From Rising Stars to Lasting Legends, South Dakota Celebrates Tourism Excellence
PIERRE, S.D. – Twelve awards were presented honoring businesses and individuals for outstanding achievements and contributions to the tourism industry. Winners received their awards from Governor Larry Rhoden and James Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism (Travel South Dakota), on Thursday night at the 2026 South Dakota Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The Governor’s Tourism Rising Star Award was presented to Phoebe Caldwell* of Spearfish. This award recognizes an individual who has worked in the
Vermillion Medical Clinic Donates to Local Community Connection Center
Vermillion Medical Clinic physician, Dr. Matthew Krell, and other clinic providers, recently presented a check to the Community Connection Center for $1,000. The donation was to address the concern about food insecurity in the area by helping the Vermillion Food Pantry that is available through the Connection Center. Dr. Krell, pediatrician at Vermillion Medical Clinic, has a special interest in addressing the food insecurity that many families in Vermillion face. With a poverty rate of 29%, financial
National Music Museum Named Finalist for Best Music Museum
The National Music Museum has been named a finalist for USA TODAY 10Best in the "Best Music Museum" category. This puts the National Music Museum alongside some of the most respected music museums in the country. Vote for the National Music Museum now through Monday, February 9 – you can vote once per day. Vote here: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/national-music-museum-vermillion-south-dakota/
United Way of Vermillion to Offer Free Tax Preparation Services
United Way of Vermillion is again providing free tax preparation services at the Community Connection Center through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This initiative aims to assist individuals and families in need by offering reliable and trustworthy tax preparation at no cost. The VITA program has been serving communities for over 50 years, providing free tax help to individuals who generally make $70,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and retireess on fixed incomes. While the IRS
Over $15,000 Donated Through CorTrust Cares Jeans Day Program
CorTrust Bank is using “casual Fridays” to give back to local community causes. Through the CorTrust Cares Jeans Day program, employees can wear jeans on Fridays in exchange for a financial gift. This charitable giving initiative offers a centralized way for each CorTrust market to uplift worthwhile causes. In 2025, the program donated $15,851.67 to local nonprofits in the areas they serve. These funds helped over 30 organizations, including: LifeScape, The Main Street Center, Mitchell Snack Pack,
Everyday Tech Wins — How Local Businesses Can Save Time, Cut Costs, and Stress Less
Running a business in a place like Vermillion isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about finding tools that actually make life easier. The good news? You don’t need big systems or fancy software to run efficiently. Sometimes, the smallest tools can create the biggest time savings.TL;DR Local businesses can streamline daily operations with simple tools already on their devices — from calendar scheduling and digital payment systems to file-sharing apps and quick design platforms. Small, consistent
