Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 23

Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Thursday, April 20, 1995 HOW TO REACH US Local news inquiries and tips: Maricarrol Kueter, city editor, 331-2327 or Rosemary McCoy and Cindy Uken, assistant city editors, 331-2301 or 1-800-530 NEWS mwl Empire STATE NEWS 2,4 OBITUARIES 3,4 BIRTHS JUST CURIOUS Officials protest interstate interchange plan ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS License fee goes to fund programs QUESTION: What is the $1 waste fee for when we get our new license stickers? 60th St. North 6 i S. Foy, Sioux Falls ANSWER: The $1 waste fee goes to a solid-waste-grants program, which will be used to help fund solid-waste management By STEVE YOUNG Argus Leader Staff Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County officials want the state Department of Transportation to rethink its plans for reconstructing the interchange at interstates 90 and 229. Members of the City Council and County Commission are concerned that the reconstruction project, set to begin in 1996, will close access permanently to the interstates from 476th Avenue, which feeds into 1-229 north of the interchange. "Our concern is that the interchange as it is now serves a useful purpose and that is providing another useful access to the city from the county planning director Dave Queal said Wednesday.

"Closing off that connection to 476th Avenue would said. "And I think it is finding that on this road, it can skirt around the city on 1-229 to the mall area. "I also suspect a considerable amount of traffic is funneling into the industrial park on the north side of the city by taking this route to Benson Road." Bob Meister, Minnehaha County highway superintendent, said his surveys show that 268 vehicles use that road every day. And if it were upgraded, the numbers likely would increase, he said. Closing off 476th Avenue and forcing traffic to North Cliff Avenue is just one concern.

City Council member Bob Jamison said any work that is done on the interchange should allow for the possibility of extending 1-229 to the north in the future. "We want to make sure that if we create a negative impact on future transportation plans." To drive that home, the boards passed a resolution Tuesday asking the state to re-evaluate its plans. South Dakota Transportation Secretary Dick Howard said his department wants to hear those concerns. "We'll certainly work with the county and city on what their needs are for access," Howard said. "We haven't set anything in stone yet." Just north of the interchange, 1-229 turns into 476th Avenue, a gravel township road.

In recent years, more vehicles have started taking that road into and out of Sioux Falls because of increasing congestion on North Cliff Avenue. "Traffic is beginning to search for other ways into town and avoid some of that congestion," Queal ever want to extend 229 to the north and take it over to Interstate 29, that we don't spend a ton of money on an interchange now and then have to do it over again five, 10 or 20 years from now," Jamison said. Howard said the state intends to go ahead and rebuild the overpasses at the interchange in 1996. Initial cost estimates put that phase at $3 million. No date has been set yet for reconstructing the access ramps, he said.

The state transportation commission will meet in June to consider the timing for that phase of the project. And a public meeting will be held in late July in Sioux Falls to hear input from the city, county and any other interested individual or entity, Howard said. Interchange to be rebuilt beginning and recycling projects around the state. The fee has been in effect for nearly three years, in 1996 said Minnehaha County Trea surer DeLons Erickson. Benson Road Have a general news question? Call the Argus Leader anytime at 331-2291 and leave a Linda SmKhArgus Leader message.

Or send your ques tions to Just Curious, Box 5034, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57117-5034. BRIEFLY Report stays at one for spinal meningitis Local hospitals and the Uni High waiters Rain, snow, rainfall combine for flooding I u. jrm 1 I versity of Sioux Falls report no new cases of spinal meningitis 12 days after a student at the school was diagnosed with the disease. "We kind of figured if we made it through this last weekend without any outbreaks, we'd be OK," said Beth Jern- vZZJl A Sioux Til Parker 7 SU VJ I Davis A I V.

Viborgo Centerville A 44 i berg, dean of students, Wednesday. "I think we're in the clear." Mark Haines, a junior from Harrisburg, was hospitalized April 8 with the disease. He Beresfprd I Jyi Linda SmithArgus Leader lf I. remains in Sioux Valley Hospital. Tyndall man dies in farm accident A rural Tyndall man was killed in a farm accident Tuesday.

