News in Rutland, SD

Daily Republic · Rutland, SD

ORR school board certifies dissolution vote results, but conflict remains

RUTLAND, S.D. — Oldham-Ramona-Rutland has made official the results of its Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, dissolution election. Voters decided 393-352 to keep the district open. Voters decided 393-352 to reject a reorganization plan which would have dissolved the ORR School District. The district, which operates a school in Rutland and two Hutterite colonies, will continue teaching its students. If the reorganization plan had been adopted, the district would have dissolved at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. District assets, like buildings and vehicles, would be transferred to neighboring school districts. Property within the ORR School District would have been reorganized into neighboring school districts, including Madison Central, Chester Area and Howard, among others. ORR board members canvassed the vote at their regular meeting in Rutland on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Canvassing is the process by which a governing body's elected officers certify the results of an election.

Daily Republic · Rutland, SD

'Staying open:' ORR votes against dissolution plan

NUNDA, S.D. — The unofficial results are in: 352 in favor of dissolving the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District, and 393 against. Even with some provisional ballots to be counted, the voters have spoken, and they want the district to stay. Of the ballots reviewed Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the early hours of Nov. 11, two were spoiled and not counted. An additional two had both options checked, making them uncountable. Another five ballots were labeled provisional and will not be counted until the voters' registrations are validated on Nov. 11 by business manager Amber Malisch. In total, 745 votes were counted the night of the election. Counting concluded at about 1 a.m., with election workers citing a lack of time during the day to complete pre-count tasks for the delay. The absentee vote validation period, during which poll watchers challenged a number of voters' registration, lasted over three hours past the polls closing. "We are staying open.

Nearby reporting

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Daily Republic · Sioux Falls, SD

Nearby: Sioux Falls, SD

No. 5 O'Gorman sweeps Kernels in Class AA volleyball SoDak 16

SIOUX FALLS — Mitchell High School volleyball was up to the challenge of facing No. 5 O’Gorman on Thursday night with a Class AA state tournament berth on the line but the Knights had answers at every turn for a 3-0 sweep in the SoDak 16 state-qualifying round. Set scores were 25-20, 28-26 and 25-23. O’Gorman (20-8) plays No. 4 Sioux Falls Washington at 12:45 p.m. in the Class AA state quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 19 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Mitchell’s season ends at 9-15. The Knights appeared to be on their way to an easy sweep but Mitchell fought back in the second frame. Trailing 21-12, Mitchell scored nine straight points to tie the set behind the serving of Londyn Hajek. The Kernels fended off three O’Gorman set point chances before O’Gorman sealed the 2-0 lead. In the third set, Mitchell led 22-16 only to see O’Gorman charge back with a 9-1 run to close out the Kernels’ season.

Daily Republic · Sioux Falls, SD

Nearby: Sioux Falls, SD

Spearfish woman runs 450 miles across South Dakota to honor fallen service members

SPEARFISH, S.D. — For 25 days in May, Mai Richards carried an American flag across South Dakota, running as many as 22 miles a day from Sioux Falls to Sturgis in honor of the men and women who gave their lives in military service. The 450-mile journey, called Miles of Honor, tested Richards physically and emotionally. She ran through strong prairie winds, freezing rain, exhaustion and moments of doubt, all while carrying an 8-foot flagpole and balancing the demands of completing her master's degree in business administration. But the reason she kept going was never about how far she could run. It was about the people she was running for and a belief that has shaped much of her life: love and sacrifice go hand in hand. For Richards, that connection is personal. Born in Vietnam, she and her twin sister experienced severe poverty and abuse before their mother gave them up for adoption so they could have a safer life.

Pine and Lakes Echo Journal · Sioux Falls, SD

Nearby: Sioux Falls, SD

Oetken’s resistance was ‘clear, obvious’ prior to deputy’s fatal shooting, Jackley says

SIOUX FALLS — New details have emerged in the October shooting that killed a Minnehaha County sheriff’s deputy as state law enforcement officials rule that the ensuing officer-involved shooting was justified. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley on Friday, Nov. 6, released an officer-involved shooting report detailing the events of the night Deputy Katherine Frank was shot and killed in a Sioux Falls home. The report is the result of a comprehensive 28-day investigation that included witness interviews, forensic testing, review of physical evidence, toxicology testing and more by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sioux Falls Police Department. “The ultimate conclusion based upon the totality of circumstances is that the officer that discharged [their] firearm four times, striking Brandon Oetken, was justified in firing and using lethal force,” Jackley announced from Pierre. Frank, 26, was the daughter of the Rev.