Mount Rushmore fireworks to return next year, mixing a spectacle with fire risks and other problems

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February 20, 2025

Mount Rushmore fireworks to return next year, mixing a spectacle with fire risks and other problems

Mount Rushmore will host an Independence Day-themed fireworks display next year, bringing worldwide attention to the national memorial and South Dakota, but also bringing concerns about potential forest fires, water pollution, litter and other problems.

fireworks over mount rushmore — Fireworks explode over Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota’s Black Hills. (Courtesy of Travel South Dakota)

South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Monday that the state has reached an agreement with the federal government to host a fireworks display at the mountain carving next year in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. Rhoden said in a news release that he struck the agreement with Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota and new secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which includes the National Park Service.

“We are ready to throw the biggest birthday party ever for the United States of America,” Rhoden said in the release.

Fireworks have a complicated history at Mount Rushmore. The National Park Service began allowing shows in 1998 but ended them after 2009. Debris from the exploded fireworks lingered on the 1,278-acre memorial site, a chemical in fireworks was believed to be polluting the memorial’s water supply, and officials had grown tired of deploying dozens of firefighters in the forest around the memorial to put out fires started by falling fireworks embers.

There are also conflicting feelings about the fireworks in Keystone, the town at the base of the mountain. While some business owners welcome the fireworks displays and benefit from them, others have said the town is overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of visitors who converge all at once for the spectacle.

In 2020, then-Gov. Kristi Noem convinced the Trump administration to reauthorize fireworks at Mount Rushmore and also convinced President Donald Trump to attend. The show that year sparked controversy for gathering thousands of people together during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for a protest that turned into a physical altercation with law enforcement.

After that, the Biden administration ended the displays. Rhoden said he has invited Trump to next year’s display.

Rhoden’s announcement did not say how much the display will cost or how it will be funded. South Dakota Searchlight asked for an estimate and a funding source. Rhoden’s spokeswoman, Josie Harms, said “those details will be confirmed at the proper time.”

South Dakota spent $1.5 million on the 2020 display. Tourism officials estimated that global media coverage of the event generated the equivalent of $22 million in advertising for the state.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence.

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Billions of dollars at stake for farmers hit by Trump funding freeze, pause on foreign aid

Carrie Moritz

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February 20, 2025

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Billions of dollars at stake for farmers hit by Trump funding freeze, pause on foreign aid

By Allison Winter, South Dakota Searchlight

WASHINGTON — Farmers across the United States are finding themselves in precarious economic positions, as they attempt to navigate a strained farm economy and a barrage of executive orders from the Trump administration that put some farm programs in limbo.

blue tractor next to white farm vehicle at daytime — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In his first month in office, President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders to pause or cancel federal funding on a range of programs and grants — some of which go directly to farmers.

Even though the administration said it would not stop payments to individuals and courts have ordered the administration to resume the programs, many farmers are awaiting payments on their contracts and have not been told when or if they can expect to receive expected funding. Billions of dollars are at stake.

Missouri cattle producer Skylar Holden signed a $240,000 cost-sharing contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve water systems on his 260-acre cattle operation. After getting approval in January for the next phase of the project and investing upwards of $50,000 in pipes, equipment and labor, Holden says he got a call a week later from his field agent telling him the payments from USDA were on hold.

“I instantly asked … what does that mean for all this money that I just spent, that I’m relying on these funds to come through?” Holden recounted in a TikTok live on Feb. 13.

He said he was told the money was frozen and that it was not clear when or if the payments would happen.

“Then to be honest with you, I just kind of zoned out. I just started running numbers in my head … I was trying to figure out how I could make this work,” Holden said.

He already works another job to try to make ends meet on the farm and cares for his cattle after work. He says the debt on this project could mean disaster for his farm.

When asked on a scale of 1 to 10 what his confidence was that the payment would come through eventually, Holden, who voted for Trump, rated the possibility a “one.”

“I guess I have maybe a little bit of hope I will see the funding, but I am not too confident,” Holden said in the TikTok live.

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‘Farmers are left wondering’

Representatives from farm advocacy groups and cooperatives say they are hearing similar stories from their members, but most are unwilling to speak publicly for fear of retribution. Many large farm organizations backed Trump’s successful presidential campaign.

“We continue to hear from family farmers and ranchers about the federal funding freeze, which has created significant uncertainty,” said Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, an advocacy group that represents 220,000 farmers and ranchers in 33 states. “The interruption in funding raises concerns about whether USDA will disburse already obligated funds to farmers who have existing agreements with the department.”

“The lack of clarity is leaving state and local agencies and partner organizations struggling to interpret and implement federal programs, while farmers are left wondering if they can rely on these programs as they make critical business decisions for the year ahead,” Larew said.

The financial implications are huge in the administration’s efforts to freeze or cancel funding. One of Trump’s first executive orders called for a pause on all funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted by Democrats during the Biden administration, which provided nearly $20 billion for farmland conservation programs.

Another directive briefly paused all federal financial assistance. Other executive orders put a freeze on all foreign aid and dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, significant for American farmers because it purchases grains and goods for food programs and funds some agricultural research projects.

