Cleanup Continues at Dudley’s Valley Tap Site

Clean-up work continues at the site of the former Dudley’s Valley Tap in Fort Pierre.  The business was totaled by a fire on Christmas Eve.  Sam Williamson and his sister Jill Pfeiffer co-owned the business and are now moving forward in clearing the debris and preparing to build a new structure.  The building doubled as a home for the siblings.  They got the go ahead a few weeks ago to tear down what remained of the fire damaged location.  The site was razed and Williamson says last Thursday night, work started to burn a debris pile, consisting of wood and other items from the former business.  He says there wasn’t much to salvage-as most of their possessions that didn’t burn were either smoke or water damaged.  The few items he did keep he says would fit in the back of a pickup.  Williamson says the debris pile burned over the weekend and was watched Friday by a few members of the Fort Pierre Fire Department.  He says what remains of the debris pile is still smoldering today, but that part of the cleanup process is mostly complete.  Williamson says now, concrete will be torn out and plans call for the construction for the new Dudley’s to start sometime within the next month.  He estimates that workers will start laying out the new building in mid-to-late February and should have a new building up by spring.   He says they will fill in a current basement that was part of the old building and the new structure will be one-story.   There will also be more parking with the new layout, according to Williamson.  Williamson and Pfeiffer safely escaped the building after it was reported on fire by a passer-by on Christmas Eve afternoon.  Their father started Dudley’s Valley Tap in 1960.

Pierre Man Arrested for Saturday Assaults

A Pierre man was arrested late Saturday on charges of Aggravated Assault and Simple Assault Domestic.  Pierre Police Captain Elton Blemaster says 40-year-old Orville Whiteeyes, Jr. was taken into custody after officers responded to a call around 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Legion Cabin.  Blemaster says a 55-year-old Pierre woman had walked outside the Legion to the smoking area when Whiteeyes reportedly hit her in the head with a snow shovel.  In addition, Blemaster says Whiteeyes was also said to have grabbed a 37-year-old female acquaintance by the throat.  Neither woman required medical attention for their injuries.  Whiteeyes took off on foot and was arrested a short distance away-near the intersection of Pierre Street and Missouri Avenue.

Capital Club Has Been Meeting for More Than Years

A group made up of the spouses of state lawmakers has been meeting in Pierre for more than seventy years.  The Capital Club formed 75 years ago.  This year, the organization’s Vice President is Peggy Dennert.  Dennert’s husband Paul is a District 2 House member and the couple’s hometown is Columbia.  Dennert has been a Capital Club member for 20 years.  The Secretary/Treasurer is Barb Hundstad.  Her husband Jim is a District 2 State Senator from Bath. Hundstad has been a part of the group for 12 years.  Hundstad says that she and Dennert are just a few of the spouses of lawmakers who come to Pierre during the legislative session and spend their time here.  Both couples have either a residence or apartment in the Capital City where they stay while legislative business is underway.  Hundstad says in many cases, lawmakers spouses have jobs and can’t leave their hometowns during the three months of the session.

Dennert enjoys the time that she is here in Pierre with her husband during each legislative session and says that they have made several friends over the years.  She says the Capital Club has decreased in size in recent times, but they are still as active as ever.

Hundstad says the members of the Capital Club meet a few times a week during the session and schedule several different activities each year.

Hundstad says the group has raised funds through various methods over the years and the money has gone for projects at the Governor’s Residence and for other purposes. 

The charitable organization recently made donations to two local organizations through money it has raised.  It gave $250 to the Oahe Long Term Disaster Recovery Team and a $250 donation to the Food Pantry.  The group’s motto is “once a member, always a member” and anyone who was an active member in previous sessions who comes to Pierre is welcome to join the group. 

Conversation It’s What’s For Dinner Signup Deadline is Tomorrow!

The deadline to sign up for a February evening called “Conversation It’s What’s for Dinner” is coming up tomorrow.  This community gathering is put on by the Parents Matter Coalition of Pierre/Fort Pierre and will be held February 13 at the Mickelson Law Enforcement Training Center.  It is for parents, guardians and caregivers of middle and high school aged students.  Ruby Douglas of Parents Matter says the guest speaker will be John Beranek and the evening will include comments on various topics from teenagers.

Douglas says teens from the Pierre/Fort Pierre area and Sioux Falls will give their viewpoints on subjects like sexuality, alcohol and other safety concerns.

Douglas says the evening will offer ways that will help parents in how they can reflect their values to their children through open communication.  She says it’s so important to keep an open line going between parent and child and for parents to let their youngsters know their thoughts and the expectations they have for them.

Douglas says the event is limited to 75 people and attendees have a few different ways they can sign up.

