State Representative, and Republican District 3 Senate Candidate Al Novstrup is our newest addition to advertiser row, and provides a handy link where you can donate to his campaign about midway down on the left hand side of the page.
As I’m sure you know, he’s representing the SDGOP in a race against arguably the most liberal man in South Dakota, so feel free to share the link, and encourage your friends to visit his campaign website, and to donate to his campaign committee.
If you remember in 2015 when it was a controversy, the South Dakota Board on Geographic Names had initial discussions, and held extensive hearings over what the name of Harney peak should be after initial thoughts of changing it. After public commentary, and a complete lack on consensus, they decided to keep it as it was:
The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names issued a preliminary recommendation in May that Harney Peak be renamed “Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls).” But the board decided not to back a change after a slew of public comments against the plan, including from at least two members of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s cabinet.
Supporters of the change also didn’t coalesce around a single replacement name for the peak, board members said.
“I have to say, based on what I’ve read, my opinion has wavered,” Board on Geographic Names Chairwoman June Hansen said at the meeting. “I again feel there is not a clear direction from the public.”
and…
A researcher from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names also wrote the South Dakota panel to say that the U.S. Board wouldn’t approve “Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls)” with the translation in parentheses.
No one could come to an agreement after an initial consideration of naming it Hinhan Kaga, and there was considerable unhappiness over changing it in the first place. Which is why it borders on bizarre that the matter was brought up out of the blue by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
This is a picture of the Kiowa room at the Department of the Interior where the decision was made last week. A meeting of the Domestic Names Committee of the U.S. Board on Geographic names made the unilateral decision to change the name of Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak without notice or consultation.
It’s certainly a real committee. You can find out about them in this article by the Library of Congress about their work:
President Benjamin Harrison established the U.S. Board on Geographic Names with an executive order on Sept. 4, 1890, with authority to resolve all unsettled questions concerning geographic names. President Theodore Roosevelt extended the board’s authority in 1906, giving it the additional power to standardize all geographic names for federal use, including name changes and new names.
and..
The Board on Geographic Names may be unique among federal entities in that it has no budget, no staff of its own and relies on other federal agencies for staffing and meeting space. Its members are drawn from other federal agencies and receive no additional compensation for their work on the board. Permanent members come from the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Interior and State, the Library of Congress, the Government Printing Office, the U.S. Postal Service and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Research on the proposals for new names or name changes is prepared by staff members of USGS, part of the Department of Interior.
and…
One of the long-standing principles of the BGN is recognition of present-day local usage. And, as in the above case, local usage may change. The Cascade Dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1948; early maps labeled the reservoir the “Cascade Dam Reservoir.” But by the mid-1950s, the name “Cascade Reservoir” had come into common use. Forty years later, with the renaming of an area park Lake Cascade State Park, local usage has evolved so that the name “Lake Cascade” now makes more sense. The Domestic Names Committee agreed and voted to approve the change.
Four other cases on the docket illustrated another board principle: naming previously unnamed domestic geographic features after deceased individuals long associated with the site, when such names are recommended by local authorities.
and…
So, what’s in a name? A great deal — the history of the land, local lore, decisions by state agencies and hard work on the part of the members of the BGN and the Domestic Names Committee who strive to reconcile local usage with board principles to arrive at the most appropriate names for geographical features that will be used on all federal maps.
In the case of how the renaming of Harney Peak was handled, it’s hard to reconcile their propaganda with how the alteration of the mountain name was actually performed. In other words, it sounds like a line of B.S. And according to a Rapid City Journal article, we have further confirmation that the change happened out of the blue:
Q. Was there any indication that the board would decide to change Harney Peak’s name?
A. There was at least one indication back in April, when members of the board moved and seconded the name change but postponed a vote until August.
After that April meeting, the Journal attempted to poll all of the U.S. board members to seek their opinions about changing the name of Harney Peak. Many of the board members did not respond to phone calls or emails, and several declined to be interviewed or deferred comment to the board’s non-voting executive secretary.
