It’s like the Minnehaha County GOP is the gift that keeps on giving, as the group – once again- is involved in a bout of infighting where the back seat of the clown car is trying to drive in one direction, and the person with the wheel is sending out e-mails declaring “we’re not going in that direction.”

Good morning Minnehaha County Central Committee Members,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am writing to address and clarify recent rumors concerning a special meeting allegedly scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th. Please be advised that this meeting has not been coordinated with the County Chair, as explicitly required by our bylaws. The bylaws state:

“Prior to the regular meetings of the State Central Committee, they shall cooperate with the county chairman in arranging a county meeting to review the problems, programs, and prospects of the county, or they shall take other procedures to determine the situation so that they may report thereon at the following meeting of the State Central Committee.”

As of the time of this message, I—along with several committee members—have still not received official notice of this meeting. This also directly violates another bylaw requirement, which clearly outlines:

“Notice: Five-days notice must be given for any meeting, excluding weekends and holidays. Notices may be sent by mail or email.”

Given the lack of proper coordination and notice, the meeting in question is considered out of order and improperly called.  Therefore, Minnehaha County will not recognize any actions taken during this unauthorized meeting.

For full transparency: On Friday, June 13th at 7:02 AM, I emailed the Executive Board proposing an informal Zoom meeting with the Central Committee at 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 26th, and requested their availability. However, I was later made aware that a notice for the inappropriate June 24th meeting was sent at approximately 1:30 PM the same day—by individuals who were included in my initial message. To date, I have received no responses to my original email.

Please watch for the Zoom invitation later today for our informal meeting on Thursday, June 26th at 6:00 PM. Your participation is essential as we work together in alignment with our bylaws and shared responsibilities.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

Best regards,
Korry Petterson
Chairman
Minnehaha County Republicans

I’d ask if they’re going to get involved in the upcoming Mayoral race down there.. but maybe the Republicans in the race don’t want them to…

*Update*

And we have more bickering through the e-mails over who is wrong and who is right:

From: Marsha Symens <marshasymens@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Subject: June 24th Special Meeting

June 20, 2025
Dear Central Committee Members,

Thank you, Chairman Petterson, for your recent communication regarding the June 24th special meeting. I would like to respectfully clarify a key point you did not include concerning the procedural legitimacy of this meeting. While the Chair is correct in emphasizing the importance of by-law compliance, the by-laws also provide clear provisions for calling a special meeting that do not require coordination with the County Chair. Following the by-laws is crucial to all organizations, which is why this meeting is being called. In light of your concerns and to do our due diligence, we contacted the Regional Director, Senator Tom Pischke, who put in a call to Chairman Jim Eschenbaum. The state Chairman confirmed our position that this is a legally called “Special” meeting and the county Chairman has no right to cancel it.

Specifically, the by-laws state that two members of the Executive Board may call a special meeting, provided that proper notice is given. In this instance, two board members did indeed initiate the meeting, and notice was sent in accordance with the five-day requirement (excluding weekends and holidays), via email on Friday, June 13th, 2025. See the following bylaws from the state SDGOP.COM ‘s website. https://www.sdgop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SDGOP-Bylaws.pdf

Section III. County Central Committee. 7. Meetings, A. Regular and Special Meetings: The County Central Committee shall meet at least twice each year on call of the county chairman. The county chairman may call a special meeting at any time. One-fifth of the members of the County Central Committee or two officers may call a meeting in writing.

While the Chair, Korry Petterson, mentioned rumors of a meeting, he too, has received the notice of the meeting via email as did 187 other members. One of which was Tanna Brummett, who contacted me with the error of my sending it to her. Also, Korry’s wife, Kim, received the email notification of the special meeting. The email addresses used, including the one to his business email, are the official emails listed on the Secretary of State Website.

Therefore, under the authority granted by the bylaws, the June 24th special meeting has been properly called and noticed, and its legitimacy should not be dismissed solely based on the absence of coordination with the Chair. While collaboration is always encouraged, it is not a strict prerequisite in the case of a special meeting called by two board members.

