Inside this edition –

Community gang awareness workshop, public meeting draw crowds last week at Sisseton

Feds roll out 2011 Interior, DOJ Budget proposals

TZTS Wambdi athletes bring home trophies from Dakota Oyate Challenge

Another weekend, another winter storm strikes the region

Gang awareness workshop, public meeting draw crowds at Sisseton

National gang specialist Christopher M. Grant came to Sisseton to conduct a day-long training program last Thursday, February 4th on “The Street Gang Subculture: Awareness, Recognition, Response.” It was attended by law enforcement, public officials, health and human services workers, as well as interested citizens of the community.

Mr. Grant shared his knowledge of street gang activity, explaining how it may once have been considered a problem only in major cities, gangs are gaining ground in smaller and rural communities – including South Dakota towns and reservations.

The gangster subculture, or “gangster mentality,” he says, “crosses all cultural barriers and socio-economic boundaries.

He gave a slide presentation, showing how to recognize signs of different gangs and other indications that local youth are being drawn to particular gangs. He talked about new gang trends nationally, across the region, and locally.

Sometimes he would pause on a single slide, telling the audience this particular gang sign would be especially worthy to note if it crops up locally.

The presenter works extensively with tribal and non-tribal communities doing gang assessments and trainings. He is a 30-year law enforcement veteran, former commander of the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force.

Both the training session and an hour-long public event that evening were co-sponsored by “There’s Hope: Roberts County Suicide Prevention Support” and Roberts County Healthy Youth.

Interior Budget attempts fiscal responsibility, cost-effective government, strategic investments in treasured landscapes, energy, climate impacts

Washington, DC – President Obama’s proposed $12.2 billion budget for the Department of the Interior in fiscal year 2011 is a fiscally responsible plan that will enable the nation’s largest land manager to carry out its stewardship responsibilities more effectively while making strategic investments in priority initiatives that address major challenges facing the nation, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar stated.

“The President is making tough choices in difficult economic times, cutting costs and holding the line on spending by ending ineffective programs and supporting cost-efficient initiatives,” Salazar said in announcing the Department’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2010. “Through our collective effort in protecting America’s natural resources and cultural heritage, we support 1.3 million jobs and generate over $370 billion in economic activity each year. Interior plays a key role in responsibly developing America’s new energy frontier, tackling the impacts of climate change, preserving America’s treasured landscapes and empowering Tribal nations.”

“Our mission is as simple as it is profound: we protect America’s natural resources and cultural heritage. The 2011 budget will allow us to carry out our stewardship responsibilities in a way that provides the American people the maximum value for their tax dollars and a fair return for the resources we manage in their name,” said Salazar.

In 2009, the Secretary began implementing ethics reforms throughout the Department and oil and gas reforms in Bureau of Land Management and Minerals Management Service. The 2011 budget continues the Secretary’s aggressive agenda for reform. The Administration’s request for Interior contains $750 million in reductions and terminations of lower priority programs and elimination of one-time funding. The 2011 budget is $38.7 million or 0.3 percent below the level enacted by Congress for 2010.

The budget proposes investments for high priority goals and initiatives that move the Department in a new direction. In 2010 the Department began an aggressive program to tackle these challenges and the 2011 budget continues these areas, including the following:

*Implementing a comprehensive New Energy Frontier strategy that creates jobs, reduces the Nation’s dependence on foreign oil and reduces carbon emissions. The budget proposes a $73 million investment in renewable energy programs, an increase of $14.2 million over 2010; and $4.4 million in increases to support oil and natural gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

*Confronting the realities of climate change through an integrated strategy for Climate Change Adaptation. The proposed budget seeks $171.3 million for this initiative, an increase of $35.4 million over 2010, to carry out the Department’s integrated program.

*Tackling the water challenges facing the country with a new strategy to Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow (WaterSMART). The budget contains $72.9 million for this initiative, an increase of $36.4 million over 2010.

*Engaging America’s Youth in Natural Resources. The 2011 budget contains $45.4 million to engage, employ and educate the next generation of conservation leaders, an increase of $9.3 million to help our children get close to nature while conserving the natural resources on which their future depends.

*Developing a 21st Century conservation agenda that protects Treasured Landscapes. In addition to funding national parks, refuges and recreation areas, the 2011 DOI budget includes increases of $106.0 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund programs and $71.4 million in other key investments in restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay, California’s Bay Delta, the Gulf Coast, Klamath River Basin, and Everglades.

*Honoring trust responsibilities and Empowering Tribal Nations. The budget calls for a total of $2.6 billion to honor our commitments to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including new investments in tribal self-determination, law enforcement, trust management and tribal self-determination.

The Department will gauge its progress in achieving high priority goals for renewable energy development, water conservation, youth in natural resources, climate change adaptation, and improving the safety of Indian communities through a series of High Priority Performance Goals. The budget reflects the tough economic realities of the times and underscores Interior’s efforts to be fiscally responsible. In 2011, Interior will continue an exemplary record of producing revenue for the U.S. Treasury, collecting an estimated $14 billion, more than offsetting the budget request for current appropriations. That total includes about $11.6 billion in revenue from the sale of mineral resources, including oil and natural gas.

Using the President’s SAVE awards, the Department is proposing $82.0 million in Department-wide and bureau specific management efficiencies. There are an additional $668 million in program reductions, terminations, and discontinuation of unrequested congressional increases. Interior will exercise additional cost containment, as most of the increases in fixed costs for Interior bureaus and offices, an estimated $108.7 million, will be absorbed. The budget request includes $4.6 million to fund anticipated 2011 fixed cost increases, such as employee benefits, pay raises and other cost-of-doing business expenses, for Interior’s salary-intensive components.

The 2011 budget request includes $11.1 billion for DOI programs funded by the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which does not include the Bureau of Reclamation. This is $16.7 million, or 0.2 percent, below the level enacted for 2010. The 2011 request for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project Completion Act, funded in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, is $1.1 billion, $22.0 million or 2.0 percent below the level enacted for 2010. Permanent funding that becomes available as a result of existing legislation without further action by the Congress will provide an additional $5.8 billion to the current appropriations request, for appropriations totaling $18 billion for Interior in 2011.

Initiative Highlights

New Energy Frontier – The Secretary’s New Energy Frontier initiative will create clean sources of energy using the Nation’s vast domestic resources while continuing to develop conventional energy supplies. Increases include $3 million for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to focus on the environmental elements of renewable energy projects, $3.2 million for Minerals Management Service (MMS) region-specific planning needs, $3.0 million for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to analyze and document the effects of renewable energy on wildlife populations, and $4 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct endangered species consultations and help plan and design renewable energy projects that are wildlife friendly. The budget continues support for the development of conventional energy, including an increase of $4.4 million for the MMS 2007-2012 five year program and $10 million for audit costs that can no longer be funded by the Royalty-in-Kind program, which is slated for termination. BIA’s budget includes an increase of $1.5 million for conventional energy leasing activities on the Fort Berthold Reservation. BLM’s oil and gas program capacity is maintained at last year’s level, with a $3 million reduction reflecting the completion of an energy study. The budget includes additional user fees to help offset BLM and MMS oil and gas program costs. MMS inspection fees on Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas facilities will be doubled to generate roughly $20 million in FY 2011 and a comparable new fee for BLM onshore oil and gas inspections is expected to generate $10 million in FY 2011.

Climate Change Adaptation – This initiative will examine the causes and formulate solutions to mitigate climate impacts to lands, waters, natural and cultural resources. Interior’s Climate Science Centers and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives will conduct and communicate research and monitoring to improve understanding and forecasting of which elements of our land, water, marine, fish and wildlife and cultural heritage resources are most vulnerable to climate change impacts and make them more resilient. The budget includes $8.0 million for continued investments in the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, which will serve as the nexus for the eight Interior Climate Science Centers; $1.0 million for expanded monitoring by USGS and $8.0 million for FWS monitoring that will be integrated, standardized, and accessible to Interior bureaus, partners, and the public; $2.0 million for expansion of the USGS carbon sequestration project; $8.8 million to expand FWS science and planning capacity in support of additional Landscape Conservation Cooperatives; and $2.5 million for BLM and $2.0 Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) adaptive management activities on private lands. In the 2011 budget, the Bureau of Reclamation and BIA also include climate change funding, including $3.5 million for Reclamation basin studies and scientific support and $200,000 for BIA participation in a Landscape Conservation Cooperative.

Empowering Tribal Nations – At a November 2009 White House Tribal Nations Conference, the President pledged to strengthen Nation-to-Nation relationships, improve the tribal consultation process, and empower strong and stable Indian communities. The 2011 budget advances Nation-to-Nation relationships and Indian self-determination by providing additional funding of $21.5 million for contract support costs and the Indian Self-Determination Fund, $3 million to assist with the unique needs of small and needy Tribes, and $2 million for social services. It protects Indian Country by providing $19 million to increase the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who are on-the-ground and dedicated to Indian Country; advances Indian education with $8.9 million to address environmental and security concerns at BIE schools and strengthen grant support funding for tribally operated BIE schools; and improves trust land management with increases of $11.8 million to promote both renewable and conventional development on tribal lands, defend and assert Indian water rights, and assist Tribes with dam safety. The budget reflects a reduction of $53.6 million from the 2010 level because of a $50 million reduction in one-time 2010 funding to forward fund tribal colleges and anticipated efficiency savings.

WaterSMART: The 2011 budget proposes a sustainable water strategy to assist local communities in stretching water supplies and improving water management. The Bureau of Reclamation will receive $62 million, an increase of $27.4 million, to improve water management by encouraging voluntary water banks; assisting local communities by partnering with non-Federal stakeholders to develop incentives and best practices for implementing water conservation and waste recycling projects. The USGS will use $10.9 million, a $9 million increase, for a multi-year, nationwide water availability and use assessment.

Treasured Landscapes – The budget will allow Interior to intensify efforts to protect treasured landscapes; to participate in major restoration efforts to restore, protect, and preserve key ecosystems; and to operate and maintain landscapes.

The 2011 budget calls for $445.4 million, an increase of $106.2 million, for Department of the Interior Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) programs to acquire new park, refuge, and public lands, protect endangered species habitat, and promote outdoor recreation. Total LWCF funding in 2011 for Interior and the U.S. Forest Service is 619.2 million, a 29 percent increase over the 2010 enacted level and a 104 percent increase over the 2009 level. With these consecutive increases, appropriations from the LWCF are on track to reach the full funding level of $900 million in 2014.

The budget also includes an increase of $71.4 million targeted to key ecosystems for restoration and renewal. This includes an increase of $50.6 million for the Bureau of Reclamation, FWS, and USGS to conduct studies, projects and other efforts in the California Bay-Delta, including habitat restoration, the development of fish screens and fish ladders, eradication or mitigation of invasive species, as well as various water quality and quantity studies and assessments. The Interior budget also provides program increases of $6 million for Everglades restoration; $5 million for FWS to support the restoration of key fish and wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi; and $10 million to conserve and protect the Chesapeake Bay’s cultural and natural resources. The Department is also active in Great Lakes restoration efforts. The 2011 EPA budget request includes a provisional allocation of $50.2 million planned for allocation to FWS, USGS, NPS and BIA for restoration, monitoring and other activities.

Protection, promotion, and preservation of treasured landscapes also involve the operation and maintenance of national parks, refuges, and units of the National Landscape Conservation System, all of which contain breathtaking vistas, historic and cultural assets, and important ecological resources.

*The 2011 budget for the National Landscape Conservation System in BLM is $65.4 million, a net increase of $1.3 million over 2010. There is an increase of $1.3 million for management of new wilderness areas designated by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.

*The NPS budget includes $2.3 billion for park operations, an increase of $35.3 million, or nearly two percent, above the 2010 enacted level. The budget continues $5 million in appropriations and $5 million in recreation fee funding for the Park Partnerships program, which will match partner donations with Federal funds for high priority projects at national parks.

*The 2011 FWS budget for Refuge System Operations includes $499.5 million, a net reduction of $3.3 million. Within that amount, however, are increases of $8 million for climate science inventory and monitoring, $2 million for youth programs, and $3.3 million for ecosystems. These increases are offset by $10.0 million in reductions for discontinued congressional earmarks, termination of the Challenge Cost Share program, and management efficiencies.

Youth in Natural Resources – The future of resource conservation depends upon the next generation’s understanding of and connection to natural resources and cultural treasures. The budget increases for this initiative include $5.8 million for youth employment and education programs in the national park system and $2 million for youth programs at national wildlife refuges. The budget also includes $2 million for FWS and BLM to join with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in public-private partnerships to promote priority species conservation on both public and private lands. The NPS also will dedicate $6.4 million of recreation fees collected at parks to youth projects that benefit the visitor experience. This is an additional $2 million over the 2010 level.

Responsibly Budgeting for Wildfire – The budget responsibly budgets for wildfires and includes $933.9 million for Wildland Fire Management, an increase of $78 million. The 10-year average of suppression costs is fully funded.

