Opinion

There’s a perception that South Dakota’s future is charted in Pierre. That’s where big decisions are made; where governors have taken historic actions; where legislators go every winter to represent the people and vote.

In Volume III of his “History of Dakota Territory” which was published in 1915, George Kingsbury wrote: “From 1899 to 1902, the County of Lyman was infested with a large gang of cattle rustlers and horse thieves headed by the notorious Jack Sully and closely followed by dozens of others nearly as desperate as he. They were able for several years to elect men to office who were either part of their organization, or men who did not have the courage to oppose them in ‘rustling’ livestock from the settlers who were trying to make an honest living in that newly settled part of the state.”

Senator Erin Tobin District 21 Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Tripp Counties Committees: Chair of Health & Human Services, Executive Board, Agriculture and Natural Resources, State Affairs Capitol Address: 500 E. Capitol Ave.

The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance to you for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. For 2023 livestock losses, you must file a notice within 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent.

The Niobrara River begins in Wyoming, flows across the high plains and rugged county of Sioux C o u n t y , through the sand hills, and finally cuts a canyon across Boyd County to join the Missouri River. It is fed by springs all along the way, and its flow of water is steady, clear, and swift. This fast moving stream was called “Running Water” by the Sioux. Today, we know it as the “Niobrara River.”

“I’m hoping everyone in the nation gets on the bandwagon and follows us.” Those were the words of Ken Amundson, the president of Midwestern Mechanical in Sioux Falls. Ken’s company has had to cut through a lot of red tape just to hire new employees and do their jobs.

The inspector general for the Social Security Administration (SSA) has designated March 9, 2023, as National “Slam the Scam” Day - an outreach campaign to raise public awareness of Social Security scams and other government imposter scams. This is part of National Consumer protection Week, March 5 - 11, 2023. We are asking you to share information about “Slam the Scam” Day with your clients, friends, and family.

To the Editor, It’s good that lawmakers are addressing election security. I support all efforts to restore voter confidence.

Records from the earliest days of rustling horses, mules, and cattle on the northern prairie show a wide variety of atrocities committed by the Wessington Hills thieves. It was reported that Fred Chamberlain and others of “Doc” Middleton’s Nebraska gang bragged of hanging an old Dutchman to throw suspicion off of themselves for the stealing horses in the Niobrara River valley.

Representative Rocky Blare District 21 Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Tripp Counties Committees: Chair of Transportation, State Affairs Capitol Address: 500 E. Capitol Ave.