Dinner for the evening is free and begins at 6:00 p.m. on the 13^th.  Canned goods will also be collected that evening for the Pierre Food Pantry.  For more information, call 224-3189 and ask for Ruby or Elaine. 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota House panel has endorsed a proposal to extend the length of term limits for members of the state Legislature. The State Affairs Committee voted 9-4 Monday to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the current eight-year term limit to 12 years. If the Legislature approves the measure, voters in November would be asked to approve the constitutional change. Lawmakers now can serve no more than eight consecutive years in a single chamber but can run for the other chamber after that. For example, someone can run for the Senate after serving eight years in the House. Rep. Jim Bolin of Canton says the current term limit is too short because lawmakers have to leave just when they are starting to gain experience and knowledge.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - After losing a court battle, ranchers from southwestern South Dakota are asking the Legislature for help in dealing with prairie dogs that leave public land and invade their ranches. Ranchers in an area near Badlands National Park had filed a lawsuit in 2005 seeking state compensation for damages caused by prairie dogs. The lawsuit contended that South Dakota law requires the state to control prairie dogs that moved onto private land and to compensate landowners for damage if prairie dogs spread beyond certain limits. The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled recently that the ranchers could not pursue the lawsuit because the state is immune from the legal action. The ranchers now are asking the Legislature to make sure the state controls prairie dogs or compensates landowners hurt by them.

MINDEN, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say they have arrested a second suspect in connection with a police chase in which shots were fired at a state trooper. The Nebraska State Patrol says 18-year-old Petr Strizheus, of Harrisburg, S.D., was arrested Saturday at the Minden public library. The patrol says Strizheus and 22-year-old Aleksandr Voznyuk, of Sioux Falls, S.D., were in a car that was clocked at a high rate of speed Friday night on Interstate 80 near the Odessa exit. During the chase, shots were fired from the car, striking a trooper's car at least once. The chase ended when the car went into a ditch near Minden and its two occupants fled on foot. Voznyuk was arrested about 2 a.m. Saturday after a helicopter using infrared technology spotted him in a field.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Beef Industry Council is asking ranchers and dairy farmers to fill out surveys on the $1 checkoff program. Executive director Ron Frederick says the organization wants to get producers involved in the process and engage them more fully in the program. The Mission rancher suggested the survey to the council's directors as a way to enhance communication. The council administers the $1 beef checkoff on cattle sold in South Dakota. Frederick says the surveys can be filled out and returned by mail or completed online at www.sdbeef.org. Survey responses will be summarized and the results will be presented to the board this summer prior to planning of the 2013 fiscal year budget.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - An audit by the Department of Veterans Affairs found no incorrectly placed headstones at the three national cemeteries in western South Dakota's Black Hills. The VA reviewed dozens of cemeteries across the country last year after an internal Army investigation found more than 200 unmarked or misidentified graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Problems were found at cemeteries in half a dozen states. The Rapid City Journal reports that an audit late last year found no problems at the Black Hills, Fort Meade and Hot Springs national cemeteries.The director for the cemeteries, Bill Haggerty, says it took about 40 hours to do the inspection.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) - The Northern Hills Ranger District says it is closing some roads to give more space to loggers cutting trees affected by mountain pine beetles. District recreation specialist Bonnie Jones tells the Rapid City Journal that the roads are narrow and icy and there have been several close calls between private vehicles and log trucks. The district is closing Besant Park Road, Long Draw Road and a short portion of South Rapid Creek Road for public safety as there is a high volume of heavy logging traffic in the area. Loggers are cutting trees that have died or been infested with mountain pine beetles that may fall across the roads. Public access in the area will be limited until May 14th.