The budget proposes continuation of a regular suppression account and the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund, and includes a new Presidential Wildfire Contingency Reserve account. Regular suppression will support initial attack and predictable firefighting costs; the FLAME funds will be used in cases of severe, complex, and threatening fires and be used as a contingency reserve. The Presidential Contingency Reserve would require the issuance of a Presidential Finding when the suppression and FLAME appropriations are soon to be exhausted. There is a proposed program reduction of $42.6 million in the hazardous fuels reduction program. Fire management resources would be used in a cost-effective manner in high priority areas, such as the Wildland Urban Interface to more effectively reduce the risk of wildfire to communities.

Wild Horse and Burro Strategy – The 2011 budget begins implementation of a new national management strategy for protecting America’s wild horses and the open lands they roam. The budget includes $75.7 million, an increase of $12 million for the Wild Horse and Burro Management program that will fund management of sustainable herds on western rangelands through the aggressive application of fertility control, establishment of wild horse preserves, and special designations for selected herds in the West. The 2011 budget includes $42.5 million in land acquisition funding for one wild horse preserve.

More detailed information is in the FY2011 Interior Budget in Brief which is available online at: http://www.doi.gov/budget and at http://www.doi.gov/budget/2011/11Hilites/toc.html.

DOJ 2011 Budget request

President’s request supports Department’s National Security and Traditional Missions, Renewed Focus on Financial Fraud while Strengthening State, Local and Tribal Support

Washington, DC – Attorney General Eric Holder announced that President Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget proposal totals $29.2 billion for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase support for the department’s national security and traditional law enforcement missions, renewed focus on economic crime and financial fraud, while strengthening state, local and tribal public safety efforts. The request represents a 5.4 percent increase in budget authority and an increase of 2,880 positions over the FY 2010 enacted appropriation.

“The President’s budget request demonstrates a strong commitment to protect America and ensure the safety, security and rights of its citizens. The budget provides the department with the means necessary to protect our national security, bolster our traditional missions, and prevent and reduce crime in tandem with our state, local, tribal and community partners,” said Attorney General Holder. “We have an obligation to protect our country in smart, reliable ways at every level, be it federal, state, local or tribal. We will be aggressive in our fight against global terrorism while maintaining our collective vigilance in fighting crime and enforcing civil rights and the rule of law.”

The $29.2 billion budget request funds base operations and activities for all DOJ components and includes program enhancements totaling $2 billion. The program increases address President Obama’s and Attorney General Holder’s key priorities. The budget provides critical funding for the department’s essential national security and counterintelligence programs, as well as support for its vigorous efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute financial, mortgage and health care fraud, and its prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven strategy to combat the Mexican drug cartels and protection of the southwest border. The budget also provides funding for an expansion of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program and resources for the department’s efforts to ensure that prison and detention programs are adequately funded and effective prisoner re-entry programs are provided.

FY 2011 program increases and key priorities include:

* $300.6 million increase to strengthen national security and counter the threat of terrorism.

* $234.6 million increase to defend the interests of the United States, including fighting financial fraud.

* $121.9 million increase to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking;

* $722.5 million increase to assist state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the Adam Walsh Act;

* $19.8 million increase to protect civil rights and vulnerable populations.

* $15 million increase to combat international organized crime.

* $527.5 million increase to maintain prisons, detention and parole services and judicial and courthouse security.

* $11 million increase to enforce immigration laws.

* $448.8 million in total resources to ensure public safety in Indian Country.

Strengthen National Security and Counter the Threat of Terrorism

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $300.6 million increase, including 440 new positions (126 agents and 15 attorneys), to strengthen national security and counter the threat of terrorism. This represents a five percent increase in counterterrorism funding and a nine percent increase in intelligence resources over the FY 2010 levels. Overall, the FY 2011 budget request dedicates 15 percent of the department’s total discretionary budget authority to national security efforts. These funds are needed to allow the department to identify, track and defeat terrorists operating in the United States and overseas, and to fortify our intelligence analysis capabilities.

Continued advances in high speed telecommunications, computers and other technologies are creating new opportunities for terrorists and criminals. New vulnerabilities and challenges in law enforcement, including the need to ensure cyber security, require substantial investment in technology and human capital. This request will enable the department to address emerging threats and maintain the security of the nation.

For more information, view the Strengthen National Security and Counter the Threat of Terrorism Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Defend the Interests of the United States including Aggressive Pursuit of Financial Fraud and other Economic Crimes

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $234.6 million increase, including 708 new positions (143 agents and 157 attorneys), to restore confidence in our markets, protect the federal treasury and defend the interests of the U.S. Government. This includes an additional $96.8 million for economic fraud enforcement, which is a 23 percent increase over the FY 2010 level. This increase will continue the department’s efforts to aggressively pursue traditional law enforcement and litigation activities ranging from mortgage fraud, corporate fraud and other economic crimes, to other mission-critical activities that support the overall functioning and efficiency of the department.

In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) budget requests a $60.2 million increase specifically for DOJ components involved in the investigation and litigation of health care fraud cases. This increase will further the efforts of the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced last year by Attorney General Holder and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The department’s improved ability to collect debts, enforce tax laws and prosecute fraud will likely have high rates of return on the federal government’s investment of resources through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 . This request will enable the department to help protect American savers and investors, the national financial market, and the U.S. Treasury.

For more information, view the Restore Confidence in our Markets, Protect the Federal Fisc, and Defend the Interests of the United States Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Reduce Violent Crime and Drug Trafficking

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $121.9 million increase, including 60 new positions (28 agents and 6 attorneys), to reduce the threat, incidence and prevalence of violent crime and drug trafficking. Approximately $5 billion, or 17 percent, of the department’s total budget is dedicated to target these growing problems, including $1 billion for federal law enforcement to help address violent crime and $4 billion for federal drug enforcement and prosecution efforts. In addition, resources to assist DOJ’s state, local and tribal law enforcement partners combat violent crime and drugs are requested within the department’s grant programs.

This increase includes funding for several programs to protect the southwest border, including a significant expansion of and investment in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program, which is the centerpiece of the department’s drug enforcement and counternarcotics efforts. It also includes funding for Project Gunrunner, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) southwest border firearms trafficking enforcement program; expanded operational capability at the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) El Paso Intelligence Center; improved intelligence exploitation ability along the southwest border and expanded drug enforcement operations in Mexico.

For more information, view the Reduce the Threat, Incidence and Prevalence of Violent Crime and Drug Trafficking Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Assist State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement, including the Adam Walsh Act

T he FY 2011 Budget requests a $722.5 million increase for state, local and tribal law enforcement assistance, bringing total program funding to $3.4 billion, which represents 12 percent of the department’s total budget authority. These funds will allow the department to substantially increase support to state, local and tribal police agencies that fight violent crime, combat violence against women and support victim programs. While a decrease of $188 million (five percent) is presented for state, local and tribal assistance compared to the FY 2010 enacted funding level, the FY 2011 Budget does not maintain funding for earmarks, as they bypass the competitive and formula grant processes designed to ensure that those states, communities and organizations most in need of assistance will receive it. Without $487 million in FY 2010 earmarks, state, local and tribal law enforcement assistance represents a 10 percent increase ($300 million) above the FY 2010 funding level.

The department’s request includes an additional $302 million for the COPS hiring program, bringing total program funding to $600 million. These funds, in the form of competitive grants, will enable state and local police agencies to increase the number of officers available for targeted patrol and other proven strategies designed to prevent and reduce crime.

The department requests a total of $461 million for the Office on Violence Against Women in order to provide communities with resources to combat sexual assault and violence against women. This request includes a total of $30 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program and a total of $50 million for the Legal Assistance for Victims Program.

The department requests a total of $2.2 billion for the Office of Justice Programs. This request includes $40 million for a new Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program; $10 million for a smart policing initiative; $10 million to promote smart probation initiatives; $20 million to continue implementation of the Adam Walsh Act of 2006 , which established national standards for sex offender registration and notification; $37 million to assist children exposed to violence; and over $25 million, as well as a three percent grant set-aside ($55.8 million), to expand criminal justice research and statistical data gathering efforts.

For more information, view the Assist State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Protect Civil Rights and Vulnerable Populations

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $19.8 million increase, including 99 new positions (4 agents and 43 attorneys), to protect civil rights and vulnerable populations. This increase will allow the department to strengthen its focus on enforcing fair lending and housing laws, preventing employment discrimination, protecting voting rights, and prosecuting hate crimes. It will also expand resources for protecting children from exploitation, tracking convicted sex offenders, recovering missing and abducted children, and combating sex tourism.

This request will enable the department to reinforce its work in protecting civil rights and vulnerable populations by investigating and litigating cases of discrimination, supporting community outreach programs and training efforts, and providing guidance to state, local and tribal agencies.

For more information, view the Protecting Civil Rights and Vulnerable Populations Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Combat International Organized Crime

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $15 million increase, including 18 new positions (3 agents and 7 attorneys), to combat international organized crime through continued implementation of the International Organized Crime Strategy. The Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime was implemented by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Council in April 2008 to modernize law enforcement’s approach to international organized crime. This request supports a unified strategy to dismantle international criminal organizations that have become exponentially more sophisticated.

This request will enable the department to combat the many threats posed by international organized crime entities, including cyber and intellectual property crimes and efforts to manipulate our financial, securities and commodities markets.

For more information, view the Combat International Organized Crime Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Maintain Prisons and Judicial Security

The FY 2011 Budget requests a $527.5 million increase to maintain prison, detention and parole functions, as well as to provide judicial and courthouse security. This request includes increases for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee (OFDT), the U.S. Parole Commission (USPC) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

This increase will enable these agencies to continue to confine offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and contract- or community-based facilities. It also funds self-improvement opportunities for offenders to help them become law-abiding citizens as well as increased funding for Second Chance Act initiatives and re-entry programs to reduce recidivism. Second Chance Act initiatives include expanded transitional housing, BOP inmate correctional programs, and the District of Columbia Recidivism Reduction and Re-entry Enhancement, a new program the USPC will implement in FY 2011.

This request will enable the department to maintain and strengthen its focus on the traditional missions of law enforcement, the judicial process and federal prison and detention systems. Overall, the FY 2011 Budget requests $9 billion of the Department’s total budget authority for these efforts.

For more information, view the Maintain Prisons, Detention, Parole and Judicial and Courthouse Security Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Enforce Immigration Laws

The FY 2011 Budget requests an $11 million increase, including 125 new positions (31 attorneys), to enforce immigration laws, primarily through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). This increase will fund 21 immigration judge teams and 10 Board of Immigration Appeals attorneys, which will allow EOIR to keep pace with the caseload emanating from the Department of Homeland Security. These resources are necessary to ensure that the nation’s approach to immigration enforcement is reasonable, effective and humane.

For more information, view the Enforce Immigration Laws Fact Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Ensure Public Safety in Indian Country

The FY 2011 President’s Budget requests $448.8 million in total resources for public safety initiatives for tribal communities. New investments include significant grant resources for addressing a broad range of criminal justice issues and additional FBI agents and forensic support to help tribal communities combat illegal drug use, trafficking and violent crime. There are over 56 million acres of Indian Country and more than 560 federally-recognized Indian tribes. The Major Crimes Act provides federal criminal jurisdiction over certain specified major crimes if the offender is Indian, while tribal courts retain jurisdiction for conduct that might constitute a lesser offense. Thus, federal investigation and prosecution of felonies in Indian Country cannot be deferred to a local jurisdiction and therefore federal law enforcement is both the first and only avenue of protection for the victims of these crimes.

For more information, view the Indian Country Public Safety Initiatives Information Sheet at at http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2011factsheets/

Senator Thune: President’s Budget would add staggering debt, not jobs

Washington, DC – Senator John Thune reacted to President Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget proposal, which was delivered to Congress this morning. The President’s budget more than doubles the debt, drives spending to a new record of $3.8 trillion in FY 2011, increases the deficit to a new record of $1.6 trillion in FY 2010, and raises taxes by over $2 trillion through 2020. The proposal would elevate the debt held by the public to $18.6 trillion by 2020, which is 77 percent of our projected Gross Domestic Product.

“President Obama’s attempt to recast himself as fiscally responsible comes a year late and falls a few trillion dollars short. Since taking office last year, the President and Congressional Democrats have increased discretionary spending by more than 20 percent, which is six times the rate of inflation,” said Thune. “This reckless approach of more borrowing, more spending and raising taxes to expand the growth and reach of government does little to create jobs. The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats must look beyond government spending as the primary vehicle for job creation and economic growth.

“Future generations of Americans are being asked to pay a very large bill while the majority party refuses to address the real, structural causes of our crippling debt. This budget proposal does nothing to address the root causes of overspending and borrowing; Congress and the President must commit to serious spending restraint before the debt grows beyond our control.”

Senator Thune recently called for a freeze on non-Defense discretionary spending at FY 2008 levels. He has led several attempts to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program as a means of reducing the federal government’s borrowing needs.

