Northeast Radio SD: On-Demand Local Listen

A-1 Development Solutions has filed a civil lawsuit against a former employee, alleging a multi-year scheme to divert proprietary business opportunities to competitors.
The 30-page complaint, filed in the Third Judicial Circuit of Codington County, names Kyle Peters, Bad River Development, Josh Tegan, and the 1776 Group as defendants. A-1 Development Solutions claims Peters (PEE-terz) used his position to hide a $170 million data center land purchase opportunity from the firm for personal gain. The lawsuit includes ten counts, including breach of contract, tortious interference, and fraudulent misrepresentation. As of the filing date, Peters has not filed a formal response in court.
Resident Challenges Implementation of AI Surveillance
During Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, Watertown resident James Simmons (SIH-munz) requested that officials reconsider a 60-day trial of Flock Safety automated license plate readers. Simmons argued the technology is invasive, noting it captures a "vehicle fingerprint" including color and bumper stickers. He expressed concern that data is stored in a third-party cloud database rather than remaining under local control. The board took no formal action following the presentation.
Law Enforcement Reports Narcotics and Identity Theft Arrests
The Watertown Police Department conducted a targeted investigation resulting in the arrest of Dirk Leadabrand (LEE-duh-brand), 55, on Wednesday. Following a search of a residence in Northwest Watertown, officers reportedly recovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Leadabrand faces charges of distributing a controlled substance in a drug-free zone and maintaining a location where drugs are kept.
In a separate case, police arrested Javier Hernandez Cervantes (HER-nan-dez ser-VAN-teez), 47, on Feb. 25. An investigation launched in June 2025 revealed Hernandez Cervantes, a Mexican national, allegedly utilized the Social Security number and name of a California resident for more than 20 years to obtain employment and identification. He faces four counts of identity theft and four counts of forgery.
Veteran Service Office Secures Record Benefits
Codington County Veteran Service Officer Jay Roberts (RAH-berts) announced Tuesday that his office has secured more than $177,000 in retroactive payments for local veterans this year. The VA provides these payments when a past claim is updated to current standards. Roberts highlighted an upcoming "What’s Brewing" outreach event on March 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Watertown Readiness Center to discuss burial and healthcare benefits.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a state grappling with a “bodies gap” in its labor market, a unique initiative is proving that humanitarian efforts and economic solutions can go hand-in-hand. Freedom’s Haven for New Americans, a nonprofit spearheaded by former Lake Area Technical College (LATC) President Emeritus Mike Cartney, is transforming South Dakota’s workforce by integrating refugees and legal immigrants into the local economy.
Speaking at a recent Rotary Club meeting, Cartney outlined the organization’s evolution from a local workforce solution to a statewide network supporting over 800 Ukrainian refugees since the start of the conflict.
Bridging the “Bodies Gap”
South Dakota currently faces a shortage of tens of thousands of workers across various sectors. Cartney emphasizes that the state isn’t just facing a “skills gap,” but a literal lack of people to fill essential roles.
“We don’t just have a skills gap that everybody used to talk about, but we in fact have a bodies gap in South Dakota," Cartney stated. “That’s where we started the New Americans Workforce... to figure out how do we engage new Americans.”
Originally started as a conversation with Rapid City businessman Hanny Shafai to connect industry with Native American tribes, the project shifted gears as the global refugee crisis intensified. Today, Freedom’s Haven operates under the South Dakota Community Foundation and works closely with the Departments of Labor and Tourism to streamline the transition for newcomers.
Overcoming Bureaucratic Hurdles
The path to employment for refugees is often blocked by red tape. Cartney highlighted several victories Freedom’s Haven has secured to accelerate the process:
Work Permits: Successfully advocated for refugees to begin working on “Day One” rather than waiting the standard 90 days.
Licensing: Ensuring Ukrainian driver’s licenses are accepted in South Dakota.
Insurance & Healthcare: Facilitating group car insurance and immediate access to medical support for refugees.
“We try to see what the obstacles are that people are going to hit,” Cartney explained. “The whole immigration system needs to be looked at and maybe reworked... but in the meantime, we’ve set up a network in South Dakota.”
A Cultural and Economic Match
The initiative focuses on more than just paperwork; it’s about cultural alignment. Cartney noted that many immigrants, particularly those from Ukraine, share a strong work ethic and agricultural backgrounds prevalent in South Dakota.