Scott Van Winkle, 26, died at St. Mary's Hospital In Tyndall from injuries he received in an By KEVIN WOSTER and CARSON WALKER Argus Leader Staff Edd and Marge Lagler of Davis were filling sandbags and worrying about the weather Wednesday as the Vermillion River, crept toward their son's new home. "They say if there's no more rain, we'll be fine," Marge Lagler said as she shoveled sand from a pile on main street. "But the news says rain's coming and there's still more water coming down from upstream." So the Laglers decided to sandbag. Like others in soggy floodplains across eastern South Dakota, they also are hoping for a break from rain, snow and runoff.

The three weather tricksters have combined in the last 10 days to push rivers and streams out of their banks, close roads and change the planting plans of farmers. And there might be more yet to come. The forecast from the National Weather Service said rain and possibly snow are likely in the Sioux Falls region today and tonight, with rain or snow possible again on Friday. The James River continues to pour out of its banks along its entire length in South Dakota. The Big Sioux River from Flandreau to Sioux Falls flooded thousands of acres of farmland Tuesday and Wednesday, ran across several gravel roads and cut off access to at least one farmyard.

North of Baltic, the swollen river combined with saturated soil to produce ponds of water up to one mile wide. Sloughs, draws, streams and tributaries were full to the bank, as well as Skunk Creek to the west of the river and Split Rock Creek to the east. The Gary and Helen Nass farm 13 miles northwest of Flandreau was partly underwater, as it sometimes gets in really wet years. "It's kind of frustrating," Helen Nass said, "We get water in the basement, too." Their farm is about one-quarter mile south of the river. Water started rising Tuesday morning and by that evening, part of the evening accident.

Bon Homme County Sheriff Steve Knakmuhs said Van Winkle was killed when he was working on a loader and became pinned in the equip 5 4 long driveway was underwater. "My husband came out and got me with the tractor and I drove the pickup out so we had both vehicles out there," Nass said. "When you come home with groceries, you've got to get those sacks in the tractor, too. Then you think, 'I better not get so much next Neighbor John. Wiese stopped by with his John Deere shortly after noon Wednesday.

He was out feeding cattle and had to drive through deep water on the Nass driveway, as well as the gravel road, to get around. The flooding Vermillion River and its tributaries were changing rural travel plans, too, and creating more work for highway crews. "We've got five county highways closed and 20 bridge sites closed, where the water is either flowing over or around the bridge," said Byron Nogelemeier, Turner County civil defense director. By Wednesday evening, the Vermillion still hadn't reached downtown Davis. But it was licking the outskirts of town.

City residents were keeping in touch by two-way radios and telephones, waiting for the word to start building sandbag walls against the water. The river can be cruel to Davis, which is located on low, flat ground in between the Flooding See 4D I r. A r' gkfi lw- -rrr'S 1 I Luui l. i a i i John Wiese drives his tractor through the 3 feet of water covering the driveway to Gary and Helen Nass' home Wednesday morning. High water closed the driveway northwest of Flandreau to cars and pickups on Tuesday.

BSC Governor calls situation 'a disaster' 11 The Associated Press These days, it isn't complaints about property taxes that fill Gov. Bill Jank-low's mailbox or light up the state switchboard. It's the high water that plagues the prairie pothole country of northeastern South Dakota. "You can't do anything with the water. I mean, if I could, I would hand-pump it is melting, water has covered or was flowing across numerous county roads in the northeastern part of the state.

In addition, portions of several main highways were under water Wednesday. Aerial photographs will be studied to get a better idea of the scope of the problem, the governor said. Janklow listed these highways as being under water: U.S. Highway 212 five miles east of Clark. U.S.

Highway 14 south of Arlington. State Highway 247 north of Roscoe. State Highway 20 east of Florence. State Highway 25 north of U.S. Highway 212.

Also, authorities reported water was over the road on Highway 14 between Brookings and Volga. "We've got about 60 spots under water on the county road system," said Day County Highway Superintendent Chuck Fromelt. In Codington County, commissioners on Tuesday declared an emergency and approved spending $200,000 for road repairs at four critical locations. Brookings County Emergency Management Director Todd Struwe said the risk of flooding decreased when the sun came out Wednesday. But he said additional snow or rain could send water levels up again.

out of there," the governor said in an interview. Janklow plans to meet today with area ment. $20,000 in goods taken from business A Sioux Falls auto repair business lost items valued at $20,000 during a weekend burglary, police said. Master Tech Auto Repair, 901 N. Lincoln reported the loss of a tool chest, scope, engine scanner and a cash register with a nominal amount of cash.