The budget proposal also reduces the federal tax deduction for charitable deductions, as did President Obama’s budget proposal last year. Senator Thune’s amendment to the FY 2010 budget to preserve the full deduction was approved in the Senate by a vote of 94-3 last April, but it was stripped out of the final budget bill.

“At a time when many in our country and around the world are struggling, any action that could limit charitable giving should not be undertaken,” added Thune. “I will continue working with my colleagues to preserve the full deduction for charitable giving.”

Herseth Sandlin statement on President’s Budget outline

Washington, DC- U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin released the following statement in response to the release of the President’s budget outline for Fiscal Year 2011.

“Our country faces two critical challenges, and both must be addressed: decreasing the national deficit and economic strength through job creation.”

“I support the President's budget proposal to freeze spending, and applaud him for taking that step, but believe that we can and must do more to cut spending and bring down the debt. I am pleased that last week, the Senate passed tough new ‘pay-as-you-go’ rules that will require Congress to spend within its means. This has long been a priority of mine and of the Blue Dog Coalition, along with a fiscal commission to recommend changes to exploding growth in entitlement spending. These are both common sense tools that have bipartisan support and they should gain the backing of anyone who’s serious about fiscal responsibility.”

“The President’s budget released today is a starting point. I will work hard with my colleagues to ensure that the final budget Congress passes includes responsible and targeted investments that will create jobs and spur growth. I’m disappointed that Lewis and Clark Regional Water System received just $2 million, because it is a perfect example of the kind of project that is creating jobs and fostering economic development.”

Herseth Sandlin noted that in recent years, under administrations of both parties, Lewis and Clark has initially received low funding that has been increased as Congress makes changes to the budget. She will, once again, work to increase this level of funding for Lewis and Clark as a critical part of economic development and water safety in South Dakota. When completed, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System will provide safe drinking water to over 300,000 people in a roughly 5,000 square mile area including parts of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. The project received $56.5 million in Recovery Act funds in 2009.

Herseth Sandlin highlighted several key South Dakota priorities that the President included in his budget:

· $27.5 million for Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply Project, to provide clean drinking water to Tribal and rural communities in western South Dakota.

· The President’s budget also proposes up to $194.4 million for the National Children’s Study. SDSU in Brookings is one of the seven original NCS Vanguard Centers around the country. By tracking 100,000 children to age 21, the NCS will explore the major causes of childhood illnesses such as premature birth, asthma, obesity, preventable injury, autism, development delay, mental illness, and learning disorders.

· $12.7 million in funding for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at Lead to conclude preliminary design activities and for pre-construction planning and related research and development. Additional funding will be needed to keep the project on track.

· $125 billion in proposed funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, a 9.6% increase over funding levels enacted in FY 2010. This request includes funds to improve processing of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits and disability compensation claims. In addition, the budget prioritizes improving health care for women veterans and those suffering from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as reducing veteran homelessness. The budget request also includes $54.3 billion in advanced appropriations for VA health care in FY12, helping ensure veterans health care will not be affected by legislative delays in the appropriations process.

· The President’s budget includes an increase of $35 million over FY10 for forest management at the USDA Forest Service. This investment will allow the Black Hills National Forest to boost timber sales, supporting the local economy and at the same time reducing risks from pine beetles and wildfire. Rep. Herseth Sandlin led an effort in the House urging the Administration to bolster funding in the coming year.

· The budget request included $200 million for the next generation bomber program ($1.7 billion in FY11-15) as well as a strong statement in the Quadrennial Defense Review that the U.S. military needs to expand its long-range strike capabilities, including building long-range surveillance and strike aircraft as part of a comprehensive plan to modernize the bomber force. Ellsworth Air Force Base is very well positioned to receive an additional mission for the next generation bomber.

· For the first time, the President’s budget includes $10 million in funding for Wakpa Sica Reconciliation Place. In the past, Rep. Herseth Sandlin has requested and secured funding for this project which aims to improve economic conditions facing the tribes of the Great Sioux Nation, facilitate the development of tribal justice systems, and promote reconciliation between Indians and non-Indians.

Another weekend, another winter storm

Mother Nature provided another reminder of who is in charge.

The Lake Traverse Reservation and most of the region saw another winter storm develop late last week, through the weekend, and into the new week. Snowfall was never really heavy, but ice plus around six inches of snow came throughout the weekend and into Monday, February 8th.

At first it was gentle, but by Sunday afternoon strong wind gusts had made driving hazardous again.

It’s beginning to become a habit, and we’re not used to it after several fairly mild winters.

Also, following last week’s very mild, even above-freezing temperatures at times, we are facing another cold spell.

Oh well, as long as the lights stay on and it is not necessary to travel, we will survive!

--CDF

Emergency preparedness message –

SWO winter storm closings policy

SWO Tribal members are asked to please contact Tribal Law Enforcement at 698-7661 in the event of an emergency, and to be as specific as possible concerning the nature of the problem.

Tribal officials ask that anyone away from home during a storm, if you find shelter, please notify Tribal Law Enforcement that you are safe. That could prevent rescue workers from endangering themselves out looking for you.

The public is asked to plan ahead when the forecast calls for a possible winter storm. This includes checking to make sure there is ample heating fuel, food, and drinking water. For those with serious medical conditions, be certain there is ample medication on hand.

In some cases, dialysis patients and others with acute health problems should contact their health provider about staying in a “swing bed” or with family or friends close to the health care center. Telephone number of the Woodrow W. Keeble Memorial Health Care Center is 698-7606.

Tribal office business hours on winter storm days

The Tribal offices will be closed due to winter weather in conjunction with the closing of either the Sisseton public schools or Tiospa Zina Tribal School. If it is announced in the news, either on the radio or television, that the Sisseton Public School or Tiospa Zina Tribal School will be starting one hour late due to winter weather then the Tribal offices will open one hour late. If the school is closed because of a major winter storm for an entire day then so shall the Tribe.

If, however, the school is closed because of a non-storm related crisis, such as broken waterlines, then the Tribe shall be open during normal business hours.

Above all, employees are asked to please use their best judgment when traveling in winter weather and avoid traveling during winter storms except in emergencies. (And then, please let others in your family, or friends, and Tribal Law Enforcement, know your plans.)

If possible, everyone is asked to please check on your elderly family members and friends during such times.

SWO Head Start closings policy

(Here is the school closing policy as stated in the Head Start parent handbook.)

1. Facility -The SWO Head Start will close if the facility becomes unsafe for the children. This includes a water break, furnace breakdown, or any health hazard declared by The Director of Head Start, Dept. of Health or by the SWO.

2. Weather-The Head Start and Early Head Start will close if the public or Tribal schools remain closed due to the weather. Notices will be given out over B103 KBWS radio station KELO and KABY TV stations.

3. Head Start-The SWO Head start will not run buses if the temperature is -20 degrees or colder. Parents must transport and pick up their children if no buses run. Children will be considered excused for that day.

Editorials –

Sota guest editorial –

“The Other Foot”

(From the author: “Here are some words an elder gave to me and asked me to make a poem of them and submit them.”)

The other foot

Build a new jail for the county

to house all of the native inmates,

refusing to work in unison with the tribe

and now it's on thin ice that you skate.

Out of money in the county

the opt out plan didn't go so well,

now you talk of dealing with the tribe

maybe put two natives to a cell.

I say that we turn our backs

because your track record is a crime,

we donate lands for schools

and you force our natives to resign.

You are just a reservation town

acting like a big city brute,

closed minds thinking smaller

now you expect us to give a hoot.

Some of your best athletes were natives

yet never got the chance to play,

he might fail a class later

is what I heard one coach say.

Post an officer at the school

now there's money that's being saved,

and then you ask for our assistance

after the way you've behaved.

Some of us may have short memories

but there are those of us who know,

you have made your bed so lay down

you always reap what you sow.

-- Elden Hayes

Sota guest editorial –

Tribal sovereignty depends on tribal members

By Bruce Engle

(Originally published in Spilyay Tymoo, Jan. 27, 2010, Warm Springs, OR.)

This article is about how tribal economies and sovereignty relate to each other.

The more important message is at the end; it’s about the children.

Sovereignty is perishable. It can be extinguished by conquest and by federal law. We Klamaths know this to be true; it happened to us – we call it “termination.”

Fifty-five years ago Congress decided to go out of the Indian business; they had been talking about it for years. They passed a law. We were one of the four tribes Congress selected to show Indian Country how to do it.

Boy, did we show them. Even the government now admits it didn’t work! Nevertheless, it could happen again – with the same result. Indian Country needs to be prepared.

Sure, there are stimulus monies available now for a lot of different projects. So much for the short term; as the federal budget gets tighter, some members of Congress will surely resurrect the concept of termination.

A few of them already look at tribes as having vast resources and only a small minority of the population. In their world, we don’t count as many votes. Few votes, little clout.

Our best defense

A thriving economy is our best defense. It is not just about jobs; it is a sovereignty issue.

Economies and sovereignty have something in common; each needs the other and neither can endure long without the other. I know that may be contrary to what some of us have been taught but I think it’s worth considering.

Tribal ability to assert sovereignty depends much upon tribal economic strength. The same can be said for preserving, protecting, and defending tribal sovereignty. In other words, no cash, no clout!

Indian Country is similar to human groups throughout history. Nations and empires have appeared, become strong, become weak, and then disappeared. Sometimes the people survived the loss of control; usually, they suffered.

Self sufficiency

Here is how I see it for our tribes:

Complete self-sufficiency is a myth for our people. We are a couple hundred years beyond that.

Most people and nations are somewhat dependent upon others.

Co-dependence may lead to acknowledgment of, and accommodation for, common interests and needs. That can be wonderful, but there are risks. Some co-dependents are stronger than others and may not be so accommodating.

Total dependence inevitably leads to subjugation to another’s self-interest.

Tribes might do well to evaluate their dependency situation. The answers will vary. Remedies may or may not be needed.

The less dependent we are, the more self-determinant we are. I suggest that is a worthy goal.

That brings us back to economics and my belief that economic strength enhances our ability to be tribally and personally self-determinate and able to preserve, protect, defend and assert sovereignty.

Model of success

Let’s tie those comments in to what I think Indian Country can do to take advantage of our economic opportunities. As I see it:

The strength of the U.S. has been, and is, in its people, its laws, and in its organizational structure.

Our successes at home and on the world stage are the consequence of an enterprise system that has both freed and harnessed the energy, the drive, the foresight and the inventiveness of our people to produce goods and offer services that meet our needs and the needs of others.

Tribes that have embraced similar visions of economic success and have instituted workable economic systems that are culturally compatible have prospered and seen their members become successful.

Group success depends upon individual success and vice-versa. That road goes both directions.

I believe we strengthen ourselves, our families, and our tribes when we do not depend for our basic income upon transfer funds from the federal government and/or per capitas from casino or other enterprise revenues.

To do so in excess is to sacrifice our individual potential for success and feelings of self-sufficiency, self-determination, and self-worth.

Relying on our people

Our national systems of government and economic development were designed by previous subjects of totalitarianism from abroad who rejected kings and made royalty of the common man. Citizens were left relatively free to do business. Many did so, and successfully.

History has shown those “royal commoners,” as a group, to have been economically pretty successful.

Indian Country has produced individual and tribal successes.

Members who have taught those concepts and the work ethic to their children have seen many of them succeed. Economic success has then become a generational thing.

How do we do that? We must rely on our people.

I remember elders asking about others, “Is he doing well?” and “Are they doing well?”

Those same elders encouraged their kids and grandkids to do well in school. Also, the children worked in the family businesses – mostly farming and ranching. They had chores. They were made responsible for getting them done correctly. They were made to feel that the chores were important.

As the children grew, their responsibilities and contributions to the success of the operation also grew.

So, the children learned the “business” and a work ethic. Parents were role models for the children. Parents and elders set the standards. They made the rules. They monitored the children’s progress. They corrected inadequate behaviors when necessary and a recognizable percentage of those children become successful.

So, what do we get from this?

Raising an economy

Tribal members make tribes successful. Tribal systems can enable or hinder those efforts.

Raising an economy is similar to raising successful children: It takes commitment, a clear vision of the final product, and a lot of work. Preparation is everything. Coaches and athletes say that. Good preparation prevents piddling poor performance.

We and our parents share some responsibility for our success. We and our children will similarly share responsibility for their successes. That is our load to carry – and theirs.

Sota guest editorial –

‘Climategate’ overshadows Copenhagen; Media regress to the bad old days of false balance

By Julie Hollar

(Published on Friday, February 5, 2010 by Extra!)

With the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) was intended to make new international commitments to reduce emissions and fight the effects of global warming. But instead of discussing measures, deadlines and the urgency of international action, the overriding media story going into Copenhagen was whether scientists have been making up the whole "global warming" thing all along.

