Sioux Falls Business Journal

J&L Harley Davidson in Sioux Falls is hosting bike nights once a month from May to September.

The event is part of the South Dakota Office of Tourism's In Your Own Backyard series, which is designed to highlight unique aspects and attractions across South Dakota.

Bike nights include a ride-in bike show, contests and games, food and drinks, and a chance to win a motorcycle. Live entertainment and burnouts also will be featured.

"Bike nights at J&L Harley Davidson provide a welcoming and fun atmosphere for people interested in the sport of motorcycle riding," said Jim Entenman, co-owner of J&L Harley Davidson. "This sport has been a great draw for tourism in our community and state."

Upcoming bike nights will be May 21, June 25, July 23, Aug. 25 and Sept. 10. The Aug. 25 event coincides with Harley Davidson's national Ride Home, which will include an overnight stop at the J&L Harley dealership. The Ride Home event is in celebration of Harley Davidson’s 105th Anniversary. For information, visit www.jl-harley.com or call 334-2721.

The In Your Own Backyard series is part of Goal 1 of the 2010 Initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota. For more information, visit www.mediasd.com.

The Sioux Falls Seminary has purchased the former Summit Oaks Center and plans to put the building to use helping the community.

The idle building at the northwest corner of 12th Street and Summit Avenue will be remodeled into a residential center for seminary students, who will be expected to do public outreach work in the Pettigrew Heights neighborhood of central Sioux Falls.

The seminary and its students will listen to neighborhood residents to determine their strategy, but actions could include services such as tutoring children or helping inmates transition into society.

The seminary purchased the vacant facility from Lutheran Social Services for $230,000.

Seminary president Michael Hagan and Mayor Dave Munson unveiled the new program May 7.

The 2nd Annual Downtown Loft Tour is scheduled for May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Downtown Sioux Falls event will feature 10 properties and approximately 24 units.

Property listings include The Carnegie Lofts, Ten Thousand Villages Loft, Prairie Star Building, Residence at Security National Bank, The Harvester Building, Larson Square Lofts at Uptown, Shriver Square Apartments, The Southwestern Building, The Gourley Building and The Howe Building.

Registration is 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Downtown Sioux Falls office at 230 S. Phillips Ave., Suite 102.

A trolley is running on the tour route and a brochure/map of the tour will be provided at the time of registration.

The cost of the event is $5 per person. All proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the new flower baskets in the downtown area that will arrive in May.

For those who would like to feature their loft in the tour, contact Stacey at 338-4009 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mike Jaspers is resigning this week as state director of the USDA’s Office of Rural Development. He will return to his farm near Sioux Falls full time.

President Bush appointed Jaspers a little more than a year ago after Sen. John Thune recommended him for the job. Thune praised Jaspers for the work he did.

"Thanks to his strong agricultural background and service in state government, Mike has been an outstanding leader this past year as Rural Development director," Thune said. "I appreciate his service to South Dakota's rural communities and wish him well in the future."

Thune said the process to replace Jaspers has begun.

Jaspers runs a 2,000-acre farm. He served three terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives and was elected as House Majority Whip for four years. He also served one term in the state Senate. He is a South Dakota State University University graduate with a degree in mechanized agriculture.

The development office provides financial programs for water and sewer systems, housing, health care, electric service and other essential public services for rural residents.