COVID-19 on campus: looking back, looking forward

The tide may be turning on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with a decline in new cases nationally and regionally and with South Dakota’s Board of Regents seeking a more “normal” fall semester on USD’s campus. In response to this, USD student organizations, Vermillion businesses and local government leaders are looking to bring […]

14 mins read

Correction

In the article “Vermillion mayoral election sees five candidates” of the April 21 issue, The Volante mistakenly reported one of the mayoral candidate’s names. Aaron Kerkhove is referred to as Charles on first reference in the article. Aaron Kerkhove is running in the 2021 election for mayor. The Volante regrets this error.

1 min read

Scooter’s holds grand opening in Vermillion

Scooter’s Coffee opened its doors to Vermillion last November. However, due to COVID-19, the drive-thru coffee chain was unable to celebrate their grand opening.  Tuesday, Scooter’s Coffee had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to finally celebrate its grand opening. The location’s owner, Travis Rhoades, said that he thought the turnout was great and that the event was […]

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Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted Tuesday of murder and manslaughter for kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes until death. Floyd’s death last May set off a wave of protests for racial justice and police reform. The jury found Chauvin guilty after 10 hours of deliberation over two days. Chauvin was […]

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Heartland Humane Society cares for stray cats in Vermillion

Outdoor cats are all over Vermillion. The Heartland Humane Society in Yankton is the closest animal shelter to Vermillion and works with the city and any volunteers through their Trap Neuter Release Program (TNR). Dana Merrigan is a veterinary technician and intake coordinator at the Heartland Humane Society and helps with the TNR program. The […]

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Missouri River Watercolor Society provides creative outlet for all ages

The Northern Plains Watercolor Society in Rapid City, South Dakota inspired Sharon Grey and Betty Smith to create the Missouri River Watercolor Society (MRWS) in Vermillion.  In November 2019 the MRWS was formed. The First Dakota Coyote Gallery in the Coyote Twin Theatre building on 12 East Main Street sponsors the MRWS by offering people […]

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Lions Pancake Days serves the community in more ways than one

The Vermillion Lions Club, which was founded in 1950 to combat vision problems in children, hosted its annual Lions Pancake Days this year April 14-15 at the Armory in Vermillion.  The event spanned two days with three available eating times, one for lunch and two for dinner. At all of the open dining hours, members […]

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Vintage store offers Vermillion nostalgic experiences

Nostalgia Vintage and Wellness is a new store in downtown Vermillion that sells vintage clothes, pressed juices and an experience, as owner Mattea Scott says. Nostalgia Vintage and Wellness opened its physical location on April 2, 2021. The store also has online shopping, though the website is currently under construction and they are instead selling […]

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Vermillion mayoral election sees five candidates

EDITORS NOTE: In a previous version of this article, Aaron Kerkhove’s name was mistakenly reported as Charles. This article has been updated to reflect the correct name. The Volante regrets this error. Vermillion’s Mayor Kelsey Collier-Wise will run in a special election to serve out the rest of Mayor Jack Powell’s term in June. Collier-Wise […]

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Local downtown businesses bounce back from pandemic

At the beginning of the school year, many local downtown businesses were in the midst of a financial struggle due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Transitioning to the importance of sustainability in procurement decisions, it’s vital to collaborate with firms that prioritize environmental stewardship. My experience has taught me the value of such partnerships, notably with […]

7 mins read