Author: Pat Powers

I’m working on getting motivated this AM, while lying in bed at a friend’s place high above the town of Summerset, SD. I’ve been here for the last two days as I’ve been getting oriented in working for a new employer.

Most of my other “jobs” are freelance or as an independent contrsctor, and the opportunity came up for a regular ‘corporate’ gig that would allow me to do all my other stuff. And that’s kind of hard to pass up.

Something that will allow me to do blogging and social media, and my print work? What is that?

Actually, a majority of the job is actually going to BE blogging, social media, and marketing materials including print work. And except for the occasional meeting or conference, I get to do it from home.

Oh darn, right?

Despite wanting to hit the fair, I’ve been going dawn to dusk, and today I head home, and should be there for about 12 hours – long enough to wash my jeans, repack, and fly out to the AFP Defending the American Dream conference Thursday AM, where I’ll be attending as press, covering the gathering of presidential hopefuls.

Once home next week, I think I can find time between blogging and social media to bring you more blogging and social media.

And all I’ll have to worry about is carpal tunnel.

Harrold Woman Pleads Guilty to Perjury for Election Law Violations

PIERRE, S.D – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Janice Howe, Harrold, 54, has pled guilty to one count of perjury.

Perjury, at the time of the allegations occurred, was a class 5 felony, punishable by up to five years in the state penitentiary and or $5,000 fine.
Charges stem from the circulation and attempted filing of petition sheets on a petition to amend the Constitution. Howe was charged by Complaint on January 31, 2002. The charges allege that Howe verified under oath that she had personally witnessed signatures on the petition sheets when she had not. Howe was arrested in July 2015 on an arrest warrant issued after the filing of the complaint. Two other individuals were charged with similar offenses relating to the same petition. Their cases have been resolved through the judicial system.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2015 at 1:15 p.m. at the Hughes County Courthouse.

The case was investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Gov. Daugaard Appoints Jon Sogn As Second Circuit Judge

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Jon Sogn (SONG) of Sioux Falls as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit.

“I thank Jon Sogn for accepting this appointment,” said the Governor. “Jon has earned the respect of his peers over a long legal career, and he will be an excellent judge.”

Sogn will fill a new judgeship in the Second Circuit that was created by the 2015 State Legislature. The Second Circuit includes Lincoln and Minnehaha counties.

Sogn has practiced with the firm of Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun since 1986. He is a Canton native and a 1983 graduate of Augustana College. Sogn earned his law degree with honors from The University of South Dakota School of Law in 1986.

“I am grateful for the trust Gov. Daugaard has placed in me with this appointment,” said Sogn. “I will do my best each and every day to serve the people of South Dakota.”

Sogn has served as an adjunct lecturer in trial techniques at the USD School of Law, and has regularly been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Great Plains Super Lawyers and Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is an active volunteer in many church, school and charitable organizations, and was the Second Circuit Bar Association’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2010.

Sogn and his wife, Kristy, have three children.

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I’m sure it’s a kick in the teeth to South Dakota Democrats, but what are you going to do? Kevin Woster isn’t saying anything that isn’t true:

Let’s be honest. The Democrats can’t win that seat in 2016 — not unless Thune gets caught crossing the Jones County Line to poach Lyman County pheasants (or he falls to the unlikely, for a man of his West River sensibilities, whimsy of a presidential run), he’s pretty much a lock for reelection next year.

So, what to do, if you’re the Democrats?

Read it all here.

Today’s Rapid City Journal headline seems to illustrate a divide among state democrats. 

You have those who embrace it..

  
And those like Rick Weiland who are working to conceal their party identification.

I guess I just don’t understand the divide. You have those Democrats who are proud to be so, and you have those like Rick Weiland who seems ashamed of it, and wants to hide it from everyone in every election through his proposed ballot measure to conceal party information on the ballot.

It will be interesting to see what side of the dividethe state Democrat Party falls out on the proposal to hide party identification. 

Will they be proud like Paula Hawks? Or will they endorse the requirement and consider “D” a scarlet letter?

Our friends at the Brown County Republicans had a booth at the Brown County fair this past week, and did a little straw polling to determine fair attendees’ favorite candidate for president.

And I think we’ve determined that a lot of people watch TV.

  
Donald Trump came in first, which I’ve heard is possibly a sign of the impending apocalypse.

Thankfully, it was all in fun. And we have at least several months to go before anybody should consider any polling seriously.

I caught this LTE this morning in the paper, and thought I’d point it out regarding the hard work our Congresswoman is doing in Washington. From the Argus Leader:

Letter: Noem hard at work to save hatchery
David J. Nickel, Spearfish

and…

This Argus Leader reader wants to thank Noem for her efforts to save the Booth Hatchery and its archives. D.C. Booth is a major part of our state’s tourist economy and a major part of sport fishing in South Dakota. I’m glad that Congresswoman Noem is working hard in Washington to save the hatchery for South Dakota families of today and in the future.

Read it here.

Thats not a Republican Party regular. Just a real person appreciating what our Congresswoman does in DC.

Thune to Host Town Hall Meetings in Lemmon, Buffalo

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Monday, August 17, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will host town hall meetings in Lemmon and Buffalo before traveling to Deadwood to address the South Dakota Telecommunications Association annual meeting.

Monday, August 17:

WHAT:
Lemmon Town Hall Meeting
WHEN:
1:00 p.m. MDT
WHERE:
Lemmon Senior Citizen Center
711 Main Avenue
Lemmon, SD

WHAT:
Buffalo Town Hall Meeting
WHEN:
3:30 p.m. MDT
WHERE:
Harding County Rec Center
204 Hodge Street
Buffalo, SD

WHAT:
South Dakota Telecommunications Association Annual Meeting
WHEN:
5:45 p.m. MDT
WHERE:
The Lodge at Deadwood
100 Pine Crest Lane
Deadwood, SD

Apparently Elizabeth May does not understand that schools have already signed contracts for this year with teachers, and compensation is locked in for the next year. She’s back calling for a special session again.

From Today’s KCCR:

Representative May Calling For A Special Session, Again

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.

That’s the motto of Rep. Elizabeth May of Kyle today as she has a new proposal that seeks to address the teacher shortage facing South Dakota school districts.

May is proposing that the Legislature dedicate the $21 Million state surplus to an incentive program intended to draw experienced teachers out of retirement.

Read it all here.

Here’s an idea: why don’t we stop calling special sessions, and let’s see how much taxpayers save on postage?

Hang on readers. I’m rocketing down the interstate, and I’ve got something good coming.

I just have to be at a designated location by 530, and I’ll have something that I get to share with you, the loyal SDWC reader.