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - A student-driven resolution aims to make the University of South Dakota campus smoke-free. The Student Government Association passed the resolution late last year, and it now is in the hands of the University Executive Committee. Smoking is not allowed within 25 feet of a building entrance on the Vermillion campus, but Student Government Association President Collin Michels tells KELO-TV that the policy has proven difficult to enforce. He hopes a campus smoking ban can be put in place by the fall semester.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A new city program is giving rental property owners in a core Sioux Falls neighborhood the opportunity to spruce up their properties through low-interest loans. The Rental Housing Rehabilitation Program will provide loans for such repairs as new windows and doors, roofing, siding and painting in the Pettigrew Heights neighborhood. The neighborhood with about 2,700 residents has faced scrutiny over crime and run-down housing. About 70 percent of the residential properties there are rental units. The loan program is being funded through the South Dakota Housing Development Authority. Community Development program specialist Brent Tucker tells the Argus Leader that the project will operate as a pilot program the next five years and might be extended to other neighborhoods if there's enough interest.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The city of Sioux Falls is continuing to increase in population. In a news release, Zoning Official Jeff Schmitt says the city's 2011 year-end count shows the Sioux Falls population increased by 1,600 people to 156,300. This is a 1 percent increase. The city of Sioux Falls has grown by more than 25,000 people during the past 10 years. On an annual basis, the city has grown by about 2,500 people, or 1.8 percent, each year.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) - Officials in Spearfish are gauging support for a museum that would feature the history of the western South Dakota city. City Councilman Doug Schmit has pushed the idea of a museum for several years. He tells the Black Hills Pioneer that there are a lot of artifacts that should be preserved and put on display. But he says it will take a lot of people coming together to make it work. Schmit says the initial idea is to renovate the basement of City Hall and turn the unused space into a museum. Spearfish Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Greg Dias says any museum would need to complement and not compete with the existing High Plains Western Heritage Center in Spearfish.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - The city of Aberdeen has paid just over $160,000 for an environmental assessment of a project at its regional airport, but most of that cost will be reimbursed. The Aberdeen American News reports that Aberdeen Regional Airport is planning to remove structures that are in the runway protection zones. As part of the job, one runway will be shortened and another extended. Other work will include the construction of additional taxiways and the relocation of the airport rescue firefighting road. Airport manager Mike Wilson says the airport has used $100,000 from its state fuel tax fund to pay the bill. He says that of the other money, 95 percent will be reimbursed by the federal government and 3 percent by the state.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Barrel racing, steer wrestling and team roping competitors flocked to the Black Hills this weekend for a PRCA pro rodeo event. It's part of the Black Hills Stock Show, which continues through February 5th. Team roping contestant Martin Lucero tells KEVN television that he flew out from Texas on Saturday morning to compete in the one-day event because the prize money is good. Team roping is considered to be the only team event in PRCA rodeo, requiring years of practice to master the art of two horsemen working together to bring down a steer. Lucero says his teammate gets the horns and he gets the hind feet. The header comes out of the heading box and gets it around the horns and turns the animal. Lucero then ropes the hind feet and the fastest time wins.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Saturday evening matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 05-33-41-54-59, Powerball: 13.  Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $146 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $170 million for Wednesday. Tickets that match the first five numbers, but miss the Powerball, win $200,000 each, and there were three of those. They were sold in: Kentucky(1), Missouri(1) and New York(1). There were no Power Play Match 5 winners.  Online: Multi-State Lottery Association: http://www.powerball.com/

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann says she hasn't yet decided to endorse any of the candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination. Bachmann appeared on the CBS program "Face the Nation" yesterday. Bachmann dropped out of the presidential race earlier this month.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A group against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage has raised $1.2 million. The group Minnesotans United for All Families raised the money last year from more than 5,100 people. The information is in the group's campaign finance report, which was provided to some local media outlets this past weekend.

HIBBING, Minn. (AP) - A 34-year-old Zimmerman man was found dead after a fire in a rural St. Louis County cabin. The Duluth News Tribune reported yesterday that the fire happened Saturday afternoon about 15 miles southeast of Hibbing. A 35-year-old Buhl woman escaped without injury, but the man was found dead inside. The man's name is not being released until his family can be notified.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - It's the last day of campaigning before the Florida primary, and Mitt Romney is continuing to spar with Newt Gingrich. The former House speaker says Romney has boosted his position in Florida by airing "an amazing amount of ads." Romney says Gingrich has a record of "failed leadership."

WASHINGTON (AP) - His endorsement would be a prize for anyone in tomorrow's Florida primary, but former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has remained neutral. Today's New York Times reports that Mitt Romney has tried to win his backing. Romney tells Fox News that he hasn't spoken with Bush recently, but he calls him a "'good man" whose input he would value.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - As investigators look into yesterday's pileups on a Florida Interstate that killed 10 people, there's word that there had been another crash in the same area just hours earlier. The Highway Patrol says heavy smoke and fog resulted in low visibility on I-75 south of Gainesville late Saturday. Just before midnight, two cars and a tractor-trailer collided, seriously injuring one person. The highway was then closed, but it was reopened early Sunday -- and the deadly series of crashes began a short time later.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Police in Alabama say they have arrested three suspects in the deaths of five people whose bodies were found by officers investigating a possible robbery. Birmingham police say investigators arrested the three last night, less than a day after the five were found shot to death in the rental home. Authorities haven't released the names of the three people who were taken into custody or the five people who were killed.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The police chief in East Haven, Conn., is retiring -- amid a scandal in which four officers are accused of discriminating against Hispanic residents. Leonard Gallo had been suspended as chief nearly two years ago after the FBI launched a criminal investigation, but he was reinstated to the post in November after a friend took office as mayor.

