downtown Vermillion
Vermillion bars close early, hope to slow spread of COVID-19
Last week, Vermillion bar owners met to discuss what they could do to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The result — all bars closed at 10 p.m. from Aug. 28 through Aug. 30. Nate Welch, president and CEO of the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company, said bar owners came together because they found information […]
Thursday Night on the Platz lights up downtown Vermillion
Downtown Vermillion transforms every Thursday for music, food and fun for the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company’s (VCDC) Thursday Night on the Platz. Thursday Night on the Platz began after downtown Vermillion reopened in the late spring. Since then community members have come to Main Street looking to have a fun night out downtown — […]
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 […]
Vermillion t-shirts represent and support local community
When USD students left for spring break, they thought they were leaving for a week. Now, four weeks later, students like Skye Hannasch are wishing they were back in Vermillion. Hannasch, a senior criminal justice major, has worked for the company University Tees for the last year. Through this company, she designed a T-shirt representing […]
Coronavirus continues to spread in South Dakota
A growing number of coronavirus cases have emerged in South Dakota. The state recorded 14 positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday, but that total rose to 30 by Tuesday according to South Dakota’s Department of Health. South Dakota has seen one death so far from COVID-19. Beadle and Minnehaha counties have the most cases in […]
Vermillion presents a unique climate for old and new businesses
Vermillion may be the home of USD, but the university isn’t the only landmark the town hosts. Thanks to the college bustle and an enthusiastic downtown business scene, both longtime residents and newcomers alike are enjoying success. Monica Iverson and Jim Waters co-own Cafe Brule and Dakota Brick House. The two met while doing work […]
Bar safety: Bartenders watch over customers, aim to protect
This is the third and final part of an ongoing story on date rape drugs and safety in social drinking. Dakota Brickhouse is one of eight bars in downtown Vermillion. They try to watch all of their customers to ensure a safe and fun drinking environment. One of the ways they have improved safety is […]
Crashes in Vermillion reflect public education, road improvements
In 2019, South Dakota had a record low in traffic fatalities. Vermillion experienced its first fatality from a traffic incident since 2015. Out of the 166 drivers involved in an accident last year, 151 (91%) were unharmed. Luke Trowbridge, a patrol lieutenant for the Vermillion Police Department, said he doesn’t notice a large change in […]
Local artists paint Vermillion
Bright, vivid murals have been popping up around downtown Vermillion. The Vermillion Community Mural Project (VCMP), a project dedicated to creating murals to beautify the city, is working to finish a two-part mural located behind the Coyote Twin Theater. Amber Hansen, Assistant Professor at USD, is the main developer of the VCMP, a subsidiary part […]
“If it happens once, it’s a problem”: Vermillion’s undercover date rape drug problem
Waking up in her bed, not knowing how she got there, Katherine Meirose made her way to her bathroom. There, she quickly discovered she had a black eye and no memory of how it happened. Meirose said her first thought was, “I didn’t drink that much and didn’t have a hangover. How do I not […]