KSFY Live In The Morning anchors Chris Studer and Valerie Gutierrez talk with city leaders throughout South Dakota about their towns, what's happening there and what's new.

They talked to Mayor Charlie Gross from the city of Yankton. The city has a population of about 13,000. It's in the southeast part of the state, in Yankton County.

Mayor Gross said the new Discovery Bridge over the Missouri river is well under construction and should be completed by October 2008. As part of that project, the state of South Dakota will become the owner of the old Meridian Bridge. It will become, after some minor repairs and fencing, a part of Yankton's trail system.

Initially it will tie into the Riverside Park section of the Auld-Brokaw Trail that now runs from the River to 23rd Street along the Marne Creek, and to the high school. It'll eventually connect with the county's trail to Lewis & Clark Lake.

Mayor Gross said the Meridian Bridge and the riverfront have long been a focal center for the community and that includes the successful Riverboat Days - Arts Fair--held every August for the last 24 years. This year will be the 25th anniversary celebration, complete with fireworks, music, hours of entertainment, and of course the parade.

In addition, the city commission is considering how to further connect the riverfront to Yankton's historic downtown. Talks are underway to possibly bring a pedestrian mall from the end of the Meridian Bridge to 3rd Street.

Those plans are still in the design phase, but they hope to complete them this year. The goal is to do the needed construction while the state is working on bridge repairs.

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