DETROIT (AP) - Federal safety regulators have stepped up their investigation into Jeep Liberty air bags. This, after 50 people reported they were hurt when the air bags inflated without a crash happening. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started investigating Liberty SUVs from the 2002 and 2003 model years in September. It was upgraded to a full engineering analysis
last week. Chrysler says no incidents have happened in vehicles made after March 19, 2003. But regulators say the company can't explain that.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - A former Massachusetts dentist has been sent to jail for a year for using paper clips instead of stainless steel posts in root canals. Michael Clair was sentenced today after pleading guilty to defrauding Medicaid of $130,000. Some of Clair's patients reported infections after he performed root canals on them.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Officials in Afghanistan say a man has strangled his wife to death, apparently because she gave birth to a second daughter rather than the son he had hoped for. A police chief says the man fled the area after his wife was found dead in her home. He says police have the man's mother in custody because she appears to have collaborated in a plot to kill her daughter-in-law. The victim had apparently warned family members that her husband threatened to kill her if she gave birth to another daughter.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - While much of the United States continues to enjoy an unusually mild winter, more than 30 people have been killed across eastern Europe by heavy snow and a severe cold snap. With temperatures below zero, authorities are opening emergency shelters. Officials in Ukraine say 18 people have died of hypothermia in recent days.

BANGKOK (AP) - The government of Thailand is welcoming Twitter's new policy to censor tweets in specific countries where the content might break laws. Twitter's policy change last week prompted global outrage. It's been a tool of free speech and dissent around the world.

GIGLIO, Italy (AP) - Residents of the Italian island of Giglio are growing increasingly worried about threats to the environment and the future of the island. Bad weather has again forced suspension of the recovery operation on the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. Officials today set off another explosion in an underwater compartment, but rough seas caused them to hold off on operations to remove 500,000 gallons of fuel and to search for people still missing.

BRUSSELS (AP) - European leaders will try to come up with ways to boost growth when they meet in Brussels today. The 27 heads of state and government will get a taste of the popular frustration with austerity and high unemployment as they try to get to the summit in a city paralyzed by strikes. Greece's financial troubles also weigh heavily.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans' incomes rose last month by the most in nine months, a hopeful sign after a year of weak wage gains. The Commerce Department says incomes rose 0.5 percent, the strongest increase since a similar gain in March. Consumer spending was unchanged, following weak gains of 0.1 percent in both October and November. The income increase after paying taxes and adjusting for inflation was 0.3 percent in December. For the year, inflation-adjusted incomes rose 0.9 percent, just half the modest 1.8 percent rise in 2010.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Aware that most Americans would like to dump them all, members of Congress hope to regain a sense of trust by subjecting themselves to tougher penalties for insider trading and requiring they disclose stock transactions within 30 days. A procedural vote Monday would allow the Senate later this week to pass a bill prohibiting members of Congress from using nonpublic information for their own personal benefit or "tipping" others to inside information that they could trade on. Insider trading laws apply to all Americans, but a CBS report in November set off a flurry of efforts to make sure members of Congress don't get a pass. The report on "60 Minutes" raised questions about trades of House Speaker John Boehner, the husband of Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus. All three deny using any insider information to make stock trades.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Auto parts chain The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack says it has agreed to be taken private by investment firm The Gores Group for about $791 million. The $15 per share offer is a 24 percent premium to Pep Boys' closing price Friday of $12.08. Pep Boys stock surged $3.17, or 26.2 percent, to $15.25 in premarket trading Monday. The agreement includes a provision, which allows Pep Boys to seek out and receive alternative offers for a period of 45 days. Gores Group says it has fully committed financing for the buyout. The deal is not subject to a financing condition. Pep Boys' board unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the fiscal second quarter.

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - Wendy's Co. says its adjusted earnings fell 29.5 percent in the fourth quarter, while its revenue rose 5.6 percent, The hamburger chain said Monday its income from continuing operations was $4.3 million in the period ended Jan. 1. That was down from $6.1 million a year ago. The adjusted number stripped out one-time charges like costs related to selling Arby's and writing down the value of someassets. The company didn't report what net income would be if those charges were factored in.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal prosecutors say data from users of Megaupload could be deleted as soon as Thursday. U.S. prosecutors have blocked access to Megaupload and charged seven men, saying the site facilitated millions of illegal downloads of movies, music and other content. Megaupload hires outside companies to store the data. But Megaupload attorney Ira Rothken says the government has frozen its money. A letter filed by prosecutors Friday says storage companies Carpathia Hosting Inc. and Cogent Communications Group Inc. may begin deleting data Thursday. Spokespersons for the two companies did not respond to messages Sunday night. Rothken says the company is working with prosecutors to try to keep the data from being erased. He says at least 50 million Megaupload users have data in danger of being erased.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The board of directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has approved a proposed merger with the Screen Actors Guild, a day after SAG's board made the same move. In a statement, AFTRA says 94 percent of its board voted for the merger Saturday at a videoconference meeting of board members in Los Angeles and New York.
Referendum ballots will now be sent out for a vote by members of both unions. AFTRA leaders say ballots will be mailed in late February and counted in late March. The merger plan comes after two years of negotiations between the groups to join forces, hoping to gain more leverage in contractnegotiations with producers. AFTRA supported a SAG merger in 1998 and 2003, but the efforts failed.