Just a few weeks before the conference's December 7 opening, hackers made public a trove of private emails and documents stolen from the Climate Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia; they had combed through the cache and highlighted some exchanges that were depicted by climate change deniers as evidence that human-influenced global warming is a fraud. On November 21, the New York Times ran the story on its front page, and what soon become known as "Climategate" stole Copenhagen's media thunder.

The name "Climategate," which has been repeated endlessly across the corporate media as a catchy shorthand for the story, implies some sort of sinister actions and politicization on the part of climate scientists, as science blogger Matthew Nisbet pointed out (Framing Science, 12/6/09). In fact, the Watergate analogy is much more aptly applied to the scandal of the illegal hack into East Anglia's email server in order to smear deniers' "opponents"-the climate scientists.

And thorough debunkings of denialists' claims quickly emerged from those with actual scientific expertise. One detailed analysis, from the Union of Concerned Scientists (12/2/09), concluded:

The email content being quoted does not indicate that climate data and research have been compromised. Most importantly, nothing in the content of these stolen emails has any impact on our overall understanding that human activities are driving dangerous levels of global warming. Media reports and contrarian claims that they do are inaccurate.

Many others also provided in-depth debunkings, such as the Pew Center on Climate Change (Climate Compass, 11/24/09) and environmental blog EnviroKnow (11/25/09). So why did media decide to downplay the hacking scandal and focus on the deniers' claims?

Recent years have seen a positive media shift in climate change reporting, as journalists largely took as a given the scientifically accepted stance that climate change is a very real problem; editorials and columns around the country in the wake of the released emails reflected that (e.g., New York Times, 12/6/09; L.A. Times, 12/7/09). But in their news sections, editors and reporters appeared to return to the pernicious practice of false balance-that "both sides" should be given space to air their claims, despite the fact that the issue is not one of opinion, but of science. There might be people who don't believe gravity exists, but that doesn't mean journalists should include their views for "balance" every time they report on something falling.

Breaking news reports from the country's most prominent papers played the story as a "he said, she said" spat over whether the emails showed, as climate change deniers claimed (Washington Post, 11/21/09), "that scientific data have been rigged to make it appear as if humans are causing global warming."

In the New York Times' front-page article (11/21/09), climate reporter Andrew Revkin (see p. 11) also ran with the deniers' framing, setting up the story by explaining that they "say [the emails] show that climate scientists conspired to overstate the case for a human influence on climate change." Revkin quoted denier Patrick Michaels (see sidebar) saying, "This is not a smoking gun; this is a mushroom cloud." He returned to Michaels later in the piece, as well as quoting denialist blogger Stephen McIntyre.

USA Today led its short November 23 piece on the story by explaining that a leading scientist implicated in the email hack is "appalled at the very selective use of the emails and the fact they've been taken out of context," only to promptly provide an example of exactly how that is done, citing denialist McIntyre and then quoting one seemingly incriminating line from the scientists' emails to conclude the piece-no context provided.

While newspapers set the tone, television took the concept of false balance even further. Equal time for deniers and scientists was standard procedure (see, e.g., NBC Nightly News, 12/4/09), and the denier claims were treated with utmost seriousness.

CBS Evening News (12/5/09) anchor Jeff Glor teased the program's East Anglia segment, "Did some scientists fudge the numbers to make climate change look worse than it is?" Correspondent Kimberly Dozier reported that the hacked emails . . .

“have cast doubts on the very science this summit is based on. The emails seem to show that some of the world's top experts decided to exclude or manipulate some research that didn't help prove global warming exists. 1998 was the hottest year since record-keeping began. But the temperature went down the next year, and it's only spiked a couple of times since. An email from 1999 shows scientists worked hard to demonstrate an upward trend. They talk of using a "trick" to "hide the decline" in global temperatures.”

Actually, that particular email referred to "Mike's Nature trick," referring to a solution to a problem of divergent temperature records that was published in 1998 in Nature (5/28/98), the world's most prominent science journal-an unlikely place to "hide" anything. And the discussion was not about a decline "in global temperatures"; Nature could hardly have been concealing a decline in 1998, a year that broke temperature records.

After quoting a scientist, leading denier Sen. James Inhofe (R.-Okla.) and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, Dozier concluded: "But the leaked memos have given ammunition to critics of climate change, so climate change supporters fear Copenhagen may only produce the framework for an agreement that then will be passed on to next year."

The idea that the emails were serious "ammunition" was a common theme, as when ABC World News (12/6/09) reported:

“Tomorrow is the start of a huge global summit on what some people believe is the most important problem in the world, climate change. However, as this summit begins, climate change skeptics have been handed some real ammunition, a scandal over leaked emails from key scientists.”

CNN produced perhaps the most egregious coverage of the story. On the first two days of the Copenhagen conference, primetime news anchor Campbell Brown ran special segments called "Global Warming: Trick or Truth?"-the tag the network used across its programming for reports on the email brouhaha.

On December 7-Day 1 of Copenhagen-after a segment explaining the emails, Brown kicked off her "Trick or Truth" coverage with a roundtable featuring deniers Stephen McIntyre (described as a "skeptical scientist"-actually a former oil industry adviser with a mathematics background) and attorney Chris Horner against climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton, with CNN's John Roberts thrown into the mix. Brown concluded by asking for "areas where you think we could agree in terms of the policies we should be pursuing." Of course, looking for climate change policies endorsable by climate change deniers is absurd; unsurprisingly, they couldn't come up with any.

Brown then turned to CNN reporter Tom Foreman to "do a little reality check on climate change" and "try to separate fact from fiction for us." Foreman explained that "supporters" of climate change say it's a "serious problem," while "skeptics" say "we've got a lot more time to study this and figure out if we're right or wrong." He concluded with a painstaking lack of conclusion: "Again, not taking any stance on this, Campbell, but that's the general sense of where we stand. We look about why this is happening and what the two different arguments are about what we should or shouldn't do about it."

The next day, Brown featured denialist Michaels vs. Bill Nye "The Science Guy," and Republican Congressman Darrell Issa vs. Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee. Brown argued to Nye:

“The problem is, you keep saying, the scientists say, the scientists say, but can't you see that what's happened with these e-mails, again, fairly or unfairly, has caused a lot of people to doubt what the scientists are saying? Their credibility was damaged by this, you know, whether, again, it deserved to be or not. So, how do you address that problem going forward?”

One might have thought it was Brown's job as a journalist to help clear up scientific credibility on the issue-to ascertain whether scientists were being questioned "fairly or unfairly."

But she wasn't alone at CNN in feeding into the doubts and confusion. Her primetime colleague Anderson Cooper teased one of his East Anglia segments (12/7/09): "Hacked emails that climate change skeptics say prove scientists have distorted the facts on global warming. We'll show you some of the emails and you'll hear from both sides of the sides of the debate. You make up your own mind." Cooper seemed to be trying to take a page from the network that's been trouncing him in ratings lately, stealing their "We report, you decide" slogan-a particularly inappropriate methodology for a settled scientific question.

Likewise, CNN's Rick Sanchez (12/7/09) told viewers: "This controversy over these hacked emails that reveal that there may have been some shenanigans going on with some of the leading scientists over in Europe. And, certainly, the right is making a lot of hay out of it, and so is the left." Exactly how the left was "making hay" out of the situation is unclear. When Sanchez later noted, "Look, we're not going to settle the global warming argument here on CNN," that failure was already painfully clear.

It's not that journalists couldn't settle the argument; while there remain legitimate debates within the scientific community over the rate of warming and the most effective means to reverse it, the argument over whether man is contributing to climate change exists only within the political world, not the scientific one. But why disturb behemoths like the energy and auto industries-which advertise heavily in the media-by acknowledging that?

Over at NBC (whose parent company, GE, has significant fossil-fuel interests), a Today report by chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson (12/7/09) made something of an attempt to throw some facts back into the discussion, citing a sea-ice study and the fact that scientists "say it doesn't matter what's in those e-mails, the Earth is changing"-only to be wrapped up by NBC Today co-anchor Meredith Vieira concluding, "Yeah, but the controversy will certainly continue." And so it will, as long as corporate journalists pretend there's a legitimate debate there.

Undisclosed Interests

Patrick Michaels, described by the New York Times' Andrew Revkin as "a climatologist who has long faulted evidence pointing to human-driven warming and is criticized in the documents," is also a senior fellow at the free-market Cato Institute and a favorite denialist source because of his climatology background, which is regularly cited as a way of informing news consumers of his apparent expertise.

What's not regularly cited is the hundreds of thousands of dollars Michaels has received from the fossil fuel industries over the years (Sourcewatch, "Patrick J. Michaels")-background that people might find even more useful in judging his statements. In the East Anglia coverage, Michaels appeared on CNN five times between December 5 and 8, as well as on Fox (12/10/09) and NBC (12/4/09); not once was his industry funding disclosed.

Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic Julie Hollar is the managing editor of FAIR's magazine, “Extra!”.

Brief editorial comments from the editor’s desk –

On and Off the Lake Traverse Reservation

Thanks to the community sponsors of last week’s gang awareness training and public forum.

It was good to see so many people taking part in the workshop, including our Tribal members, helping to understand and discourage further inroads the “gangster mentality” might make in our neighborhoods . . . in our own tiospayes.

*****

We’ve been looking over President Obama’s 2011 budget requests, and wouldn’t it be really positive for the Oyate if the DOJ budget could help fund our community justice/rehab center?

We can think of no better way to reduce recidivism and strengthen local services for offenders than to make this vision come to life on the Lake Traverse Reservation.

*****

Congratulations to the mighty Wambdipi who competed in this year’s Dakota Oyate Challenge at Huron!

The Wambdi boys brought home the third place trophy, while the girls captured fourth place honors.

These young athletes competed well and represented their Oyate with honor.

We recognize Cheyenne Mendenhall for being named to the all-tournament team.

See photos elsewhere in this issue courtesy of Frank Gangone, and hopefully more coming next week.

******

Reaching out to help those in need is an admirable thing.

We applaud those in the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs who have sent a group of relief workers to Haiti this month.

The effort was initiated by the Tribes’ Fire and Safety Director, who wanted to put together Native American-based emergency workers to help in the aftermath of the disaster.

It is good to see models of how tribes can help other tribes and indigenous peoples.

It is not necessary to travel long distances either; what about helping the hard-hit oyate of Cheyenne River following the ice storm and widespread long power outages.

Any help there is much appreciated.

As of late last week, reports indicated that power had been restored to much of the reservation, but there remained about 100 households still without electricity. Even with power back on-line, residents there are in difficult straits due to the storm damage and prolonged loss of power to essential needs – including refrigerators and freezers.

*****

OnCall Medical Radio, an audio podcast produced at South Dakota State University, is available on the Sota website.

Each week, listen to a new 3-minute audio interview conducted by Dr. Rick Holm.

Check it out!

*****

Here are quotes provided this week by Ken Siyaka for our readers:

“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” Ronald Reagan

“The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.” Thomas Jefferson

“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” Thomas Jefferson

*****

Words to consider (or, perhaps, not!):

“Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.” Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 - 1799)

“My Karma ran over your dogma.” Unknown

“If I only had a little humility, I'd be perfect.” Ted Turner

“Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners.” E. Joseph Cossman

“The squeaking wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced.” Vic Gold

*****

Please remember, we need to continue praying for all of our soldiers serving in all branches of the military in harm’s way today, by prayer, by letters, by sharing our concern with them and with others of the community.

We pray that their service helps bring peace and stability to the world, and that they all come home safe and sound.

We need to continue to remember our servicemen and women, because there are still many serving in the war zones.

Please pray for peace!

*****

Others who can always use our prayers are our incarcerated Oyate.

They are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunties, and all in need of a concerned and caring tiospaye on the outside of the walls.

Let us renew our commitment to their well-being.

*****

While we are remembering our warriors in harm’s way, and those who are incarcerated, let’s not forget our homeless.

Whatever circumstances, or “trauma” has carried them to wherever they are, they deserve our attention and prayer.

Let’s offer special prayers for those of our Oyate currently using the “wet house” established for them at the former Tekakwitha grounds at Sisseton.

We plan to ask their permission to feature them in the former Pohlen house in an upcoming edition of the Sota.

*****

Those who have internet access can read the Sota news and view photo highlights from each weekly issue – in full color – at the following website, which is updated weekly (more frequently when needed):

http://www.earthskyweb.com/sota.html

*****

There is no way your Sota staff could possibly cover all the many activities in the schools and Districts of the Lake Traverse Reservation. We encourage our readers and friends to submit material and pictures whenever you can!

Submission of articles, ideas and rough drafts, and photographs, are always welcome.

If you have an interesting family story, or news you would like to share, please contact the editor.

Besides news updates of interest to the Oyate, we are always open to publishing historical features, stories, and legends. Keeping the traditions alive is one of the missions of the Tribal newspaper, and is too often ignored in the rush of current events.