“A lot of times, the immigrants’ work ethic is extremely high, so that matches South Dakota’s,” Cartney said. “A lot of times they’re from a farm background, like the Ukrainians... so that all fits.”
Freedom’s Haven has now grown into a statewide network of approximately 40 members, including businesses such as Valley Queen Cheese and local dairies, as well as several church organizations and sponsor families.
About the Rotary Club of Watertown
The Rotary Club of Watertown has been a cornerstone of local leadership and community service for over a century, recently celebrating its centennial anniversary. Driven by the motto “Service Above Self,” the club brings together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.
The club is deeply invested in the success of the Watertown community, focusing its efforts on:
Youth Development: Providing annual scholarships to local graduates and supporting literacy through technology and book donations.
Fighting Hunger: Partnering with local organizations to pack hundreds of meals for the PACH (People Against Childhood Hunger) program, ensuring students have food over weekends.
Global Impact: Contributing to massive international efforts, from providing clean water access in developing nations to the global push to eradicate polio.
The club meets every Thursday at 12:15 PM at the Elks Club #838, welcoming those who wish to make a difference in Watertown and beyond.
Stay Connected: To see Rotary in action or to learn how you can get involved, visit the Rotary Club of Watertown SD Facebook Page.
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Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - For couples looking to unplug and strengthen their relationship, Joy Ranch of South Dakota is offering a unique opportunity this month. From March 20-22, the ranch will host a dedicated Couples Retreat, led by Jerod Jordan and Mallory Olsen.
The retreat is designed to be a “breath of fresh air” for relationships of all stages, whether couples are navigating challenges or simply looking for an intentional weekend away. Jordan, a minister with over 30 years of marriage experience, emphasizes that while the retreat is faith-forward, it is far from “preachy.”
“People don’t care about what you know until they know you care,” said Jordan. “We want to provide a comfortable, non-corporate setting where couples can focus on what matters: their relationship and their connection with each other.”
A Weekend of Intentional Connection
The retreat features a balance of guided sessions and free time, allowing couples to choose their own pace. Highlights of the weekend include:
Relationship Enrichment: Practical tools and discussion prompts to foster deeper communication.
Outdoor Activities: From trail rides (weather permitting) to evening campfires with s’mores, couples can enjoy the serene landscape of Joy Ranch.
Unplugged Environment: A “no phones” policy is highly encouraged to help participants fully immerse themselves in the experience.
All-Inclusive Stay: The $375 per couple fee includes a two-night stay, five meals, and all retreat materials.
For more information or to register, visit www.joyranchofsd.org and click on the “Events” tab.
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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“I can’t do any of this stuff I do without the support that surrounds me.” 💛🐾
In our latest interview, we sit down with the incredible Julie Kneeland, the driving force behind Waverly-South Shore’s “Coyotes Against Cancer.” Julie opens up about the deeply personal heartbreak that started it all, the inspiring memory of Noah Comis, and how a grieving community transformed their pain into over $40,326 raised for the American Cancer Society! 🎗️✨
This year alone, the Coyotes rallied together to raise an amazing $6,458 through bake sales, silent auctions, and player pledges! 🏀🙌
Grab a tissue and click the video to hear Julie’s powerful story of turning grief into a relentless fight for a cure.
👇 Drop a 💛 in the comments to thank Julie, Jenny Leese, Stacy Buchholz, and the entire Waverly-South Shore community for their amazing work!
#CoyotesAgainstCancer #WaverlySouthShore #RelayForLife #CancerAwareness #CommunityStrong #AmericanCancerSociety #Fundraiser #Inspiration
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Local leaders are spearheading a new initiative to address the deep, lifelong impacts of childhood trauma and build a stronger, more supportive community in Codington County.
Through the Codington Connects HEART (Healing, Education, Awareness, Resilience, Trauma) Action Team, community members are organizing to educate the public on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and shift the conversation from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
Understanding ACEs and Their Impact Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur during childhood, but their effects can ripple across a person’s entire lifespan.
Heather Fischer, MS, NCC, a counselor at Watertown High School and a member of the HEART team, emphasized the importance of early recognition.
“An adverse childhood experience is typically categorized as some sort of trauma event. It can be a multitude of different things: emotional abuse in the familial household, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse,” Fischer explained. “If you don’t address those traumatic events that the child experiences, there’s a multitude of different things that can impact—it can impact social, economic, it can impact mental health, and it leads to things like chronic illness. It just really impacts all aspects of life.”