NEW YORK (AP) - "The Grey" topped the weekend box office with $20 million, continuing Liam Neeson's success as an action star in the winter months. The Alaskan survivalist thriller opened above expectations with a performance on par with previous Neeson thrillers "Taken" and "Unknown." January is often a dumping ground for less stellar releases. Also opening were two badly reviewed wide releases: "Man on Ledge," with Sam Worthington; and "One for the Money" with Katherine Heigl. "One for the Money" fared better, earning $11.8 million, while "Man on Ledge" opened with $8.3 million. Last week's box-office leader, "Underworld: Awakenings," came in second with $12.5 million. Oscar favorites "The Descendants," Hugo" and "The Artist" sought to capitalize on their recent Academy Awards nominations. Each expanded to more theaters and saw an uptick in business.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The first family wrapped up a busy weekend with a walk Sunday to the Corcoran Gallery of Art. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle and their daughters,
Sasha and Malia, strolled a block from the White House to the museum. The Corcoran's current exhibits include "30 Americans," which the museum describes as a showcase of "many of the most important African-American artists of the last three decades." Earlier Sunday, Obama played basketball with his daughters at the Interior Department. Saturday night, the first couple attended the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, an annual black-tie get-together of some of the capital's movers and shakers.

CONGERS, N.Y. (AP) - It's a warm welcome. A little too warm for the Knickerbocker Ice Festival. The unseasonably warm weather was hard on the ice sculptures at the winter fest in Rockland, N.Y., over the weekend. The warm temps melted the head on a giant squid ice sculpture. The wheels on a horse-drawn wagon also suffered. Ice carver Robert Patalano says "Mother Nature" pulled the rug from under him this year.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Carol Sikler is going to the Super Bowl -- and all it took was blood. And lots of it. The Indiana woman wins a pair of tickets to the big game for being a blood donor. The Indiana Blood Center says she's donated more 140 units of whole blood or blood products. She says she became a regular blood donor to repay the units used by her late husband. Sikler tells the Journal and Courier she's an Indianapolis Colts fan. But she says Sunday she'll be rooting for Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) - Welcome back Mighty Mike. The giant alligator is expected to return to Kentucky's Newport Aquarium in the coming weeks. Mighty Mike is 14 feet long and weighs 800 pounds. Alligators in the wild usually don't grow longer than 12 feet. Mighty Mike was captured in a Florida lake in 2000. The Kentucky Enquirer reports Mighty Mike had been on display at the aquarium for five months last year. This time the huge gator is expected to stay for a year.

DEERFIELD, Ohio (AP) - Christmas is just beginning for fish in Ohio. Christmas trees are being dumped into Berlin Lake, about 50 miles southeast of Cleveland. State environmental officials say the trees will provide areas for fish to spawn and forage. Anglers should be happy, too. The Record-Courier reports the old Christmas trees could help attract fishermen looking for a good spot to toss their lines.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The puppy perps are off the legal hook. Authorities in Southern California say they're dropping a criminal investigation in the case of the stolen chow puppy. The Orange County Sheriff's Department says the request comes from a pet store owner. A sheriff's department spokesman tells the Los Angeles Times the thieves have apologized and paid for the puppy. The penitent puppy-snatchers have even covered the taxes and fees for the dog stolen from Pet City in Anaheim. The make-good follows surveillance video from the store that was shown on several area TV stations.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Artist Jill Miller is taking her pro-breast feeding message on the road. She's created what she calls the Milk Truck. It's an old box truck with a huge pink breast on top. The nipple is a flashing red light. Miller, who's also a mom, says she wanted to do something funny on a serious issue. She says young mothers need help and encouragement to breast feed their babies. Miller also teaches at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Artin Pittsburgh.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - It was one week ago tonight that Demi Moore was rushed by ambulance to a hospital. The 911 recording reveals frantic efforts by her friends to get help for her. They say she had convulsions and was "semi-conscious, barely." A woman tells emergency operators Moore had smoked something and she'd been "having issues lately." When asked if the substance was taken intentionally, the woman says Moore smoked it on purpose but the reaction was accidental. The operator also asks the friend if this has happened before and she answers with "I don't know. There's been some stuff recently that we're all just finding out."