We all share a common interest in upholding the integrity of our organization and ensuring transparency and accountability within the Central Committee. I look forward to a productive and respectful meeting on June 24, as well as continued cooperation with all members of the Executive Board and Central Committee. Doors open at 6 for credentials. The meeting will start at 6:30.

Respectfully,
Marsha Symens Vice Chairwoman

I especially enjoy the part where they went complaining to the state chair, and are asserting that he says we can do this.

The back & forth is just the kind of thing that says “come be a part of your Republican Party,” doesn’t it?

*Update to the update*

The children are continuing to bicker, and it shows no sign of letting up:

From: Tanna Brummett
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 4:46 PM
To: Marsha Symens
Subject: Re: June 24th Special Meeting

Good afternoon, Madam Vice Chair–

As you have noted in your second unsolicited email to me– I have previously requested that you remove my email from your list. In both your response back to me, and here in your communications to your body, you have acknowledged that you know you are sending communications to someone who is CLEARLY NOT a member of your committee. One can only assume for what reason–all of which, in my humble opinion, are not upright.

However, since you have neglected to honor my simple request to be excluded from ongoing communications of your body, I do feel it important to further assist you in correctly communicating with them. The “minutes” you have presented to the body for “amendment” in your initial email are not the tabled minutes from your last meeting. As such, here is a link to a copy of the minutes that I understand are currently tabled for review.

https://1drv.ms/w/c/65b5cb05590abf52/EcyKQzJ5_PhFkf-wI2HS6owB-ZaSJG7sA5WrLlCHJ2U0Vg?e=L7YMCs

And to be extra helpful for the body (prior to whatever meeting you all finally can agree to meet on) here is a portion of the audio file from the January 9th meeting for further, in depth review to check for accuracy as I am told was stated as the reason for tabling. One would think that finding unethical banking access to the county party bank accounts by individuals not authorized as signatories would be something that the body would find important to have included in its historical records.
New Recording 89 copy 2.m4a

I have not included all of the audio for the meeting–but rather the business portion up to and including the Chair nomination speeches. If a member of the body would like to review the rest of the audio, they may issue that request to me VIA THE CHAIR, if he deems it necessary to pass along to me.

Have a good rest of your evening and I look forward to this being the LAST communication from your board to me regarding MGOP body business.

Sincerely,
Tanna Brummett

PS DO NOT contact me again via this email. I will report any further communications from your or your board regarding the Minnehaha Central Committee.

Tanna Brummett

The main thought that comes to mind, is: are these the people you want to be picking your Attorney General?

I’m told South Dakota Right to Life Director and Lobbyists Dale Bartscher announced his candidacy for House (D35) at the Pennington County Republican Women event yesterday afternoon.

There are currently 2 House seats that will be open in the next election in that District, those of Rep’s Tina Mulally and Tony Randolph who (thankfully) are barred from seeking another term in the House due to term limits, creating the opening for Bartscher.

While Dale was at one time considered for appointment to the Senate in that District by Governor Noem, his candidacy does not come without some controversy.

Dale has been the voice of opposition as Right to Life’s lobbyist against any changes to South Dakota’s anti-abortion laws  attempting to define what the “health of the mother” constitutes. And was at the helm of the organization during the scandal in the last primary election where Right to Life funds were spent to defeat a number of sitting legislators who were ranked at 100% pro-life.

 

Attorney General Jackley Announces $100,000 Attorney General Alliance Grant for Internet Crimes Against Children 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has received a $100,000 grant from the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) to enhance the state’s efforts to combat internet crimes against children.

“We can better protect children from online predators thanks to this AGA grant,” said Attorney General Jackley. “These resources will be used to detect, interrupt, and prosecute child predators and human traffickers.”

The AGA grant will be used to purchase equipment and provide training for members of the DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The Task Force consists of 14 affiliate law enforcement agencies statewide that investigate internet crimes against children statewide and on tribal reservations.

In 2024, the ICAC Task Force investigated 900 Internet-based child sexual exploitation cases which included the possession, distribution, and manufacturing of child pornography, the enticement/solicitation of children via electronic communications, and other forms of Internet based sexual exploitation.

-30-

From Facebook:

Dakota War College had a mention yesterday at KCCR Radio, as they interviewed State Senator Jim Mehlhaff about the upcoming PUC Race. And Mehlhaff is definitely thinking about jumping into the contest, as Gary Hansen is not planning to run again.

