Governor Kristi Noem announced that she will appoint Spencer Hawley to serve on the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. Additionally, Governor Noem reappointed Robert Goetz to the Commission.

Hawley is a former Democrat legislator from Brookings, serving from 2011-2018.  He served as House minority leader from 2015-2018.  He owned his own insurance business in Brookings for many years, but now works for American Trust Insurance as an account executive.

Information on the South Dakota Commission on Gaming can be found here.

The Chamberlain City Commission will hold their meeting on Monday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m. at the Chamberlain City Offices located at 715 North Main Street.  For those needing assistance please contact the Finance Office by phone 234-4401.

The Gregory Dallas Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a cruise night in Dallas on Friday May 21st from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  It’s an opportunity for residents to enjoy the start of Summer and cruise the streets of Dallas. With any questions one can call the Chamber at 831-9773.

Black Hills National Forest campgrounds are scheduled to open Friday, May 14, and seasonal gates will open Saturday, May 15.

The Black Hills National Forest has 30 campgrounds with more than 680 individual sites. Many of the campgrounds on the Black Hills National Forest are operated by a Forest Service recreation service partner, Forest Recreation Management, (FRM) Inc. based in Hill City, SD, under a concession permit.

The fees in the Forest Service campgrounds range from $14 to $26 per night. Group camping is also available with advanced reservations near Pactola Reservoir and Sheridan Lake.

Many campgrounds have on-site hosts who can help provide information about nearby trails and outdoor activities in the area. While electric, sewer, water hook-ups and showers are not available, most campgrounds have potable water and either flush or vault toilets.

Note: Cook Lake Campground and Cliff Swallow Trail (near Cook Lake), on the Bearlodge Ranger District, will also open Friday, May 14, 2021. Cook Lake has been open for day-use only due to landslide concerns and a spillway reconstruction project. Landslide monitoring, including an audible siren, will continue on the west side of the lake, and this area will remain closed to the public. FRM will have a campground host on site. The State of Wyoming stocked the lake with over 8,000 fish in Spring 2020.  A new kayak/canoe launch area is also available for use on the south side of the lake.

To reserve most Black Hills National Forest campsites, visit http://www.recreation.gov/ or call Toll Free 1-877-444-6777. Due to high demand, reservations are recommended.

Seasonal closed roads and trails are identified on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and will open Saturday, May 15.

Please remember that even if a road or trail is open, driving on soft surfaces or where rutting has been observed should be avoided until drier conditions prevail. Roads and trails in the hills may be unsuitable for driving until they dry out from recent moisture.

Damaging forest roads and lands is against the law. The legal and financial consequences can be steep, and damages done to the land can take years to repair.

For questions, please contact a local Forest Service office.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sundown on today in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Additionally, flags are to be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise until sundown on Saturday, May 15 in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

The State of South Dakota will honor fallen law enforcement officers with ceremonies on today. The state traditionally recognizes Peace Officers Memorial Day on the Wednesday of Police Week. President Joseph R. Biden has proclaimed Saturday, May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. President Biden’s proclamation can be found here.

There will be a special meeting for the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Chamberlain today at 12:00 p.m.  via teleconference to consider the following matter: Executive session – personnel.  Normal Chamberlain City meeting typically take place the first and third Monday of each month.

The Gregory City Council will hold a special meeting on
Monday, May 10th at 6:00 p.m. at Gregory City Hall located at120 West  6th St. The purpose of the meeting is in regards to  filling the position of City Administrator/Finance Officer for the City of Gregory.  The council will meet in executive session.

Due to COVID-19 and other safety concerns, several changes will be happening to Rangeland and Soils Days this summer.

The event will focus solely on the Go-Getter (14-to-18-year-old) division. The Go-Getters will judge habitat suitability for cattle and grouse, in addition to plant identification and morphology. New Wrangler (8-to-10-year-old) and Wrangler (11-to-13-year-old) divisions will not be held in 2021. There will be no student talks or displays this year. These aspects of Rangeland and Soils Days will return in 2022.

Due to these changes, the event will be one day, June 2, and will be held in two locations — Murdo and Redfield. Registration will be $5 per individual.

“Go-Getters can come as an individual or as a team of three-to-four members from the county 4-H program or FFA chapter,” says Krista Ehlert, Assistant Professor and South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Range Specialist. “The top Go-Getter range team and the top Go-Getter soils team in 4-H from each event location will represent South Dakota at the National Land and Range Judging Contest held in May of the following year (2022) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.”

Since South Dakota hasn’t sent any Go-Getters to nationals in the past two years due to COVID-19, Ehlert says the state will send two 4-H range teams and two 4-H soils teams for the National 2022 competition.

The event in Murdo will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. CST at the Murdo Rodeo Arena, with participants departing for the site at 9 a.m. To register for Murdo, please pay by check to: Jones County Conservation District and mail to P.O. Box 298, Murdo, South Dakota 57559. For questions about location details at the Murdo event, contact Valerie Feddersen at 605-530-2020, and for contest details, contact Emily Helms at 605-570-2180.

The event in Redfield will start with registration at noon CST in the basement of the Spink County Court House, with departure for the site at 12:30 p.m. If you are participating in Redfield, please pay by check to Spink County Conservation District and mail to 628 Second St. SW., Redfield, South Dakota 57469. For questions about the Redfield event, contact Lance Howe at 605-460-0846.

No meals will be provided at either location, however there will be a short awards presentation at the end of the judging contests.