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May 6, 2010 Lake Area Technical Institute
Gov. Mike Rounds called Watertown a dynamic community that’s not allowing anything to stop progress during a national recession. “Lake Area Tech is truly one of those creators of economic prosperity for Watertown, this region as well as the rest of the state,” he said. Rounds said generous contributions have made LATI one of the best technical institutes in the world. “Not only do you have a great school with great teachers but you’ve achieved great results from your students,” he said. Rounds spoke to about 180 people on Wednesday during the eighth annual Governor’s Luncheon at the event center. The community foundation hosted the luncheon that kicks off LATI’s scholarship drive. During the past seven years, contributions associated with the luncheon have raised $280,000 in awards and helped 450 students. For more about Rounds’ speech, see today’s edition of the Public Opinion.
Recent Entries
May 4, 2010 Business, Just for fun, Local Businesses
The Riverside Restaurant and the Dairy Queen on West Kemp Avenue have 
both closed their doors, but the memories left behind are many. Crowds flocked to both businesses after baseball and football games, hot summer days or just because. Ice cream, coney dogs, car hops and ice cold root beer. What was your favorite? Share your memories with us.
May 4, 2010 Outdoors, Watertown area
The Watertown Parks and Recreation Board is considering whether to allow a group of remote control car enthusiasts to build a mini-race track at Riverside Park north of Third Avenue NW.
One particular concern is the noise factor, though some neighbors say they wouldn’t mind.
May 2, 2010 City Government, Watertown Fire Department
Postponing some 2011 capital improvement projects could help the city of Watertown fund $1 million of the proposed west fire substation. Mayor Gary Williams and City Finance Officer Tracy Turbak met with department heads this week to prioritize those projects. They total about $4 million and include airport parking lot improvements, the recreational trail system, purchasing a mini pumper and tender truck, a southeast storm sewer project and street improvement projects for 10th Avenue North. Turbak, after reviewing the projects with department heads, will seek a recommendation from the council on Monday to accept a funding plan. That’s also when Fire Chief Nick Swinhart plans to ask the council for permission to advertise for bids for the estimated $4 million substation which would cover architectural, engineering and construction costs. For more about the funding needed, see the weekend edition of the Public Opinion.
Apr 30, 2010 Arts/Entertainment, Outdoors
National and international award-winning wildlife artist Joshua Spies of Watertown inched closer to the 12-foot tall bull elephant. “I remember him taking one load of sticks and branches with his trunk and putting it toward his mouth,” he said. Zimbabwe professional hunter Ivan Carter, who accompanied Spies on this April 5, 2009 hunt in the Zambezi Valley of southern Africa, spotted the tusks and gave him the thumbs up sign. “The elephant dropped the sticks and branches and spun around toward us, lowered his head and came at us like he didn’t want us there,” Spies said, laughing. “It was like, ‘Get the hell out of here.’” The sound of the charge resembled a freight train. “It was pretty damn scary,” Spies said. “If I would’ve had a camera I would’ve been dead. There was no way around it.” For more about the elephant hunt, see the weekend edition of the Public Opinion.
Apr 28, 2010 City Government, Codington County, Watertown area
Citing incompatibility with existing properties, members of the Board
of Adjustments shot down two proposals on the agenda at the April 22 meeting. The issue that drew the most attention was the proposed half-way house at 600 Third Ave. SE. The majority of those in attendance were residents from Ward D, waiting for their chance to speak against the project.
The board also rejected a proposal that would have allowed John Maloney to turn the Kemp Avenue Dairy Queen into a tavern and casino to be known as Tippy’s Tavern.
Apr 28, 2010 Agriculture, Business, Chamber of Commerce
Solid Rock Clothing is an online, eco-friendly t-shirt company started by Watertown native Dustin Pratt. The material for the shirts is composed of recycled polyester, wool and ingeo, a plant-based fiber composed primarily of soybeans and corn. Solid Rock, according to Pratt, is the only T-shirt company with this particular blend of fabrics.
Apr 28, 2010 Education, Schools, Watertown High School, Watertown School Board
Abbey Jones is walking in select company these days. The 2006 graduate of Watertown High School will graduate from the University of South Dakota in a few weeks with honors. What sets her apart from her peers is being named a Fulbright Scholar. She will soon leave for Indonesia to teach English.
Apr 28, 2010 Public Works, Uptown Watertown
City officials are discussing making Kemp Avenue in Uptown a two-way street again.
Will this make shopping, parking and driving better? Worse? Both?
Apr 27, 2010 Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown School Board
Lake Area Technical Institute projects an annual 5 percent enrollment increase of about 1,575 students for the 2010-11 school year. “We don’t like to jinx ourselves but we’re assuming we’ll be ahead of our (2 percent) goal by next fall,” Deb Shephard said. Shephard, president of LATI, said after a budget work session on Monday that LATI must adjust its budget and staff to fit the growing enrollment. “You never want to a add a person without really thinking it through because it’s really hard to let them go if things go the other way,” she said. “But this will be the seventh year in a row where we’ve increased enrollment and you have to have the people to teach and assist with the operations.” For more about the LATI’s proposed budget, see today’s edition of the Public Opinion.