Read and listen to the story here.

The minutes of the June 3 Butte County Commission are interesting.

Without naming names – which they should have in the case of a fellow elected official doing it – they placed a resolution in their minutes scolding the people who were on camera on May 20th calling county employee fat asses, and things of the like while commissioners were out during executive session:

Commissioner Ager read statement addressing 20 May 2025 regular Commission Meeting. The comment published in full below.

Statement for the Record – Butte County Commission Meeting, Tuesday, May 20. Video available at www.butte county.org

During the executive session of the Butte County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, May 20, while the Commissioners were out of the room, three individuals remained in the room. While the meeting camera continued recording, these individuals made multiple derogatory and inappropriate remarks directed at Butte County, its elected officials, and its employees. These comments included referring to an elected official and employees as “idiots” and making disrespectful, body-shaming remarks about employees at the Butte County Administration Building.

The Butte County Commission finds such behavior reprehensible, offensive, and wholly unacceptable. These remarks do not represent the values or sentiments of the vast majority of Butte County’s residents, who are respectful, civic-minded, and supportive of their public servants.

The Commission formally condemns both the behavior and the comments made by these individuals and affirms its support for the dedicated employees and officials who serve the county with integrity.

This statement is to be entered into the official minutes of the Butte County Commission.

James Ager, Chairman, Butte County Commission
Chad Erk. Commissioner
Frank Walton, Commissioner
Terry Batterman, Commissioner
Tom Brunner, Commissioner

Motion by Batterman, Second by Walton, to approve the Consent Agenda Items with no changes. Vote Unanimous. Motion Carried.

Who was in the room talking about people being fat asses? State Rep. Travis Ismay was one of them. You know, the same person who was telling someone how to poison someone with eye drops. At that same meeting. (I’m not sure why the whole poisoning thing didn’t make their list.)

If I were Rep. Ismay, I don’t know that I would take issue with someone’s weight, nor refer to the public employees of the county as idiots. That’s just too “pot & kettle” you know.

South Dakota and the Psychopath Myth

Despite Viral Buzz, South Dakota Is Not a Land of Psychopaths; Media outlets misreport state’s rank in controversial personality study

By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News

South Dakota is not among the most psychopathic states in the U.S., despite what several national websites have claimed.

According to a 2019 working paper by economist Ryan H. Murphy of Southern Methodist University, South Dakota ranks 23rd out of 48 in estimated psychopathic personality traits.

The study used Big Five personality trait data—specifically low conscientiousness and agreeableness—from a 2013 peer-reviewed mapping study to create a “psychopathy index” by state.

Murphy stressed that the term “psychopathy” in this case refers to subclinical traits—not violent or criminal behavior. “This isn’t clinical diagnosis,” the paper notes. “It’s a statistical construct using personality traits like boldness, meanness, and disinhibition.”

Wrong Numbers, Real Damage

Despite that clarification, media outlets repeatedly mischaracterized the findings. A 2019 Men’s Health article ranked South Dakota 12th. Other click-driven sites, including one titled “Science Says,” claimed the state was 4th, citing no direct source or link to the original study.

The original paper does not support those rankings. It lists Washington, D.C., Connecticut, California, and New Jersey among the highest-scoring areas. South Dakota is squarely in the middle.

Murphy’s paper also found no correlation between the psychopathy rankings and homicide or violent crime rates.

Rural Norms Defy Labels

Murphy theorized that urbanization might influence psychopathy scores more than region. Densely populated states with large metro areas tended to rank higher. Rural states like South Dakota often showed personality profiles tied to self-reliance but not antisocial behavior.

South Dakota’s community-oriented culture and lower population density likely soften traits that might otherwise read as “cold” in personality metrics.

Journalism Check: Read the Paper

The incident underscores how viral news often distorts nuance. Without verifying primary sources, states like South Dakota can become scapegoats for misleading national narratives.

The 2019 working paper has not been peer-reviewed, and no follow-up study has emerged since its release. Murphy cautioned that his methodology is experimental and should not be overinterpreted.

