Contractor Wrapping Up Work in Rights-of-Way

Now this had to be a gruesome job, one the farm kid in me doesn't like to think about.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says the Freeman company hired to remove livestock carcasses from state rights-of-way in the western part of the state is wrapping up its work.

The state hired Dakota Rendering, Inc. to remove the cattle and other animals that wound up in the rights-of-way after the October 4 blizzard that left record snowfall totals and thousands of dead animals behind.

Beginning on October 28, the state says teams of local, state and FEMA officials will begin work in a 15-county area to assess storm damage to public infrastructure and property of private, non-profit entities.

The information from the damage assessments will be used as Governor Dennis Daugaard assembles details for a Presidential disaster declaration.