Today is Monday, Jan. 30, the 30th day of 2012. There are 336 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On Jan. 30, 1962, two members of "The Flying Wallendas" high-wire act were killed when their seven-person pyramid collapsed during a performance at the State Fair Coliseum in Detroit.

On this date:
In 1649, England's King Charles I was beheaded.
In 1798, a brawl broke out in the U.S. House of Representatives in Philadelphia, as Matthew Lyon of Vermont spat in the face of Roger Griswold of Connecticut.
In 1862, the ironclad USS Monitor was launched from the Continental Iron Works in Greenpoint, N.Y., during the Civil War.
In 1882, the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was born in Hyde Park, N.Y.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. The first episode of the "Lone Ranger" radio program was broadcast on station WXYZ in Detroit.
In 1948, Indian political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, 78, was shot and killed in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist. (Godse and a co-conspirator were later executed.)
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. Author, journalist and radio commentator Dorothy Thompson died in Lisbon, Portugal, at age 67.
In 1964, the United States launched Ranger 6, an unmanned spacecraft carrying television cameras that crash-landed on the moon, but failed to send back images.
In 1968, the Tet Offensive began during the Vietnam War as Communist forces launched surprise attacks against South Vietnamese provincial capitals.
In 1972, 13 Roman Catholic civil rights marchers were shot to death by British soldiers in Northern Ireland on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."
In 1981, an estimated two million New Yorkers turned out for a ticker-tape parade honoring the freed American hostages from Iran.
In 1982, actor-comedian Stanley Holloway died in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, at age 91.

Ten years ago: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States would watch closely to see what Iraq, Iran and North Korea did next, a day after President George W. Bush singled them out as part of a dangerous "axis of evil." Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai visited the World Trade Center site and placed a wreath of yellow roses by a memorial wall as he surveyed the ruins of Sept. 11.
Five years ago: A propane tank explosion leveled the Flat Top Little General Store in Ghent, W.Va., killing four people. Two gunmen shot and killed Mellie McDaniel, the wife of the Jackson
County, Fla., sheriff and a deputy sent to check on her; other deputies opened fire and killed the assailants. Hollywood writer-producer and novelist Sidney Sheldon died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 89.
One year ago: Egypt's most prominent democracy advocate, Mohamed ElBaradei, called for President Hosni Mubarak to resign during an address to thousands of protesters in Cairo who were defying a curfew for a third night. Rachid Ghanouchi, leader of the long-outlawed Tunisian Islamist
party, returned home after two decades in exile. MVP DeAngelo Hall had one of his team's five interceptions and returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown to help the NFC match a Pro Bowl scoring record in a 55-41 victory over the AFC. Novak Djokovic won his second Australian Open title, breezing past Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Ryan Bradley won his first title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Dorothy Malone is 87.Producer-director Harold Prince is 84. Actor Gene Hackman is 82. Actress Tammy Grimes is 78. Actress Vanessa Redgrave is 75. Chess grandmaster Boris Spassky is 75. Country singer Jeanne Pruett is 75. Country singer Norma Jean is 74. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is 71. Rock singer Marty Balin is 70. Rhythm-and-blues musician William King (The Commodores) is 63. Singer Phil Collins is 61. Actor Charles S. Dutton is 61. World Golf Hall of Famer Curtis Strange is 57. Actress-comedian Brett Butler is 54. Singer Jody Watley is 53. Actor-filmmaker Dexter Scott King is 51. The King of Jordan, Abdullah II, is 50. Actor Norbert Leo Butz is 45. Country singer Tammy Cochran is 40. Actor Christian Bale is 38. Rock musician Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) is 38. Pop-countrysinger-songwriter Josh Kelley is 32. Actor Wilmer Valderrama is 32. Actor Jake Thomas is 22.

Thought for Today: "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death." - Harold Wilson, British prime minister (1916-1995).

