Category: Uncategorized

South Dakota’s Wildland Fire Crew
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

It has been a dry year in parts of South Dakota. Sixty percent of the land in South Dakota is abnormally dry and counties west of the river and in the northeast are experiencing moderate to extreme drought. Drought is most severe in the Lawrence County area where the fire at Crow Peak burned more than 2,700 acres over the course of two weeks.

As I write this, the Crow Peak fire has just reached 100 percent containment. Under the lead of an Incident Management Team from Colorado, no structures were lost and no one was seriously injured or killed. The team had help from local, volunteer and municipal fire departments from across the state that put in many hours and sacrificed their Fourth of July weekend to assist the Incident Management team.

Our state fire crew, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Division of Wildland Fire, also played a critical role in managing the Crow Peak fire. They offered air support, equipment and hand crews to assist the Black Hills National Forest and the Incident Management Team with containment.

Created by Gov. Bill Janklow in 2001 to assume the duties of wildland fire management in South Dakota, our Wildland Fire Division assists in large fire suppression efforts by sending personnel and equipment. Wildland Fire has its own fleet of fire engines with full-time and seasonal firefighters who are stationed at four locations around the Black Hills. Division employees also work with the South Dakota National Guard which lends military heavy lift helicopters, pilots and crews to fight wildfires. Wildland Fire’s efforts aren’t limited to South Dakota. They help fight fires in Canada and across the United States.

When they are not on the ground fighting fires, Wildland Fire employees are engaging in fire prevention efforts. Agency hand crews are involved in fuel reduction activities that include tree thinning and brush disposal through chipping and burning at various locations in the Black Hills. They also have a fire prevention program called “One Less Spark.”

South Dakota is fortunate to have a well-operating fire crew. Wildland Fire division director Jay Esperance and his employees work very hard to limit the damage from wildfires. We are also lucky to have so many volunteer firefighters in our state who are willing to dedicate their time to help with fire suppression efforts. They routinely put their lives on the line to keep us safe.

For our part, we must not add to their workload. Respect county burn bans when they’re in place. Where fires are permitted, never leave a fire unattended, completely extinguish fires before leaving the area and remind others to be cautious. Also, be mindful when operating equipment in dry areas.

South Dakota weather is anything but predictable. We can’t prevent lightning strikes or control how much moisture we receive. But we should do all that is within our power to prevent fires, especially this year.

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Did anyone read the interview this morning at Argus Leader.com from the organizer of the Sioux Falls Black Lives Matter vigil?  I can’t help but scratch my head at one of her statements:

Particularly, when you exist in a white body, you live in a system that has always told you that you are right. Being told you are wrong and feeling the guilt of that and not letting that guilt stop you from engaging in really important work is hard. It’s scary because we aren’t used to being wrong. It’s an important lesson to learn.

Read that here.

I guess I’m struck by how this woman lumps everyone into certain life experiences based on the color of their skin, aside from the choice of the phrase “exist in a white body.” And that somehow people of different racial backgrounds have different “systems.”

Martin Luther King marched, and died, in the 1960’s for a dream of an equal and color-blind nation. He spoke the words “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  I really don’t see how claiming that people who “exist in a white body” have one system that’s somehow “wrong,” by some unspoken and arbitrary measure honors that dream and unifies us.

MLK spoke about America as a promise, and under it’s framework, all men are created equal, and deserve equal access and opportunity under the promise. The American Dream is our only system, and it has nothing to do with race, except to remind people that it isn’t, and shouldn’t be a factor.

That’s what “the system” I was brought up in taught me. And I don’t think there’s anything that I was taught that is remotely “wrong.”

What do you think?

State of South Dakota Joins Lawsuit Against Bathroom Mandate

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that South Dakota has joined a lawsuit filed today in Nebraska Federal District Court against the U.S, Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice over the bathroom mandate. There are a total of 23 states joining the Nebraska and Texas cases, 10 in Nebraska and 13 in Texas.

