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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The Big Sioux River is the focus of a conference in South Dakota's largest city.
• Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether is hosting the Big Sioux River Water Summit from 3-7 p.m. Monday. He says the river is one of the things that makes the city beautiful -- but it needs improvements in quality, drainage and other areas.
• East Dakota Water Development District Manager Jay Gilbertson tells the Argus Leader that he wouldn't let his grandson swim in the river, because of high levels of E. coli bacteria.
• The newspaper reports that conservationists are working with ranchers on handling manure and keeping cattle away from Skunk Creek, a Big Sioux tributary that is surrounded by farm land.
• Another water quality event is scheduled next month in Brookings.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Money from an auctioned bighorn sheep hunting license will be used in an effort to rebuild the bighorn population in South Dakota's Black Hills.
• A South Dakota resident paid $102,000 for a bighorn sheep hunting tag.
• KOTA-TV reports (http://bit.ly/17PRshs ) that Rip Rippentrop of the Midwest Wild Sheep Foundation says the goal is to use the money to buy more sheep for the Black Hills, where the sheep population has declined.
• Rippentrop says some areas are being prepared for bighorn sheep. He says the sheep population is dropping because of pneumonia and mountain lions.
• Rippentrop says money from the auctioned license could help bring new bighnorn sheep back into the area.
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• LEAD, S.D. (AP) -- The Black Hills communities of Lead (LEED) and Deadwood will serve as the state's honorary capitals for a day next Friday.
• Planned activities include a main street walk, tours of both towns, a roundtable meeting and a community social.
• Residents are invited to attend the community social from 10 a.m. to 10:35 a.m.

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