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growth. That is what will shore up events such as the Brown County Fair, even in a lean year.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota circuit judge has denied a challenge to the candidacy of a state lawmaker who won re-election in November.
• Rapid City businesswoman Stephanie Strong had sought a court order removing Rep. Brian Gosch of Rapid City from the November ballot because he notarized a part of his own nominating petitions.
• Assistant Attorney General Rich Williams says Circuit Judge Kathleen Trandahl denied Strong's request Friday during a court hearing held by telephone. Williams says the judge ruled she could not take Gosch's name off the ballot because the general election is over.
• The attorney general's office represented Secretary of State Jason Gant, the state's chief election officer, in the lawsuit. Williams says the attorney general's office argued that Strong waited too long to challenge Gosch's candidacy.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakotans can now buy and discharge fireworks through New Year's Day, but they should keep in mind that fireworks are banned in some areas.
• This is the second year South Dakota has allowed the discharge of fireworks in the New Year's holiday period. In addition to a period around the Fourth of July, they can be sold and discharged from Dec. 28 through Jan. 1 each year.
• Kevin Lorenzen, owner of Pyro City Fireworks, tells KELO-TV (http://bit.ly/UyiKVZ ) that people should be careful when using fireworks, even though snow is on the ground in many areas.
• The use of fireworks is banned in Sioux Falls, the Black Hills Fire Protection District and some other areas.
• Officials have urged people to be careful not to start wildfires with fireworks.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Doug Weber, director of prison operations and chief warden for the South Dakota Department of Corrections, has announced that he will retire in June.

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