Local Watertown Area News

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Homeowners attempting to repair aging exterior decks or expand residential garages will bypass costly variance procedures after the City Council approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 26-12. The zoning text amendment modifies Chapter 21.10, clarifying standard residential configurations while rectifying an historical oversight affecting hundreds of properties developed before 2005.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Double-frontage property owners caught in a regulatory bind following previous zoning changes received permanent relief after the City Council unanimously passed the second reading of Ordinance No. 26-11. The text amendment modifies Chapter 21.61 of the municipal code, adjusting height parameters for residential properties bounded by streets on multiple sides.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce received unanimous Council backing for its special event permits after revealing a comprehensive, multi-layered restructuring of one of the community’s longest-running summer traditions.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council voted unanimously to approve a Non-Federal Reimbursable Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), greenlighting the final phase of the city’s airport terminal relocation project. Designated as Project 2601, the agreement governs the relocation of vital communication, weather observation, and instrument landing infrastructure away from the old terminal facilities.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Absentee voting operations are actively underway across Codington County ahead of the anticipated 2026 Primary Election cycle, according to a comprehensive departmental report delivered by County Auditor Brenda Hanten during Tuesday’s Commissioner meeting.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Veteran’s Service Office (VSO) will officially migrate its administrative headquarters to downtown Watertown late this summer, following commission approval of a new commercial lease agreement that simultaneously lowers county rental expenditures and eliminates long-standing vehicular access obstacles for area veterans.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Highway Department has issued a formal public service announcement regarding an upcoming emergency road closure on a heavily utilized commercial thoroughfare, necessitated by structural deck degradation following previous seasonal weather shifts.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a strategic effort to arrest an expanding line item in the public defense budget, the Codington County Board of Commissioners authorized the immediate creation of a new, full-time Pretrial Case Manager position within the Community Service Office. The position, classified at competitive pay grade 40, is designed to perform routine, non-legal coordination duties that are currently billed to the county treasury at premium attorney ho

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Commissioners voted unanimously to award a substantial commercial remodeling contract to Basin Construction & Tile of Hayti, South Dakota, for infrastructural modernization at the County Highway Shop. The authorized contract total of $633,521 covers core structural remodeling alongside two critical system overhauls, while a third planned alternative for a secondary facility-wide emergency standby generator was ind

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown man was seriously injured Monday morning after his vehicle crossed into oncoming lanes and struck a tree on 4th Avenue SW, according to the Watertown Police Department.

Northeast Radio SD News – Deuel County, SD - Deuel County voters will decide on June 2 whether a 71‑acre parcel of farmland in Scandinavia Township should be rezoned from agricultural to commercial‑industrial to allow Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) to pursue a natural gas power plant near Toronto. The Special Referendum Election will be held countywide on the same day as the statewide Republican Primary.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - This past Thursday, the Watertown Rotary Club hosted its annual Student of the Month luncheon, celebrating an elite group of eighth-grade students from Watertown Middle School for their exceptional scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and character.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A historic offensive weekend from Markus Pitkin and back‑to‑back standout pitching performances powered Watertown to a Super Regionals sweep of Sioux Falls Lincoln, securing the Arrows’ return to the SDHSBA Class A State Tournament for the second straight year.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown Fire Rescue provided mutual aid to the Florence Fire Department Friday after a brush fire broke out near the intersection of 451st Avenue and 166th Street, according to a WFR media release.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The City of Watertown Public Works Department will begin a lift station improvement project Monday, May 18, with work scheduled to continue through Friday, May 22, pending weather or unforeseen issues, according to a public service announcement from the Engineering and Wastewater Division.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A three‑year community project led by Watertown’s four major service clubs will be celebrated Monday, May 18, with a ribbon-cutting and open house at Lifesong Event Space. The initiative brought together Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist, and Lions to install new, updated signage along key highway entrances to the city.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Air travel through Watertown Regional Airport continued to climb in April, with the city reporting 1,028 enplanements, a 14% increase over the same month in FY25, according to the Public Works Department.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The City of Watertown Public Works Department, through its Engineering and Wastewater Division, is currently working on a localized lift station improvement project. The infrastructure upgrades officially commenced on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and are projected to wrap up by Friday, May 22, 2026, pending any unforeseen complications.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) has announced the return of its premier online employment initiative, the second annual “Jobs in the 605: Level Up Your Career” statewide virtual hiring event.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - For Siri Bach, serving on the Watertown Area Community Foundation’s (WACF) Youth Council has been much more than an extracurricular activity—it has been a masterclass in community impact.