Carrying Trauma into Adulthood
While ACEs happen in childhood, the resulting trauma doesn’t disappear when a child turns eighteen. Each individual carries an “ACE score” that reflects the number of traumatic events they experienced, which can deeply affect their adult lives.
Krista Atyeo-Gortmaker of Atyeo Consulting and the Northeast South Dakota SHIINE program sees firsthand how unresolved childhood trauma manifests in the senior population.
“We all grow up to be adults, right? And what we carry with us is a score,” Atyeo-Gortmaker said. “In the end, when SHIINE comes in, we see a lot of seniors that have never dealt with that baggage they’ve carried all of their lives. The first place we see that there’s issues with Alzheimer’s or dementia is with their bank accounts or their money. And if we can’t figure out how to pay a premium to get 100% coverage for my elder, or from my mom, or even for myself, it just gets too hard to think about and too hard to talk about. And a lot of times that’s because of those ACE scores that have followed them throughout their lives.”
A Community-Wide Solution The goal of the HEART Action Team is to break these generational cycles by developing a centralized care system, strengthening parenting programs, and establishing community mentorships.
Sara Foust, Board President of Codington Connects, noted that understanding ACEs is essential for everyone, regardless of their profession.
“This isn’t just people that are having trouble; this is stuff we interact with every day,” Foust said. “So anybody that works with anybody is dealing with ACEs and the trauma that we experience.”
To equip the community with the tools to respond to trauma with empathy , the HEART team is hosting a free, multi-session training event at the Codington County Extension Complex. The sessions will be led by Tifanie Petro, MS, a nationally recognized speaker with over 17 years of experience in victim advocacy and trauma response.
Upcoming Free Training Sessions:
Monday, March 30th (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM): “ACEs: Building Resilient Children.” Geared toward families and childcare providers. Supper and childcare will be provided.
Tuesday, March 31st (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): “Understanding ACEs: Building a Resilient Community.” Open to everyone.
Tuesday, March 31st (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): “Science of Hope - How to Overcome Trauma.” Open to everyone, with lunch served.
Attendees can come to one or all of the free sessions, and a certificate of attendance will be provided for CEUs.
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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Avoid Social Media Burnout: SBDC’s Dr. Melissa Meidinger Shares Marketing Hacks for Small Businesses
Description: Are you a small business owner overwhelmed by the demands of social media marketing? In this insightful interview on Northeast Radio SD, Dr. Melissa Meidinger, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Watertown, breaks down exactly how to create a winning social media strategy without burning out.
Dr. Meidinger discusses why a digital presence is non-negotiable (with 90% of consumers tracking trends on social platforms) and offers highly practical, step-by-step advice for entrepreneurs to get the most “bang for their buck.”
Key Takeaways from this Interview:
The One Platform Rule: Why trying to be on every platform at once leads to burnout, and why you should identify your target market and stick to just one platform to start.
The Power of Content Pillars: Stop guessing what to post. Dr. Meidinger explains how to choose just TWO core topics to define your brand’s digital identity.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Learn how to batch-create content, save your posts, and why it is perfectly acceptable to recycle old content when you are too busy to create something new.
Visuals & Authenticity: Why photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes “bloopers” are the secret to building trust and credibility in the age of generic AI.
How to Use AI Correctly: Discover how to use AI as a brainstorming “calculator” to generate weeks of content instantly, while still maintaining your authentic voice.
Dr. Meidinger’s 10 Content Pillars for Businesses: (Pick just two to get started!)
Educational / How-To
Customer Stories / Social Proof
Product or Service Features
Industry Insights / Thought Leadership
Behind the Scenes
Tips, Hacks, and Quick Wins
Community Engagement
Values and Culture
Trends and Timely Content
Lifestyle and Inspiration
About the SBDC: The Small Business Development Center offers FREE, confidential, one-on-one consulting for startups and seasoned entrepreneurs. If you need help with business plans, financial projections, or marketing strategies, reach out to your local SBDC office!
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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Watertown City Council Approvals
Affordable Housing: The council approved two Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to bring nearly 200 affordable housing units to the market. This includes the 72-unit Oaks II complex and the 112-unit Dakota Commons Reserve. Due to state law, rental rates will be capped at 80% of the area's median income.
