This Big Day In South Dakota History

Januay 24, 1969: Gov. Ralph Herseth Dies

2012-01-24T00:18:00.000-06:00

Click here to read story originally posted January 24, 2010.

January 20, 1943: It's Warm in Lead and Cold in Deadwood, All at the Same Time

2012-01-20T00:20:00.000-06:00

It's hot! It's cold! It's both!Also on this date, January 20, 1943, in Lead, the temperature was 52 degrees F, while 1.5 miles away in Deadwood it was -16 degrees F.

Source: http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/january_20.html

January 16, 1891: Federal Government Says Indian "Hostilities" "Ended"

2012-01-16T00:33:00.001-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, January 16, 1891, less than a month after the Wounded Knee Massacre on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the federal government declared that "hostilities" between Native Americans and the United States government had "ended."

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 175 (2005).

January 15, 1902: Allen Walkingshield Executed

2012-01-15T00:25:00.001-06:00

On this date, January 15, 1902, Allen Walkingshield was executed for murder.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_South_Dakota

January 10, 1975: One of Worst Blizzards in S.D. History Hits State

2012-01-10T00:50:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

On this date, January 10-11, 1975, occurred what some meteorologists consider as one of the worst blizzards in the state's history.

From NOAA: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/archive/centuryfsd.htm
The blizzard of January 10-11, 1975 was widely considered to be the worst blizzard of the century in this area. There was only 7 inches of snow measured at Sioux Falls , but wind gusts were up to 70 mph, wind chills were down to 70 below zero, and visibilities were below a quarter mile at the airport for 24 straight hours. There were 8 deaths in South Dakota during the storm, but only 2 can be attributed directly to the storm. Two college students from Sioux Falls died from exposure when their car stalled 3 miles east of Sioux Falls . A 2000 foot high broadcast tower east of Sioux Falls collapsed due to the storm. Livestock loss was an estimated 10 to 15 thousand head.

January 9, 1903: Wind Cave National Park Founded

2012-01-09T00:37:00.001-06:00

Wind Cave National Park, S.D.On this day, January 9, 1903, Wind Cave National Park was founded in the southern Black Hills.

Source: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSHistory/birthdays.htm

January 7, 1913 and 1969: Governors Byrne and Farrar Take Office

2012-01-07T00:42:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

January 7 is also a pretty good day to take office as governor in South Dakota. Here's the governors who have:

January 5, 1909 to January 7, 1913 :	Robert S. Vessey
January 7, 1913 to January 2, 1917 :	Frank M. Byrne
January 5, 1965 to January 7, 1969 :	Nils A. Boe
January 7, 1969 to January 5, 1971 :	Frank L. Farrar
April 20, 1993 to January 7, 1995 :	Walter D. Miller
January 7, 1995 to 2003:	William J. Janklow

Source: http://www.historybuff.com/states/sd.html

January 5, 2004: Thune Challenges Daschle in U.S. Senate Race

2012-01-05T00:36:00.001-06:00

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)On this date, January 5, 2004, former U.S. Rep. John Thune announced he was challenging Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the 2004 election.

Source: CNN
Thune to challenge Daschle in South Dakota
Setting up an expensive, high-stakes race with national implications, former GOP Rep. John Thune of South Dakota announced Monday night that he will try to unseat the Senate's top Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Daschle, in November's election.

January 2, 1990: Former U.S. Rep. Ben Reifel Dies

2012-01-02T00:52:00.000-06:00

Rep. Ben Reifel (R-S.D.)On this date, January 2, 1990, former Republican U.S. Rep. Ben Reifel died in Sioux Falls. He was the first Lakota to serve in Congress. His Native American name was Lone Feather.

Sources:http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000152 andhttp://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0884948

January 1, 1743: Four Members of Verendrye Voyageurs Spot the Black Hills

2012-01-01T00:25:00.001-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, January 1, 1743, historians believe four members of the French Verendrye voyageurs exploration party spotted the Black Hills while in present day South Dakota. Obviously, Native American people had already seen the Black Hills much earlier.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 50 (2005).

