Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 16

2B Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Friday, Dec. 8, 1995 epos! in S-D cooperation to eliminate barriers between levels, schools ACROSS OUR REGION We're interested in news from around the region. Please direct news items and tips to any member of the Argus Leader regional reporting team: Cindy Uken, regional editor, 1-800-530-NEWS or 331-2301, Fax: 1-605-331-2294 Randy Hascall, Lincoln and Minnehaha counties. 331-2324 Tom Lawrence, Brookings, Lake, Moody counties. 692-8893 WHITE RIVER -jn Rsv XnTpierre I jU, Falls tively in the political climate we're in," he said.

The boards discussed better integration between university studies and kindergarten through 12th grade education. "The universities have some valuable things to offer to K-12, and I think we are missing out," Christensen said. One idea was for teachers to take courses for recertification or salary advancement but not for degree credit, Christensen said. Requirements for those "intermediate" courses could be less stringent. for students to earn credits that transfer to college, either from high school or technical school.

"I would like for us to move in the direction of diminished artificial boundaries or breakpoints," Board of Education member Ray Christensen said. "I think (degrees) will have less meaning in the next century than they have in the past." Christensen said state lawmakers were looking for cooperation between education levels. "It would be viewed very posi The boards also discussed the first high school feedback report, released in September. The report showed 8.1 percent of South Dakota freshman at state universities took remedial courses last year. Michel Hillman, director of academic affairs for the regents, said the results do not mean all high school students need better college preparation.

Hillman said tougher admissions requirements adopted by the regents last spring should help reduce the need for remediation. Huron Daschle wants year extension of farm bill The Associated Press U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle likes the idea of extending the current farm bill for another year, but he said Republicans don't want that. Daschle, said Rep.

Pat Roberts, chairman of the House Agricultural Committee, is not interested in a one-year extension. "I favor an extension," Daschle said. "It sends all the right messages to farmers about some continuity as late as it is getting, but I don't know if that is going to be possible." Dean Kleckner, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Tuesday there were even odds that the current bill wouldn't be approved by Dec. 31, and a one-year extension would be necessary. Kleckner said there has not been much progress made on a new farm bill.

Roberts is the author of the Freedom to Farm Act, which would cut $13 billion in farm payments over a seven-year period, as part of the balanced budget bill. Daschle favors cutting only $4 billion to $5 billion from agricultural spending. "Compromise is our preference, along with splitting this (farm legislation) out and doing it independently from the budget process, which we don't believe belongs as part of the farm bill debate," he said. "But whatever we ultimately decide on, it is important that we get along with the decision-making process." en Mj-. 4Fli fir i r- Lloyd B.

Cunningham Argus Leader Workers install new directional signs Thursday on the East 10th Street bridge over Interstate 229. Boards to work on The Associated Press RAPID CITY State education from kindergarten through college could be connected to create "seamless education," according to members of the Board of Regents and state Board of Education. The control boards for the state's six public universities and grades kindergarten through high school held a joint meeting Wednesday. They agreed to try for better coordination between levels and schools, such as making it easier Directional signs added tc new bridge on 10th St. By STEVE YOUNG Argus Leader Staff Motorists maneuvering through the new 10th Street interchange at Interstate 229 soon will have some additional help.

The state Department of Transportation was erecting sign bridges near there Thursday to hold signs that will help guide motorists through the interchange. Area engineers for the Transportation Department were not available Thursday. But Kevin Smith, senior transportation planner for the city, said he understands that the state always intended to erect these new signs. "I think it's always been part of the project," Smith said. When the interchange was first re-opened in mid-August, many drivers seemed confused by the new "urban" design, which was different from the traditional "diamond" interchange.

With the new structure, interstate traffic coming from all the different directions is routed to a common intersection. Previously, separate stoplights handled southbound and northbound traffic. Smith said he had heard few, if any, complaints since the bridge was reopened. "Everyone I've talked to said, 'Yeah, the first time I drove over it, maybe it was But once people got used to it, I've heard nothing but positive comments." Lugar goofs; won't make primary ballot By SANDRA SOBIERAJ Associated Press WASHINGTON Before the first vote is even cast, Dick Lugar has already lost a state. The Indiana senator's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination confirmed Thursday that he would not appear on the ballot in South Dakota's primary.

Aides said they misunderstood state filing rules, which require a letter of intent to be filed with the secretary of state, and which also require candidates to participate in county and state caucuses. "The law is very clear about the letter of intent, but the law is more nebulous about the other process," said Lugar spokesman Terry Holt. Lugar filed papers Wednesday, but did not field supporters in county-level caucuses on Dec. 1. That leaves him out in the cold for this weekend's state caucus, where slates of delegates are selected to appear on the Feb.

27 primary ballot. The mistake will cost Lugar a shot at South Dakota's 18 delegates. Roughly 1,990 delegates are needed to win the GOP nomination. Holt said it was an oversight borne of too many states with too many peculiar rules. "I expect our staff will redouble their efforts to ensure that all the obligations we have to these secretaries of states are met," he said.

