January 29, 2025:
Fort Pierre’s new all-season fish cleaning station is officially open.
It’s one of about a handful of all-season fish cleaning stations in South Dakota and it’s located by the 5th Avenue boat ramp in Fort Pierre. Regular operating hours are from 6am CT to 10pm CT.
The 24 foot by 40 foot building is equipped with brushes, hoses and stainless steel appliances. It will be maintained by the City of Fort Pierre.
It took about four years to fundraise and build the structure.
NOVEMBER 27, 2024, UPDATE:
It’s one of about a handful of all-season fish cleaning stations in South Dakota and it’s located by the 5th Avenue boat ramp in Fort Pierre.
Nicole Schwinler is one of the people who got the ball rolling to raise money for the project. During a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Tuesday (Nov. 26, 2024), she said the other year-round fish cleaning stations that she knows of are also along the Missouri River.
Audio PlayerMayor Gloria Hanson said there’s obvious excitement about having an enclosed, heated place to clean fish.
Audio PlayerGerrick McComsey is the owner of Sharpe Enterprises, the company that constructed the building. He said more work will be done around the outside of the all-season fish cleaning station in the spring (2025).
Audio PlayerThe 24 foot by 40 foot building is equipped with brushes, hoses and stainless steel appliances. It will be maintained by the City of Fort Pierre.
It took about four years to fundraise and build the all-season fish cleaning station in Fort Pierre.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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Photo credit DRG Media Group.
OCTOBER 12, 2023:
Fort Pierre has broken ground (Oct. 11, 2023) on what will be one of about half-a-dozen all season fish cleaning stations in South Dakota.
Nicole Schwinler is one of the people who got the ball rolling to raise money for the project being built by the 5th Avenue boat ramp….but there’s more that’s needed.
Audio PlayerMayor Gloria Hanson says this project is an example of what happens when people in the community work together.
Audio PlayerGerrick McComsey is the owner of Sharpe Enterprises, the company building the all-season fish cleaning station.
Audio PlayerThe building will be 24 feet by 40 feet and have a price tag of around $240,000 when complete.
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Groundbreaking for Fort Pierre’s all-season fish cleaning station by the 5th Avenue boat ramp Oct. 11, 2023.
L to R: Dave Bonde, Merlyn Schwinler, Nicole Schwinler, Mayor Gloria Hanson, Gerrick McComsey, Shane Clarambeau, Rick Hahn and Shane Kramme.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
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