The only board member who agreed to speak with the Journal was Jon Campbell, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey. He seemed to put the brakes on the notion that the board was on the cusp of changing Harney Peak’s name.
“Some people on the board are more eager for the change than others,” Campbell said at the time. “It only takes one person to make a motion.”
Other factors also seemed to indicate that a name change for Harney Peak was a long shot. The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names had recommended retaining the peak’s name, and a staffer for the U.S. board had said publicly and repeatedly that significant weight is typically granted to the recommendation of a state board. Additionally, the U.S. board’s written principles, policies and procedures discourage name duplication, such as the duplication that has arguably occurred now with the federally designated Black Elk Wilderness area that surrounds the newly named Black Elk Peak.
In watching the controversy unfold after the fact, You can’t deny there are two sides to it. As much as there are those who wanted it changed, it’s evident that there are many who wish to preserve history on the basis that it’s always been known as Harney Peak, and they have no knowledge of, or interest in the background of the person it’s named after.
And once you get past those that are passionate about the name on one side or the other, you also find many who are ambivalent over it. But whether you’re a fierce proponent or opponent of the change, both would have to admit it was an exercise in federal power that no one was vocally asking for, or expecting.
What it does demonstrate is yet another example of a federal bureaucracy, unaccountable to the voters, taking unilateral action and flatly ignoring the decision of the state who held public hearings, and reviewed extensive public comments over the matter.
Consider this.. What would the outcry have been if when Shannon County made the decision to change their name to Oglala Lakota County, someone on a state board had the ability to unilaterally reject the change? There would be a lot of justifiably angry and upset residents unhappy over the decision of an unelected board. They have the right to choose the name, and they exercised it.
Taking it to the scale of what happened here, there’s literally no difference. Because that’s what happened with South Dakota and Harney Peak. We had the opportunity to change it, and we chose not to. The process was followed and honored. And then an unelected federal board swoops in, and made a contrary decision opposite of that made at the state level because they could.
Can we choose to ignore it? We can, and I would not be shocked to see legislation brought this coming legislative session memorializing it. Which seems like a waste of time, especially when you would have thought the federal board would have honored the outcome of the public hearings. (As they claim they do in their propaganda.)
It may be largely ignored in the verbal sparring between those that like it, versus those that hate the change. But I can’t help but notice that our state’s rights seem to have been eroded just a little bit more over how this happened.
In the end, we should be less concerned about the name, and more concerned about how the federal government went about it. That’s where the outrage should be focused.
After the website stopped sending data to ipads and mobile devices, I was forced to do a restore from backup. Apparently my theme does not really care for WordPress 4.6 yet, so I need to hold off for a short time.
Luckily, I had a screen up, allowing me to restore my posts from yesterday. The bad news is I lost your commentary in the process. Sorry about that.
Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Rollout
PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the rollout of the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) System.
The goal of SAVIN is to create a notification system that will benefit crime victims and those that serve them. The South Dakota SAVIN System is a free, automated service that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service will allow victims to obtain offender information and to register for notification of a change in offender status. Such information may include important hearing, trial or sentencing dates, as well as changes in bond conditions or release from custody.
“Serving victims of crime should remain a top priority in our State. The SAVIN System will help inform and protect victims by making offender information readily available,” said Jackley. “SAVIN will also foster greater transparency within the criminal proceedings by making public information more accessible,” said Jackley.