The burglar or burglars entered the business between Saturday and Monday by prying an overhead garage door on the east side of the building until the lock broke, police said. There are no suspects. Gramm to speak at campaign rally U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, Republican candidate for president, will bring his campaign to Sioux Falls today.

Gramm will address a 2 p.m. rally in the Lincoln Room at the Ramkota, 2400 N. Louise Ave. Gramm begins the day in Watertown with a public forum at 9:30 a.m. at the Best Western Ramkota Inn.

At 11:30 a.m. he speaks to the Brookings County Elephant Club luncheon at the Elks Lodge in Brookings. Radio call-in show broadcast on KSOO Readers of the Argus Leader can offer feedback or ask questions about content during a live radio call-in program today on KSOO radio, AM-1140. Executive Editor Jack Marsh will accept calls from 11 a.m. to noon at 339-1140.

The weekly program is part of the newspaper's continuing effort to better serve readers' interests. Readers are invited to comment on any aspect of news content, suggest ideas for coverage or pose questions about current events. LOTTERIES DAKOTA CASH: 5-13-19-22-31 POWERBALL: 1-3-11-22-28 Powerball 42 TRI-WEST LOTTO: 1-3-13-18-23-29 MINNESOTA DAILY THREE 0-2-1 IOWA $100,000 CASH GAME: 1-5-9-10-13 IOWA SUPER CASH: 13-14-21-30-39-40 officials and citizens about the rising water that has closed many roads. The meeting will be 10 a.m. in the National Guard Armory in Webster.

Kevin Woster Argus Leader Edd and Marge Lagler get help from Laura Bobzien as they fill sandbags Wednesday in Davis to protect against the flooding Vermillion River. While snow from the latest April storm Frustrated senators may break away from party caucuses By DAVID KRANZ Argus Leader Staff Frustration with the South Da kota Legislature's caucus process might cause some Republican and Democratic senators to form their own group. Republican Sen. Jim Thompson of Watertown, who is leading the effort, said as many as six "independent thinkers" have discussed the idea. felt pressure from Gov.

Bill Janklow and some Democrats were upset with the way Senate Democratic Leader Lars Herseth and Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Pam Nelson ran that caucus. Negstad hasn't committed himself to the movement but is listening. "I don't rule it out, but I would like to see us change within the system," he said. The four-term legislator said dissident lawmakers aren't any greater in number this year. "I think it is just coming to a head, though.

There is more independent thinking." Senate Republican Leader Mike Rounds of Pierre said there's an opportunity for everyone to be heard. "I think we have a opportunity to freely discuss concerns of others. Look at the medical-provider tax, the sales-tax broadening. In terms of people being whipped into shape, that is not a correct analogy." While critics point to too many 19-16 votes, the Republican-Democratic ratio In the Senate, Rounds said there aren't that many party-line decisions. Rather than having a third caucus, he would look elsewhere for solutions.

"It may be a matter of finding additional middle ground and that is not an unusual feeling to have." Nelson of Sioux Falls said some of the legislators talking about a third caucus lack courage. "I don't think a third caucus will help them. What they need is the Caucus See 2D people out of those two caucuses would change the power structure immensely," he said. Other senators who said they are considering such a move are Democratic Sens. Jim Lawler of Aberdeen and Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton and Republican Sen.

Dick Negstad of Volga. Lawler said the common denominator for those interested in the new alliance is representing their constituency. "They are people who want to do the right thing, even if it is not politically correct," he said. Lawler said he is bothered by pressures in his caucus to vote party-line. "We would like a little more freedom of expression to vote without being intimidated," he said.

"Republican senators had to Republicans and Democrats from each house meet separately on a daily basis to discuss strategy for items on the day calendar. Thompson said that process Bernie Dick Hunhoff Negstad vote for that medical tax. The same was true of Democrats on some votes." Lawler said the move would bring power to a new faction. "Even if you only had six of us, both parties would have to come to us because they couldn't pass one bill without talking to us," he said. Lawler said sorle Republicans leads to gridlock because it creates party-line votes, and he vows to never attend another caucus under the current structure.

"I don't think that is a good part of government I feel taking six.