform bill to apply only to opposite-sex partners.

• Bob Mercer
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WOSTER: Dad’s impact never fades

Death, half-century can’t dim memories of father’s strength.

• Terry Woster
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TRACY: Hanging out with the smart kids

Mitchell poised to break into Intelligent Communities’ Top 7.

• Mayor Ken Tracy
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LETTER: Race should not mean specialized treatment

I want to thank the Yankton Sioux Tribe for not labeling me a racist.

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LETTER: On wine issue, city should get out of way

Councilman Olson’s not a prohibitionist, but would rather continue to prohibit both open consumption outside your own home than to allow it on both your street and Main Street.

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LETTER: Milltown’s Island Park improving, needs help

A picnic shelter will be built this month where the pavilion once stood.

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LETTERS: SD owes prosperity partly to Republicans

With the obvious corruption of the Chicago politicians showing how little they share in South Dakota values, it makes little sense that we would send off one more Democrat to split South Dakota’s two senatorial votes.

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Sports

Mitchell High boys learning offense and are playing at Cornbelt Conference camp

New Mitchell High School boys’ basketball coach Erik Skoglund instituted his offensive philosophy during individual Kernel Camp in late May.

Sisters use rivalry to advantage in journey to state high school final rodeo

CHAMBERLAIN — This year will be the first time Savanna and Moriah Glaus compete against each other in the same three events at the South Dakota High School Rodeo State Finals, which begins today in Belle Fourche.

Wednesday's sports schedule: 06/19/2013

A list of today's area sporting events

Mitchell Legion team falls to West

SIOUX FALLS — The Mitchell Post 18 Legion baseball committed eight errors en route to falling to Sioux Falls West 15-9 Tuesday.

Tuesday's Briefs: 06/18/2013

Alexandria stays on top of Class B amateur poll By The Daily Republic The Alexandria Angels maintained their spot at the top of this week’s Class B South Dakota amateur baseball poll. Three other area teams are ranked in the top five of the Class B poll. Dimock/Emery is third, Parkston Mudcats are fourth and Canova is fifth.

WILTZ: I didn't realize SD waters held so many walleyes!

In late May, I received a letter in personal longhand from Gary Allen, of Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service, in Chamberlain. For many years, I’ve thought about going out on our Missouri River with a professional guide.

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• Connor Bialas