In limbo in Colorado

Roy Pfaltzgraff is trying to navigate the uncertainty on his 2,000-acre gluten-free grain farm in northeast Colorado.

He is struggling to get the farm refinanced, and a recent lender told him they would not calculate government payments — long considered a reliable backup for farmers — as part of his income, even if he has ongoing contracts. His federal contracts have not been canceled, as far as he knows, but he is afraid to spend money on them or pursue new projects.

“My concern is that if we get started and spend a bunch of money with the expectation that we will get some of it paid back, what if we don’t? There are limits on what we can do,” Pfaltzgraff said in an interview.

Pfaltzgraff is also concerned how the pause on USAID programs could affect his farm and others, potentially causing a domino effect on crop prices.

USAID is one of the biggest purchasers of sorghum and other excess grains. Without their purchases, those grains could flood the market and drive down prices.

More than 450 producers around the country have contracts with USAID, according to an analysis by the Institute for Development Impact, and the agency’s purchases at grain elevators benefit many more.

Food for Peace, one of USAID’s programs, provided nearly 4 billion pounds of American-grown food to 58 million people globally in 2022, according to the U.N. World Food Programme.

Interruption in research

The abrupt pause for USAID programs also interrupts agricultural research programs at 19 land-grant university-based innovation labs across 17 states — casting an uncertain future for those projects and the foreign grain markets they are attempting to cultivate.

The Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois announced last week it will close in April. The closure will have an immediate effect on the staff of 30 experts in tropical soybean and longer-term repercussions on their work to develop an emerging market for soybeans in Africa.

The lab’s director, University of Illinois Professor Peter Goldsmith, said he had to make the hard decision to shutter the lab when they were suddenly no longer able to access any of their grant money or reimbursement systems. They are in the middle of work on a $30 million USAID grant that was supposed to last until 2027.

“Where does the money come from to pay salaries, to pay people, to water the plants, I mean everything?” Goldsmith said in an interview. “We’ve run a very tight budget, but I never put into the scenario an act of God like this.”

When Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, dismantled USAID, it took down the agency’s website and its procurement and payment systems — shutting down the ability for anyone with a contract to be paid for past or future work.

‘A level of uncertainty that is unique to the moment’

For farmers, this comes at a time when they are already facing economic strain. Falling prices for corn, soybean and wheat over the last two years have led to declines in net farm income.

Jonathan Coppess, an agriculture economist at the University of Illinois, said farmers are facing compounding economic challenges: the underlying economic strain of volatile prices, high costs and inflationary pressures are being magnified by the uncharacteristic uncertainty about contracts, tariffs and trade.

“It’s a level of uncertainty that is very unique to the moment,” Coppess said in an interview. “Dealing with costs and crop prices is a common thing. Dealing with broken contracts, tariffs and possible retaliatory trade issues, those are not common things. There’s almost two layers to the challenge.”

Adding to that uncertainty: Congress is two years late to reauthorize the farm bill. And lawmakers on the House Budget Committee have called for billions of dollars in cuts to farm bill spending over the next 10 years.

Alisha Schwertner, a farmer and rancher in Miles, Texas, told the House Agriculture Committee at a hearing on Feb. 11 that weather disasters, inflation and supply chain disruptions have put a strain on her family operation.

Schwertner said the economic uncertainty has made it difficult for her to get credit for the farm and she fears what retaliatory tariffs could do to their bottom line.

“My husband and I have had some very challenging conversations with our banker, especially in the last three years, as we have had consecutively challenging years,” Schwertner told the committee.

When Trump levied tariffs on steel and aluminum in 2018, trading partners retaliated with their own tariffs on soybeans and other U.S. agriculture exports, leading to a decline in some exports and prices paid to U.S. farmers. USDA gave $28 billion in emergency aid to farmers the following year.

A target on conservation programs

Among the Trump administration’s targets are conservation programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, one of former President Joe Biden’s signature achievements. The Trump administration has characterized IRA as “green new deal social engineering policies.”

Among the many environmental programs IRA funded across the federal government was $19.5 billion for farmland conservation programs at USDA.

Trump signed an executive order to freeze all IRA programs on his first day in office. A federal judge ordered the administration on Feb. 10 to unfreeze the funds, but farmers and conservation consultants say they have not yet seen changes.

When asked which programs are frozen and if they would release money in response to the order, a spokesperson for the Agriculture Department said the agency would respond after Brooke Rollins had a chance to analyze reviews. The Senate confirmed Rollins as Agriculture secretary Feb. 13.

“The Trump Administration rightfully has asked for a comprehensive review of all contracts, work, and personnel across all federal agencies. Anything that violates the President’s Executive Orders will be subject for review,” the USDA spokesperson said.

In Rollins’ first full day at the agency, Feb. 14, she announced the termination of 78 contracts worth $138 million and said she is reviewing 1,000 more to look for opportunities to stop “wasteful spending” that does not align with administration priorities.

The canceled programs the agency announced were not direct payments to farmers, but included climate change adaptation research, forest carbon mentorship and subscriptions to news outlets.