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Pro Bowl

AFC 59 NFC 41

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Miami 97 Chicago 93

Cleveland 88 Boston 87

Indiana 106 Orlando 85

Toronto 94 New Jersey 73

Dallas 101 San Antonio 100   OT

Atlanta 94 New Orleans 72

L-A Lakers 106 Minnesota 101

L-A Clippers 109 Denver 105

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

NHL All Star Game

Team Chara 12 Team Alfredsson 9

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

( 4) Ohio St. 64 (20) Michigan 49

( 7) North Carolina 93 Georgia Tech 81

(16) Indiana 103 Iowa 89

Notre Dame 50 (24) UConn 48

TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

( 6) Kentucky 82 Alabama 68

( 7) Tennessee 67 (17) Georgia 50

Minnesota 76 ( 9) Ohio St. 65

(10) Miami 88 Boston College 57

(20) Georgetown 54 (11) Rutgers 36

(14) Texas A&M 66 Iowa St. 64

(15) Delaware 72 James Madison 65

Michigan St. 83 (18) Penn St. 77

(19) Nebraska 67 Illinois 47

(25) North Carolina 75 Wake Forest 71

SOUTH DAKOTA SCOREBOARD

College Tennis

Drake 6, South Dakota 1

High School Hockey

Girls

Rushmore 4, Pierre-Ft. Pierre 3

Mitchell 10, Huron 0

Brookings 13, Aberdeen 0

Boys

Aberdeen 4, Sioux Center, Iowa 2

Rushmore 14, Yankton 0

Pierre-Ft. Pierre 6, Watertown 4

Rod Fisher, Brian Oakland,
Darren Boyle, Andy Shoe,
& Pat Morrison give you their opinion on local, state, and national sports. Click Here!

Monday:             SDSU at Oakland Womens College Basketball 5:30 pm 5:00 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:             Pierre at Mitchell Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:05 pm Pre-Game

Thursday:            Oral Roberts at SDSU Men's College Basketball 7:00 pm 6:30 pm Pre-Game

Friday:                 Pierre at Mitchell High School Wrestling 7:30 pm 7:10 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:             Southern Utah at SDSU Women's College Basketball 5:00 pm 4:30 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:            Mitchell at Pierre Boys Basketball 7:30 pm 7:00 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:           Sioux Falls O'Gorman at Pierre Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:00 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Chamberlain at Platte-Geddes Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:15 pm Pre-

Thursday:          Todd County at Chamberlain Girls Basketball 7:30 pm 7:15 pm Pre-Game

Saturday:           Highmore Classic Girls/Boys Basketball

                         Highmore-Harrold vs. Iroquois 3:30 pm 3:15 pm

                         Highmore-Harrold vs. Kadoka 5:00 pm

                         Chamberlain vs. Jones County 6:30 pm

                         Lower Brule vs. Jones County 8:00 pm

Tuesday:           Faulkton at Eureka-Bowdle Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:15 pm Pre-Game

Thursday:          Hoven Edmunds Central at Herreid Selby Boys Basketball 8:00 pm 7:45 pm Pre-Game

Tuesday:           Mobridge-Pollock at Standing Rock Boys Basketball 7:30 pm 7:20 pm Pre-Game

Friday:              Mobridge-Pollock at Chamberlain Girls/Boys Basketball DH 6:30 pm 6:20 pm Pre-Game

Find out what is on the minds of the Dakota Radio Group Sports guys. Take a look at the DRG Sports Blog and add your thoughts. Just log onto www.dakotaradiogroup.com and blog away!!!!

IN SPORTS TODAY:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol scored 28 to give the Los Angeles Lakers a much-needed road victory, 106-101 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.  Andrew Bynum added 21 points for the Lakers, who won for just the second time in nine road games this season. They led by 18 in the third quarter, then withstood a furious Timberwolves charge to hang on for their second victory in six games.  Kevin Love had 33 points and 13 rebounds and Michael Beasley added 18 points and 12 boards for the Wolves, who lost to the Lakers for the 16th straight time.  Minnesota led 94-93 with 3:19 to play, but the Lakers' size was too much down the stretch. Bynum threw down two dunks and Bryant slithered into the lane for two clutch jumpers to turn back the young Wolves.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Governor boys basketball team split a pair of games over the weekend as they dropped a 73-64 contest at Spearfish on Friday night but bounced back for a 63-28 win over Sturgis on Saturday.  The split leaves the 2nd ranked Governors with a 11-3 record on the season.  Pierre host Mitchell, the number 1 rated team in the state tomorrow night.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Lady Governor basketball team split a pair of weekend games as they upended Spearfish 50-44 on Friday night but were handled by Sturgis 42-21 on Saturday.  The split leaves the Lady Govs with a 3 and 11 record as they travel to top ranked Mitchell tomorrow night.

FT. PIERRE, S.D. - The Stanley County girls and boys basketball teams were swept by Cheyenne Eagle Butte on Saturday in Ft. Pierre.  The Lady Buffs were beaten by the Lady Braves 83-31 while the Cheyenne Eagle Butte boys squad rallied for a 66-57 win over the Buffalos in a game that Stanley County led most of the way.  The Buffalos and Lady Buffalos will travel to Todd County for another girls/boys doubleheader tomorrow night.

