Category Archives: News

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is inviting visitors to explore its new website.

“The new website has been designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality throughout; connecting hunters, anglers, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts with their next outdoor experience and ensuring they have the most accurate digital content to do so,” said Calley Worth, GFP digital content strategist. “The website was created with the user experience firmly in mind using the latest technology compatible with today’s browsers and mobile devices.”

Extensive research through customer surveys, online feedback, one-on-one focus group conversations as well as trends and analytics provided information on how to structurally design and format content.

Key features include:
Enhanced events calendar with state park events, season dates, application openings, fishing tournaments, open house meetings and more;
A complete list of forms and permits with more than half of the previous paper versions being replaced by online versions;
A central location for all maps;
Specific visitor feedback from each park; and
Frequently asked questions.

In addition, a new mobile app will also launch later this month that features a digital backpack so users can customize it with favorite maps, licenses and handbooks. The app will provide the ability to view maps offline if the user is in an area with little to no cell phone service. Residents and nonresidents will be able to sign up for notifications regarding hunting season start and end dates and application opening and closing dates. Users need to know that this new mobile app is designed for Android systems 6 and up and iOS systems 10 and up and that they may need to update their software if the app does not download to this new version.

Learn more about the new website and when the official mobile app will be unveiled by following us

By Seth Tupper
Rapid City Journal

Could you stay civil after somebody threatens to run you over with a truck?

State Rep. Julie Bartling, D-Gregory, faced that and other challenges in 2006 when her sponsorship of a legislative abortion ban, which was ultimately referred to the ballot and defeated by voters, foisted her into the middle of a national debate.
She received threatening emails, including the one about the truck.

“I was just kind of in a numb state, if I can call it that, because of the name-calling and the ugly comments and remarks after all was said and done on that,” Bartling recalled.

But she maintained her commitment to civility and went on to make the trait a hallmark of her legislative career. Now, in her 16th year of legislative service, Bartling has been chosen as the inaugural winner of the Rapid City Journal’s Craig Tieszen Award for Civility in Lawmaking.

The award is given in honor of Tieszen, a Rapid City legislator and former police chief who died in a November kayaking accident in the Cook Islands. After his death, Tieszen was lauded across the state and across the political spectrum as a thoughtful and effective public servant with a commitment to listening and an uncommon devotion to civility. The Journal created the award to preserve Tieszen’s legacy and encourage legislators to emulate his civil conduct.

The Journal announced the creation of the award in December and solicited invitations in two ways: by sending two rounds of emails to every legislator in South Dakota, and by publishing two stories seeking nominations online and in print.

Twenty current legislators and one former legislator were nominated. A committee of Journal employees chose the winner, with input from Tieszen’s widow, Deb Tieszen, and her brother, Jim Pesek.

“My family and I are pleased with the inaugural choice for the Rapid City Journal’s Craig Tieszen Award for Civility in Lawmaking,” Deb Tieszen said. “Representative Julie Bartling deserves the award because she emulates the qualities that Craig demonstrated through his life and while a legislator. We thank the Journal staff for creating and sponsoring this award.”
Chris Huber, managing editor of the Journal, presented Bartling with a plaque Thursday during the South Dakota Newspaper Association’s annual Newspaper Day luncheon at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Pierre.

Bartling is a Democrat, and Tieszen was a Republican. Despite the distance between their politics and legislative districts, Bartling said she knew and respected Tieszen.

“He had a way about him that just made you feel so welcome, and he listened and joined in conversations,” Bartling said. “And I’m just truly honored to be the first winner of an award in his honor. It just means a great deal to me.”

Pause
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration Time
0:00
Stream Type
Award nominations from Bartling came from current and former legislators of both major political parties, and from a lobbyist.
One of the nominations for Bartling came from former legislator Lee Schoenbeck, a Republican from Watertown.
“She never says an unkind word about anybody, or loses her composure in any setting,” Schoenbeck wrote. “With you or against you, if you know her, you know a friend.”
Bartling is currently the assistant minority leader in the House and is one of 16 Democrats in the Legislature, compared to 89 Republicans.
“To not succumb to bitterness or hostility while spending life in the minority really takes a special person,” Schoenbeck wrote. “Julie is that person.”

SIGN UP!