“As Attorney General it was and remains my hope that our country and state lawmakers can find a solution to the transgender bathroom concerns. However, the President’s mandate or directive that children of opposite sex must be required to share locker rooms and bathrooms under the threat of lawsuit and withholding of education funding is a solution that goes beyond his authority. I am therefore joining other Attorneys General in the Nebraska litigation to clarify that federal law cannot mandate that children of opposite sex be required to share locker rooms and bathrooms.”

States included in the Nebraska lawsuit are Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming.

A similar case was filed earlier in the 5th Circuit District Court by State of Texas joined by Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

There is no cost for South Dakota to join these proceedings.

Snake-oil salesman Rick Weiland can’t catch a break as he tries to wreck democracy in South Dakota, as three major groups have banded together to oppose his taxpayer-funded campaign measure being sold as “ethics reform.”

A national conservative organization is joining forces with two statewide business associations to defeat an initiated measure on November’s ballot.

Americans for Prosperity, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the South Dakota Retailers Association will oppose Initiated Measure 22, which backers have dubbed as a set of good-government reforms aimed at preventing corruption in South Dakota government.

Ben Lee, the chairman of Defeat 22 and the state director for Americans for Prosperity, said the coalition planned to start an advertising blitz on Friday that included radio ads, mailers and door hangars to begin educating voters about the measure.

and..

Chamber president David Owen said his members worry publicly financed campaigns will divert millions of dollars from basic government services. If each of the more than 520,000 registered voters assigned their democracy credits, it would mean $52 million.

“Even if it’s $9 million, that’s money that’s not going to go to paving roads, schools and locking criminals up,” Owen said.

Read it all here.

I had heard she’d taken ill at a GOP meeting last month, but I didn’t know how ill she was. I saw on Facebook today that Mary McClure Bibby passed away.

Back when I was an Intern in the Legislature, State Senator McClure was the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate. In fact, I believe she was the first woman in South Dakota to rise to that level.  While serving in the State Senate from 1975 through, 1989 when she resigned April 10, 1989, to become Special Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs for President Bush, she served in the following roles:

• LRC Executive Board member 1977-1989
• President Pro Tempore 1979-1989
• LRC Executive Board Vice Chairman 1983-1984
• LRC Executive Board Chairman 1985-1986

But, her Legislative resume is only a drop in the bucket.   She was Staff assistant for United States Senator Francis Case, Washington, 1959-1961. Secretary to lieutenant governor State of South Dakota, Pierre, 1963, with budget office, 1964. Executive secretary to president Frontier Airlines, Denver, 1963-1964.  Teacher Public High Schools, Pierre and Redfield, South Dakota, 1965-1966, 68-70. Vice chairman of the council of state governments, 1987, chairman council of state governments, 1988. Special assistant to President Bush for intergovernmental affairs, 1989-1992, and Executive Director South Dakota Bush-Quayle Campaign, 1992.

I had the pleasure of working with Mary when she was with the Bush Quayle campaign in 1992, and served with her on the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission here in Brookings a few years back.

As I’m writing this, I see the Governor sent out the following Press release:

Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At
Half-Staff For Former State Sen. Mary McClure Bibby

PIERRE, S.D. – Former state legislator Mary McClure Bibby of Brookings passed away on July 2, 2016.

McClure, 77, was a native of Milbank and an alumna of the University of South Dakota, where she received the Fulbright Scholarship. She became a teacher and settled in Redfield. McClure served in the State Senate from 1975 – 1989, representing Redfield and the surrounding area.

McClure was the first woman in South Dakota history to hold a top leadership position in the State Legislature, serving from 1979 – 1989 as president pro tempore of the Senate. She also served as national chair of the Council of State Governments, and as chair of the Legislative Research Council Executive Board.

McClure resigned from the State Senate in 1989 to accept an appointment from President George H. W. Bush as special assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs.

