State/Local
Emergency crews train throughout Dakota Days
Vermillion Police Chief Matt Betzen wants Clay County to be prepared. VPD, the University Police Department, Clay County EMS, the Vermillion Fire Department and other county emergency services will gather together over Dakota Days to simulate an emergency situation. “We will be able to respond faster,” Betzen said. “Our people will be briefed, and each […]
Enforcement begins for rental housing codes
Editor’s note: The headline of this article has been changed because the rental housing codes are being enforced, not nearing expiration. Health and safety for residents of rental properties is a concern for the City of Vermillion. The city is enforcing changes made by the city council in 2011 after giving landlords time to bring […]
VPD utilizes new equipment for D-Days
In part three of this three-week series about alcohol consumption, The Volante focuses on the presence of underage drinking at the University of South Dakota. Come the first week of October — and the red solo cup activities that follow — the Vermillion Police Department is implementing new equipment and more manpower to deal with […]
How the federal government shutdown affects USD, South Dakota
The federal government shut down Tuesday for the first time in 17 years after the U.S. Congress failed to approve a bill to fund the government for the next fiscal year. The shutdown is not expected to directly affect University of South Dakota operations. How Government Shutdown Affects USD The U.S. Department of Education will […]
Shortage in light fixture causes fire at Coyote Convenience store
An electrical shortage was the cause of a structure fire at the local Valero gas station on the corner of Dakota and Cherry streets Friday afternoon, officials said. Vermillion Fire Chief Shannon Draper said a shortage in one of the structure’s lights caused part of the building’s roof membrane to begin smoldering and it is better to […]
Thirteen businesses fail compliance check
In part two of this three-week series about alcohol consumption, The Volante focuses on businesses contributing to underage drinking at the University of South Dakota. Out of the 42 local bars and alcohol vendors in Vermillion inspected last year by the Vermillion Police Department, 13 of them failed compliance checks. Hilary Wells, a senior at […]
Board places exact value on state compensation for freeze
Students at the University of South Dakota and around South Dakota might finally be receiving something they have wanted for the past few years — a freeze in tuition. At the Sept. 24 Student Government Association meeting, former SGA Vice President Dennis Smith officially reported to the SGA that the South Dakota Board of Regents […]
Lose the Booze
In part one of this three-week series about on-campus alcohol consumption, The Volante focuses on statistics surrounding underage drinking in relation to the University of South Dakota. Within the first week of the fall semester at the University of South Dakota, four parties were busted by the Vermillion Police Department for underage drinking, said Police […]
USD will ‘likely’ meet Obama’s new proposal
South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director Jack Warner said it is too early to determine how President Barack Obama’s proposed performance system for higher education might impact the University of South Dakota. “We’ve been tracking as close as possible but there are really no details that have been forthcoming from the administration at this […]
Vermillion residents, students clear debris from banks of Missouri
University of South Dakota students and Vermillion community members were lending a helping hand Saturday at the Missouri River cleanup, hosted by the National Park Service. The river cleanup has been going on for nearly 10 years in Yankton, but this was the first time it was brought to Vermillion, said Kevin O’Kelley, director of […]