SIOUX CITY MAYOR BOB SCOTT HAS MADE HIS FIRST APPOINTMENT FOR THE 2012 COUNCIL YEAR.

SCOTT HAS NAMED COUNCILMAN JOHN FITCH AS MAYOR PRO TEM.

FITCH WAS ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2009. AS MAYOR PRO TEM, HE WILL PRESIDE OVER MEETINGS THAT SCOTT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND OR REPRESENT THE CITY AT CEREMONIES IN THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE.

SEVERAL REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE RETURNING TO SIOUX CITY FOR ONE FINAL PUSH BEFORE TUESDAY'S IOWA CAUCUSES.

CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL WILL HOLD A RALLY AT THE STONY CREEK INN TONIGHT AT 7PM.

MITT ROMNEY WILL ALSO HOLD A RALLY AT STONY CREEK INN ON SATURDAY AT 5:15PM.

RICK SANTORUM RETURNS TO SIOUX CITY ON SUNDAY, NEW YEAR'S DAY AT THE DAILY GRIND AT 511 4TH STREET. SANTORUM WILL SPEAK AT 2:30PM.

AND TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY IS IN TOWN ON MONDAY AT THE STONY CREEK INN. PERRY'S MEET AND GREET IS SET FOR 12:30PM.

NO SIOUXLAND STORES FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA ARE ON THE LIST OF THOSE BEING CLOSED BY THE PARENT COMPANY OF SEARS AND K-MART.

SEARS HOLDING CORPORATION IS CLOSING K-MART STORES IN DAVENPORT AND CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. THOSE ARE PART OF 79 STORES NATIONWIDE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY TO BE SHUTDOWN SOON.

NO STORES IN NEBRASKA OR SOUTH DAKOTA WERE ON THE INITIAL LIST. HOWEVER THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL CLOSE UP TO 120 TOTAL STORES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS REFOCUSING ITS EFFORTS ON EXISTING STORES THAT MAKE MONEY.
 

IT'S FIREWORKS SEASON AGAIN IN SOUTH DAKOTA....THROUGH THIS WEEKEND AND THE START OF THE NEW YEAR.

A NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS THE SALE OF FIREWORKS IN THE STATE FROM DECEMBER 28TH THROUGH JANUARY 1ST.

LOCAL FIREWORKS DEALER DON LANTIS HELPED PROPOSE THE LAW BECAUSE A LOT OF RESIDENTS AND CITIES LIKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH FIREWORKS.
 

LANTIS SAYS SALES IN SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SLOW, BECAUSE MANY RESIDENTS DON'T REALIZE THE NEW LAW IS IN PLACE:

LANTIS SAYS ANY FIREWORKS THAT ARE LEGAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA ON THE 4TH OF JULY ARE ALSO LEGAL TO USE NOW THROUGH NEW YEAR'S DAY IN THE STATE.