The following were members of the advisory commission that oversaw the implementation of the SAVIN System:
Chief Matt Benson, Vermillion Police Department Kathy Christenson, Unified Judicial System
Sheila Pirring, Defendant Representative
Krista Heeren Graber, South Dakota Network Against Domestic Violence
Sheriff Kevin Thom, Pennington County Sheriff
John Hult, Argus Leader
Judge Dawn Elshire, former Codington County States Attorney
Laurie Feiler, Department of Corrections
Lisa Thompson-Heth, SD Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Ben Dunsmoor, formerly of KELO
Tatewin Means, Oglala Sioux Tribe Attorney General
Paul Bousa, Bureau of Information and Telecommunications
Lori Martinic, formerly of Department of Social Services
Ross Uhrig, Bureau of Information and Telecommunications
Jeanie Hutmacher, Victim Representative
Attorney General Marty Jackley
Director Bryan Gortmaker, Division of Criminal Investigation
Deputy Attorney General Charlie McGuigan
Asst. Director Brian Zeeb, Division of Criminal Investigation
Jamie Freestone, Division of Criminal Investigation
Sara Rabern Attorney General’s Office Public Information Officer
From Twitter, Democrat US Senate Candidate Jay Williams is trying to criticize Senator John Thune for not doing his job. At least, the job description he made up in his head.
I’m not sure if Jay was trying to sound like an idiot, or if it was unintentional? Has anyone taken him aside quietly, and explained to Jay that US Senators don’t provide oversight to state government?
I noted with some amusement yesterday that District 3 Democrat Senate Candidate Cory Heidelberger continues to perseverate over the recent forum where the attendees chanted for him “GET OUT” and cat-called “He’s making a speech,” as others seemed to rush over to him in a menacing manner.
It was an incident that I don’t know I’ve ever seen the like of in state politics, where a crowd disliked someone so intensely that you would not have been shocked to see someone throw a punch. I certainly can’t say when the last time I saw someone rush out of the crowd to call someone speaking from the audience a “son-of-a bitch.”
You know, it’s not one of those situations that reflects well on a candidate.
As one reader, a former elected official, pointed out to me, it was akin to a conservative candidate going into a PETA meeting eating a turkey leg and questioning attendees’ relations with their mothers. It basically was the political equivalent of throwing a rock at a hornet’s nest.
And that never ends well for anyone.
But coming back to Heidelberger’s actions, I think he’s made the 4th or 5th post on his website droning on ad nauseum on why they were wrong, and he is right as if it’s going to change anyone’s mind. I don’t suspect that those who agree with him are going to change their minds, and neither are those who attended, yelling “GET OUT” like he was a clergyman visiting the Amityville Horror House.
His “I’m right and they’re wrong mantra” isn’t going to change people’s minds, but what it does remind people of is what some may term “the poop show” over his not liking how they spoke about what he wrote.
And it brings up the basic fact that as a candidate, Cory is his own worst enemy.
If you look back on his extensive writings, you don’t have to look very hard when he’s run roughshod across the grain of what a majority of South Dakotans would consider as their values. For example, at the start of 2013, Cory was seeking a sponsor for a bill for an important problem he felt needed to be addressed. The lack of condoms in high school.
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to authorize individual school boards to create, establish, and supervise individual school prophylactic programs to promote sexual health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. Any school board may create, establish, and supervise the distribution of condoms in such manner and according to such protocols as the board, in its sole discretion, may believe to be most likely to protect the school, its students, its staff, and members of the public against the threat of unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and any other risk associated with sexual activity.
And the condom thing is where the list starts. I don’t have enough space to point out how far out he goes leftward on taxes, taxes, and more taxes, Obamacare, abortion, death penalty, right to work, and calling expressions of faith in God disgusting.
If we’re comparing the candidates in the District 3 State Senate election you have to put the record of Heidelberger, a man who has already been labeled as “the extremist at your front door,” against that of his opponent, Representative Al Novstrup.
Unlike Heidelberger who moved to the city in the last 16 months or so, Novstrup has lived in Aberdeen most of his life. Novstrup is a long-time area businessman who formerly had a computer business, and has been associated with the Thunder Road Amusement parks across the state. Heidelberger? According to his campaign finance form, he claims he earns his keep as a blog writer, and works occasionally as a substitute teacher.
Could I possibly be wrong? Sure. But if you believe that, explain to me how exactly do these words and deeds attract a significant enough portion of the electorate to achieve success on election day? Because I certainly don’t see it.