For South Dakotans, the bottom line is clear: the state is not a hotbed of antisocial behavior. According to the original data, it’s about as average as you can get.

—30—

Resilience, Discipline, and Strength on Display
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
June 18, 2025 

At the start of fall, many high school graduates embark on a new journey at vocational schools, community colleges, or four-year universities. But a unique group of exceptional individuals begin their college experience in June at our military service academies. After receiving nominations from my office, eight strong young men and women accepted appointments to attend all five U.S. service academies.

Our backgrounds often inform our decisions in life. These appointees have been shaped by leaders and ambitions, even from a young age. Lexi Brandt from Custer has been dreaming of attending the Air Force Academy since seventh grade, and in just a few days, that dream will become a reality. Dylan Frank of Custer is the son of an Army helicopter pilot and is taking steps of his own to serve like his dad. Dylan is aiming to be a fixed-wing Navy aviator at the Naval Academy. Kevin Jung was born in South Korea and just completed his two years of compulsory service in the Republic of Korea Army. But as a Sioux Falls resident and United States citizen, he is restarting his military career as a plebe at West Point. Aubrey Fraasch of Milbank is the fourth generation in her family to serve, and she wants to become a pilot. She attended a military preparatory school last year and will study engineering at the Naval Academy this year. No matter what their background, their ambition is the same: serving their country.

Personal values and interests also lead us to choosing a specific path for our life. Gabriel Reeve of Piedmont has internalized the value of holding ideals above self-interest and will soon begin at the Naval Academy. Brody Weinmeister of Aberdeen has embodied high personal standards, integrity, and responsibility, the core principles of the Air Force Academy, which he will attend. Paige Willnerd of Summerset has volunteered with her local Disabled American Veterans chapter, which has shown her the sacrifices our servicemembers have made and has inspired her. She applied to all four academies and accepted her top choice, the Merchant Marine Academy, and is excited to serve her country in this way. Rowdy Baldwin of Pierre has spent years giving back to his community and attend the U.S. Military Academy in hopes of becoming a mechanical or combat engineer in the Army.

Additionally, Maverick Sutton, currently serving active duty at Ellsworth Air Force Base, will attend the Air Force Academy preparatory school in hopes to join the Air Force Chaplain Corps. Also attending the Air Force preparatory school will be Max Cook of Gregory. Both of his parents served in the military and now he feels it is his time to become a leader. Lincoln Mansfield of Hurley accepted a United States Naval Foundation scholarship, which provides a year of education and training before the Academy.

Just like any other university or college, these individuals will undertake rigorous coursework. But unlike other academic programs, their non-traditional college adventure begins with several weeks of basic military training. These programs demand resilience, discipline, and strength—qualities each of these students have already demonstrated in abundance. Their dedication and character are inspiring.

These young men and women will represent South Dakota with honor and distinction. Join me, their families, and communities in congratulating them on their appointments and thanking them for their willingness to serve our nation. Their commitment to our country is unwavering and South Dakota stands proudly behind them.

###

When that person is smiling at you.. think twice before you assume it’s South Dakota nice, according to the New York Post:

As it turns out, our personalities are, in fact, shaped by the environments we grow up in, and Nevada, New York, South Dakota, and Texas contain the highest percentages of those in possession of “dark personality traits.”

A recent study conducted by Ingo Zettler, Lau Lilleholt, Benjamin E. Hilbig, Morten Moshagen, and Martina Bader at the University of Copenhagen found that humans display different levels of dark personality traits depending on their location and the concentration of aversive societal conditions (ASC) that place possesses.

and..

In their exploration of the correlation between dark personality traits and aversive social conditions, the researchers examined the U.S. through the lens of individual states.

Data was gathered via survey, and for the U.S.-focused portion of the study, used Census data on socioeconomic disparity and poverty, FBI homicide rates, and Justice Department corruption sentences to draw conclusions.

Read it all here.

Well, there you go. You might actually want to start locking your door at night.

Thune: Senate Republicans Secure Permanent Tax Relief for Hardworking Americans

“The tax provisions in our bill – from the permanent extension of the lower tax rates to the increased child tax credit to the permanent tax relief for small and medium-sized businesses – will help bring security to American families and prosperity to our country.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Click here to watch the video.