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The Bluestem Prairie blog is reporting this afternoon that State Representative Tina Mulally is among a group of people and organizations sponsoring Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack at an event in Rapid City next week:

Mack has been noted as a long-time Board member of controversial group Oath Keepers up until 2015. The same Oath Keepers group which is cited as having 23 members of their militia group arrested as part of the riot at the US Capitol on January 6th. Mack is appearing in Rapid City as a representative of the “Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officer Association,” a group which has been cited as being controversial in it’s own right as he teaches that “the sheriff has unilateral power to decide which laws should be enforced.”

Rolling Stone and multiple news outlets recently directed national attention at the Oath Keeper group’s South Dakota ties, which featured State Rep. Phil Jensen’s membership in the extremist militia group.

Interestingly, In addition to State Rep. Mulally, former State Rep. Chip Campbell and the Custer County Sheriff sponsoring the controversial speaker, the flyer claims event sponsorship of the event by Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City and Outback Steakhouse.

Do we really think Outback Steakhouse is sponsoring it? I have a sneaking suspicion it’s similar to when Lora Hubbel was hosting an event at Pizza Ranch to talk about masking for COVID..

Stay tuned.

The First Thanksgiving
By U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)
November 22, 2021

Thanksgiving – it’s the time of year where you can turn to the paper and are almost guaranteed to find a few fluffy columns about counting blessings and being thankful. But this year, it would ring hollow coming from me. As many of you know, I lost Jean, my wife of 43 years, to cancer on November 2. She was the love of my life and, without her in it, my world will never be the same.

Often when we think about love, we think about all the firsts. The first date. The first kiss. The first time bringing her home to mom and dad. But what about the painful firsts love throws at us? The first night shutting off the lights alone in bed. The first snowfall without her by my side. Even in death, love remains; yet is the source of grief.

This is my first holiday alone. And while family will be there, I’m still alone. No amount of people can replace Jean’s presence. For 43 years, we shared everything together. In marriage, we became one. She was my soulmate, my rock and her void is impossible to fill.

Hardly an hour goes by where I don’t think about Jean. She’s my first thought in the morning and the last before I go to bed. She was everything to me and is constantly on my mind.

Everyone grieves differently and it can hit you at any time. Feelings come when you least expect them and some moments are worse than others. Sometimes longing, sometimes anger, sometimes pain. We often don’t get to choose how we feel. But when I can, I choose to be thankful.

Thankful that God brought that Lake Preston farm girl into my life. Thankful for every minute we shared together. And that family was always first.

Thankful for the friends, family and even strangers who prayed for us and loved us through it all. Thankful for the doctors and nurses who worked so hard to cure her and to make her comfortable. The kindness we felt made a difference and will never be forgotten.

Thankful she is no longer in pain and is finally at peace. No more long trips to Mayo. No more poking and prodding. No more radiation or chemo. Just peace.

Thankful for everything she left with me. The memories. The kids. The grandkids. I’ll take care of them and they’ll take care of me. That’s what family does and we’ll get through this together. A part of Jean lives in each of us, and in that we can find comfort.

And thankful for our Faith, which gives us the hope that we will be with each other again someday. 65 is too young to leave this earth. While death may separate us now, love binds us together forever.

Like our ancestors who faced a new, unknown world on the first Thanksgiving, I find myself this Thanksgiving anticipating an entirely new world. But relying on courage and Faith, I know God will continue to provide and give me the strength to live out the purpose he has remaining for me. As Jean and I would remind one another, “When you have Faith, you have hope.”

From the Associated Press, South Dakota Democrats have to get their checkbooks out to right some wrongs with regards to how they handle(d) campaign finance. And it’s going to cost them a pretty penny:

The South Dakota Democratic Party said Friday it has paid a $40,000 penalty and rid its accounts of $2,500 in contributions for campaign finance violations during the 2016 presidential election.

and..

The party has faced multiple financial issues in recent years, but its chairman Randy Seiler said the fines settled all violations with federal election regulators. The party has overhauled its leadership since 2019.

Read it all here.

40k? Whoof.  That’s especially tough considering what’s in their federal account at the moment:

Only 25k, and that includes a lot of welfare from the Democrats National Committee. Which means they might have to dig into their state account – if they have it

Honoring Native American Heritage Month
By Sen. John Thune

Since 1990, our country has celebrated Native American Heritage Month every November to honor and pay tribute to the proud ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. In South Dakota, we are proud of the culture and contributions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people. So, as we prepare for Thanksgiving and the rest of the upcoming holiday season, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect on the contributions Native Americans have made to our state and nation.

The rich traditions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people are woven into the fabric of South Dakota’s history, and they are a significant part of what makes South Dakota such a unique and special place. They are so woven that our state name of Dakota is a Native word for “friendly” or “allies.”

This month we also have the honor of celebrating our country’s veterans, many of whom are Native Americans, who bravely risked and sacrificed their own lives in defense of freedom. Native Americans have proudly served in our nation’s military since the time of the Revolutionary War. And, during both world wars, Native American soldiers, known as code talkers, were integral in helping to transmit secret tactical messages in support of critical military operations by using codes built upon their native tribal languages. Americans and our allies will be forever grateful to our code talkers.

Native American culture can be found in almost every corner of our state. I recently had the pleasure of stopping by the beautiful and breathtaking Crazy Horse Memorial. This monument serves as an incredible tribute to Native Americans across our nation, and it’s a privilege to showcase it here in South Dakota.

I know I’m not alone in considering myself extremely grateful to live in a state that honors its Native American history and traditions. Whether it’s language, food, or events, the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people have left and are continuing to leave an important mark on our state and nation.