With views that put him farther to the left than a majority of most South Dakota Democrats, it was hard before to see how Heidelberger had any path forward in his election.
And now that’s he’s unnecessarily inserting himself into events and causing a ruckus simply because he doesn’t like how people characterize what he writes, that path forward seems far more narrow than the rocky path was before.
Rio Olympics 2016 gold medalists from the United States will be subject to federal income tax of up to $9,900 by the Internal Revenue Service.
The figure is based on the maximum “victory tax” rate in the US of 39.6%, charged to the country’s highest earners, according to Americans for Tax Reform. Therefore, silver and bronze medalists in this tax bracket will be taxed $5,940 and $3,960 respectively.
Athletes in the lower brackets would be charged with 15%. Training expenses would also likely be deductible. For each medal a US athlete wins in the Olympics, the US Olympic Committee pays them $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze. Michael Phelps is bringing home $140,000 for his five gold medals, and one silver medal, although he will be taxed up to $55,400 for this amount.
The Denver Post has an article published this morning that tells an all-too familiar tale that we’e talked about in South Dakota about the relative ease of getting measures placed on the ballot, creating an overstuffed ballot.
And contained therein, there’s an interesting notation about discussions to bring back a discussion over whether South Dakota needs to update our initiative and referendum process to keep from continuing to be a laboratory state for social engineers to try to play their craft:
Faced with the daunting battle to procure the necessary signatures, most citizen-led initiatives wither and die long before election day. Still, the relative ease — at least compared with other states — of bringing ideas directly to the electorate has once again raised the issue of how accessible the ballot should be and whether Colorado needs to tighten a procedure that some contend already caters only to well-heeled interests.
Although Colorado traditionally has been active in the initiative process, and this could rank among the busier years, some states also have a robust ballot in the 2016 general election. California has 15 citizen initiatives to consider, plus another two through the referendum process. South Dakota has a total of 10 measures on the ballot, seven of them citizens’ initiatives.
Underhill notes that California sought to curb frivolous initiative efforts by imposing a $2,000 filing fee (Colorado has none). And from the NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit last week in Chicago, she said some South Dakota legislators are considering ways to make the process more stringent.
Bonus notation – the picture accompanying the article has Emmett Reistroffer turning in petitions for public marijuana consumption zones in Denver.
This discussion continues to come up, and isn’t going away anytime soon when you have outside groups such as out-of-state liberal think thanks pouring money into Slick Rick Weiland’s coffers to promote ballot measures on this years’ ballot, and others pouring cash in Steve Hildebrand’s attack on short term lending, among others.
It’s a problem that’s been long evident in South Dakota, and certainly one we’ve been covering as far back as JAIL for Judges. And there’s no easy answers. How do you address problems in South Dakota’s long tradition of initiative and referendum without infringing upon citizen rights?
Can you put up a no trespassing sign to out-of-staters? How exactly would you accomplish that?
Do you impose bans on money originating from out of state being spent on such measures, or place extended disclosure requirements on those funds? Do you increase the number of signatures required? Do you restrict signature collection by geography, to make sure there’s a proportional number of citizens calling for a measure, as opposed to people hitting Sioux Falls and Rapid City to throw something on the ballot?
Lots of questions, but few answers on what type of restrictions that South Dakotans would find palatable, or even desirable.
For Brookings County Republicans, it appears that State Representative Mark Mickelson and Attorney General Marty Jackley will be bookending the weekend with dual appearances in the County.
First, Mickelson is the featured speaker for the Brookings County GOP Summer Picnic on Thursday night. And then Marty follows as the featured speaker with the Brookings County monthly GOP Noon Luncheon:
Make sure you catch them both – I’m sure it will be worth it!
State Representative, and Republican District 3 Senate Candidate Al Novstrup is our newest addition to advertiser row, and provides a handy link where you can donate to his campaign about midway down on the left hand side of the page.
Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification Rollout 
Make sure you catch them both – I’m sure it will be worth it!