The South Dakota Democrat website Sioux Falls Drinking Liberally pointed out Democrats held a registration drive this summer. And, it didn’t turn out so well for them:

In South Dakota: The results of the South Dakota Democratic Party’s (SDDP) Summer of 2017 voter registration drive are in and they are not good. Over the three months of the SDDP’s registration drive, statewide Democratic registration declined by 5390 voters.

In fairness to the SDDP, counties throughout South Dakota appear to have updated their voter registration lists and expunged registrants who had not voted recently. Every party experienced registration declines this summer. Republican registration fell by 5081, Independents by 1811, and Libertarians by 25. Still, Democratic registration fell the most. As unlikely as it is, the SDDP’s leadership and staff might want to reevaluate their approach to voter registration…… just saying.

Read it all here.

As noted, this came about during the regular maintenance the Secretary of State does to remove the dead and inactive.

There used to be a written timeline that was suggested by NCSL as a model for other states under the prior Secretary of State, but that’s been purged from the website. If memory serves, they’re not bounced from the website unless they haven’t voted in 7 years, and fail to answer a postcard asking about their status, so the allowances for remaining active are pretty generous.

In other words, if Democrats are getting dropped from voter rolls in these kind of numbers, they have not been active for a long, long time. which would also seem to coincide with the downturn of the Democrat party in the state, and their fascination with Ballot measures, versus actually acting like a political party.

They reap what they sow, and what Dems have sown are a lot of defections from their voter base, which should continue to contribute to GOP victories for years to come.

Former Republican State Senator Russ Olson is going to be featured on an upcoming food show about South Dakota specific meals:

The episodes of “State Plate” are dedicated to “…discovering some of the states’ most symbolic and popular foods, from appetizer to main course to dessert…,” according to the show’s promoters.

Olson, a former state legislator and current CEO of Heartland Consumers Power District, said the staff at “State Plate” connected him to asparagus-gathering through a story published in South Dakota Magazine. According to Olson, Bernie Hunhoff, the founder of South Dakota Magazine, had published a story about Olson’s grandfather and the tribulations of having town dwellers pick asparagus from the ditches near his grandfather’s East River farm. Olson said he first told Hunhoff the story while the two men were serving as lawmakers in the South Dakota Legislature.

Read all about it here.

Bob Mercer was at the State Fair today, and got the opportunity to watch the popularity of the Republican Party in action, which he’s describing in an article tonight in the Mitchell Daily Republic:

South Dakota Republicans launched a straw poll Friday at the State Fair. It proved an instant hit among many in the State Fair’s early crowd. “Voting” continues through 6 p.m. Monday.

And..

Down the midway the scene was different at the South Dakota Democrats hall.

Out front the Democrats had tables but no action. A “Sunflower” poll sign lay flat on one, next to jars labeled by issue, such as health care and EB-5/GEAR UP.

There were a few people inside and plenty of empty chairs.

Republicans meanwhile gathered inside their hall and often spilled into the midway, where U.S. Sen. John Thune met voters.

Read it all here.

Apparently, the most liberal man in South Dakota was manning the Democrat booth today. But that wouldn’t have anything to do with “plenty of empty chairs,” would it? (Although, I did hear he came by the GOP booth to see what one looked like with people in it.)

If you’re heading to the fair, make sure you stop by the fair booth and meet the wealth of GOP candidates this weekend!

From my mailbox, GOP Congressional Candidate Dusty Johnson is at the State Fair meeting people, and asking for your vote!

And demand to see a state ID to make sure they’re a resident!

Know what you are supporting before you sign ballot petitions: https://t.co/78dLCMF2iH

— South Dakota GOP (@sdgop) September 1, 2017

NOEM RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO

Faith, Family & Love of SD at the Heart of Who Kristi Noem Is, Says Conservative Leader Trey Gowdy

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Rep. Kristi Noem today released a new web video highlighting her authentic commitment to service. The video features House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, a conservative leader who on Monday joined Noem for a fundraiser in Rapid City. South Dakotans from across the state contributed more than $100,000 to Noem’s historic bid for South Dakota governor. It’s the third Noem fundraising event this year to raise over $100,000.

“The Kristi Noem that I met seven years ago is exactly the same Kristi Noem that just spoke to you…. That’s Kristi Noem: her faith, her family, her love of South Dakota,” said Gowdy during Monday’s event.

Noem continues, saying: “I’ll never lose sight of why people should be in these positions; it’s to serve and to help people’s lives be better for the future.”