Republicans have decried the partisan way Democrats pushed through the IRA bill. But much of its agriculture funding went to longstanding farm bill programs that previously gained bipartisan support.

It increased investments for the chronically oversubscribed Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. In recent years, those programs were only able to fund about 30 percent of applications, according to an analysis of government data by the Environmental Working Group.

“The IRA funding for USDA conservation programs allowed a lot of farmers and ranchers to access conservation funding who weren’t able to before, but now halfway through, their payments are frozen, and it is unclear what will happen next,” said Aviva Glaser, senior director of agriculture policy for the National Wildlife Federation.

If the funds remain frozen, it could affect thousands of contracts nationwide. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, the branch of USDA that oversees most conservation programs, has 4,162 contracts obligated in 2025 for $358 million.

In many cases, farmers have already taken on the financial burden. USDA agrees to cost-share practices like planting trees or native plants, protecting a stream from cattle or installing solar panels or other energy-efficient systems.

The landowner pays for the improvements and then submits documentation for the government to pay out its cost-share. So for Holden, the Missouri cattle producer, and other producers awaiting payment, they are already shouldering tens of thousands of dollars of debt for the programs.

The IRA pause is also creating some confusion, since it funds many of the same practices and programs that are also funded by the farm bill. Farmers sign contracts to commit to certain practices but may not know what underlying legislation funded the program, so they don’t know if their contract might be on the hit list.

“There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about USDA funding and farmers are feeling it. The longer this funding freeze is in place, the more uncertainty and panic will grow amongst producers,” Glaser said.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence.

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International educators help alleviate South Dakota teacher shortage

Carrie Moritz

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February 20, 2025

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International educators help alleviate South Dakota teacher shortage

Bart Pfankuch

South Dakota News Watch

STEPHAN, S.D. – "Three, two, one. OK, in your seats."

Just as she did as a teacher in her native Philippines, Madgelie Camba uses a countdown method to gain the attention of the gaggle of second-graders she now teaches at the Crow Creek Tribal School in central South Dakota.

filipino female teacher in pink sweater teaching class of elementary students — Philippine native Madgelie Camba, shown at Crow Creek Tribal School in Stephan, S.D., on Feb. 7, 2025, is one of a growing number of international educators teaching in South Dakota schools. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

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Minutes of the Garretson School District #49-4 for Feb. 4, 2025

SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES

Regular Meeting Garretson School District #49-4 6:00 p.m. February 10, 2025

Present: Board President Natasha Mendoza, Board Vice President Tana Clark, Board Member Wyatt Compton, Board Member Shannon Nordstrom, Superintendent Guy Johnson & Business Manager Jacob Schweitzer. Others present: Elementary Principal Katie Hoekman, MS/HS Principal Chris McGregor & Garrick Moritz. Board Member Justin VanDeBerg was absent.

At 6:01 p.m., the Board convened in the Library for its regular meeting of the Garretson School Board. All votes are unanimous, unless specifically noted in the minutes.

President Mendoza led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed guests and visitors.

President Mendoza called for any additions or corrections to the Board agenda. There were no additions or corrections presented.

Action 25-065: Motion by Compton, second by Clark, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

There were no comments made during the Open Forum portion of the meeting.

Action 25-066: Motion by Nordstrom, second by Clark, to approve the following consent agenda items as presented. Approval of January 13, 2025 regular board meeting minutes, approval of January 21, 2025 special board meeting minutes, approval of payments for January 2025 claims, approval of the financial statements for January 2025, approval of January 2025 payroll, and approval of February 3, 2025 fuel quote, 10% Ethanol from Palisades Oil - $2.399. Motion carried.