December 31, 1992: AIM Activist Leonard Peltier Denied New Trial

2011-12-31T00:32:00.000-06:00

Leonard Peltier.On this date, a federal judge denied Indian activist Leonard Peltier an new trial. He had been convicted of murdering two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975.

Source: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE4DA103CF932A35752C0A964958260&n=Top%2fNews%2fNational%2fU%2eS%2e%20States%2c%20Territories%20and%20Possessions%2fSouth%20Dakota
U.S. Judge Denies New Trial For Indian Jailed in Killings
FARGO , N.D. , Dec. 31 --
A Federal district judge has denied a new trial for Leonard Peltier, the Indian who was convicted of killing two F.B.I. agents on a South Dakota reservation in 1975.
The judge, Paul Benson, who presided over Mr. Peltier's original trial, accepted Magistrate Karen Klein's recommendation that no new trial be granted. The dismissal was made public today.

December 17, 1890: Federal Government Accuses Chief Big Foot of Being a "Troublemaker"

2011-12-17T00:12:00.000-06:00

Chief Big Foot.On this date, members of the Hunkpapa Sioux arrive at Big Foot's camp of Minneconjou Sioux seeking refuge after the death of Sitting Bull. Further, the federal government issues an arrest warrant for Big Foot, accusing him of being a "troublemaker" in the ghost dance religion.

Source: http://nativenewsonline.org/history/hist1217a.html

December 15, 1961: I-29 Bridge from Sioux City to South Dakota Opened

2011-12-15T00:41:00.001-06:00

Think about this next time you drive down I-29 to Sioux City. On this date, the bridge over the Big Sioux River on the Iowa-South Dakota border on I-29 opened.

As the website Iowa Highways notes: http://iowahighways.home.mchsi.com/highways/i-29.html
December 15, 1961 : I-29 Bridge from Sioux City into South Dakota opened. (The bridge was built in 1958 but wasn't opened until South Dakota opened its stretch of I-29 south of Junction City.) The northbound span of the bridge collapsed on April 1, 1962, as a result of Big Sioux River flooding; traffic was re-routed onto the old US 77 and US 20 bridges until it reopened.
Additional information: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/econdev/i29ia.htm

December 10, 1998: Feds Approve DM&E Expansion in S.D. and Wyoming's Powder River Region

2011-12-10T00:28:00.000-06:00

On this date, December 10, 1998, the federal Surface Transportation Board approved the DM&E Railroad's expansions plans through South Dakota and into the Powder River area of Wyoming.

^{As noted by the STB athttp://www.postbulletin.com/dme/0310enviro.stm
Background: The proposed action, referred to as the Powder River Basin Expansion Project, would involve the construction and operation of 280.9 miles of new rail line and the rebuilding of 597.8 miles of existing rail line by DM&E, as described in the February 20, 1998 application for construction and operation authority for the project filed by DM&E and in the March 27, 1998 Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS published in the Federal Register by the Board.}

December 8, 2003: Rep. Bill Janklow Convicted of 2d Degree Manslaughter

2011-12-08T00:36:00.000-06:00

Former S.D. Gov. and U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow (R-S.D.)On this date, December 8, 2003, Former Governor and U.S. Representative Bill Janklow was convicted of second degree manslaughter from an August 16, 2003 motorcycle accident. Motorcyclist Randy Scott of Minnesota was killed in the accident.

The conviction and aftermath as described byhttp://www.ourcongress.org/race/sdal:
On December 8, 2003 , Janklow was convicted of multiple charges related to an August 16 traffic accident that left a motorcyclist dead. Following his conviction, Janklow announced he would resign from the House on January 20, 2004 ; a special election was held on June 1 to fill the vacant seat. Stephanie Herseth (D) defeated state Sen. Larry Diedrich(R) in a close election by 51-49 percent.

December 7, 1951: "Charlies' Angel" Cheryl Ladd Born in Huron

2011-12-07T00:03:00.000-06:00

Huron TV actress Cheryl LaddOn this date, December 7, 1951, actress Cheryl Ladd was born in Huron.