An experienced small business owner and lifelong farmer and rancher, Noem currently serves as South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fortifying SD’s Defense Against Animal Disease Threats
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard

The last day of August was an eventful one for Linda and me. We stopped first in Huron at the South Dakota State Fair where we toured the value-added agriculture tent and also attended the Century Farms Recognition and Salute to Veterans ceremonies. We went on to Brookings for an SDSU groundbreaking and attended the evening football game. It was a great day in eastern South Dakota.

The SDSU groundbreaking event celebrated the start of upgrading and expanding the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory. The lab provides critical research and diagnostic support to protect our citizens and livestock industry from disease outbreaks.

Within the lab, scientists conduct tests to identify animal diseases, establish new protocols to distinguish unique disease strains, and develop vaccines and other treatments to directly assist veterinarians, ranchers, farmers, pet owners, wildlife managers, and public health officials. In recent years we’ve experienced livestock disease outbreaks in South Dakota – like Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in 2013 and 2014, and Avian Influenza in 2015.  South Dakota’s animal health laboratory proved its worth, saving millions of dollars for livestock owners by quickly diagnosing these diseases and developing rapid response tests to help get the outbreaks under control quickly.

The lab was originally built in 1967 and upgraded in 1993. Since its last upgrade, federal laboratory safety requirements have become more stringent, scientific methods have advanced and our expectations for disease containment have increased.

After 24 years of heavy use, the upgrade and expansion is much needed.

In 1993, this facility housed five lab sections. Since then, four more have been shoehorned into the same space. Every year, researchers conduct hundreds of thousands of tests in these nine specialized areas. More new technologies are coming and further space is needed to accommodate them.

When the current laboratory was built, DNA Sequencing did not exist and Molecular Diagnostics had not yet been developed. Today this lab conducts more than 200,000 Molecular Diagnostics test each year, while DNA Sequencing determines the “fingerprint” of various pathogens, assists in vaccine design and aids in the development of new detection tests – all essential for modern disease control.

The world is becoming smaller. Livestock move greater distances and more often, creating a greater potential than ever before for new disease transmission. The threats are ever-present, and it’s not a question of if a major disease will impact the livestock industry, it’s just a matter of when and what’s next. With our new investment in a renovated and expanded laboratory, when the next disease threat arrives, we’ll be ready.

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KCCR News is reporting today that the water in South Dakota’s Capital City, which stains sidewalks black, has been deemed such an insurance risk for the city’s indoor pool, that they have to import water from Ft. Pierre:

Due to the quality of Pierre’s water, or lack thereof, the Oahe Family YMCA will be shipping in Fort Pierre water for their pool.

Starting Monday, YMCA staff will be draining the Y pool to start the process of replacing the pool with Fort Pierre water.

YMCA Director Aaron Fabel says with the Pierre water and the staining of the pool, it’s an insurance liability for the YMCA…

Read and listen to the story here.

Having grown up and lived there, I can attest that it’s a true story. You could send your water through a softener, and still find your clothes stained. Over a period of months, new sidewalks turn black from the mineral content.

Not exactly a selling point for the Capital City..

Attorney General Explanation Released for Initiated Measure Regarding Voting by Mail

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that an Attorney General Explanation for a proposed initiated measure has been filed with the Secretary of State. This statement will appear on a petition that will be circulated by the sponsor of the initiated measure. If the sponsor obtains a sufficient number of signatures (13,871) by November 6, 2017, as certified by the Secretary of State, the initiated measure will be placed on the ballot for the November 2018 general election.

The initiated measure is entitled “An initiated measure allowing certain elections to be conducted through a voting-by-mail process.”

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments. Specifically, the explanation includes a title, an objective, clear and simple summary of the purpose and effect of the proposed measure and a description of the legal consequences. The Attorney General Explanation is not a statement either for or against the proposed initiated measure.

AGstatementforinitiatedmeasure(votingbymail) by Pat Powers on Scribd

NOEM AT STATE FAIR FRIDAY

Huron, S.D. – Rep. Kristi Noem will attend the South Dakota State Fair on Friday, September 1. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

WHAT: Noem to Attend South Dakota State Fair
WHEN: Friday, September 1 – 12:00PM (CT)
WHERE: South Dakota State Fairgrounds, GOP Booth

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Noem will be at the GOP Booth beginning at 12:00PM. Come on over, grab a pair of sunglasses, and challenge her to a game of corn hole.

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