01/28/2006

Office of the Governor: News Tips for the week of January 30, 2006
Office of the Gorvernor, 500 E. Capitol Ave. ,Pierre, SD 57501, (605) 773-3212 www.state.sd.us

PIERRE, S.D. – The following are news tips from offices and agencies within South Dakota State Government:

Monday, January 30, Rapid City, 11:45 a.m. (MST) – Gov. Mike Rounds will be a featured guest at the Black Hills Stock Show, speaking to participants regarding agricultural issues during an ag forum. The discussion will be held in the HiQual Show Ring area. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.

Monday, January 30, Watertown, 2 p.m. (CST) - The South Dakota Board of Regents, joined by officials representing the state’s postsecondary technical education system, will announce new credit transfer agreements between South Dakota’s technical institutes and public universities. The announcement will take place in Room 509 of the TechnicalEducationCenter on the Lake Area Technical Institute campus, located at 1226 Arrow Ave. Flexfactor, as the series of agreements is being called, is a tool for both high school students and current or previous technical school students to use to determine how credits may transfer. For more information, contact Janelle Toman, 773-3455.

Monday, January 30, Watertown, 7 p.m. (CST) -- The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a public information meeting on RxAccess.sd.gov at the Watertown Regional Library, located at 611 Bruhn Avenue NE. RxAccess.sd.gov is a resource that will help people access prescription medications, if they qualify, at low or no cost. Representatives from DSS will inform people of this new initiative and answer any questions about seeking help with prescription drug costs. To find out more, go to RxAccess.sd.gov or call 1-866-854-5465 (toll free).

Tuesday, January 31, Yankton, 7 p.m. (CST) -- The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a public information meeting on RxAccess.sd.gov at the Yankton Community Library, located at 515 Walnut Street. RxAccess.sd.gov is a resource that will help people access prescription medications, if they qualify, at low or no cost. Representatives from DSS will inform people of this new initiative and answer any questions about seeking help with prescription drug costs. To find out more, go to RxAccess.sd.gov or call 1-866-854-5465 (toll free).

Wednesday, February 1, Pierre, 1 p.m. (CST) - The South Dakota Real Estate Commission will hold its regular meeting in the 2nd floor conference room of the George Mickelson Criminal Justice Center, 1302 E. Highway 14. For more information, contact Dee Jones Noordermeer, 773-3600.

Thursday, February 2, Pierre, 1 p.m. (CST) – Gov. Mike Rounds will speak to Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce members at the Ramkota RiverCentre. For more information, contact Mark Johnston, 773-3212.

Thursday, February 2, Sioux Falls, 7 p.m. (CST) -- The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a public information meeting on RxAccess.sd.gov at the Center for Active Generations Conference Room, located at 2300 West 46^th Street. RxAccess.sd.gov is a resource that will help people access prescription medications, if they qualify, at low or no cost. Representatives from DSS will inform people of this new initiative and answer any questions about seeking help with prescription drug costs. To find out more, go to RxAccess.sd.gov or call 1-866-854-5465 (toll free).

Saturday, February 4, Rapid City, 7 a.m. (MST) - The SDNG Change of Authority Ceremony will be held at the Duke Corning Armory, CampRapid. This honored military tradition will be performed as State Command Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Birnbaum will pass on his authority as the senior enlisted Soldier of the SDNG to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael W. Bekaert. For escort to the ceremony, all media representatives must arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony at the Camp Rapid South Gate. For more information, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at 737-6721.

Saturday, February 4, Sioux Falls, 3 p.m. (CST) - A Deployment Ceremony will be held for four Soldiers from the 1st Battalion 147th Field Artillery at Sioux Falls Armory Theater as they prepare to deploy in support of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion 147th Field Artillery, which is currently conducting a security force mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maj. Gen. Michael Gorman, adjutant general, will speak at the ceremony to commend the Soldiers and their families for their willingness to serve their state and nation by filling the ranks of Charlie Battery's fallen. For more information, please contact Maj. Kory Knight, 977-2940 or Maj. Orson Ward, 737-6721.