Harmony Hill Expansion: Plans for the next phase of the Harmony Hill residential development are moving forward. This phase involves nearly 10 acres for compact single-family housing, designed to reduce development costs.
5th Avenue North Reconstruction: A reduced fee agreement with Civil Design Inc. was approved for the 5th Avenue North reconstruction project, with city staff taking over some administrative tasks. This reduced the contract from $250,000 to approximately $161,000, bringing the total project cost to $2.6 million, well below the original $3.1 million budget.
Local and State News
"Second Chance Flight" Non-Profit: 18-year-old Madison Grimm from Wallace, SD, founded Second Chance Flight, a non-profit that rescues and hatches wild bird eggs from nests disturbed by farming operations. Grimm’s efforts led to the passage of House Bill 1265, which legalizes salvaging and hatching such eggs.
U.S. Senate Primary Challenge: Navy veteran and business owner Justin McNeal announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator Mike Rounds in the Republican primary. McNeal’s platform focuses on the national debt and federal term limits.
Bramble Park Zoo Spring Break Lock-In: Bramble Park Zoo is hosting its first-ever Spring Break Lock-In for students in grades 6-12 on March 19. The event offers behind-the-scenes access and conservation workshops, funded by a grant from the Watertown Area Community Foundation's Youth Council.
School Cell Phone Ban Fails: A proposed statewide cell phone ban in South Dakota schools (Senate Bill 198) failed to pass. Critics, including State Secretary of Education Joe Graves, argued that the decision should remain with local educators. Data showed that 94% of districts already have their own phone policies.
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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📱 The Results Are IN! 🍔The “Moo” has spoken! 🐄The 2026 #WTNBurgerBattle has officially come to a close, and what a year it was! With a record 19 burgers on the menu, we saw incredible support for our local businesses—some even matching their 2025 sales in just the first two weeks!A massive shoutout to our local legend, Todd Eugene Whetsel, for finishing ALL 19 burgers for the fourth year in a row! 🏆 According to Todd, Watertown Brewing was the one to beat this year with its “Angus goodness.”What’s Next? Don’t put away your green just yet! ☘️ Our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is right around the corner on March 14th!• 🥞 Pancake Feed• 🏃‍♂️ Run for the Gold 5K• 🍀 Parade at NOON• 🐶 St. Paddy’s Pet ContestGrab your $5 raffle buttons (or 5 for $20!) at the Chamber office or local spots like Dempsey’s and Watertown Brewing for a shot at $500 in Watertown Bucks! 💸www.watertownsd.comLet’s keep this momentum going, Watertown! Who are you bringing to the parade? 👇Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce#WatertownSD #BurgerBattle2026 #StPattysDay #CommunityStrong #SupportLocal
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Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown Deputy Mayor and Councilman Kyle Peters joined news broadcaster Steve Jurrens on Northeast Radio SD’s The People’s Pulse to recap a City Council meeting that saw the approval of two new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts and a shift in how the city discusses its housing crisis.
Safeguarding the Public: The “Good vs. Bad” TIF Debate
The Monday night meeting was led by the creation of TIF Districts #21 and #22, which aim to add nearly 200 housing units to Watertown. Addressing common public concerns about developer incentives, Peters stated: “There are no such things as bad TIFs, but there are bad TIF plans.”
Peters highlighted that the newly approved plans for The Oaks II and Dakota Commons Reserve include rigorous guardrails. Unlike controversial “upfront” TIFs, these are structured so the developer assumes the initial risk.
“We like the ones where the developer has to put all their capital up front, pay for it, develop the project, and then they get the increment back to offset applicable expenses,” Peters explained. “Let the project prove itself, and then if they do that, give them the incentive.”
City Manager Alan Stager and municipal advisor Toby Morris also emphasized a new “annual appropriation hammer” to ensure the city can withhold funds if a developer fails to deliver on their promises.
From “Affordable” to “Compact” Housing
A notable moment in the meeting occurred during the first reading for the Harmony Hill expansion. Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten and council members discussed a shift in terminology, moving away from “affordable housing” toward “compact housing.”
Peters supported this linguistic shift, arguing that “affordable” is often a misleading term.
