Local Watertown Area News

Northeast Radio SD News – Goodwin, SD - Voters in District 4 will have an opportunity to hear directly from this year’s legislative candidates during an open public forum scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Goodwin Area Hall. The event is free and open to all residents.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - 4 the Kids SD brought its sixth annual Snack Attack to Watertown schools on Friday afternoon, delivering more than 10,300 individually wrapped snacks to students across the district. Deliveries began at 1:30 p.m. on April 17, with volunteers from Lake Area Technical College’s Business School joining 4 the Kids SD board members to help distribute snacks to K–12 students at 12 schools.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Encore Athletics delivered a powerhouse weekend in Orange Beach, Alabama, bringing home multiple national titles at the Deep South Beach Nationals and marking one of the strongest competitive showings in the program’s four‑year history.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - From the hidden network of energy pipelines beneath the soil to the industrial dairies transforming the regional landscape, infrastructure and industry dominated the closing reports of the April 14, 2026, Codington County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - During the Tuesday, April 14, 2026, meeting, the Codington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the renewal of two critical service contracts—Face It Together and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars—funded entirely through federal grant money.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a major step toward building a trauma-informed community, Codington County Community Service Director Sara Foust reported a significant turnout for recent educational sessions focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). During the April 14, 2026, Board of Commissioners meeting, Foust highlighted the success of the multi-day event, which drew a total of 125 attendees across three separate sessions.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - As the spring thaw takes hold, residents along the lakefront can expect to see county officials back in their neighborhoods. During the April 14, 2026, meeting of the Codington County Board of Commissioners, Director of Equalization Shawna Constant announced that appraisers are preparing to resume field inspections for lake properties.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County is seeing a shift in how justice is administered, with criminal cases now moving through the system at more than double their previous speed. During the April 14, 2026, meeting of the County Board of Commissioners, State’s Attorney Alison Bakken detailed a series of aggressive reforms and strategic partnerships that have slashed average case resolution times from 200 days down to just 90 days.

Northeast Radio SD News – Lake Poinsett, SD - A fast‑moving grass fire near Northwest Lake Drive and SD Highway 28 was brought under control Saturday afternoon after firefighters from multiple departments worked for nearly two hours to stop the flames from reaching nearby homes.

Northeast Radio SD News – Grant County, SD - Multiple fire departments and emergency agencies responded Saturday morning to a shed fire at Victory Farms, located near the intersection of 482 and 153. The call came in at 9:49 a.m., reporting a tractor on fire inside a steel shed containing straw and sawdust.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Arrows opened their outdoor season with a commanding performance Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Huron Invite, posting event wins, meet records, and a surge of personal‑best marks across both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown’s latest sales‑tax report shows the city entering 2026 with continued economic momentum, driven by gains in both the 1st and 2nd Penny sales taxes and a strong start for the BBB (Bed, Board & Booze) tax.

Northeast Radio SD News – Hayti, SD - A 29-year-old male from Watertown was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon following reports of a vehicle swerving dangerously across the roadway near Hayti.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Goss Opera House once again hosted one of its most meaningful youth events of the year as second‑grade students from across the community came together for the annual Beads on One String celebration, a program centered on kindness, inclusion, and the idea that every person is connected.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown opened its home slate with a decisive doubleheader sweep of Tea Area on Thursday at Watertown Stadium, combining a run‑rule victory in the opener with steady pitching and aggressive baserunning in the nightcap.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The City of Watertown will launch its 2026 City‑Wide Cleanup on Monday, April 27, offering curbside pickup of large and bulky items for residents across the community.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Following the conclusion of a highly active 38-day session in Pierre, District 5 Senator Glen Vilhauer sat down with Northeast Radio SD to provide a factual breakdown of the key legislation affecting South Dakota residents. According to Vilhauer, the Session saw a record-breaking 600 bills introduced—the highest volume since 1998—with approximately 240 eventually signed into law by the Governor.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - For individuals leaving incarceration, the first few hours of freedom are often the most precarious. Without a stable place to sleep or a way to get to a job, the path back to the community is frequently blocked by the walls of addiction and homelessness.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - As graduation approaches, the Watertown High School junior and senior classes are preparing for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the 2026 After Prom. Organized by a dedicated committee led by Tasha Torgerson and Megan Byer, this year’s event promises a high-energy, safe environment packed with prizes, games, and a few surprises.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown police officer whose work has helped reshape the community’s approach to mental health has received one of South Dakota’s highest law‑enforcement honors.