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Local Watertown Area News
Local news articles about Watertown and surrounding area.


Codington County 4-H Shooting Sports to Host Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser This Sunday.
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Codington County 4-H Shooting Sports program invites the community to the Codington County Extension Complex this Sunday, March 8, 2026, for a day of food, prizes, and youth-led service.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 51 min read


Lawsuit Alleges Former Member of South Dakota Development Firm “Wrongfully Diverted” Business to Competitors
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - A prominent South Dakota economic development and consulting firm has filed an extensive lawsuit against a former employee and member, alleging a multi-year scheme to siphon off clients and proprietary information for personal gain.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 53 min read


Watertown Police Arrest Local Man Following Narcotics Investigation
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - A 55-year-old Watertown man is in custody following a targeted narcotics investigation by the Watertown Police Department.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 51 min read


Watertown Man Arrested After Two-Decade Identity Theft Investigation
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - A lengthy investigation into identity theft and fraud has led to the arrest of a Watertown man who allegedly lived under a stolen identity for more than 20 years.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 52 min read


Watertown Brewing Company Captures the 2026 Burger Battle Championship Belt
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - After weeks of sizzling grills and record-breaking community turnout, the 4th Annual Watertown Burger Battle has officially crowned its 2026 champion. The coveted championship belt is staying downtown, awarded to the Watertown Brewing Company for their massive, flavor-packed creation: the “Smokey and the Bandit Burger”.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 52 min read


Highway Patrol Releases Latest ‘Operation: Prairie Thunder’ Results Following Two-Day Watertown Sweep
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The South Dakota Highway Patrol has released the latest enforcement statistics from “Operation: Prairie Thunder”, detailing the outcome of a recent two-day localized operation in Watertown, as well as the staggering cumulative totals from the last six months of the initiative.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 52 min read


Watertown Regional Airport Passenger Numbers Soar in February
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Air travel out of Watertown is on the rise, with the Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) reporting a solid bump in passenger traffic to close out the winter.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 41 min read


Turning Grief into Action: Julie Kneeland and ‘Coyotes Against Cancer’ Surpass $40,000 Milestone for the American Cancer Society
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - What began as a personal pledge to honor a loved one has blossomed into a community-wide movement. Through the dedicated efforts of Julie Kneeland and the Waverly-South Shore community, the “Coyotes Against Cancer” initiative has successfully raised a staggering $40,326 for the American Cancer Society since its inception.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 43 min read


Building a Resilient Watertown: Community Leaders Tackle the Lifelong Impacts of Childhood Trauma
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.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 43 min read


Navigating the Social Media Maze: SBDC Regional Director Shares Key Strategies for Small Businesses
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - For small business owners and entrepreneurs, social media marketing often feels less like a valuable tool and more like an overwhelming chore. It is a common struggle that Dr. Melissa Meidinger, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Watertown, regularly sees.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 43 min read


State Representative Dylan Jordan Announces Re-Election Campaign for South Dakota District 4 House
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - State Representative Dylan C. Jordan has officially announced his intention to seek re-election to the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 4. Running as a staunch “Constitutional Conservative,” Jordan aims to continue his fight against government expansion and rising taxes ahead of the upcoming June 2nd election.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 43 min read


🍔 Watertown Celebrates Records and “Moos” as 2026 Burger Battle Wraps Up
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The grills are cooling down, but the excitement is just heating up in Watertown as the community concludes its most successful Burger Battle to date. Featuring a record-breaking 19 participating restaurants, the 2026 competition has not only tested the palates of local foodies but also significantly boosted the local economy.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 42 min read


Watertown Council Bets on Row Crops to Triple Airport Revenue Despite Wildlife Concerns
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - In a strategic move aimed at tapping into “non-traditional” revenue streams, the Watertown City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a new agricultural lease for the Watertown Regional Airport.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 33 min read


Seven Fire Departments Battle Large Structure Fire Near Brookings
Northeast Radio SD News - Brookings, SD - A multi-agency response prevented a residential fire from spreading to nearby homes Monday afternoon. On March 2, 2026, at approximately 3:57 p.m., Brookings 911 Dispatch alerted first responders to a structure fire at 3026 Sunnyview Drive, located just north of Brookings.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 31 min read


Hamlin County Deputies Honored with Life Saving Award for Rescuing Infant
Northeast Radio SD News - Hayti, SD - In a ceremony at the Hamlin County Courthouse, two local heroes were recognized for their decisive actions that saved a young life. On March 3, 2026, the Hamlin County Commissioners presented the Life Saving Award to Deputy Vidmar and Deputy Ries.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 31 min read


The People’s Pulse w/ Deputy Mayor Councilman Kyle Peters (News Article - Video/Audio)
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.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 32 min read


Council Approves Two New TIF Districts to Facilitate Affordable Housing Growth
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - In a meeting dominated by economic development strategy and fiscal debate, the Watertown City Council on Monday night greenlit two new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts designed to inject nearly 200 new affordable housing units into the local market.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 34 min read


Harmony Hill Expansion Moves Forward with First Readings for Zoning and Annexation
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The next phase of the Harmony Hill residential development took a step toward reality as the City Council conducted first readings for two ordinances related to the project. The ordinances seek to annex and zone new land to accommodate “compact” single-family housing.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 22 min read


City Council Approves Reduced-Fee Administration Agreement for 5th Avenue North Reconstruction.
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council moved forward with an administrative step for the upcoming 5th Avenue North Reconstruction project by approving a construction administration agreement with Civil Design, Inc. (CDI). The agreement, totaling $161,660.00, represents a reduction in costs as the city prepares to begin work on the major thoroughfare.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 21 min read


From Cracked Shells to Cloud Cover: The Teen Saving South Dakota’s “Casualties of the Field”
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.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 23 min read
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