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Angels in Adoption
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
November 18, 2021

November is National Adoption Month which is why on behalf of the state of South Dakota, I would like to congratulate Sarah and Terry Reyelts for being selected as 2021 Angels in Adoption honorees.

In addition to having two biological children, Sarah and Terry welcomed three children into their family through adoption. Now parents to five children from ages 3 to 21, Sarah and Terry say all the children’s different personalities have perfectly completed their family.

Like so many couples that adopt, they saw a need—a need for children in South Dakota to have a place to call home—and they filled that void. More than 117,000 children are eligible for adoption each year, and I am humbled by so many South Dakotans commitment to our state’s most vulnerable individuals.

When Sarah was asked what she would say to those thinking about fostering or adopting, she gave a simple response: “Do it. Beyond the great need, especially in South Dakota… people forget to focus on the blessings in what these children do for you, not just what you do for them. They’re a delight and such a blessing, so don’t think about it too much, and if God puts it on your heart, just do it.”

Fostering is equally important, and throughout Terry’s career in law enforcement he’s witnessed the value of it firsthand, saying that many biological parents just need to “get themselves right before they can handle the family dynamic again.”

A stable and permanent family is so critical in a developing child’s life. Through foster care or adoption, these children have a safe haven they otherwise wouldn’t. The Reyelts family is an incredible example of how just one couple can change the lives of so many children.

Thank you to all foster and adoptive families for being true heroes to kids throughout our state.

Sarah and Terry Reyelts reside in Mitchell, South Dakota

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From Twitter, Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch is lamenting legal action that has been initiated to compel disclosure of House members who signed off to call a special session for purposes of impeachment:

Why is the Argus Leader, South Dakota Newspaper Association, and KELO suing the hard working men and women of the LRC when it was my decision to keep the Ravsnborg Spec Ses correspondence confidential? If you want to come after someone, come after the one who made the decision. pic.twitter.com/L6ZKlEJZ8t

— Spencer Gosch (@SpencerGosch) November 20, 2021

The South Dakota Republican Party campaign school this morning with Leadership Institute has a great crowd, and a number of people that I’ve never seen before. That’s indicative of a high interest and very active campaign season!

I missed a week, but here are the latest numbers for COVID-19 Hospitalization from the Sanford Health Care system…

It appears that numbers of hospitalized are down slightly, but up a bit in the ICU and on ventilators.

 

** Last Chance to sign up for tomorrow’s campaign school **

If your schedule has freed up enough to allow attendance, you can still sign up for the South Dakota Republican Party’s Campaign School put on by the Leadership Institute in Sioux Falls on Saturday, November 20th, 2021 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM at the Military Heritage Alliance, 1600 W Russell Street.

Ideal attendees for the workshop are Republican party members who are looking to become more politically active, including candidates and campaign staff. Curriculum will include forming a campaign plan, running an effective communications strategy and fundraising to achieve victory.”

You can sign up for the Candidate Workshop here, and the cost for the workshop is $20 which includes lunch.

Under God, the People Gather and Give Thanks
By Governor Kristi Noem 
November 19, 2021

Thanksgiving is a time of unity. It is a time of gathering friends, family, and sometimes newcomers into your home. Somewhere along the way, America began to forget what the true meaning of Thanksgiving is. 

Last year, we were told that families should not get together because of the pandemic. This year, we are being told that some may not be able to afford Thanksgiving as a result of rising prices at the grocery store. 

And then there is the crowd that wants to cancel Thanksgiving altogether because of what they call an oversimplification of the history behind the holiday.  

The part that most of these cancel culture warriors miss is that Thanksgiving wasn’t just about the Colonists who landed at Plymouth. The focus was on more than the three-day feast they shared with the local Indian tribe.  

The meal in 1621 may have been the inspiration for how we celebrate today; however, Thanksgiving celebrations pre-date the Colonies. These celebrations didn’t originate with a large meal featuring a turkey and all the trimmings. They started as a way to give thanks to God for his blessings on the community.

Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln knew that when they each proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving during their respective terms. Both Presidents cited that the holiday was meant to “acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.” President Washington took it a step further and asked Americans to ask for forgiveness for their sins against their fellow man.  

President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. He did so to bring the country which was fractured by the Civil War back together. In the proclamation, Lincoln called upon Americans to include in their prayers a request for “the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it.” 

Thanksgiving is a time for us to heal. It is a time for families and friends to gather. It is a time to open your homes to new friends. It is a time to build community. It is a time to give thanks for the small things in our lives. 

Famed author Laura Ingalls Wilder made that point in a 1916 newspaper column. Wilder was reflecting on one Thanksgiving while growing up on the South Dakota prairie. In those days, the only way to get a turkey on the table was to go hunting for one in the wild. One year, her father had rushed into the house to get his shotgun in hopes of bagging a late-season goose. The excitement sparked an argument between Wilder and her sister. 

The two had begun arguing about which spices to include in the stuffing. When their father returned without a goose, Wilder had realized that it did not matter which spices would have gone in stuffing; she would have been thankful just to have the goose. 

It has been more than 100 years since Wilder wrote that column and families are still fighting over how to cook Thanksgiving meals. The point, which is just as relevant today as it was in 1916, is to be thankful for the small things. Do not let petty arguments keep you from enjoying the blessings right in front of you. 

What small blessing am I thankful for this year? That is easy. I am thankful to be spending my first Thanksgiving as a grandmother.  

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with family and friends. And may God continue to pour his blessings on South Dakota. 

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