*****

Copy to be considered for publication – news, advertising, editorial opinion letters, etc. – are to be submitted to Sota, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. FAX and e-mail submissions will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Friday (with the exception of letters to the editor/Open letters to the Oyate, or “opinion” letters, which must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Thursday).

If you are writing an opinion letter, please note that it must be signed and the author’s name will appear in print. Letters must not contain libel and must be brief, ideally 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for content. Omissions will be identified with periods . . . editor’s explanations will be provided in [brackets]. Readers who want access to unedited versions will need to contact the authors.

Earlier receipt of copy is always appreciated. So, if you are aware of a date or message that needs to be publicized or advertised, please let us know about it in advance of the weekly deadline.

For more information, contact Tribal headquarters, Agency Village, (605) 698-3911. Also, a 24-hour dedicated fax line is installed at the Sota production office: (605) 938-4676. Voice-mail messages can be sent to the production office at (605) 938-4452. The preferred way to submit typed articles and ads, art, and photos (if you happen to have access to a digital camera or scanner), is by e-mail. Sending photos as moderately compressed jpeg files, each approximately 150-300 KB in size, is preferred, attached to an e-mail message containing information about the pictures.

The editor can be reached at the following e-mail address:

earthskyweb@cs.com

Digital files are also accepted on disc/cd.

-- CDF

Note

There are no obituaries reported in this week’s Sota.

Notice of editorial policy

(Editor’s note: The following comes from the editor’s column and the Sota “deadlines and policies” statement published weekly in the Sota.)

Copy to be considered for publication – news, advertising, editorial opinion letters, etc. – are to be submitted to: Sota, P.O. Box 5, Wilmot, SD 57279 by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. FAX and e-mail submissions will be accepted until 12:00 noon on Friday (with the exception of letters to the editor/Open letter to the Oyate, or “opinion” letters, which must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Thursday).

If you are writing an opinion letter, please note that it must be signed and the author’s name will appear in print. Letters must not contain libel or offensive language and must be brief, 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for content. Omissions will be identified with periods . . . editor’s explanations will be provided in [brackets]. Readers who want access to unedited versions will need to contact the authors.

Open letter to the Oyate

(Editor’s note: Jody submitted this letter too late for us to consider for publication last week, but we’ve done research into its content. Last year the Tribe’s Housing Development Corporation took a mortgage on the land designated for building apartments at the Dakota Magic complex in North Dakota. Judge Swallow was involved because the agreement had to comply with tax credit law, and he is said to be an expert in that field. Critics, including Jody, are upset because this action should have been taken by Tribal Council if at all; in this case, Tribal Council approved the assignment of mortgage after the fact. The land will be available to place into trust once the mortgage is paid in full. In part two of his letter, Jody refers to a federal subpoena but that subpoena we have learned seeks tax information from the Tribe concerning consultant agreements with Redshield and Red Arrow – it is not an indictment against Chairman Selvage as Jody seems to imply. Tribal Vice-Chairman Garryl Rousseau received the subpoena and is answering it this month.)

Here's this week’s letter, I took a week off of writing letters because, I wanted to research a few things and found out some pretty interesting things.

First I would like to talk about is the Tribe’s new, I'm not sure what to call it, a new corporation, but the paper said it's a partnership, its name is Dakota Magic Homes Limited partnership, and for some reason, one of our Judges is the registered agent, Michael Swallow, not a Tribal member. I wonder why a Tribal member is not involved in this, and the nature of business is to construct, hold, operate, sell, dispose of & otherwise deal with affordable housing, and the General/Managing Partners, is Dakota Nation Housing Development Corp. I'm thinking why on earth would our Tribal Council and Tribal Chairman allow a wasicu to mortgage our property for $350,000, and because this paper I have in front of me, says the Assignor has the good right to sell, assign and transfer the same. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's a Council power, how could they give this man the right to sell our stuff or mortgage it. This land is located at Dakota Magic and get this it’s not in trust yet, is this why the wasicu can do this. Oh I forgot to mention the assignor, it's Michael Mcafferty. I talked to a Council member about this and they had no idea what was going on, how strange. I'll make sure to e-mail the editor a copy of the paper work so he knows I'm not just saying this.

I also heard the Chairman was served a federal subpoena, for what I'm not sure but the talk out there is not good. I heard that it involves his company Redshield. I told you last time we have to get this man out of office, so at my next District meeting I'll make a motion to suspend him for public conduct so as to question the integrity of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. Sound good? I'm sure the Council won't go for it, but at least it’s out in the open and the people have knowledge of what's going on within our Tribe.

That's all for now, talk to you next week.

Jody Owen.

Open letter to the Oyate

Has the entire Roberts County bureaucracy gone off the deep end?

I hear constant reports that the County is stone broke and that they will not have money to pay the employees next week. The obvious issue with that is that it is January and the County taxes do not come in again until May.

I hear suggestions like the County employees should pay 50 dollars of their health insurance each month. The obvious problem with that is that it is apparently only directed to certain employees. It won’t work and is way too little too late if it would.

I hear rumors that the Auditor has suggested that the Commissioners be removed from the County’s health insurance policy and that the County pay for their Medicare supplemental instead. My question is, if that would save some 25,000 dollars a year, why are we just considering it now? Everybody who has had any experience with insurance knows that the primary insurance company pays first (Medicare) and the secondary company picks up the slack. Is it possible that nobody in the Auditors, Treasurers or Commissioners office knows that? Also the Commissioners are not full time employees and I cannot figure out how they are allowed on the employee health insurance policy in the first place. A couple of years ago the Legislature gave County Commissioners the right to set their own salaries. It looks to me like our Commissioners were taking some 10,000 dollars a year more salary per person that the law allowed. Right now I am unaware of any other elected official in the State whose salary is not set by statute.

I hear ideas that they are trying to sell the landfill. It seems like, from what I am able to find out, that the landfill is actually self supporting and actually generates a fair amount of extra revenue. The idea that you sell and income producing asset to pay expenses that are being incurred every month and which your regular income cannot cover is ludicrous. If the landfill generates a small amount of profit every month then that means that your regular income is cut even more and it will take even less time to burn up the sale of it in unfunded ongoing expenses.

They tried to get a tax opt out which the voters did not approve in a big way. Even if they would have been successful at that little trick it would not have solved their current crisis as any extra taxes that would have come in from that would still be in the future and they already have an insurmountable problem. Tax money in November, broke in mid January, no more tax money until May.

I am surprised that they didn’t decide, after the vote, that it took 99 percent of the voters to scuttle the tax opt out. They told the voters it took a 60% approval to allow them to build a 7-8-9-10 million dollar jail which we needed like we needed another hole in the head. Then after the vote, which showed a 51% approval, they decided that it only took 50%. I told Dawn at the time that the only way to clear the Commissioners from personal liability for that project was to have a new election and I still believe that is true. Given the state of our legal/judicial system, I don’t think that anything can be done about it no matter how illegal it may have been. She just complained that it would cost 6,000 dollars and I am sure that they did not do it because they knew it would never get a 51% vote again. I bet they wish they could turn back the clock and spend the 6,000 dollars now. With the clock turned back they might even have it to spend.

Gene Paulson.

CDC and IHS urge Native American parents to protect preteens with recommended Vaccines

As children approach their teen years, parents often worry about how to protect them from new risks and potential dangers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is partnering with the Indian Health Service to launch a campaign informing American Indian and Alaska Native parents and other caregivers about the importance of a preteen medical check-up and preteen vaccines.

Research shows that preteens generally do not get preventive health care, visiting the doctor only when they are sick. One goal of this campaign is to encourage parents to take their preteens in for an 11- or 12-year-old check-up, which is a comprehensive, preventive health exam. During the check-up, the doctor takes a complete medical history, screens for diseases like diabetes, discusses puberty and other issues such as how to stay healthy and avoid substance abuse, and ensures that immunizations are up to date.

"Many parents may not be aware that there are vaccines that preteens need to protect them against potentially serious diseases, including meningitis, pertussis, influenza, and the virus that causes cervical cancer," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "Vaccinations play an important role in protecting your child's health. But they do more than protect children. By ensuring you and your family receive recommended vaccines, you help to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health of the community."

Three vaccines are specifically recommended for the preteen years: MCV4, which prevents some types of meningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or "whooping cough;" and for girls, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer. Annual seasonal flu shots and vaccination against H1N1 influenza are also recommended for preteens, just as they are for younger children starting at age 6 months, and for older children, through age 18.

Preteen vaccine recommendations are supported by the CDC, IHS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

"There is a common perception that check-ups are only for infants, but this isn't true," said Dr. Michael Bartholomew, a member of the Kiowa Tribe and chief of pediatrics at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in Arizona. "Eleven- and 12-year-olds also need a check-up to ensure that they stay healthy as they enter their adolescent years."

CDC and IHS have developed posters and flyers to educate parents about the preteen check-up and preteen vaccines, which can be ordered or downloaded from the campaign Web site at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/aian. These materials were created with input from American Indian and Alaska Native parents in the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest.

Other campaign activities include outreach to American Indian and Alaska Native media, partnerships with American Indian and Alaska Native organizations that reach parents and healthcare providers, and a community-based education project in New Mexico.

For more information about the campaign, please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/aian.

UND Center for Rural Health partners with National Institute of Mental Health

Grand Forks, ND – The Center for Rural Health at The University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences has been selected as the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) Outreach Partner for the state of North Dakota. The Center joins a nationwide network of organizations that educates the public about mental and substance use disorders, and scientific progress in these areas to promote the prevention, early detection and treatment of these disorders and reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with them.

Through the Outreach Partnership Program, NIMH strives to increase public awareness about the importance of basic, translational and clinical research to the understanding, prevention and treatment of mental illnesses and addiction disorders, paving the way for recovery and cures. NIMH also seeks the input of its partners from national and state organizations to strengthen the public health impact of the research it conducts and funds through better understanding of community needs. In addition to 55 partners from every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, over 80 national organizations participate in the program, representing the patient, professional, advocacy and service-related communities primarily concerned with mental health, alcoholism and drug use disorders.

The NIMH provides the Partners with research updates, opportunities to network with state and national organizations through an annual meeting and other regional meetings, access to NIMH publications for statewide distribution and an annual stipend.

The Center for Rural Health was founded in 1980 by The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The Center is one of the nation’s most experienced organizations committed to providing leadership in rural health. The Center serves as a resource to researchers, educators, policymakers, and health care providers across the state of North Dakota and the nation. Activities are targeted toward identifying and researching rural health issues, analyzing health policy, strengthening local capabilities, developing community-based alternatives, and advocating for rural concerns. The Center’s mission is to connect resources and knowledge to strengthen the health of people in rural communities.

Outreach Partners are chosen through a competitive process in which applications are reviewed by a panel of experts and NIMH staff. The Program is an initiative of the NIMH with support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Food allergies and intolerances the focus of Feb. 11 “On Call” program

Brookings, SD – Kids might like to believe they are “allergic” to green beans, broccoli, and other nutritious foods, but the parents of children with true allergies to foods know it is no game.

During the Feb. 11 “On Call” program, medical editor Dr. Rick Holm and program producer and host Tami Watson will analyze the topic of allergies and intolerances to food and food products with their guests, Dr. Thomas Luzier, an allergy and immunology specialist with Aberdeen Asthma & Allergy, and Dr. Stephen Nanton, a pediatric gastroenterologist form Avera Children’s Hospital & Clinics.

“We’ll discuss peanut allergies and treatments, along with other allergy-focused topics,” said Watson. “Drs. Luzier and Nanton will help us to understand symptoms and how the body reacts to foods and substances to which it is allergic. They will also explain how intolerance and allergy differ.”

During the live broadcast, viewers can call 1-888-DrOnCall (1-888-376-6225) with their questions about allergies and intolerances to food. Viewers also can e-mail their questions in advance of the broadcast by visiting the “On Call” Web site at http://oncall.sdstate.org/.

“On Call” airs Thursdays on South Dakota Public Broadcasting-Television at 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain. “On Call” is a weekly program about health produced by the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.

The South Dakota State Medical Association and the South Dakota Department of Health both endorse “On Call” and its programming. “On Call” is the only show to receive these endorsements.

The program is made possible by major underwriter support from Avera Health and the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care. Additional sponsors include Dakotacare, Brookings Health System, the South Dakota American College of Physicians, Swiftel Communications, and the Friends of SDPB.

The Brookings Health System, Fishback Financial Corporation, and the Larson Foundation provide closed captioning for “On Call.”

The Feb. 18 “On Call” program focuses on skin problems like acne and athlete’s foot. For more information about the program, visit the “On Call” Web site at http://oncall.sdstate.org/.

Echo Hawk Names Bart Stevens as Acting BIE Director

Appointment temporary while process to fill critical post continues

Washington, DC – Feb. 4, 2010 – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that he has named Bartholomew “Bart” Stevens as Acting Director of the Bureau of Indian Education while the process for finding a permanent director continues. The temporary appointment became effective February 2. The vacancy announcement for the post opened last November and closed on February 1.

