Heartland Humane Society helps furry friends find forever homes

Approximately 6.5 million animals enter an animal shelter each year. Currently, the Heartland Humane Society in Yankton, SD is home to roughly 30 of those shelter animals.  Kerry Hacecky, the director at Heartland, said most animals they house were either surrendered by their previous owner or were stray.  Hacecky said half the stray animals are […]

6 mins read

New CARE Team collects research to aid in USD’s, South Dakota’s COVID-19 response

USD’s School of Health Sciences has created the Community Action Response Epidemiology (CARE) team to partner with the South Dakota Department of Health and the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board to provide contact tracing, health promotion and comprehensive services to the state of South Dakota. Susan Puumala, the project director of the CARE team, […]

2 mins read

‘Something special’ planned for Dakota Days

With no sporting events and all the safety guidelines that come with the pandemic, Dakota Days week is shifting to alternative means to celebrate USD homecoming. Doug Wagner, advisor to the Dakota Days executive committee, said the biggest difference this year is that large events have moved from the Muenster University Center to either Aalfs […]

3 mins read

Local businesses feel financial pressure as pandemic continues

One downtown restaurant is on the cusp of closing its doors due to the slowdown of business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while another two are finding new ways to combat the financial difficulties. Café Brulé, a Main Street restaurant, is struggling financially during the age of COVID-19. After celebrating being open for a little […]

5 mins read

Local artist to showcase Vermillion community in new mural

Vermillion’s Community Connection Center (CCC) is working with a local artist and community members to liven up their community space. The CCC is a community space where organizations like United Way of Vermillion, Vermillion Food Pantry, The Welcome Table and Salvation Army are located. According to the CCC website, the CCC is “a place where […]

3 mins read

AWOL Serve and Learn engages freshmen in community service

The Alternative Week of Off-campus learning (AWOL) hosted its annual Serve and Learn event on Aug. 28 and 29 to introduce new freshmen to the community that surrounds USD. Traditionally, Serve and Learn takes place on move-in week, allowing new participants to move in early. However, this year they moved the date back due to […]

2 mins read

Wynie Mae’s bounces back from COVID

Wynie Mae’s AVEDA Salon & Spa has been open in downtown Vermillion for over a decade, but for nine weeks this spring, their doors were closed. Before the city of Vermillion officially mandated businesses closing during COVID-19 in March, Wynie Mae’s decided to close temporarily.  Bekki Engquist-Schroeder, owner and hairstylist at Wynnie Mae’s, said while […]

4 mins read

Letter from the editor: The Volante is here to be your voice

2020 has turned the entire world upside down. Our perfect schedules were cleared. Our travel plans were postponed. Classes were redesigned. Everything we knew is gone.  While things we once took for granted are changing to luxuries, it is important to learn from what we are going through.  Through this pandemic, I have learned how […]

3 mins read

Dog Instagrams create an online community

Pet Instagrams are popular among celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Nick Jonas and now more pet owners are getting into this trend. Check out https://www.ridgesidek9denver.com/programs/dog-aggression-training/ if you need dog training. This semester, The Volante featured multiple dog Instagram accounts — starring a Great Pyrenees, a French bulldog and a British labrador. These pups are […]

3 mins read

Community Mural Project Continues Painting

Part two of the Vermillion Community Mural Projects’ mural is still on schedule to be finished in the summer of 2020. Despite some setbacks, the mural team still plans to work throughout the summer. The Vermillion Community Mural Project is a subsidiary part of the Vermillion Cultural Association, created by Amber Hansen, an assistant professor […]

3 mins read