Jones County, SD

Last week Mother Nature reminded us of her power and communities were left literally, picking up the pieces. “As everyone is aware, we experienced three consecutive nights of severe weather that raised havoc with our electrical system and our members’ personal property,” said West Central Electric CEO/Manager, Jeff Birkeland. In total, West Central Electric lost 69 transmission poles and 297 distribution poles. “Although the 297 distribution poles might sound alarming,” said Birkeland, "the 69 transmission poles are far more critical. Our transmission line system is the backbone of our electrical system.” A comparison of the Transmission electrical lines made by Birkeland would be the main line for the West River Lyman Jones water system. "If you lose your main water line, nobody is getting any water, or in our case, electricity. At one time, we had 2,300 meters without power,” said Birkeland. "Shortly after repairing the main transmission line we went from 2,300 meters without power down to 60. That’s how critical a transmission line is for us.”

JONES COUNTY, S.D. (KELO) — The National Weather Service in Aberdeen continues to investigate storm damage from a powerful thunderstorm that made its way across central South Dakota on the weekend of June 12. Officials say they have confirmed one tornado in Jones County so far. Experts believe an...

ABERDEEN, S.D.(KCCR)- The National Weather Service in Aberdeen continues to investigate storm damage from a powerful supercell thunderstorm that churned across central South Dakota two weekends ago. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Kelly Serr says they so-far have confirmed one twister in Jones County. That tornado was on the ground for just...

MURDO, S.D.–A National Weather Service survey team has confirmed a tornado was responsible for storm damage in Jones County, South Dakota Sunday night. The EF-1 tornado with winds of 100 miles per hour touched down four miles northeast of Okaton. It continued on a northeasterly path for nearly six miles.

A National Weather Service survey team has determined a tornado was responsible for storm damage in Jones County Sunday night (June 12, 2022). The EF-1 tornado with winds of 100 miles per hour touched down four miles northeast of Okaton. It continued on a northeasterly path for nearly six miles.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — More than 2,000 people are without power in western South Dakota after two storms moved through the area over the weekend. According to the West Central Electric outage map, 2,101 customers are without power. A majority of those are located in Haakon and Jackson Counties.

PIERRE & RAPID CITY, S.D.(KCCR & KBHB)- Severe storms slams through central South Dakota this past weekend leaving plenty of damage and power outages behind. Susan Sander, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Rapid City says damage surveys have been completed in the Philip area in Haakon County.

The Jones County community came together yet again. This time to procure new wheels for beloved community member Fred Herbaugh. Fred travels across Murdo on a bicycle as his main transportation and about a month ago, two of his friends discussed purchasing Fred a more stable three-wheel bicycle. During their research into finding the right bike, they learned that a three-wheel is more physical work to ride than a two-wheel. At that point, they began to look at electric bikes. However, due to the cost of a three-wheel electric bike, they came up with the idea of asking the community to help with the project.

1. This is your last year as superintendent before retirement. How do you feel about retiring? Mixed emotions, but looking forward to the next chapter. I will miss the staff and students, but know that great things are coming for the district. 2. What is your history with Jones County...

The USDA Forest Service anticipates conducting one to three prescribed burns on the Fort Pierre National Grassland sometime in the next several weeks. Potential burn sites include the 345-acre Richland Wildlife Area in Jones County, the 310-acre Camp Flat East South Pasture in Lyman County, and a 195-acre portion of the Glenn Pasture in Jones County.

The USDA Forest Service will be conducting a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis of activities proposed under the Lower Booth Dam Project. The project would authorize mowing to reduce potential fire fuel accumulation around Lower Booth Dam. The area encompasses 78 acres of National Forest System lands on the Fort Pierre National Grassland in Jones County, SD.

Former Jones County Athletic Director Larry Ball was recently inducted into the South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame. Ball retired in 2019 after serving as Jones County’s Principal and AD for over two decades. Ball taught and coached at Vermillion, O’Gorman, Wessington Springs and Groton before coming to Murdo. He served on the SDHSAA Board of Directors from 2004-09 and was chairperson during that time, and he received the National Interscholastic Administrators Association Award of Merit.

The three newest members to be inducted into the South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame are Larry Ball of Jones County, Jim Dorman of Sioux Falls and Mark Meile of Hartford. The induction ceremony was held in conjunction with the Spring Athletic Director’s Conference Award Luncheon at...

Jones County High School’s National Honor Society Induction Ceremony for the Blue and Orange Chapter took place on April 6 at the mini gym. Eight students achieved membership this year to make a total of 18!. Senior Noah Karg, hosted the ceremony, and speeches were also given by seniors...

The Jones County school staff attended a conference to listen to a motivational speaker, Damon West, who discusses ways to help create positive changes. The school district also purchased a book for each teacher to read to their class. “The Coffee Bean”, is a book written by Damon West and illustrated for children by Jon Gordon. For World Kindness Day K- 6th grade colored coffee sleeves from local coffee and flower shop Crossroads and gifted them back to brighten customers’ day when they order a coffee from the shop. The Coffee Bean is an inspirational story about a boy who deals with challenges at a new school. One of his teachers notices that he is struggling and shares a life-changing lesson with him. In short the lesson is that you can either be a carrot, a hard-boiled egg, or a coffee bean. When in hot water a carrot becomes soft, an egg becomes hard, but a coffee bean transforms it’s environment. Three lessons the book mentions to accompany that sentiment are; 1. Help others, 2. Include everybody, and 3. Smile.

Jones County student, Savanah Hendricks, performed at the 72nd annual All-State Band Grand Concert at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University on March 26. The two-day event kicked off with all of the students and directors attending a Mnozil brass concert on the first night.

NEW UNDERWOOD — Entering their Region 7B play-in game, the Jones County boys basketball team had just seven wins on the season. Four were claimed in a row, and two of those four came against New Underwood, the very team they faced Monday. The two squads, all too familiar...

The Sheriff’s report is printed as received from the Lyman Co. Sheriff’s office. It may or may not contain every call received or answered by the department. 2-18 Sheriff Manger, Deputy Jennings, SDHP, Vivian Fire Dept., Presho Fire Dept. & Kennebec Fire Dept. assisted with grass fire in Jones County started by semi – semi was stopped I-90 mm 225 eb Deputy Jennings responded to motorist…

A fire hit Jones County on Friday, February 19. A brake drum from a semi trailer started the spark on I-90 near the 188 exit, five miles west of Murdo on the Ken Poppe place. The fire quickly spread south pushed by strong winds and dry vegetation. Twelve departments responded...