“This temporary move was necessary as we review and assess what we expect to be a talented slate of candidates for the critical position of Director of the Bureau of Indian Education,” Echo Hawk said. “I am pleased that Bart Stevens has assumed this leadership role to keep the Bureau on track in delivering quality education services to all BIE students.”

Stevens, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona with ancestry from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Idaho and the Ute Indian Tribe in Utah, has been the Bureau’s Deputy Director for School Operations since January 4, 2009. He replaces Kevin Skenandore, who had been serving as the acting BIE director since August 2007.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to Kevin Skenandore for his diligence as acting BIE director over the past 29 months and his dedication to the improvement of our schools,” Echo Hawk said.

Following a long career in teaching, counseling and school administration positions in tribal and public schools in Utah, Stevens joined the BIE’s New Mexico South Education Line Office in Albuquerque in July 2006 as an Education Line Officer (ELO).

Starting in August 2007, he concurrently held two of three BIE associate deputy directorships – Acting Associate Deputy Director-East and Acting Associate Deputy Director-West – in which he was responsible for the line management, direction and supervision of 16 Education Line Offices overseeing BIE-funded schools in 25 states. He continued to serve in both posts until his promotion to Deputy Director for School Operations.

Stevens holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Development (2000) and a Master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision (2005) from Utah State University. He also holds a Master’s degree in Social Work (2003) from the University of Utah. In 2005, he received an administrative/supervisory education license from the Utah Office of Education.

The Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs oversees the Bureau of Indian Education which operates the federal school system for American Indian and Alaska Native children from the federally recognized tribes. The BIE implements federal education laws, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, in and provides funding to 183 elementary and secondary day and boarding schools and peripheral dormitories located on 64 reservations in 23 states and serving approximately 42,000 students (School Year 2009-2010). The BIE also serves post secondary students through higher education scholarships and support funding to 26 tribal colleges and universities and two tribal technical colleges. It directly operates two post secondary institutions: Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M.

Echo Hawk names Paula L. Hart as Director of the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Gaming

Washington, DC – Feb. 4, 2010 – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that he has named Paula L. Hart as Director of the IA Office of Indian Gaming. Hart, an enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in New York, had been serving as the office’s acting director since May 2008. The appointment became effective on February 1, 2010.

“I am pleased that Ms. Hart has accepted this opportunity to continue leading the Office of Indian Gaming,” Echo Hawk said. “Her knowledge and experience in the field of tribal gaming make her a strong member of my team.”

“I am grateful to have been provided this leadership opportunity,” Hart said. “I am looking forward to working with Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk to meet the goal of empowering tribal nations.”

Hart’s federal career began in March 1993 when she joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ ranks as a Rights Protection Specialist in its Eastern Area Office (now Eastern Regional Office), then located in Fairfax, Va., where she assisted federally recognized tribes with boundary disputes, treaty issues and tax rights.

In June 1994, she joined the Interior Department’s newly established office on tribal gaming as a Management Analyst, where she was tasked with developing the initial national guidance for Indian Country on gaming matters – some of which is still being used today.

From July 1997 to May 2005, Hart served as a Paralegal Specialist under the Director of the Office of Indian Gaming Management (now the Office of Indian Gaming). As such, she assisted the Director and senior operating staff on all legal matters concerning tribal government operations and authorities relating to Indian gaming operations.

In May 2005, Hart was promoted to Deputy Director of the Office of Indian Gaming Management. In that post she held supervisory responsibilities and served in an advisory capacity to the Director, the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs and senior IA officials on the formulation and development of the BIA’s national gaming programs to ensure compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) and DOI policies, regulations and guidelines.

In May 2008, Hart was named the Acting Director of the Office of Indian Gaming, where her responsibilities have included, in addition to budget, personnel and administrative matters, overseeing the development of policies and procedures used to implement the Secretary’s responsibilities under IGRA relating to land acquisition requests from federally recognized tribes for gaming purposes, tribal-state gaming compacts, tribal gaming per capita distribution plans, secretarial approvals of trust assets and gaming-related contracts and secretarial procedures for Class III casino-type gaming.

She also served from May 2008 to May 2009 as the acting Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs where she advised on matters relating to human resources, budget and administrative functions of IA offices and programs, and worked on special projects concerning a variety of issues including federal acknowledgment, economic development, finance and tribal governance.

Hart holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. (1984) and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland’s School of Law in Baltimore (1990). She has been a member of the State Bar of Maryland since 1992.

Ripple Effect –

Forecasting Floods: No Right Number

If there’s one lesson John Wheeler wished to leave attendees with at the Red River Basin Commission’s 2010 Annual Summit Conference, it is to not become obsessed with a number.

Wheeler, chief meteorologist for WDAY-TV, Fargo and WDAZ-TV, Grand Forks, stressed that because flooding is dependent on weather, and weather is volatile and difficult to capture, it can be a big mistake to fixate on a projected flood crest number. We need to be more flexible, Wheeler advised, and not hang all our hopes on a dike a few inches higher than a forecasted level.

Not only is flooding dependent on weather and thus difficult to predict, Wheeler explained, but every flood is different. To illustrate his point, he narrated the weather stories behind the last two major floods. The floods of 1997 and 2009, Wheeler said, were very different, a difference, he says, that can be traced to weather.

The 1997 flood, Wheeler said, was preceded by a late 1800’s “Little House on the Prairie”-style winter. Snows came early and regularly, for a record-breaking total of 117 inches in Fargo (and 97 inches in Grand Forks). Or, put another way, there was an average water content across the basin of 10.47 inches that needed a place to go in the spring.

The message became clear early that year, when a warning of “possible record flooding” came out in January. By March, the warning had turned to “record flooding likely.” The waters also came slowly; the basin as a whole benefited from the slow melt. But effects of the basin-wide snow pack were unavoidable, and most areas along the Red, on average, broke 20th Century crest records by 2 feet. Grand Forks fared the worst, with a devastating crest 5.54 feet higher than record.

If the 1997 flood came slowly yet surely, the flood of 2008 was less clear in its making, but came more rapidly. The fall of 2008 was unmistakably wet, Wheeler reminded the audience, yet the snowfall, which came in bunches, didn’t necessarily add up to a flood.

The factors that turned the corner to significant flooding, in Wheeler’s analysis, occurred in March, when a severe blizzard on March 10-11 was followed by a too-fast warm up on fields that had been scoured by the storm, leaving black soil exposed to the sun. Most of the nine days following the storm saw warmer-than-usual temperatures—30s, 40s and even a day into the 50s. The warm-up was followed by 1.83 inches of rain, and a crest on the Wild Rice (ND) on March 25 that broke records.

When up to another 30 inches of snow hit the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area, Fargo and Moorhead found themselves facing a rapidly approaching crest 15 inches higher than 1997.

Given the uncertain interactions between flooding and weather, Wheeler concluded, we must keep our planning “very big.” “None of us,” he added, “have seen the Red at its worst.”

Until the next Ripple Effect, The Red River Basin Commission (RRBC).

The RRBC is a grassroots organization that is a chartered not-for-profit corporation under the provisions of Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota law. Our offices in Moorhead, MN and Winnipeg, MB can be reached at 218-291-0422 and 204-982-7254, or you can check out our website at www.redriverbasincommission.org.

Common Tax Credit expanded; But many Workers overlook

57,700 South Dakota Households Benefitted Last Year; 1 of Every 4 Eligible Misses Out

St. Paul, MN – An expanded federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) means larger South Dakota families will qualify for a larger credit, offering greater relief for people who struggled through difficult financial times last year, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

EITC, which is in its thirty-fifth year, is one of the federal government’s largest benefit programs for working families and individuals. Nationally last year, nearly 24 million people received $50 billion in benefits. The average credit was more than $2,000.

In South Dakota, approximately 57,700 individuals or families received about $109 million in EITC in 2009 with an average credit of $1,890.

Yet, historically, one in four eligible taxpayers fails to claim the credit. "In these times, working individuals and families can use some extra help. The EITC can make life a little easier," said Carrie Resch, IRS spokesperson.

"If your income decreased last year or you had a change in the number of dependents you claim, you might qualify for the first time," Resch said. "We encourage people to check on whether they qualify so they don't miss out."

Other people who typically fail to claim the EITC include workers without qualifying children, people whose earned income falls below the threshold required to file a tax return, farmers, rural residents, people with disabilities and nontraditional families such as grandparents raising grandchildren. People must file a tax return to claim the EITC.

Eligibility for EITC depends on earned income and family size, among other tests. However, single people and childless workers also are eligible, although for smaller amounts. For tax years 2009 and 2010, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created a new category for families with three or more children and expanded the maximum benefit for this category.

To qualify for the EITC, earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) for individuals must each be less than:

* $43,279 ($48,279 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children

* $40,295 ($45,295 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children

* $35,463 ($40,463 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child

* $13,440 ($18,440 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

The maximum credit for tax year 2009 is:

* $5,657 with three or more qualifying children

* $5,028 with two qualifying children

* $3,043 with one qualifying child

* $457 with no qualifying children

The maximum amount of investment income a taxpayer may have and claim the EITC is $3,100 for tax year 2009. For families, there are also certain requirements for child residency and relationship that must be met. Additional eligibility information is available at www.irs.gov/eitc.

Free help is available to EITC-eligible taxpayers. There are nearly 12,000 free tax preparation sites nationwide; call 1-800-829-1040 to find the nearest location. People who want to prepare their own tax returns electronically can visit Free File on IRS.gov. This free tax preparation software and electronic filing program will walk taxpayers through a question-and-answer format and help them claim the tax credits and deductions for which they are eligible.

EITC-eligible taxpayers also can seek assistance at the 400 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide. In South Dakota, Taxpayer Assistance Centers are in Aberdeen, Rapid City and Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls assistance center also is open on upcoming Saturdays, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help EITC filers.

An online EITC Assistant at IRS.gov can help taxpayers determine eligibility and estimate their credit.

More than 65 percent of EITC returns are prepared by a third party. The IRS urges taxpayers to choose a reputable tax preparer to avoid problems that come with an inaccurate tax return. More information is available at www.irs.gov/eitc.

South Dakota State Legislative News

Report from Senator Gary Hanson

Sixteen days of the South Dakota Legislative Session have passed and with that a crucial deadline of bill submission. The pace has begun to hasten as committee meetings have found their niche and are voting on bills regarding important, innovative, and sometimes controversial issues.

One of the most publicized debates that brought 35 legislators, lobbyists, and community members to testify in front of the committee. Three days of discussion in front of a packed committee room on SB 1, which was to increase certain registration fees and taxes for the use of motor vehicles on the public highways resulted in a passed motion to move the bill to the 41st day, killing the bill. It would have increased the gas tax by 3 cents this May and another 3 cents in May 2012 in an attempt to fund South Dakota Highways. License fees would have been increased as well giving the counties and townships some added revenue. It leaves many to wonder how the state will fund highways in the next few years as it is already facing financial hardships that have been leading to difficult decisions that will affect the state and its future. This bill was created by the summer study who extensively discussed how to fund our state highways.

There are several bills floating around dealing with excise and sales tax refunds for new agriculture and business facilities. The governor’s bill revises certain provisions by cutting the refunds in half of what the current law says. Another bill being floated around would put a moratorium on the statute for two years. Both are in response to the tight budget we are having. My take on the situation is we made the deal to level the playing field on our inequity of taxes compared with other states to get energy companies to come into our state and now after they have spent time and money preparing to build a project we pull the rug out form under them.

There have been some interested wind companies developing footprints in SD signing five leases with land owners to eventually construct towers in the area. Because of the huge expense and the difficulty with financing there has been a consorted effort to change the lease agreements. Several bills are being circulated which would change the length of the lease to twelve and some to fifty years. I have took the stance that there are still some rouge lease companies that are not interested in building but just tying up some land to develop a footprint and to resell it. If a company is legitimate and they can document to me that they are serious about building, I would gladly negotiate a longer lease.

Open government has had some encouraging developments also. SB 82 is a bill that requires certain contracts, that are ten thousand dollars or more are displayed on open.sd.gov within 60 days of the commencement of the contract. It also allows the contracts to be taken off the website one year after the end of the contract term in order to avoid overloading the website.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at sen.garyhanson@state.sd.govor call (605)773-4494.

Report from Rep. Frerichs

2/3/10

Bills are all entered in the Legislative process.

“Discussion”, “questions”, and “final action on legislation” are the buzz words in our South Dakota Legislature. Our committee hearings are regularly dispensing with about four bills during each meeting and I feel fairness has been exercised. All legislation must be entered into our system and now the general public, lobbyists, and State employees hone in on important issues for their cause.

Our House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee recently dealt with three bills that change the State statute for a commission and check-off councils. The Weed and Pest Commission legislation removed the voting membership of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Dean of the Agriculture and Biological Sciences College at South Dakota State University. These two departments do not have a large amount of ownership if any of agriculture land, so it is fitting to move them to an advisory capacity.