GARRETSON SCHOOL DISTRICT #49-4

CLAIMS PAID FEBRUARY 10, 2025

GENERAL FUND

A-OX WELDING SUPPLY CO., INC., AG. CYLINDER RENTALS, $91.52; ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS, FEBRUARY 2025 INTERNET & PHONE SERVICES, $797.00; ALL AROUND WELDING, TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE/REPAIRS, $495.00; ANNIE’S COFFEEHOUSE, WRESTLING COACHES LUNCH- 1/6/2025, $710.20; AREA II ASBO, 2025 MEMBER DUES, $125.00; CITY GLASS & GLAZING, INC., DOOR MAINTENANCE, $233.65; CLIMATE SYSTEMS, INC., CAPACITOR/MOTOR REPLACEMENT, $1,284.13; CORE EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE, 2024-2025 ONLINE COURSES, $910.00; DAKOTA AUTO PARTS, DISC BRAKE PAD SET, $75.61; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- BOOK STAMPERS, $9.20; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- DOOR STOPPERS, $45.57; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- HDMI SPLITTER, $23.99; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- KNEELING PADS, $27.96; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- LIBRARY BOOKS, $12.48; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- MASKING TAPE/STAPLER & STAPLES, $80.70; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- REPLACEMENT KEYS, ($12.55); FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- STAMP INK REFILL, $7.48; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- STORAGE DRAWER CART, $20.98; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, CENEX- FUEL- WRESTLING @ WEBSTER, $88.46; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, EASYKEYS- MEDICINE CUPBOARD KEYS, $37.68; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, FIRST BANK & TRUST- CREDIT CARD INTEREST, $10.38; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, PERMA-BOUND- BOOKS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL READING CLASS, $437.75; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, STOCKTRAK- ACCOUNTING CLASS ONLINE GAME, $205.00; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, WALMART- CARDSTOCK, $47.79; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, WORDPRESS- ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $20.18; GARRETSON SCHOOL DISTRICT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT, JANUARY 2025 IMPREST ACCOUNT REIMBURSEMENT, $6,732.69; HAUFF MID-AMERICA SPORTS, BASKETBALL POLOS/SHIRTS, $2,310.05; HEALTHEQUITY, HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT CONTRIBUTIONS/FEES, $475.28; HILLYARD, CLEANING/MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES, $3,725.79; HORACE MANN, JANUARY 2025 PAYROLL ACH’S, $405.51; JOSTENS, GRADUATION MEDALS, $34.00; LIESTER, JACKI, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES- REIMBURSEMENT, $50.00; LYNN, JACKSON, SHULTZ & LEBRUN, P.C., LEGAL SERVICES, $258.00; MACZIEWSKI, KIM, ONE-ACT PLAY RECEIPTS- REIMBURSEMENT, $268.87; MATTHEWS, SHERRI, ASSOCIATION DUES- REIMBURSEMENT, $169.00; MEDICAID, FISCAL YEAR 2024 QUARTER 4 ADMIN. FEE, $33.92; MENARDS, MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES, $144.25; MIDWEST BUS PARTS, INC., AIR FILTERS, $239.47; MINNEHAHA COUNTY TREASURER, STREET MAINTENANCE FEES, $413.50; PALISADES OIL, CO., BULK FUEL/TIRE PATCH, $2,257.71; PALISADES PROPANE, CO., BULK PROPANE, $1,799.73; PITNEY BOWES, POSTAGE SUPPLIES, $15.63; POGANY, WADE, TRAVEL EXPENSES- SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, $188.71; POPPLERS MUSIC, INC., CONCERT BAND MUSIC, $69.00; RIDDELL ALL AMERICAN SPORTS CORP., FOOTBALL HELMETS- MAINTENANCE/PAINTING, $2,653.09; STALLMAN, TRACY, CLASSROOM SUPPLIES- REIMBURSEMENT, $47.77; STEVE’S ELECTRIC & PLUMBING, INC., PLUMBING REPAIRS/SCISSOR LIFT PROJECTS, $1,622.19; WAGEWORKS, JANUARY 2025 ACH FEES, $1,803.94; XCEL ENERGY, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024 ELECTRICITY, $8,383.07;

TOTAL GENERAL FUND, $39,886.33

CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND

ACCESS SYSTEMS, FEBRUARY 2025 SERVICES, $2,278.33; CLIMATE SYSTEMS, INC., AHU-2 COIL REPLACEMENT, $46,046.00; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, WHYTRY- LEVEL 1 ONLINE TRAINING KIT, $599.00; INNOVATIVE OFFICE SOLUTIONS, LLC, CAFETERIA TABLES, 28,469.35;

TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND, $77,392.68

SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND

A TO Z WORLD LANGUAGES, INC., DECEMBER 4, 2024 INTERPRETER SERVICES, $120.00; GOODCARE, LLC, JANUARY 2025 SERVICES, $4,301.58; ISI, LLC, JANUARY 2025 INTERPRETER SERVICES, $8,893.00; LIFESCAPE, DECEMBER 2024 SERVICES/TUITION, $3,059.00; MITCHELL SCHOOL DISTRICT #17-2, ABBOTT HOUSE PLACEMENT, $1,792.20; PRAIRIE LAKES EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE, JANUARY 2025 SERVICES, $3,919.06; SIOUX FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT #49-5, DECEMBER 2024 TUITION, $1,254.54; TEACHWELL SOLUTIONS, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024 SERVICES, $16,299.00;

TOTAL SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND, $39,638.38

FOOD SERVICE FUND

DE WITTE, RYAN, LUNCH ACCOUNT BALANCE- REIMBURSEMENT, $230.45; LUNCHTIME SOLUTIONS, INC., JANUARY 2025 FOOD SERVICES, $37,822.80; PATTERSON, MIKE, LUNCH ACCOUNT BALANCE- REIMBURSEMENT, $18.25;

TOTAL FOOD SERVICE FUND, $38,071.50

CUSTODIAL FUND

FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, AMAZON- HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL SUPPLIES, $77.74; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, ARBY’S- MEAL- FFA STATE LDE, $20.94; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, FLYBOY- DONUTS FOR STAFF IN-SERVICE, $108.94; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, GULCH- MEAL- STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS TRAINING, $95.61; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, GULCH- MEAL- STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMS TRAINING, $110.68; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, LOVE’S- FUEL- FFA STATE LDE, $46.53; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, PHILLIPS 66- FUEL- FFA STATE LDE, $35.00; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, PRINT EXPRESS- HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL SHIRTS, $195.00; FIRST BANK & TRUST CREDIT CARD, WALMART- SUPPLIES FOR MARKET PLAN DISPLAY, $25.68;

