This episode covers several critical local updates, including a tragic traffic incident investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, positive news regarding passenger traffic at the Watertown Regional Airport, and a major academic honor for a Watertown High School senior.

A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of South Broadway and 20th Avenue Southeast early Tuesday morning resulted in a fatality. According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, the collision occurred at approximately 6:32 a.m. between a 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck, driven by a 29-year-old male from Oceanside, California, and an eastbound 2006 Peterbilt semi-truck, driven by a 54-year-old Watertown man.

Preliminary reports indicate the pickup, traveling west on 20th Avenue Southeast, crossed into the eastbound lane before colliding with the semi. The California driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Watertown driver was uninjured. Watertown Fire Rescue (WFR) units were dispatched and were required to deploy the Jaws of Life to extricate the trapped driver of the pickup due to the severity of the damage. WFR crews remained on site for about 90 minutes. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is conducting a full investigation.

The Watertown Regional Airport is ending November with an encouraging increase in air travel. Airport Manager Ian Merriweather announced that the airport recorded 1,260 passenger boardings in November 2025.

This figure represents a 5.5% increase in passenger traffic compared to the same month last year. The passenger breakdown shows continued healthy traffic to both major hubs:

• 715 passengers traveled via United Express flights to Denver (DEN).

• 545 passengers traveled via Delta Connection flights to Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP).

Watertown High School senior Malia Kranz has achieved a highly competitive honor, receiving a principal nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs from U.S. Senator Mike Rounds. This designation marks Kranz as the Senator's top choice candidate, ensuring her a guaranteed appointment to the academy, provided she meets all final academic, physical, and medical requirements.

Kranz is known for her exceptional performance in multiple fields:

• Academics: She maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

• Athletics: She is a two-time state champion in track and field and plays on the varsity basketball team.

• Community Service: She volunteers as an Arrow Ambassador, serves on the WHS Student Council, and mentors younger students at Watertown Intermediate and Millett Elementary.

Admission to a service academy includes a full scholarship and a military commission, requiring a service commitment of at least five years upon graduation.

The agricultural industry in South Dakota is evolving, with ranchers increasingly adopting direct-to-consumer marketing via digital platforms. Gwen Kitzan of Kitzan Family Farms, located in western South Dakota, highlighted the shift, noting that digital sites like Facebook allow ranchers to promote products like lamb and share their farm's story, including their commitment to sustainable practices.

Kitzan, a featured speaker at this week's annual conference hosted by the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition, advises that an online presence can boost profits for tech-savvy producers. However, she cautioned that the rise of AI is complicating customer interactions by introducing misinformation. She stressed that it is crucial for producers guiding their peers in digital marketing to focus on educating prospective customers and answering all questions with clear facts. The overall sentiment is that the industry is successfully integrating this newer digital spirit while maintaining its traditional identity.

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