FT. PIERRE, S.D. - 10 youngsters won free throw shooting titles Saturday at the annual Ft. Pierre Knights of Columbus Free Throw Shooting Contest in Ft. Pierre.  Winning the in the girls divisions were MaKenna Larson, Emily Mikkelsen, Tori Thorpe, Lynette Blue Bird and Carmelita LaTray.  Boys division winners were Andrew Coverdale, Peyton Zabel, Felician Brave Hawk, Sam Edman and Darius Red Cloud.  The 10 winners all won a new basketball and will advance to District Competition.  (Courtesy Photo shown below)

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Governor wrestling team captured the team title of the Brookings Invitational wrestling Saturday in Brookings.  The Governors scored 223.5 to finish 3 points ahead of runner up Rapid City Stevens.  The Governors had 3 grapplers gain individual championships as Jebben Keyes at 106 lbs., Tanner Monfore at 126 lb. and Chade Lettau at 182 lb. all won titles.  Seth Scot at 160 lbs. and Trey Maier at 195 lb. got to the championship match of their weight divisions before losing and finishing as a runner up.  All in all, 8 of the Governor wrestlers placed in the tournament.  The Govs return to the mat on Friday night when they travel to Mitchell for a ESD Conference dual.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre Lady Governor gymnastics team scored 134.200 to finish second to Rapid City Central in a gymnastics dual hosted by the Lady Governors on Saturday.  The Cobblers scored 144.350.  The Lady Govs score was 6 points better than last weekend's Rapid City Gym O Rama score.  Pierre competed without two of their top performers as Cheyna Lodge and Sydney Gutenkauf sat out due to ankle injuries.  Pierre will travel to Brookings on Saturday for the ESD Conference meet.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre-Ft. Pierre Capitals varsity boys hockey team split a pair of games over the weekend.  The Capitals dropped a 7-5 verdict to Mitchell on Saturday night in Mitchell, but returned home yesterday and recorded a 6-4 win over Watertown.  The Capitals Austin Wagner scored 7 goals over the weekend getting the hat track on Saturday at Mitchell and then scored 4 goals in yesterday's win over Watertown.

PIERRE, S.D. - The Pierre-Ft. Pierre Lady Capitals hockey team took a major hit this weekend as they were swept all 3 games against Rushmore at the EXPO Center in Ft. Pierre.  All 3 games were one goal affairs with the Rapid City squad winning Friday night 3-2 in overtime and then coming back for a 1-0 win on Saturday and capped that off with a 4-3 victory over the Lady Capitals yesterday.  Liz Knutson scored 3 goals over the weekend to lead Pierre-Ft. Pierre offensively.

UNDATED (AP) — The Miami Heat won a battle of the top two teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference yesterday as LeBron James scored 35 points in a 97-93 triumph over the Chicago Bulls. Chris Bosh added 24 points and 12 rebounds to help Miami improve to 15-5, one game behind the East-leading Bulls with two games in hand. Bulls guard Derrick Rose had a team-high 34 points but missed two free throws in the final 23 seconds.

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle says guard Jason Kidd will be out at least a week because of a right calf strain. Kidd got hurt playing defense just more than 2 minutes into Friday's victory against Utah. Carlisle made the announcement as the Mavs were about to begin a stretch of five games over a seven-day period.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) — All six Pro Bowl quarterbacks threw for two touchdowns while the AFC was beating the NFC 59-41 at Honolulu. Brandon Marshall was the beneficiary of the passing attack, setting a Pro Bowl record with four touchdown receptions while grabbing six passes for 176 yards. The two teams combined for 51 first downs, 943 passing yards and 1,142 total yards.

OTTAWA (AP) — Team Chara used a six-goal third period to defeat Team Alfredsson 12-9 in the NHL All-Star game at Ottawa. Game MVP Marion Gaborik  completed a hat trick early in the second period and set up Zdeno Chara's game-winner with 7:40 remaining. The game was tied 8-8 until Marian Hossa and Chara scored 16 seconds apart midway through the final period.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brandt Snedeker parred the second playoff hole to complete an improbable victory over Kyle Stanley at the PGA's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Stanley led Snedeker by seven shots entering the final round and was three ahead with one hole to play before carding a triple-bogey to force a tie. Snedeker closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a 16-under total.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic  won the longest Grand Slam final in pro tennis, taking five hours and 53 minutes to defeat No. 2 Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 at the Australian Open. Djokovic overcame a break point in the fifth set en route to becoming the fifth man since the Open era began in 1968 to win three straight Grand Slam titles. Nadal also became the first man in the Open Era to lose three straight major finals.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Abbott has won his third title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship with the highest score ever in the event's history. Abbott entered with a commanding lead before avoiding any major mistakes in the free skate, leading to his 273.58 points. He was more than 32 points ahead of runner-up Adam Rippon.