“Affordable housing in Lemmon, South Dakota, is way different than Watertown... and Watertown is different than downtown New York,” Peters said. “Affordable and workforce [labels] are just misleading in a lot of different ways. What we’re supportive of is bringing housing online that is within market.”
The R-1C (Compact Single-Family) zoning for Harmony Hill allows smaller lot sizes, reducing overall development costs and making homes more attainable without relying on government subsidies that don’t align with market realities.
Watertown Regional Airport: A “Brutal” Flight No More
Travelers in Watertown received an update on the Watertown Regional Airport. Peters, who travels frequently for work, celebrated a schedule change for the Minneapolis-St. Paul route starting March 8th.
Previously, flights departed at 5:00 AM and returned late, often leaving travelers stranded in layovers for hours. The new schedule shifts the departure to approximately 6:45 AM and moves the return flight earlier to around 7:11 PM.
“That 5:00 AM flight was brutal,” Peters noted. “I would just put a plug in to fly local. We’ve got a five-minute drive and free parking to an airport that can get you anywhere in the world.”
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Northeast Radio SD News - Wallace, SD - In the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region, where the rhythm of the tractor often clashes with the nesting cycles of wild waterfowl, 18-year-old Madison Grimm is carving out a new legacy—not just with a paintbrush, but with a high-tech incubator and a bottle of clear nail polish.
Madison, a three-time Federal Junior Duck Stamp winner, is the founder of Second Chance Flight, a non-profit dedicated to a niche but vital corner of conservation: salvaging wild bird eggs from farm fields before they are destroyed by agricultural machinery.
A Call from the Fields
The idea for Second Chance Flight wasn’t born in a boardroom, but from a ringing phone. Local farmers, knowing Madison’s expertise with her private aviary, began calling her every spring.
“The following spring [after starting my aviary], I started getting phone calls from some of the farmers we know,” Madison recalled during a recent interview. “They knew I had these incubators... and they were calling to see if I could take wild duck eggs from the nests they were hitting when they were haying their fields.”
At the time, state laws made it difficult to legally salvage these eggs. Inspired by a similar organization in California—the only other of its kind in the U.S.—Madison spent six months working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure the necessary permits.
Legislative Victory: House Bill 1265
Madison’s mission recently moved from the marsh to the state capitol. Working with Representative Dylan Jordan, Madison helped champion House Bill 1265, which clarifies the legality of salvaging eggs from nests unintentionally disturbed by normal agricultural operations.
“Originally, there was a conflict with state law,” Madison explained. “The bill essentially now allows me to take upland game bird eggs legally... pheasants, turkeys, grouse, all that kind of thing”. The bill, recently signed by the Governor, ensures that these “casualty eggs” can be legally hatched, raised, and released back into the wild.
The Science of a Second Chance
Inside Madison’s Wallace-based facility, the process is part science and part MacGyver-style ingenuity. When eggs arrive, Madison uses a process called candling—shining a light through the shell to check for development and cracks.
“If I see any cracks... I actually have this natural nail polish that I’ll patch them with,” she said. “I can get almost a 100% hatch rate even on cracked eggs”. Her main incubator currently holds just over 700 eggs, which are kept at exactly 99.3°F with 40-50% humidity.
Last year alone, she successfully raised and released 167 ducklings, two Canada geese, and a rehabilitated Trumpeter Swan found orphaned on a railroad track in Minnesota.
A Family Affair
Conservation runs in the Grimm blood. Madison’s father, Adam Grimm, is a titan in the world of wildlife art, having won the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp competition three times.
“We literally moved here because of the ducks,” Adam said, reflecting on the family’s move from Ohio to South Dakota to be in the center of the flyway. While he admits Madison might now “like ducks more than me,” the family operates as a tight-knit unit, with Janet Grimm managing the logistics and stress of the growing non-profit.
How to Help
As the spring nesting season approaches, Madison is urging farmers to keep empty egg cartons in their tractor cabs. If a nest is hit, the “pointy side down” rule is key for transport.
For those looking to support the effort, Second Chance Flight is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies entirely on private donations for incubators, feed, and the construction of new pens for the upcoming pheasant season. - Second Chance Flight
Northeast Radio SD is a family-owned, locally operated, all-online radio station based in Watertown, SD! Streaming LIVE 24/7 online at www.northeastradiosd.com OR download the Apple or Android app, search Northeast Radio SD, & stream all day, every day! 
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