(Continued from page 19)

ministration has left behind.
• Daugaard has said his administration has worked with the South Dakota legislature to freeze tuition at state universities, while boosting funding to technical schools, K-12 education and Medicaid providers.
• In June, Wismer beat out former state Wildland Fire Division head Joe Lowe for the Democratic nomination. She is the state's first female nominee for governor from a major party.
• Wismer said Blake's gender was incidental to her selection; she was looking to pick someone from Sioux Falls for geographic balance.
• Blake said she and Wismer complement each other's strengths.
• "She's a thinker, and I'm kind of passionate," Blake said.
•

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Gov. Dennis Daugaard is encouraging donations to the Wessington Springs tornado relief fund, as he prepares for a visit to the town on Thursday.
• Daugaard says every contribution, whether big or small, will make a difference in helping restore the town where dozens of homes and businesses were damaged on June 18.
• Businesses, organizations and people interested in donating can call the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross or go to www.redcross.org and designate a donation for Wessington Springs.
• Cash donations also can be dropped off at American Bank & Trust locations in Wessington Springs, Alpena, Huron, Wolsey, Miller, Pierre, Mellette and De Smet.
• Daugaard says Wessington Springs does not need any more donations of clothing or household items.
•

• WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota National Guard soldiers have left Wessington Springs after spending about a week helping clean up the tornado-ravaged town, but other forms of aid continue to pour in to the southeastern South Dakota community.
• The soldiers are no longer needed and left on Tuesday, Mayor Melissa Mebius told The Daily Republic newspaper.
• "There has been so much progress," she said. "Most of the major debris is

(Continued on page 21)