She is probably most famous for her role as Kris Munroe in the hit 70's series "Charlies' Angels" and replacing Farah Fawcett-Majors. However, she has a busy and successful TV career. She most recently played Jillian Deline in NBC's "Las Vegas." In fact, she played a prominent role in one episode:South Dakota's favorite "Angel."

Las Vegas (8 p.m. on 41): A televised poker tour makes a stop at the Montecito, and Danny and Mike (Josh Duhamel, James Lesure) clash with the producers over checking the security footage for a possible cheater. Jillian’s (Cheryl Ladd) decision to visit an old flame has Ed (James Caan) steaming. The stakes rise in Sam’s (Vanessa Marcil) divorce negotiations with Casey (Dean Cain).
Source:http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/13314803.htm

December 6, 2009: Sarah Palin Promotes Book in Sioux Falls

2011-12-06T00:40:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 6, 2009, former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin stopped at the Barnes and Noble in Sioux Falls to promote her book, Going Rogue.

December 5, 1886: Rose Wilder Lane, Literary Journalist, Born in DeSmet

2011-12-05T00:23:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, was born in DeSmet.

A fine writer in her own right, Rose Lane led an extraordinary life. Perhaps Wikipedia summarizes it best:

Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886, De Smet, Dakota Territory – October 30, 1968, Danbury, Connecticut) was an American journalist, travel writer,novelist, and political theorist. She is noted (with Ayn Rand and Isabel Paterson) as one of the founding mothers of the American libertarian movement.^[1]

Source: The Rediscovered Works of Rose Wilder Lane, p. 4 (2007).

December 4, 1900: Mennonites Charter Freeman Junior College

2011-12-04T00:05:00.006-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 4, 1900, Mennonites chartered Freeman Junior College in Freeman, in large part to help produce more teachers. It is now no longer a college but a K-12 school, Freeman Academy.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 345 (2005).

December 3, 1970: Former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Born

2011-12-03T00:01:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 3, 1970, former United States Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin was born.

An excerpt from the Daily Kos:

Daily Kos: Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Profile: "Stephanie Herseth was born December 3, 1970 in South Dakota and raised on her family’s farm near Houghton SD. The Herseths were and are a prominent family in South Dakota; Stephanie’s grandfather was Governor, her grandmother was Secretary of State, and her father served in the SD legislature for 20 years. She went to public schools in SD, but obtained her undergraduate, graduate and law degrees at Georgetown University. After law school she worked in politically-related jobs in Washington for a few years, then moved back to South Dakota, where she practiced law briefly before getting into politics. At age 31, she chose for her first foray into electoral politics the U.S. House of Representatives. This may explain why SD right-wing blogs often refer to her as 'Princess' Herseth."

December 2, 1957: S.D. "Covered" By "Operation LAC"

2011-12-02T00:54:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 2, 1957, the United States Army released zinc cadmium sulfide over South Dakota as part of "Operation LAC." The chemical was released as part of a study on the dispersion of biological or chemical agents in the atmosphere.

An excerpt from Wikipedia:

Operation LAC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Operation LAC was undertaken in 1957 and 1958 by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. Principally, the operation involved spraying large areas with zinc cadmium sulfide. The U.S. Air Force loaned the Army a C-119, 'Flying Boxcar', and it was used to disperse zinc cadmium sulfide by the ton in the atmosphere over the United States. The first test occurred on December 2, 1957 along a path from South Dakota to International Falls, Minnesota."

December 1, 1999: PBS NewsHour Features "Governor's House" Program

2011-12-01T00:33:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, December 1, 1999, the PBS news program, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, featured a story on Gov. Bill Janklow's use of prison inmates to build afford house for low income South Dakotans.

An excerpt:

ANDY GRAF, Inmate: Before I came in here, I just split up with my wife, and just working at a burger stand because I didn't know much of anything else, and needed some more cash and I went out and robbed a bar and came in here. And now I'm trying to better myself and hopefully this out here will top it off. And when I get out, I'll stay out of trouble, you know?