Schoenbeck also noted Bartling’s effectiveness. Last year, she was the prime sponsor of six bills or resolutions that were passed by the Legislature and many more pieces of legislation that passed with her as a co-sponsor.
Lobbyist Eric Ollila also nominated Bartling.
“Rep. Bartling is a bit like a ray of sunshine with a huge, smart brain,” Ollila wrote. “She is unfailingly polite and genuine.”
Bartling said she learned civility from her parents while growing up on a farm as one of 12 children in a Catholic family.
“I grew up being raised by some really good, strong parents who always taught me respect and taught me that other people’s views matter,” Bartling said. “We may not agree, but we can be respectful in our disagreements.”
Civility has prevailed during most of her time in the South Dakota Legislature, Bartling said, but she has been dismayed by the erosion of civility in national politics.
She hopes to stand against the spread of that behavior into her home state.
“When it comes to public service,” she said, “I don’t believe the name-calling, the antagonistic attitudes and the disrespect that might get thrown around is a way to really accomplish anything.”

The South Dakota Newspaper Association is accepting nominees for the 2018 SDNA Eagle Award.

This award is given to an individual, group or organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to protect and promote openness and transparency in government.

“South Dakota has taken significant strides in advancing the ideals of open government in the past decade, thanks to people who have pressed for transparency and accountability from our elected officials,” said SDNA First Amendment Committee Chairman Tim Waltner, who recently retired as publisher and is continuing as a contributing editor at the Freeman Courier.

“Since 2001, SDNA has recognized some of those individuals through the Eagle Award, including government officials and citizens who have spoken out and stood firmly for the ideals of a well-informed citizenry that is at the heart of our democracy.

“Although we’ve made progress in protecting the ‘public’s right to know,’ the ongoing efforts of citizens, government officials and journalists are essential to ensure that a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” are more than just part a famous speech by Abraham Lincoln,” Waltner said. “Given the current political climate, the ideals of truth, responsibility, accountability and transparency have never been more important.”

The SDNA First Amendment Committee welcomes nominees for the 2018 Eagle Award to honor the efforts of those who have demonstrated their commitment to the ideals of open government.

The first SDNA Eagle Award was given to the 2001 South Dakota Supreme Court for its efforts helping open the Supreme Court to media cameras starting in August 2001.

Recipients of SDNA Eagle Award also include Mitchell School Board member Rodney Hall (2003), South Dakota States Attorney Larry Long (2004), Yankton County Commissioner Brian Hunhoff (2005), Codington County State’s Attorney Vince Foley (2006), state Sen. Jason Gant and the staff of the South Dakota State University Collegian (2007), state Sen. Nancy Turbak Berry (2008), state Sen. Dave Knudson (2009), Sioux Falls resident Gordon Heber (2010), state Sen. Al Novstrup (2012) and state Sen. Corey Brown (2016).

Any individual, group or organization that has demonstrated commitment to the ideals of open government in South Dakota is eligible to be nominated.

Nominations for the 2018 SDNA Eagle Award should be submitted in writing and sent to: SDNA Eagle Award, South Dakota Newspaper Association, 1125 32nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006. The deadline for nominations is March 15.

Contact SDNA Executive Director David Bordewyk for more information (800-658-3697).

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation reminds the public and commercial snow removal operators that it is illegal to place or dump excess snow on highway right of way, which includes driving surfaces, shoulders and ditches.

“The recent snowstorm across South Dakota has deposited a large amount of snow in some areas,” said Kristi Sandal, public information officer. “The space within the right of way needs to be reserved for future snow that may fall on the road. If the department’s plow operators do not have a place to put that snow, it severely hampers their ability to clear roadways.”

Violation of the anti-dumping law is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to one year in jail, $2,000 in fines, or both. It is the policy of the SDDOT to remove snow that has been illegally piled within the highway right of way that may be a safety hazard. In addition, violators will be billed for the costs of removing illegally dumped snow.

“Piling snow in the state highway right of way can be very dangerous,” says Sandal. “Snow piles can restrict sight distance, as well as present an extreme hazard if a vehicle leaves the roadway. Snow piles that remain adjacent to the road may cause additional drifting and visibility problems posing more safety hazards to travelers, as well as additional expenses for manpower and equipment to remove the illegally dumped snow.”

Property owners and access users are reminded it is their responsibility to remove snow from the ends of driveways and around their own mailboxes.

The department asks landowners and commercial snow-removal operators to keep excess snow on private property or haul it to legal dumping sites.