TOTAL CUSTODIAL FUND, $716.12

TOTAL CLAIMS: $195,705.01

IMPREST CHECKS

JANUARY 2025

GENERAL FUND IMPREST CHECKS

BERG, DARIN, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/7/2025, $159.36; BOLDT, TIM, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL- 1/11/2025, $405.14; BOMHOFF, BRAD, GIRLS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/23/2025, $120.80; BOONE, COLIN, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL- 1/11/2025, $344.84; DUFFY, TERRY, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 12/31/2024, $172.32; ENTRINGER, PETE, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 12/31/2024, $202.26; HAAS, KALEB, WRESTLING QUAD OFFICIAL- 1/9/2025, $260.30; HALLMAN, JORDAN, JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 12/31/2024, $100.15; HANSEN, AL, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/21/2025, $187.52; HIRSCH, ROBERT, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL- 1/11/2025, $351.54; KIEFFER, BRETT, GIRLS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/23/2025, $152.88; KOST, TODD, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/7/2025, $183.50; LARSON, CHRISTOPHER, REGION 2A ONE-ACT PLAY JUDGE, $293.06; LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT- 12/30/2024, $150.00; NEISES, BAILEY, WRESTLING QUAD OFFICIAL- 1/9/2025, $237.52; ORTMAN, PAUL, BOYS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/28/2025, $148.86; PARADIES, CASEY, REGION 2A ONE-ACT PLAY JUDGE, $323.66; POPPEMA, MIKE, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/7/2025, $159.36; RSCHOOLTODAY, ACTIVITY SCHEDULER- 11/1/2024-10/31/2025, $300.00; SCHEPEL, STEVE, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 12/31/2024, $162.60; SHELSTA, COREY, REGION 2A ONE-ACT PLAY JUDGE, $323.66; SLYKHUIS, MADDIX, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL- 1/11/2025, $422.56; SMITH, ERNIE, BOYS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/21 & 1/28/2025, $60.00; STEKL, ALLEN, BOYS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/28/2025, $126.56; SWATEK, BRYN, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT- CHARTS- 1/11/2025, $150.00; SWATEK, JAY, JESSE JAMES WRESTLING TOURNAMENT- DIRECTOR- 1/11/2025, $400.00; TRI-VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT #49-6, WRESTLING TOURNAMENT- 1/18/2025, $125.00; TUSCHEN, KYLE, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/21/2025, $160.80; TUSCHEN, KYLE, GIRLS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/23/2025, $120.80; TUSCHEN, KYLE, BOYS BASKETBALL OFFICIAL- 1/28/2025, $120.80; UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC, HONOR BAND FESTIVAL REGISTRATION- THREE STUDENTS, $150.00; WELBIG, JEFF, BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL- 1/21/2025, $156.84;

TOTAL GENERAL FUND IMPREST CHECKS, $6,732.69

TOTAL IMPREST CHECKS: $6,732.69

Financial Report

The Business Manager presented a financial report of cash balances, expenditures, and receipts for the month of January 2025 as listed below:

Cash Balances as of January 31, 2025: General Fund: $395,472.04; Capital Outlay Fund: $1,503,248.43; Special Education Fund: $234,971.97; Food Service Fund: $270,956.88; Driver’s Education Fund: $12,068.52; Preschool Fund: ($15,177.51); Custodial Fund: $29,683.12.

Expenditures: General Fund: ACH Fees, $33.92; Claims, $32,903.11; Payroll, $306,175.12; Capital Outlay Fund: Claims, $55,268.49; Special Education Fund: Claims, $19,699.13; Payroll, $57,846.44; Food Service Fund: Claims, $61,876.46; Preschool Fund: Claims, $20.98; Payroll, $8,445.18; Custodial Fund: ACH Fees, $2,684.73; Claims, $71,918.74.

Receipts: General Fund: Local Sources, $21,178.99; Intermediate Sources, $1,238.13; State Sources, $191,977.41; Capital Outlay Fund: Local Sources, $6,707.08; Special Education Fund: Local Sources, $5,556.34; State Sources, $29,894.00; Food Service Fund: Local Sources, $25,755.94; Preschool Fund: Local Sources, $3,400.00; Custodial Fund: Local Sources, $46,192.33.

Old Business:

None

New Business:

There were no conflicts of interest.

The following information item was presented to the Board: Policy DJ: Purchasing.

There were no First Readings.

The Second Readings of Policy KLD: Public Complaints About School Personnel or Procedures, Policy KLD-E: Complaints Regarding Employees or Procedures, Policy JECB-JECC: Admission or Rejection of Nonresident Students - Assignment of Resident Students, & Policy JECB-JECC-R: Admission of Nonresident Students - Open Enrollment Procedures (delete) were presented to the Board.