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: It's not certain yet whether the prison training will help inmates launch successful futures. Many we talked to had complications with chemical dependency. Also, there are few alumni so far from the three-year program. Nonetheless, Janklow plans to double the output of these so- called governor's homes before his own term ends in 2002.

November 29, 2008: 2,400 Jobs Lost In Three Months

2011-11-29T00:42:00.002-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 29, 2008, the Mitchell Republic Reported that South Dakota had lost 2,400 jobs in the third quarter of 2008 from the recession.

An excerpt (Access to S.D. State Library my be necessary to view):

Nov. 29--New jobs numbers from October indicate that the poorly performing national economy is beginning to impact South Dakota, an economist says.

The number of jobs in the state dropped by about 2,400 from August to October, according to a report last week from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ralph Brown, professor emeritus of economics at the University of South Dakota, said the numbers portend bad things for the state.

"It's taken longer to affect the South Dakota economy, but we're beginning to feel it," he said.

November 29, 1999: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Established

2011-11-29T00:14:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 29, 1999, the National Park Service established the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site near Wall in a former Minuteman missile silo.

Source: NPS

November 28, 1989: S.D. Cattlemens Association Forms Auxiliary

2011-11-28T00:57:00.001-06:00

Image by Alireza Teimoury via FlickrOn this date, November 28, 1989, at its convention in Huron, the South Dakota Cattlemens Association formed a Womens Auxiliary.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 280 (2005).

Novemb er 27, 1923: NorthWestern Corporation Incorporated

2011-11-27T00:03:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 27, 1923, Northwester Public Service Company--now NorthWestern Corporation, was incorporated.

An excerpt from Encyclopedia.com:

NorthWestern Corporation – FREE NorthWestern Corporation information | Encyclopedia.com: Find NorthWestern Corporation research: "Northwestern Public Service Company was incorporated on November 27, 1923, when three investors associated with the Albert Emanuel Company of New York purchased several small electric utilities in rural Nebraska and South Dakota from the Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Power & Light Company. Northwestern, like many other electric utilities of this era, was controlled by a giant utility holding company—the Albert Emanuel Company—which owned utilities in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Backed by Emanuel’s considerable resources, Northwestern went on an acquisition spree in 1924, purchasing ten local utilities, including South Dakota’s Huron Light & Power Company, which became North western’s headquarters. In 1925, Emanuel reorganized its corporate interests and formed the National Electric Power Company, which subsumed North-western along with dozens of utilities in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia. After this restructuring, Northwestern continued to acquire local electric companies. By the end of 1927, the company served 68 towns and had gross earnings of more than $2 million."

November 26, 2001: Blizzard Paralyzes State

2011-11-26T00:30:00.000-06:00

Image by pmeidinger via FlickrOn this date, November 26, 2001, a blizzard paralyzed large portions of the state.

An excerpt from the National Weather Service:

National Weather Service - Aberdeen, SD - This Day in Weather History: "Heavy snow of 6 to 12 inches, along with strong north winds of 20 to 40 mph, caused near-blizzard conditions and difficult travel conditions across most of central and northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota. Snowfall amounts were generally 6 to 12 inches in South Dakota and 10 to 14 inches in west central Minnesota. Most schools were closed or started late on both the 26th and 27th, and some businesses were also closed. Many flights were also delayed or canceled."

November 25, 1940: S.D. Army Guard Called Up To Active Service

2011-11-25T00:30:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 25, 1940, elements of the South Dakota Army National Guard were called up for training and active duty a year prior to America's entry into World War II.

An excerpt from the S.D., Department of Military and Veteran Affairs:

Welcome to South Dakota's Department of Military & Veteran Affairs: "On November 25, 1940, units of the South Dakota Army National Guard were called up for a one year training period. The 147th Field Artillery Regiment was the first to go on active duty at Camp Ord, California. After training at Camp Ord they embarked on November 22,1941, for duty in the Philippine Islands. They departed Pearl harbor, Hawaii, on November 30, 1941, and were west of Pearl Harbor on to December 7, 1941, then were diverted Brisbane, Australia. They were in Australia until 1943 and after some reorganizations, they began the long battle of retaking the various islands of the Pacific and were part of the occupation of Japan. The 147th was inactivated in January of 1946."