The Corn Utilization Council brought us Legislation to reduce the number of board members who decide how to spend the producer contributed check-off dollars. I voted against this bill in committee because I am concerned about reducing the number of corn producers who decide how to spend the funds we contribute when we sell our corn. When this bill came to the House Floor I did support it, because I understand they want to increase the quality of those who serve, but I still have some reservations about producer participation. Lastly a bill was presented to us from the Oilseed Commission that reduces the number of board members, increase the check-off fee, as well as removes the referendum language. I did not support this bill in committee because I think having access to a referendum procedure is important. However, in the current form the process for oilseed producers to put the check-off to a referendum vote is somewhat confusing.

I am proud to be moving various pieces of legislation. I had my first hearing on a bill of this session; and it was also my first House Bill to be passed out of Committee and head to the House Floor. House Bill 1190 which revises the Opportunity Scholarship requirements to include Career and Technical Education in the elective category along with world languages. This bill also includes a change that allows a postsecondary student to maintain their scholarship if they complete 30 credits a year, instead of 15 credits for each semester. The reason for this change is that a student may enroll in 16 credits for a semester in college or technical school, but then decides to drop a class of two or three credits and therefore be ineligible for the scholarship anymore. HB 1190 received unanimous support from the House Education committee. I ask anyone interested to please contact members of the Legislature to voice support for HB 1190.

I continue to work with pilots of crop dusters, the Public Utilities Commission, and wind energy developers to remedy and concerns with House Bill 1155. This bill will require owners of anemometer wind metering towers to register the location; in an effort to inform pilots who may be flying low to the ground. HB 1155 will have a hearing in House Commerce on Wednesday, February 10th.

House Bill 1060 has certainly sparked interest in District 1 and our counties of Day, Marshall and Roberts. This bill is sponsored by the Department of Revenue in an effort to adjust the tier system for tax breaks for large industry projects. The adjustment proposed would retain more of the taxes with the State and return less to the companies who may construct wind towers, transmission lines, power plants, and pipelines. I have proposed an alternative to HB 1060. My bill, HB 1246 would repeal the tax break for strictly oil pipelines. I feel it is fair that the State retain the taxes paid by oil pipeline companies. HB 1246 will first have a hearing in House Taxation on a day to be determined within the next few weeks. I welcome your thoughts on this issue as well as any Legislative Issues.

House Bill 1274 is another piece of legislation that I am working on that will remove the three mile buffer of beekeeping operations (apiaries). Landowner rights is a prime reason for support of this bill because if a beekeeper would place hives on private property; any neighbors within 3 miles would most likely be prohibited from allowing other commercial beekeepers to place hives on their property. Disease was an issue when this language was inserted into State statute. Today proper control methods are available to control diseases and mites. Lastly, most beekeepers have their bees pollinating trees in the southern and western United States; obviously co-mingled and not maintaining the three-mile buffer.

In the House Local government committee we will hear discussion and take final action on House Bill 1198 which would allow municipalities the option to impose an extra penny of sales tax for a limited time and limited use. I am opposed to this bill, because I think the State should maintain priority on sales tax. Municipalities have options to raise revenue, but I do understand extra sales tax revenue would be simple for the cities. Again please share your thoughts on this bill.

I enjoy serving as your Representative in the State House of Representatives and please schedule some time to visit us in Pierre during the Legislative session.

You can contact me at (605) 949-2204, email me at rep.frerichs@state.sd.us and also visit my website at www.jasonfrerichs.com.

Report from Rep. Wismer

02/03/10

The 85th Legislative Session is picking up pace. It is already week four, and I have but one complaint: the weather! I'm not outside much during the day, but I do know it's supposed to be warmer than this in Pierre.

We have been keeping busy in Appropriations with more department hearings. This last week we listened to The Department of Public Safety. There are a few of us in Appropriations who represent districts affected by the sudden decision to close numerous drivers license issuing stations across the state. We have been writing letters and making several contacts with the department in hopes of finding a way to remedy the situation, but it's proving to be a frustrating process. They insist they would need to add employees to provide services to us, as they've moved the employees who were serving the small towns to the larger cities where the lines were becoming intolerably long. We're not going to be able to add employees in the current budget and election year environment. The closings occurred at an especially bad time because of the added identification requirements needed for renewal of a license in order to comply with Nationwide "Real ID" requirements.

On Thursday we got a change of pace as Appropriations Committees met to hear special appropriations bills instead of holding department hearings. HB1060 generated a large audience of lobbyists from rural electrics, the Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Transcanada pipeline. The bill would cut the sales and excise tax refunds that are currently allowed for multi-million construction projects. It's a money raising move by the Governor, and the lobbyists were crying foul, because South Dakota just made some changes broadening the exemption four years ago, and millions of dollars worth of projects have been planned depending on that exemption. We were successful in slowing down the bill's progress this week. I do think some changes can be made to the refund system, particularly to require Transcanada to pick up the full excise burden on the pipeline.

Another special bill was to authorize construction of a combined visitor center/horticultural classroom/reception center at McCrory Gardens in Brookings. The facility will be built entirely with money that has been raised from private sources, with no state dollars. It will be a wonderful addition to McCrory Gardens.

This morning I had the pleasure of hearing what a great year our South Dakota Investment Council has had. The fact that our legislature appoints professionals to do this job and stays out of their business for the most part has given the Council the freedom they need to do their very best. As a result, they have just completed their best year ever in terms of asset value recovery and with the very best return in the country over the long run.

The Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park, though in the opposite corner of the state from us, has piqued my interest because my daughter was on staff there last year. The Playhouse has a long history in the Hills. It has used an old CCC camp with various new buildings added over the years, but it has not been able to maintain some of the older buildings. The Governor decided not to renew their lease of the Playhouse grounds this year because of dissatisfaction with how they've been operating the facility. At this point the Playhouse is in danger of not being able to mount a 2010 schedule, and at best will have to look for immediate temporary facilities to house them this summer.

The Department of Labor tells us that the unemployment statistics for the first few weeks of January have been discouraging, and that the surcharge imposed on employers to help refill the unemployment fund will probably have to be assessed in 2011 as well as 2010.

Please contact me at rep.wismer@state.sd.us or call 605/735-3851 to leave a message with a House page about any issues you may have. I appreciate hearing from you, and if you leave a name or contact information will try to respond. I appreciate input particularly on issues that I have not had the opportunity to hear committee discussion, but on which I will be voting on the House floor.

Amotun found guilty

David Amotun was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his former girlfriend SWO Tribal member Brandy Cotton a year ago. He was also convicted of grand theft

He was found not guilty of first-degree murder and manslaughter.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 17th at the Codington County Courthouse in Watertown.

Man Sentenced for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man charged with embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2010, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy. Donald Bettelyoun, age 42, of Pine Ridge, S.D., was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $17,552 in restitution and $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund. Bettelyoun pleaded guilty to a superseding information on Nov. 3, 2009, and admitted to willingly and knowingly endorsing and cashing a check drawn on the Oglala Sioux Tribe Home Improvement Program, for a construction project. Bettelyoun then converted all of the money to his own use and did no work on the project.

Man sentenced for incident at Crazy Horse Memorial

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man charged with interference with commerce (Hobbs Act), use and brandishing of a firearm during commission of a violent felony, and possession of a stolen firearm was sentenced on Jan. 26, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Richard H. Battey. Arlen Hatten, age 19, of Rapid City, S.D., was sentenced to 84 months in prison, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $1,100 in restitution and $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund. Hatten held up at gunpoint an attendant who was manning the ticket booth at the Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer, and absconded with $1,100.

Youth, school activities highlighted –

Education watch on the Lake Traverse Reservation

Gov. Rounds proclaims February 21st College Goal Sunday

Governor Michael Rounds recently issued a proclamation declaring February 21, 2010, as South Dakota College Goal Sunday.

The South Dakota Association of Student Aid Administrators is assisted by the South Dakota School Counselors, South Dakota Indian Counselors, GEAR UP, TRIO, Education Assistance Corporation, and other volunteers across the state in this effort to inform South Dakota families about the availability of financial aid to help pay for college.

College Goal Sunday in South Dakota is scheduled in twelve sites across South Dakota from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Included is Tiospa Zina Tribal School, Agency Village.

The event has been set up to help students and parents complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student aid). Completing the FAFSA is the first step to take in order to receive federal financial aid. Participants can pre-register by calling toll free 1-866-578-4625 or logging on to www.collegegoalsd.org.

Students (and parents) must bring their completed 2009 income tax forms, W-2s, and other income documents. A 4-digit PIN from the U.S. Department of Education can also be obtained beforehand, or at the event, in order to electronically sign the FAFSA. The PIN can be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov.

An added bonus for participants is that $6,000.00 in education scholarship funds have been made available also to help fund a student’s education. College Goal Sunday in South Dakota participants can submit their name to win a $500 education award that will be available through a drawing at each of the 12 event sites.

Each of the $500 awards can be used at any college, university or technical school in South Dakota.

The College Goal Sunday program was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and with supplemental support from Lumina Foundation for Education. College Goal SundaySin South Dakota is sponsored by the South Dakota Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SDASFAA).

Sisseton Middle School students compete in Native American art contest

Submitted by Alexis Monroe

Visual Art Teacher

Several students recently competed in the Sisseton Middle School Native American Art Contest. The theme of the contest was "Bringing Honor Through Education," relating Native American culture to the importance of education.

Submissions were judged by the student body and staff at the middle school.

Eighth grade winners included Bailee Oien, 1st place; Destry Richotte, 2nd place; and Jairica Christjohn, 3rd place.

Seventh grade winners included Brianna Medenwald, 1st place; Marlo Cloud, 2nd place; and Ashley Galmiche for 3rd.

Sixth grade winners include Keirstyn Peters, 1st place; Valerie Moen, 2nd place; and Julissa Max, 3rd place.

Several submissions were entered into the Student Artist Competition put on by the Office of Indian Education and U.S. Department of Education; artwork of the winners of this national contest will be placed in a traveling exhibit. The Middle School students who entered the contest are Destry Richotte, Jairica Christjohn, Marlo Cloud, , Doralynn LaCroix, Sadie Wright, Rena Johnson, Keirstyn Peters, Julissa Max, Hunter Hart, and Troy Pretends Eagle.

Congratulations and good luck!

Valentines Round Dance set for United Tribes

 United Tribes Technical College will host a Valentine’s Day Round Dance on Saturday, February 14 from 6-9 p.m. in the college gymnasium.

 The public is invited free of charge. You need not wear tribal regalia to participate in this social dance.

 Songs will be provided by Thundering Dancing Horse Singers from Canada and the Wise Spirit Singers from United Tribes.

This alcohol and drug free event is sponsored by the Strengthening Lifestyles Program of the Lewis Goodhouse Wellness Center.

For more info contact Tamera Marshall, 255-3285 x 1454, tmarshall@uttc.edu or Sonja Cain 701-255-3285 x 1323, scain@uttc.edu.

Garden Corner

Submitted by Eric Hanssen

Browns Valley, Minnesota

Ice Damage On Trees:

Trees, particularly evergreens, are bending and breaking under the heavy ice loading or snow. If a tree is still standing but has broken branches or is split, here are a couple of suggestions for treating these problems.

What to do with young trees that bend under the weight of ice. A common reaction is to go out and try to knock off the ice to reduce the weight. Do not do this! Knocking the ice free can result in branch breakage and further damage to the tree. Generally it is best to allow the ice to melt and the tree to slowly resume its natural shape. Many times these trees will recover their natural shape and resume normal growth by spring. Young trees such as birches and cottonwoods have very flexible stems and can easily recover from the bending. If the young tree appears so bent that it may break then provide temporary support by use of 2x4s as props. Gently pull up the stem or branch to be supported and place the board beneath it. I usually recommend cutting the top of the prop into a ‘v’ or ‘u’ to hold the trunk or branch and remember you are not trying to restore the tree to its pre-ice position but just providing a little support to keep it from bending further.
The bending of the branches and trunk is a stress, even when the tree does return to its natural shape. The bending results in internal damage and we often see these same trees attacked the following growing season by insects. Young ash, birch and cottonwoods that experienced severe twisting during this ice storm may be protected by treating the trees for borers this next spring. Pesticides that are either sprayed on the bark to kill the adult insects that are laying eggs or injected into the tree to kill the larvae after they hatch may be a valuable means of reducing the potential threat of infestation during the coming growing season.

Broken branches should be pruned cleanly back to where they are attached to a larger branch or the trunk. There are also numerous trees that had forked stems and now are split to the ground. Some tree owners have attempted to pull the two stems together and then hold them in place with clamps, cables or ropes wrapped around each trunk and tied together. Do not do this! While the tree may survive for many years supported in this way, eventually the hardware will girdle the expanding trunks and either the top of the tree above the wrap will die or snap off. Usually if a tree is split open it is best to remove the tree. Evergreens that are buried by the snow are probably best left as they are. Attempting to dig them out may do more harm than good.

