PRESHO, S.D.(KCCR)- Presho is a small town looking for big things from its gravel-runwayed municipal airport.  The city requested the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission put the airfield on the state’s Aviation System Plan.  John Becker with the Department of Transportation says Covid-19 grant funding opened the door for Presho to seek Airport Improvement Grant funding.

Brooke Edgar with Helms and Associates of Aberdeen says Presho wants to bring their airport upto current standards as a start.

Presho Mayor Angela Ahlers says there are more concerns than just the gravel runway which is hard on airplanes.

Ahlers says they have had interest in having aerial applicators based out of Presho as those services currently come from White River.  She added that Presho is half way between Sioux Falls and Rapid City and that there is a need for medical transport especially for dealing with serious injury crash along Interstate 90.