Action 25-067: Motion by Compton, second by Clark, to adopt Policy KLD: Public Complaints About School Personnel or Procedures, Policy KLD-E: Complaints Regarding Employees or Procedures, Policy JECB-JECC: Admission or Rejection of Nonresident Students - Assignment of Resident Students & delete Policy JECB-JECC-R: Admission of Nonresident Students - Open Enrollment Procedures. Motion carried.

Administration provided the Board with five administrative reports:

a. School Board Election Report - Business Manager Schweitzer gave the Board a summary of the school board election timeline with the election being held on Tuesday, April 8.

b. Superintendent’s Report - Superintendent Johnson informed the Board that the district is waiting to hear from the Prairie Rose Foundation about a grant to help fund a digital record book/hall of fame for the main lobby. He added that February 17-21 is school board recognition week and thanked the Board for their service to the students and community. Lastly, Superintendent Johnson gave the Board a legislative session update, including the ten commandments bill being defeated, bill to cap administrative compensation being defeated, and a bill brought that would require a super majority to pass an opt out election.

c. Prairie Lakes Educational Cooperative Report - Board Member Compton informed the Board that the recent Prairie Lakes Coop. meeting was 13 minutes long and consisted of approving the agenda and budget.

d. Elementary Principal/Curriculum Director’s Report - Principal Hoekman reported to the Board that Monday, February 3 was the 100th day of school. She added that Landen Snyder won the school spelling bee. Next, she informed the Board that the souper bowl food drive brought in 2,238 items. Lastly, Principal Hoekman mentioned that National School Counseling week was February 3-7.

e. Middle School/High School Principal’s Report - Principal McGregor made the Board aware that senior Eliza Potter is a page in the State Senate and would be in Pierre for two weeks. He added that the middle school science fair would be taking place February 12. Next, Principal McGregor told the Board that he attended the SASD Delegate Assembly in Pierre on February 4. Lastly, he mentioned that the Garretson High School Band would be performing at the South Dakota Bandmasters Conference in Brookings on February 15.

Action 25-068: Motion by Nordstrom, second by Compton, to go into executive session, pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2, subsection 1: A Personnel Matter. Motion carried. The Board entered executive session at 6:38 p.m.

President Mendoza declared the Board out of executive session at 8:54 p.m.

Action 25-069: Motion by Clark, second by Compton, to adjourn at 8:54 p.m. Motion carried.

Approved by the Garretson Board of Education this _____ day of _________, 2025.

Natasha Mendoza,

Board President

Jacob Schwitzer,

Business Manager

Published at the total approximate cost of $165.50 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 2-20-25_1tc

NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD SDCL10-11-13

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the governing body, sitting as a Review Board of Equalization for the

Town of Sherman, Minnehaha County, will meet at the City Town Hall in said

taxing jurisdiction on 18th day of March, 2025 for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the

Assessment of said taxing district for the year, 2025.

All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, are required to notify the clerk

Of the local board no later than March 10th, 2025 of their intention to appeal their assessment.

Town of Sherman

Cheryl Swenson

Feb. 10, 2025

Published at the total approximate cost of $18.53 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 2-13-25_2tc

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-000207

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA) SS COUNTY OF MINNEHAHA)

IN CIRCUIT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT In the Matter of the Petition of James Peter Gross, For a Change of Name to James Peter Edison.

49CIV:25-000207

Notice is hereby given that a Verified Petition for Adult Name Change has been filed James Peter Gross, the object and prayer of which is to change Petitioner’s name from James Peter Gross to James Peter Edison.

On the 4th day of March, 2025, at the hour of 11:00 a.m. said Verified Petition will be heard by this Court before the Honorable Pekas, at the Court Room in the Minnehaha County Courthouse, City of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, or as soon thereafter as is convenient for the court. Anyone may come and appear at that time and place and show reasons, if any, why said name should not be changed as re- quested.

Dated this 14th day of January, 2025 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Attested by, Cathy Arant Clerk of Court.

Published four times at the approximate cost of $51.90 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 2-6-25-4tc

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-857

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA) SS COUNTY OF MINNEHAHA)

IN CIRCUIT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT In the Matter of the Petition of Hilary Ann Stockwell, For a Change of Name to Hilary Ann Davis.

49CIV:25-857

Notice is hereby given that a Verified Petition for Adult Name Change has been filed by Hilary Ann Stockwell, the object and prayer of which is to change Petitioner’s name from Hilary Ann Stockwell to Hilary Ann Davis.

On the 25th day of March, 2025, at the hour of 11:00 a.m. said Verified Petition will be heard by this Court before the Honorable Judge Mowery, at the Court Room in the Minnehaha County Courthouse, City of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, or as soon thereafter as is convenient for the court. Anyone may come and appear at that time and place and show reasons, if any, why said name should not be changed as re- quested.

Dated this 14th Day of Febuary, 2025 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Attested by, Cathy Arant Clerk of Court.

Published four times at the approximate cost of $53.11 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 2-20-25-4tc

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-392

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA) SS COUNTY OF MINNEHAHA)

IN CIRCUIT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT In the Matter of the Petition of Jason Robert Brannan, For a Change of Name to Jaina Elyse Lockheart.

