Fire restrictions lifted at Mount Rushmore in SD
• KEYSTONE, S.D. (AP) -- Fire restrictions have been lifted at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
• Superintendent Cheryl Schreier says recent moisture in the central and southern Black Hills has reduced the fire danger to "moderate." That means wildfires can still start but normally can be contained.
• Visitors still are urged to use caution, especially on windy days or when hiking or climbing in backcountry areas.
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Tea seeks guidance in hiring new police chief
• TEA, S.D. (AP) -- The Tea City Council is turning to the South Dakota Police Chiefs' Association for guidance in determining the best way to go about hiring a new police chief.
• Former chief Brian Ketterhagen resigned about two weeks ago, along with an officer. Both are being investigated by the state Attorney General's Office, and Ketterhagen is a defendant in a federal lawsuit in Wyoming alleging a cover-up in a murder investigation. He has denied withholding evidence in that case.
• Ketterhagen's predecessor in Tea, Ken Haugen, was fired and later sued the city unsuccessfully.
• Mayor John Lawler says the city exceeds minimum standards set by the state in terms of such measures as background checks for potential police hires.
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SD's deputy fire marshal certified by association
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's deputy fire marshal has earned an international accreditation.
• Cliff Dahl is now a certified fire investigator from the International Association of Arson Investigators. He's stationed in Rapid City.
• Dahl has been with the State Fire Marshal's Office for nine years. With the accreditation, he becomes only the third certified fire investigator in South Dakota.
• State Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says the field of fire investigation is constantly (Continued on page 20)
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