south dakota
New FAR appointed amid pandemic
Tucked away in Noteboom Hall, room 317, Jessica Messersmith — the newly appointed Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) — is deciding what the best course of action is to help all student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a normal year, Messersmith’s job would include keeping student-athletes on track while they balance their academics and athletics. She […]
Vermillion food programs adapt to continue serving citizens
In the wake of COVID-19, meal providers such as the Vermillion Food Pantry and the Vermillion Welcome Table have been forced to close their physical doors. Despite the drawback, these food services are continuing to provide meals to people in need. The Vermillion Food Pantry ceased walk-in services after the Community Connection Center of Vermillion […]
Graduating into the unknown
The graduating class of 2020 is finishing their time at USD while not actually being on campus. Due to COVID-19, classes were moved online for the rest of the semester and the commencement ceremony was postponed. On April 28, USD officially announced the ceremony would be held on Oct. 24, 2020. The future date for […]
Patriot’s Plaza will honor veterans past, present, future
USD does not have an official monument honoring its veterans, but after years of planning and fundraising, that will soon change as the construction of the Patriot’s Plaza begins this summer. Located near the Business School, the Law School and the Al Neuharth Media Center, the Patriot’s Plaza memorial will honor USD’s three Medal of […]
SGA President and Vice President reflect on semester, plan for future
With classes moved online and campus buildings closed, Student Government Association President Abuk Jiel and Vice President Carter Larson haven’t had a traditional beginning to their administration. Although SGA currently convenes over Zoom conferencing and all their legislation is done remotely, Jiel and Larson continue to make big plans for USD. The pandemic began affecting […]
Summer Issue: 2020 Census to impact USD, Vermillion communities
Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau takes a count of the entire country’s population. This year, Census Day fell on April 1 and every city, town and community across the U.S. needed to be accounted for. In Vermillion, the Complete Count Committee from the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) was responsible for ensuring […]
Summer Issue: National Music Museum construction is on track to finish amid COVID-19
While COVID-19 has canceled a wide variety of events throughout 2020, it hasn’t stopped construction of the National Music Museum (NMM). The project began in September of last year and is expected to finalize in July. Matt Collinsworth, the Director of the NMM, said the team will adjust accordingly as the construction progresses. “We recognize […]
News Timeline
Flamez Tobacco Opens: Sept. 2, 2019 Flamez Tobacco added a store in Vermillion, as well as Sioux City, Iowa. The store — which was previously only open in Minnesota — is licensed to sell tobacco and vaping products and drinking accessories. Brian McDonald, store manager, said he hopes the store makes an impression in Vermillion with […]
Editorial: Gov. Noem can do more
As the number of COVID-19 cases climb around the country and specifically in South Dakota, it’s clear more needs to be done to combat this novel virus. Ultimately, the person who can exercise the most power in our state government is Gov. Kristi Noem, but she hasn’t been doing enough to protect the people living […]
Vermillion mayor and USD alumnus Jack Powell passes
After a five-year battle with cancer, Mayor John E. (Jack) Powell, retired USD professor and Vermillion, passed away on Monday, April 20. Powell was elected mayor in 2010 after serving three terms on the city council, according to the Vermillion Plain Talk. He was elected again in 2014 and 2018, serving the city for a […]