This article comes from professor John Ball, SDSU Forestry Specialist in his Pest Update publication available online at http://www.state.sd.us/doa/Forestry/educational-information/Pest-Alert-Archives.htm.

Extension specialist reminds taxpayers to consider Earned Income Tax Credit

Brookings, SD – The Internal Revenue Service estimates one in four eligible taxpayers miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC.

South Dakota Cooperative Extension Family Resource Management Specialist Liz Gorham said the EITC can make life a little easier for workers struggling to make ends meet in today’s tight economy. Qualified taxpayers can save $5,600 or more with this credit.

“Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined, their marital status changed, or they added children to their families,” said Gorham. “Families with three or more children also get an extra boost with a larger credit this year.”

Gorham said anyone who earned $48,279 or less from wages, self-employment, or farming in 2009 should check to see if they qualify.

Eligible taxpayers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns – even if they are not otherwise required to file – and specifically claim the credit,” Gorham said. “Taxpayers can get free help determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, or at the AARP-sponsored Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) site.”

A list of all VITA and TCE sites in South Dakota is available at this link: http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/taxed/sites/Default.aspx. Call the nearest site for their days and hours of operation.

Gorham said taxpayers who seek more information should plan to bring this information to a tax preparer:

• Photo identification

• Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouses, and dependents

• Birth dates for primary, secondary, and dependents on the tax return

• Current year’s tax package, if received

• Wage and earning statements including forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers

• Interest and dividend statements from banks, such as Forms 1099

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available

• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit

• Other relevant information about income and expenses

• Receipts for total paid for day care

• Day care provider’s identifying number.

For more information, call Gorham at 605-688-4035, or ask for information at your county Extension office.

Credit score damage control

By Jason Alderman

Although not as unique as fingerprints or snowflakes, credit scores are highly individualized – and often mysterious. Many factors determine your score, which can change overnight depending on everything from last month’s credit card balances, to opening a new account, to applying for a car loan.

To help demystify – and quantify – how credit scores are determined, FICO recently shared information on the impact certain negative actions can have. For those not as obsessive about credit scores as I am, FICO is the company whose proprietary software is used by major credit bureaus to calculate the credit scores they sell to potential lenders as a tool for determining your creditworthiness.

But as FICO’s Public Relations Director Craig Watts noted, the very uniqueness of each person’s individual situation makes it difficult to generalize. “Take two people with excellent FICO scores of 780,” he explained. “One might have a mortgage, several low-balance credit cards and a 20-year credit history; the other has a dozen open accounts, hefty student loan balances and a car loan, but no mortgage. Same score, very different circumstances.”

What they probably have in common, said Watts, are a history of on-time payments, a low ratio of outstanding debt to available credit, and a cautious attitude toward taking on more debt – that, and no major negative credit activity: “If you have late payments over 30 days, receive a tax lien, or file for bankruptcy, the toll on your credit score can be significant and long-lasting.”

With the caveat that actual point losses can vary widely depending on your individual situation, FICO did share broad ranges for two hypothetical scenarios: One person has a 680 score and the other 780, and each has a mortgage, car and student loans and several credit cards. They differ over factors such as amount of credit limit used, late payment record and length of credit history. Overall:

* Entering a debt settlement agreement with a creditor – 45 to 105 points.

* Losing property to foreclosure – 85 to 160 points.

* Filing for bankruptcy has the most devastating impact – anywhere from 130 to 240 points in the scenarios given.

Surprisingly, people with good-to-excellent credit scores often lose more points for negative incidents than do those with lower initial scores. Watts explains that’s because lower initial scores already reflect riskier behavior; not so for high-scoring people, so the appearance of negative credit activity on their otherwise spotless credit records may drop their credit scores farther.

The main reason to be concerned about significant point drops is that falling into a lower credit category could hamper your ability to qualify for a loan or credit card or receive lower credit limits, as well as greatly increase interest rates you’re charged.

To learn more about what you can do to protect – or repair – your credit scores, visit What’s My Score, a financial literacy program run by Visa (www.whatsmyscore.org.) The site also features a free FICO Score Estimator that can help you approximate your score.

Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.

Legal Notices

SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. D-10-177-007

In the Matter of the Change of Name of Keana Jaide LaCroix, Minor Child, and concerning Chelsey Paige Owen, Petitioner.

ORDER FOR PUBLICATION

AND NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Petitioner (Chelsey Paige Owen) request for a change of name from Keana Jaide LaCroix to Keana Jaide Owen shall be heard before the Honorable Judge B.J. Jones, Chief Judge of the Tribal Court, in the courtroom of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate at Agency Village, South Dakota on the 24th day of February 2010 at 3:00 p.m.

Dated this 12th day of January 2010.

By the Court:

B.J. Jones, Chief Judge

Attest: J. Wanna, Clerk of Courts

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 08-033

SWOCSE/TRACY RUNNING HAWK, PLAINTIFF

VS.

DAVID RUNNING HAWK, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 04-404

SWOCSE/PATRICIA YOUNG, PLAINTIFF

VS.

TERRY MCKAY, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 06-249

SWOCSE/JAMIE ANDERSON, PLAINTIFF

VS.

DARRELL QUINN JR, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 00-017

SWOCSE/CRYSTAL FLYING HORSE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

ELPHELET SIMON SR, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 08-060

SWOCSE/RAMONA RENVILLE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

JENNY CHATTERGEE, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 10-014

SWOCSE/JOLENE FAYANT, PLAINTIFF

VS.

LEE WHITE SR, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 08-073

SWOCSE/KAREN PRICE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

DEAN PRICE, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 10-015

SWOCSE/JOLENE FAYANT, PLAINTIFF

VS.

TRESSA BISSONETTE, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 09-093

SWOCSE/GRETTA SIMON, PLAINTIFF

VS.

TOBIAS GOOD IRON, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 09-092

SWOCSE/GRETTA SIMON, PLAINTIFF

VS.

REANN SIMON, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 07-061

SWOCSE/EVELYN AKIPA, PLAINTIFF

VS.

ROBERT SCHALLER, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 24^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:15 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 27^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 03-154

SWOCSE/ASHLEY HAUG, PLAINTIFF

VS.

DURAN RICHOTTE , DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 01-111

SWOCSE/DUSTINA GILL, PLAINTIFF

VS.

COREY SHEPHERD, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 07-182

SWOCSE/TORY LAFROMBOISE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

ROBERT BLACK THUNDER, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 02-320

SWOCSE/LOLITA SEABOY, PLAINTIFF

VS.

DAVID GILL, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 10-019

SWOCSE/LESLIE BARSE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

SHAWN DEMARRIAS, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 10-023

SWOCSE/CHARLENE LAFONTAINE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

SOPHIA ABRAHAM, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 00-302

SWOCSE/CHRISTINE HOPKINS, PLAINTIFF

VS.

VARDEN HOPKINS, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 25^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 1:00 o’clock P.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 28^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 10-026

SWOCSE/GEORGETTE SULLIVAN, PLAINTIFF

VS.

SHAWN SULLIVAN, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 06-238

SWOCSE/AMBER DECOTEAU, PLAINTIFF

VS.

THOMAS DECOTEAU, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 09-111

SWOCSE/JUDY LABELLE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

MICHAEL LECLAIR, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 09-071

SWOCSE/DESMONA CAMPBELL, PLAINTIFF

VS.

RAYMOND SHEPHERD III, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 10-017

SWOCSE/STARLYTE DEMARRIAS, PLAINTIFF

VS.

JULIUS AMICHO, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 07-157

SWOCSE/VERNETTA RENVILLE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

JULIUS AMICHO, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. I: 10-016

SWOCSE/STARLYTE DEMARRIAS, PLAINTIFF

VS.

VERNON REDOWL, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 09-080

SWOCSE/VERNETTA RENVILLE, PLAINTIFF

VS.

VERNON REDOWL, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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SISSETON-WAHPETON OYATE

IN TRIBAL COURT

LAKE TRAVERSE RESERVATION

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

CASE NO. CS: 07-082

SWOCSE/JOSH JOHNSON, PLAINTIFF

NOTICE OF HEARING

VS.

GWENDOLYN CLIFFORD, DEFENDANT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Take notice that a Motion for Modification of Child Support has been filed and a hearing will be held at H&HS Building S-2 room, Agency Village, outside the city of Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota, on the 26^th day of February, 2010, at the hour of 9:15 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as possible.

You are required to be at the hearing. Upon request, the OCSE Clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describing the matter.

Dated this 29^th day of January, 2010.

BY THE ORDER OF THE COURT:

Michael T. Swallow, Presiding Judge

ATTEST: Oyate Contreras, OCSE Clerk of Court

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Trading post –

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Job Openings

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe is seeking to fill the following positions:

Tax Compliance Officer, Tax Department.

Assistant Archivist, Tribal Historic Preservation Office.

Systems Administrator, I.T. Department.

Data Entry Clerk, Office of Child Support Enforcement.

Closing Date: February 12, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.

All interested applicants may obtain application and job description information at the Human Resource Department of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. You may contact Arnold Williams at (605) 698-3911 ext. 112.

 

Tiospa Zina Tribal School

Job Openings

1) Accepting applications for substitute cooks and custodians (both day and night shift hours).

2) Substitute training (for all departments) will be held at TZTS on February 15, 2010 from 9 am to 12:30 pm.

For information or to apply, contact Siyo Peters, TZTS Human Resources Director, PO Box 719, Agency Village, SD 57262; phone 605-698-3953 ext. 3207; fax 605-698-7686.

 

Dakota Magic Casino & Hotel

Job Openings

 

 

Starting Wage: D.O.E.

High School diploma or G.E.D. required for most positions

Two identification documents required upon hire

The Cage Department Is Now Accepting Applications For:

Position: Manager (1 Full-Time).

Job Summary: Directs and supervises the overall operation of the Casino Cage areas. Oversees hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating and counseling of cage personnel. Ensure that all Tribal, State and Federal gaming regulations are followed. Education/Experience: High School Diploma/G.E.D. required; Associates Degree in Business; Previous Supervisor experience.

Closing Date: February 12, 2010 @ 4:00 p.m.

Starting Wage: D.O.E

High School diploma or G.E.D. required for most positions Two identification documents required upon hire.

If interested please submit application to Human Resources Department, 16849 102nd Street SE, Hankinson ND 58041. For complete Job Description contact Terra Haug at 701-634-3000 ext. 475.

Indian Preference will apply/EEO. (Please Provide Tribal Enrollment.) Must be licensable by the SWO Gaming Commission.

 

Dakota Magic Casino & Resort

Job Openings

Foods Department: Cook II (1 Full-Time) Rotating

Hotel Department: Room/Laundry Attendant (1 Full-Time) 8:00 am– Finish

Marketing Department: Customer Service Technician (2 Full-Time) Rotating VIP Ambassador (1 Full-Time) Rotating

Closing Date: February 12, 2010 @ 4:00 p.m.

Starting Wage: D.O.E.

High School diploma or G.E.D. required for most positions. Two identification documents required upon hire.

If interested please submit application to Human Resources Department, 16849 102nd Street SE, Hankinson ND 58041. For complete Job Description contact Terra Haug at 701-634-3000 ext. 475.

Indian Preference will apply/EEO. (Please Provide Tribal Enrollment.) Must be licensable by the SWO Gaming Commission.

 

Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel

Job Opening

Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel is seeking to fill the following position:

Hotel: Housekeepers (1 full-time and 1 part-time).

General function: Cleans rooms, halls, restrooms, elevators and stairways according to standards.

Requirements: High School Diploma or GED. 1-3 months related experience. Able to occasionally lift or move up to 25 lbs. Meet the Non-Gaming License requirements.

This position will close on February 10, 2010 at4:00 p.m.

Indian Preference will apply/EEO.

Contact the Human Resources Department for complete job description at 1-800-658-4717 ext. 1653.

If interested please fill out an application and submit to: Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel, Human Resources Department, 16415 Sioux Conifer Road, Watertown, SD 57201.

 

Dakota Connection Casino

Job Announcement

Cage Department: Main Bank (1) full-time, rotating shifts, day, swing, weekends & holidays. Excellent customer service skills, excellent communication skills. Appropriate dress code; the ability to work under pressure. Excellent Math Skills, Basic Computer Skills, Knowledge of basic office equipment. At least 1 year previous experience as cage cashier. Must be at least 18 years old, must have a High school diploma or GED. Must be able to obtain a Key License.

Opening date: Friday, February 5, 2010

Closing date: Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:00 p.m.

Indian preference will apply/EEO Employer.

If you already have an application on file with the Human Resources Department and would like to be considered for this position please stop by the HR office to have your application reactivated. Your application must have been on file within the past 6 months.

Apply with the Human Resources Department, call or write for job description. Submit application to:

Human Resources Department, Dakota Connection Casino, 46102 SD Hwy 10, Sisseton, SD 57262.