State crews pick up 150 poles

State crews assisting utility companies have picked up 150 poles since the operation began last week.

Crews consisting of employees from the South Dakota Departments of Transportation and Corrections, inmates and the South Dakota National Guard have been working with utility crews to pick up the poles, allowing utility companies to focus on restoring power to South Dakotans in the Eastern part of the state.

Two crews have been out since the program started on Dec. 7. One worked in the Mitchell area with the other assisting in the Huron area.