49CIV:25-392

Notice is hereby given that a Verified Petition for Adult Name Change has been filed by Jason Robert Brannan, the object and prayer of which is to change Petitioner’s name from Jason Robert Brannan to Jaina Elyse Lockheart.

On the 18th day of March, 2025, at the hour of 11:00 a.m. said Verified Petition will be heard by this Court before the Honorable Hoffman, at the Court Room in the Minnehaha County Courthouse, City of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, or as soon thereafter as is convenient for the court. Anyone may come and appear at that time and place and show reasons, if any, why said name should not be changed as re- quested.

Dated this 28th Day of January, 2025 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Attested by, Cathy Arant Clerk of Court.

Published four times at the approximate cost of $53.11 and can be viewed for free at www.sdpublicnotices.com. 2-6-25-4tc

EDISON TOWNSHIP: NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

The citizens of the Township of Edison in the county of Minne- haha, South Dakota, and who are qualified to vote in general elec- tions, are hereby notified that the annual Township Meeting for said Township will be held at the Garretson Fire Dept. building on Tuesday, the 4th day of March, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. of the said day, for the following purposes:

To elect One Supervisor, One Township Clerk: One Township Treasurer: One Weed Supervisor: and do any other Business proper to be done at the said Meeting when convened.

Given under my hand this 15th day of February, 2024.

-Adam Stiefvater

Township Clerk

2-20-25-2tc

Highland Township: Notice of Annual Meeting

The citizens of Highland Township in Minnehaha County, South Dakota who are qualified to vote at township elections are hereby notified that the Annual Township Meeting for said township will be held at the Highland Lutheran Church, on Tuesday, March 4th at 4:00 pm for the following purposes; To elect one Supervisor for a three year term, one Township Clerk and one Township Treasurer each for a one year term; and to do any other business proper to be completed at said meeting when convened. Given under my hand this 8th day of February, 2025.

Jill Fedders-Ellefson Highland Township Clerk 2-22-25 2tc

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE: PALISADES TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF ANNUAL TOWNSHIP MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the governing body for Palisades Township, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, will conduct the annual meeting at the Garretson Fire Hall on Tuesday, the 4th day of March, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

-Bert Danielson

Palisades Township Clerk

2-22-24 2tc

News for 2-20-25

Carrie Moritz

-

February 19, 2025

0

Congratulations to Dan Paulson on his SD Specialty Producers recognition, and we explore why it was well-deserved; the Minnehaha County Commission adopted a new future vision plan, which allows for more building allotments; and we continue our conversations with Eddie Edmundson, who remembered a former mayor of Garretson. Plus, wrestling has its final home matches before Regions and basketball heads into its final games of the season, plus more!

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Garretson High School FFA to Host Community Blood Drive

Carrie Moritz

-

February 19, 2025

0

Garretson High School FFA to Host Community Blood Drive

Garretson, SD – Garretson High School’s FFA will host a winter community blood drive on Wednesday, February 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Garretson High School (505 2^nd St, Garretson, SD). This blood drive will support the community’s blood supply and local patients in need. Donors may schedule their appointment by going online to www.cbblifeblood.org, select “events”, choose Feb. 26^th and click on “Garretson High School” or call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222. As a special thank you gift, all those who donate blood will receive a $15 Kwik Star gift card.

“Community Blood Bank is experiencing a high need for blood donations. As a strong cold and flu season has prevented many volunteers from donating blood, we are beginning to experience blood shortages. It has been very challenging keeping up with the demand for blood,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “The only way we can maintain an adequate blood supply is for community volunteers to come forward and provide a life-changing gift. We encourage new donors, as well as those that have donated multiple time, to join in on February 26^th. Each donation will strengthen the community’s blood supply as we go through the winter season.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form), weigh 110 lbs or more and be in good general health. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating blood. Please bring an ID with you at the time of donation. For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org or call Community Blood Bank at 1-877-877-3070.

Community Blood Bank is a joint cooperative of Sanford USD Medical Center and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and the sole blood provider to all Sioux Falls area hospitals. We not affiliated with other blood bank organizations and takes pride in being a self-sufficient organization, thanks to the generosity of our local blood donors.

News for 2-20-2025 (e-edition)

Carrie Moritz

-

February 19, 2025

0

This Week's Issue

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Community Events Calendar

Congratulations to Dan Paulson on his SD Specialty Producers recognition, and we explore why it was well-deserved; the Minnehaha County Commission adopted a new future vision plan, which allows for more building allotments; and we continue our conversations with Eddie Edmundson, who remembered a former mayor of Garretson. Plus, wrestling has its final home matches before Regions and basketball heads into its final games of the season, plus more!

This Week's Spotlight Photos

man holding a gourd decorated like a goose

man standing in front of wall containing many ribbons

man sitting at table with two large pumpkins

eight people posed together in gymnasium

male basketball player jumping for a score

male basketball player running to get past defense

male basketball player trying to get around defense

female basketball player looking up at the hoop

female basketball players at the top of a jump

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Printing Press Breakdown

Carrie Moritz

-

February 19, 2025

0

On 2/19/25, we received word that the mailed and printed Gazette will be late due to a printing press breakdown at our printing plant. We will be releasing our online version of this week's issue to all mailed subscribers.

