Tuesday,  July 24, 2012 • Vol. 13--No. 010 • 13 of 28 •  Other Editions

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• When he saw the timer wasn't moving, he thought about picking it up and throwing it away, but decided to call police.
• The ATF says the device failed to function as designed but was live.
• The federal agency asks that anyone with information call the ATF Sioux Falls field office at (605) 782-8200, or the Canton Police Department at (605) 987-5612.

USDA: Scattered rain not enough for row crops

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota received some scattered rain this past week, but more is needed to give row crops relief from the heat.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop and weather report that most of the state did receive some precipitation, but amounts were typically

very small.
• Webster received the most rain -- 4.2 inches for the week -- while another seven stations received more than an inch. But many places received just a few tenths of precipitation.
• The USDA says small grain harvest was able to advance with the dry conditions, as well as cutting of hay.
• Cattle conditions were rated 69 percent in the good to excellent range, while sheep conditions were rated 80 percent good to excellent.

Myrtle Fire in SD burns historic ranch to ashes

• PRINGLE, S.D. (AP) -- An historic, 110-year-old ranch has been lost to the Myrtle Fire near Pringle, which has consumed more than 16 square miles of land.
• The blaze in the Black Hills engulfed the Williams Ranch, one of the oldest homesteads still standing in the area.
• Black Hills National Forest Archeologist Michael Engelhart tells KELO that all 18 structures that made up the ranch burned to the ground.
• Englehart says firefighters had tried to protect the home but couldn't.
• KOTA reports that the fire is about 40 percent contained. Rain over the northern two-thirds of the fire helped to slow its spread.
• No current homes have been damaged, and Engelhart says firefighters have saved other historic sites.
• The Myrtle Fire is one of several sweeping through central and western South Dakota.

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