Lugar is already on the ballot in California, Oregon, Michigan and Maine, and expects to file in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, Colorado and Texas by mid-December, Holt said. Red Cross session nears From staff reports Anyone interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer may attend an introduction to disaster services workshop Thursday. The free course will be from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Sioux Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross, 3209 S. Summit Ave.

The course offers an overview of all areas of disaster services and allows participants to focus on their personal strengths and where they might best help the agency. Call 336-2448 to register. VERMILLION Evans to perform at music museum Kyle Evans, popular Western singer from Wessington Springs, will present "A Cowboy Christmas" today during a noon hour, brown bag lunch program at the Shrine to Music Museum on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. The program, which starts at 12:05 p.m., is free and open to the public. Today's program is the second in a series designed to celebrate the holidays.

The South Dakota String Quartet is scheduled to appear Dec. 15. WATERTOWN EPA isn't budging on fine, mayor says Meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency this week in Denver were disappointing, Watertown Mayor Brenda Barger said. Watertown officials met with the EPA and the Justice Department to come to an agreement over civil fines for not complying with federal clean water standards at the city's wastewater treatment plant. The EPA wants at least $500,000 in fines plus an additional penalty "to pay for the sins of the past," she said.

Watertown officials believe they are already paying a penalty, Barger said. This summer, Watertown voters approved a $17.3 million plan to fix problems at the plant and get in line with federal clean water rules. SPEARFISH City considering automated garbage Starting an automated garbage program would be good for the health of trash collectors but would be expensive for the city, officials say. Spearfish Public Works Administrator Ted Vore said automated garbage pickup is still in the "thinking aloud" stages, but he thinks it could start up this spring. With the automated system, people would roll specially made, durable plastic trash bins out to the curb for pickup.

An arm on a custom-equipped truck would grasp and hoist the 30- or 60-gallon containers and dump the contents into the truck. That would mean no heavy lifting and less chance of injury, since the operator never gets out of the truck, Vore said. But the city cannot ignore the high cost of the program, said Beth Benning, city finance officer. Starting with all new equipment would cost about $300,000 $125,000 for a truck and $175,000 to buy curbside containers for every home in town. MITCHELL Mitchell Union, school board fight contract in court The Mitchell teacher's union insists its binding arbitration agreement with the school district is valid and should stand up in court.

But if any portion of the contract is voided, the Mitchell Education Association said in court documents it wanted the individual members of the Mitchell School Board held liable for costs, expenses or damages. The Mitchell School District sued, seeking to void the binding arbitration agreement with the teacher's union that followed an impasse in contract negotiations. The district and teachers' union relied on mediators to end impasses in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 school years. In its suit, the district said the binding arbitration agreement is impermissible and unconstitutional. The teachers' union said the district is barred from challenging the negotiated agreement because the terms were collectively bargained in good faith.

Tabloid declares devil found in S.D. Area residents snapped up all available copies of the latest "Weekly World News" the edition that carried the headline: "Satan's Corpse! South Dakota scientists dig up The Devil at 300-year-old burial site." Still, no one believed that the devil has been unearthed near their town. The tabloid story was accompanied by photos of a horn-headed, mummified body bound with rope. Someone named Dr. Mitchell McLarel was quoted in the story as saying the body was that of a man who became possessed by the devil and grew horns from his skull.

The man had been tortured to death by Plains Indians, according to the story. Area residents are taking it all in stride, some with tongue firmly in cheek. No one believes the Satan story, "But a few people have seen Elvis Presley driving a John Deere tractor," joked Larry Harrison, owner of Ranchland Drug in White River. PIERRE Retailers to seek tax amendment A state business organization wants to call a vote on a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to pass new taxes. The South Dakota Retailers Association said a loophole in state law lets lawmakers pass new taxes with a simple majority, even though a two-thirds majority is needed for a tax increase.

The state Senate rejected a similar proposal two years ago. "They've looked at it before, but I think the timing is better now than it has ever been. I think a lot of people got stuck with some petty taxes last session," organization Executive Director Jerry Wheeler said Tuesday. The association plans to ask the Legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the 1996 ballot. RAPID CITY Bank officers' trial nearing completion The trial of two former Rapid City bank officers and their Florida business partners is expected to conclude Friday and go to the jury Monday.

Defense attorneys rested Tuesday without presenting any witnesses. Former First Federal Savings Bank President Darrell Van Brocklin and bank executive Susan Hastings are charged in U.S. District Court. Also charged are Florida loan brokers Lawrence Pyatt and Travis Atter-berry. All four have pleaded innocent to all charges.

The charges range from bribery and bank fraud to racketeering in the sale of several multi-million-dollar loan packages held by the bank before it went out of business in 1992. The trial began Oct. 24. BROOKINGS SDSU representative to visit schools A South Dakota State University admissions representative from Brookings will visit with students at three Minnehaha County schools Wednesday, Dec. 20.

The representative will discuss SDSlFs application process, cost, areas of study and financial aid, and answer questions. The schedule: Garretson High School, 9:30 a.m. Brandon Valley High School, 11 a.m. Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, 12:30 p.m. Li wbiij liu ULyLj i VI Aif A liifL All Brands On Sale! fevfy y- ill Sports Apparel up to iW Jfw Sr- 0 On Nike, Reebok, Adidas Converse! And Hurry! Limited Time.

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