Following her legislative service, McClure married former state Sen. John Bibby, who had been a colleague in the State Legislature.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has ordered flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Saturday, Aug. 6, the day of McClure Bibby’s funeral.

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It tells a bit about her, but as do many obituary notices, you can’t help but think about how much it has to leave out.  I know that Mary served as a mentor for at least a couple of names you might recognize who interned under her – United States Senator Mike Rounds, and State Treasurer Rich Sattgast.

I know she continued to be active and participating in Republican politics literally up until her passing. She was always warm, kind, and the kind of person it’s easy to admire.  I can’t help but be sad for the loss of Mary, while being richer for knowing her.  She was truly a special lady.

God bless, and God speed.

The Clinton Double Standard

“The FBI concluded that President Obama’s secretary of state, our nation’s chief diplomat – the person who was fourth in line for the presidency – displayed gross carelessness when handling information related to our national security.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email use during her time as secretary of state and the agency’s decision not to recommend charges be filed against her.

As a result of the FBI’s investigation, during which FBI Director James Comey concluded Clinton acted extremely careless with classified information, Thune cosponsored legislation that would revoke Clinton’s security clearance and block her from accessing classified information in her capacity as a presidential candidate.

Federal District Court Denies Rhines’ Motion for Relief in Capital Case

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announces the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota has denied Charles Russell Rhines’ motion for habeas corpus relief and to amend the judgment. Rhines filed a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking to overturn his conviction and death sentence for the murder of 22-year-old Donnivan Schaeffer in Rapid City on March 8, 1992.

“The Federal Court’s ruling affirms that Charles Russell Rhines’ murder conviction and capital sentence for the horrific murder of Donnivan Shaeffer are constitutional. My thoughts and prayers are with the Schaeffer family, who have waited 24 years for justice in this case,” said Jackley.

A Pennington County jury convicted Rhines of first degree murder in 1993 and returned a sentence of death. Rhines’ conviction and death sentence were affirmed on direct appeal by the South Dakota Supreme Court in 1996. Rhines’ conviction and sentence were also affirmed on state habeas proceedings by the state trial court and South Dakota Supreme Court.

With the conclusion of his federal trial court habeas corpus proceedings, Rhines can file a notice of appeal within 30 days to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and, ultimately, to the United States Supreme Court. Rhines must obtain permission from the federal court to pursue an appeal.

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Here’s an exciting development for SDWC – I’m extremely pleased to announce the addition of the South Dakota Banker’s Association, which has been in South Dakota since 1884, to our roster of advertisers.

South Dakota Bankers have a very strong presence in our local communities (as you can tell from the report attached to their first ad) and as noted, “serve as stewards of their communities and the state in ways beyond routine banking services.”  As noted on one page of a recent survey of member banks:

Local banks loaned and invested $254 Million in housing and community projects for low & moderate income residents; They donated $11 Million in charitable contributions and grants, which was exceeded by the $61 million that their employees put into it.  And they’ve volunteered over 150,000 hours with community organizations.

And let’s not forget the fact that the payroll of the 43 banks taking part in the survey put nearly $775 million into South Dakota’s economy through payroll.

As we move into political season where some politicians are declaring open season on lending institutions and making credit available to consumers, banking faces an uncertain future.  I’ve worked for a lending institution in the past, and as a REALTOR, I can tell you the availability and cost of credit and our system of banking should be a major concern for consumers.  We need to keep those things in mind when electing our leaders. And we need to be vigilant against attacks on them.

But, off of my soapbox…  Please check out their website, and take a moment to read how they positively affect our state!

And don’t forget our other advertisers, and check out their websites, such as United States Senator John Thune, Americans for Prosperity SD Chapter, Congresswoman Kristi Noem,the fine barristers at Redstone Law Firm, Vote Yes on S – Marsy’s Law, as well as my own Dakota Campaign Store, one of the State’s largest suppliers of campaign materials.