From Keloland news:
Thread on an update from @SanfordHealth on their COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which impacts all employees; they are not announcing how many exemptions were given or denied. The health system says as of 11/1, 99% of their employees are in compliance. Here’s what that means: (1/5)
— Dan Santella (@KELODanS) November 1, 2021
Spencer Gosch, Speaker of the House of Representatives announced today who will be serving on the committee who will investigate whether impeachment is appropriate for the Attorney General as a result of a September 2020 traffic accident, as noted in the Argus Leader:
Serving on the “Special Investigative Committee,” as Gosch referred to it, will be:
- House Majority Leader Kent Peterson, R-Salem
- Rep. Jamie Smith, D-Sioux Falls
- Rep. Ryan Cwach, D-Yankton
- Rep. Mike Stevens, R-Yankton
- Rep. Steven Haugaard, R-Sioux Falls
- Rep. Doug Barthel, R-Sioux Falls
- Rep. Kevin Jensen, R-Canton
- Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids
A few interesting statistics if you’re looking at who has been appointed to the committee.
Of the Nine Committee members, 4 Attorneys are on the committee.. Rep’s Cwach, Stevens, Haugaard & Hansen. And 1, Rep. Barthel, is retired Law Enforcement.
Two of the members are from the Attorney General’s home town of Yankton, but none representing District 24, the legislative district where the accident occurred.
There’s no one from West of the Missouri River. And except for the Speaker himself, you don’t really have anyone appointed who is West of the James River Valley (Or North of Highway 34).
Three committee members are from Sioux Falls.. and up to 5 from the Sioux Falls Metro area if you extend that area to Canton & Dell Rapids.
And despite comprising 30% of the House, there is not a single woman on the list.
Redistricting, impeachment, and people who are unhappy there probably won’t be a anti-vaccination session.
Next week will be interesting, to say the least.
Happy #WorldVeganDay to all the hunters who enjoy harvesting vegan pheasant, deer, and elk! pic.twitter.com/ZxZWwC2WTi
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) November 1, 2021
After buying out 2 more South Dakota Daily Newspapers recently, Argus Leader parent company Gannett is apparently shipping their printing, and I would assume jobs, to another state:
The Sioux Falls-based Argus Leader newspaper will close its printing plant on Dec. 5, the news outlet announced with its parent company Gannett on Monday.
The press plant closure, located within the Argus Leader facility at 200 S. Minnesota Ave., is the “result of further consolidation in the newspaper industry,” Argus Leader news director Cory Myers said.
The paper’s printing operations will be moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Printing of the Aberdeen American News, Farm Forum and Watertown Public Opinion will also move to Des Moines.
Remind me again why it’s so important to have all those legals notices printed in those papers, when they’re moving production and jobs to Iowa?
Certainly, if it’s good enough for them to transmit news stories over the Internet to be printed in another state, why can’t the state and local governments move their official notices to strictly on-line, where people can print them at a library or at home?
The State GOP has been remembering Governor Frank Farrar this weekend, making a statement about his passing..
It’s hard to memorialize and quantify the incredible life of someone like Governor Frank Farrar. He rose to become State Attorney General, and the 24th South Dakota Governor at a young age, but more so than politics, we should remember him for his ability to reinvent himself.”
“After losing the race for Governor in 1970, Governor Farrar became a successful business leader in the banking community, with nearly 50 banks reaching across ten states, from South Dakota down to Texas, and from Nevada to Illinois.”
“When faced with terminal cancer at an age when most people would retire, Frank reinvented himself as a triathlete competitor in Iron Man competitions, running in punishing heat and swimming in the Hawaiian surf at age 73.”
Read the entire statement here.
The Republican Party also posted the retrospective video they used when awarding Gov. Farrar with a lifetime achievement award at the 2018 Republican State Convention:
From facebook:
Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Governor Frank Farrar
PIERRE, S.D. – Former South Dakota Governor Frank L. Farrar passed away peacefully at the age of ninety-two on October 31, 2021, in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by family. Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide effective immediately in his honor. Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of Governor Farrar’s interment, and those arrangements will be announced at a later time.
“Frank was an incredible leader for our state and a mentor to me over these past years, as well,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “His heart for people and his enthusiasm for public service have been an inspiration.
“Frank stayed active up until the day he died, as evidenced by the statue of him running on the Trail of Governors,” continued Governor Noem. “He even competed in triathlons and Ironman competitions into his eighties. We should all hope to be able to live as active, caring, and full a life as Frank.”
Farrar was elected governor in 1968 at the age of 39 and served as the 24th Governor of South Dakota from 1969 to 1971. He also served as the state’s 22nd Attorney General from 1963 to 1969. Prior to that, he served as Marshall County judge, Marshall County state’s attorney, and as the only governor of South Dakota Boys State to later be elected governor.
Farrar joined the South Dakota ROTC while attending college at USD before commissioning as a lieutenant and serving in the Korean War. He continued serving as a captain in the Army Reserves for 15 years. A detailed biography of Governor Farrar can be found here.
It was six years ago to the day, on October 31, 2015, that his wife of sixty-two years, Former First Lady Patricia Farrar, passed away. Frank is survived by five children – Jeanne Farrar, Sally Farrar, Robert Farrar, Mary Turner (Randall Turner), and Anne Farrar (John Ingwalson) – as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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From Twitter:
Frank Farrar was a good friend, a driven athlete, a successful businessman, and a dedicated public servant. South Dakota was blessed by his life. pic.twitter.com/SUvfnNOk2Z
— Rep. Dusty Johnson (@RepDustyJohnson) October 31, 2021