To access, log in to your account (if you have not registered or used online payments, please register for an account- we will verify your mailed subscription status and upgrade as soon as possible). Upon log-in you will be able to view the e-edition via a magazine format or by clicking "Download" to receive a PDF version.

All Mailed Subscribers receive access to e-edition archives, and access to full individual front page articles as they are published, making this website a great additional resource to the printed issue. On-line subscribers receive immediate access to all e-editions, all individual articles, extra photos, and early access to each week's issue. Mailed+Online subscribers get the best of both worlds, with immediate online access and a printed, mailed issue each week.

Haven't subscribed before? Your subscription ensures we can continue bringing you solid information, community and relationships! Subscribe today to support this locally-owned and operated resource.

Garretson featured on SDPB’s Dakota Life tonight!

Carrie Moritz

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February 13, 2025

0

Garretson featured on SDPB’s Dakota Life tonight!

Last Wednesday at the American Legion Post #23 Dugout, South Dakota Public Broadcasting had a public pre-screening of an episode of Dakota Life that features Garretson. The episode will air, tonight, at 8 p.m. central, 7 p.m. mountain time on SDPB 1, as well as being livestreamed on SDPB.org.

camera crew filming man while standing on a bridge with wooden base — The production team filming. //Photo courtesy of SDPB

“We really enjoyed filming this episode and getting to know the people of Garretson,” said producer and host of the show, Tim Davidson. “It was back in April of last year that we started hosting meetings and finding out who to talk to about both the history and current events, and what it’s like to live here in Garretson. We really met some amazing people and some very unique stories. Filming the segments of this show was an absolute joy. If you didn’t know this, Garretson is a very pretty community with some amazing geography. It’s matched by some pretty amazing people.”

Davidson addressed the crowd of locals who’d gathered at pre-screening.

“Now, I’m not perfect, and neither is the film or editing process, so watch this episode and take notes. Let me know what we got wrong so I can get it fixed and correct for when it airs next Thursday. This is your episode, and all about you, and I see many people in the crowd who’re in it, so I want it to be exactly right.”

Not to give away any spoilers, but the episode was excellently well done and very well received by the audiences, to a loud round of applause. The crowd present did have a few minor corrections, but only minor ones. Generally, it was well received and thoroughly enjoyed.

“The only problem that I have with it, is that we can only cram so much into a 30-minute episode and TV spot!” said Davidson. “There was so much fun and so much excellent content that we simply had to leave out. But part of the whole process of this, is us developing relationships with people in Garretson, and already some of those stories have been told on other programs, like Lori Walsh’s In the Moment or on our radio newscasts. And more of those stories can be told in future as well, and I’m excited to see them and see what shape they take. We know who to talk to and we’re eager to show the people of our state more of what Garretson has to offer, and the fun and interesting things about it. I can’t stress enough about how much fun this was to do, and I can’t wait for the rest of the state to see it.”

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Lucky to be alive, thankful for prayers and well wishes

Carrie Moritz

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February 13, 2025

0

Lucky to be alive, thankful for prayers and well wishes

A young woman was found in an alley near the school last week Tuesday after an icy accident where she crashed into Split Rock Creek.

Luckily, despite being wet and in temperatures around 0 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours, she survived.

The 19-year-old woman had been driving east into Garretson early Tuesday morning and failed to stay on the road as she approached the 5th Street bridge.

The vehicle, a white SUV, flipped and ended upright in the middle of the creek facing west.

It was reported to the Gazette that when she was first discovered, police and emergency services initially thought that she was simply dead. Miraculously she was still breathing. Her body temperature was 75 degrees or less when she was rushed to the emergency room with severe frostbite.

Alcohol was a factor in the accident, and the victim's mother, Luci Gill, wrote on Garretson Living, "Please never drink and drive!" The young woman has a long road to recovery ahead of her.

"This girl is tough as nails with amazing determination!" wrote Gill. "She is up and walking with a walker or crutches and will be out of ICU as soon as a bed on a different floor opens. Her left toes are a concern but she is making progress!

“As a busy 19-year-old she is getting frustrated with not being able to get around without help. Also, additional treatment for her toes will start tomorrow. Garretson has some amazing residents and all of the help, support, kind words and positive vibes and prayers are working and saved her life. Please never drink and drive!"

Gill continued later, "Update! She has gone through 4 treatments of oxygen therapy and is out of ICU! Also, she is able to walk around her room with a walker due to no weight bearing on the left foot. We are very proud of her!"

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‘Farmers are left wondering’

In limbo in Colorado

Interruption in research

‘A level of uncertainty that is unique to the moment’

A target on conservation programs

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Minutes of the Garretson School District #49-4 for Feb. 4, 2025

NOTICE OF MEETING OF LOCAL EQUALIZATION BOARD SDCL10-11-13

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-000207

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-857

Notice of Hearing: for Adult Name Change 49CIV 25-392

EDISON TOWNSHIP: NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Highland Township: Notice of Annual Meeting

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE: PALISADES TOWNSHIP

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