November 24, 1924: ESD High School Athletic Conference Forms

2011-11-24T00:12:00.001-06:00

On this date, November 24, 1924, the Big Eight Basketball Conference, soon to become the Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference (more commonly known as the ESD), was formed for high school sports in the state.

An excerpt from the ESD:

The History of the Eastern South Dakota Conference: "In September of 1924, Principal L. M. Fort of Mitchell High School pursued the idea of forming a high school basketball conference with the larger cities in eastern South Dakota.

On November 24, 1924, representatives of eight high schools met in Sioux Falls to form the South Dakota Big Eight Basketball Conference. The charter members of the league were Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Madison, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Yankton.

A basketball schedule was approved for the 1924-25 season with the conference divided into a northern and southern division. Madison was crowned as the first basketball champion in March of 1925.

On March 19, 1927, the conference was reorganized with the adoption of a constitution and bylaws by member schools. The constitution changed the name of the conference from the Big Eight to the Eastern South Dakota Athletic Conference, but the conference is commonly referred to as the ESD."

November 23, 1921: S.D. Chiropractors' Association Formed

2011-11-23T00:05:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 23, 1921, the South Dakota Chiropractors' Association was incorporated.

Source: Healthlinks.net

November 19, 2000: Gas Explosion In Plankinton Kills Two

2011-11-19T00:40:00.000-06:00

Image by jimmywayne via FlickrOn this date, November 19, 2000, a school in Plankinton exploded from a gas fire, killing two.

An excerpt from the Associated Press:

Gas Blast Sets School Afire, Kills 2 Men - Los Angeles Times: "PLANKINTON, S.D. — A gas explosion tore apart a school and ignited a fire, killing two men and injuring a third. One of the men, a school administrator, died after being trapped for hours under debris.

'At this point in time, everything is indicating accidental in nature and we're investigating it under those circumstances,' said state Fire Marshal Dan Carlson.

He said the explosion was caused by a propane gas leak that was somehow ignited. The blast and fire gutted the original brick school building and heavily damaged a newer addition."

November 18, 1963: Father of Fischer Quintuplets Featured on "I've Got a Secret"

2011-11-18T00:14:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 18, 1963, Andy Fischer of Aberdeen, father of the the Fischer quintuplets and husband to mother Mary Ann Fischer, was presented as "Mr. X" by host Garry Moore on the TV game show, I've Got a Secret.

Panelist Bill Cullen guessed correctly with only three questions.

Source: The Bet On It Book of S.D. Trivia, p. 7 (1992).

November 17, 2010: Rep. Noem Elected Freshman Liaison To GOP Leadership

2011-11-17T00:26:00.002-06:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeOn this date, November 17, 2010, U.S. Representative-elect Kristi Noem was selected as the freshman liaison to the Republican leadership in Congress.

An excerpt from NPR:

Meet The Freshman: GOP's Noem A Rising Star : NPR: "On Wednesday, House Republicans picked South Dakota's Kristi Noem to serve as a freshman liaison to the GOP leadership in the new Congress.

Noem (rhymes with 'home') narrowly defeated four-term incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on Election Day."

November 16, 1928: Earthquake Hits Black Hills

2011-11-16T00:05:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 16, 1928, the Black Hills had an earthquake.

An excerpt from the National Weather Service:

South Dakota: "The Black Hills region experienced another earthquake on November 16, 1928. At Custer and Rochford there was a deep rumbling sound"

November 15, 1877: Special Elections Name Black Hills County Seats

2011-11-15T00:27:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 15, 1877, voters in the Black Hills named Rapid City, Deadwood, and Custer as county seats. The election was a result of the Sioux Agreement passed by Congress on February 28, 1877 that removed the Black Hills from the Great Sioux Reservation.

However, the new law also put into dispute whether mining and other claims in the Black Hills prior to the new law were legal. The special election was a tactic the miner-heavy electorate attempted to used in reaction to the new law. There was also serious consideration secede from Dakota Territory.

Source: A New S.D. History, pp. 109-10 (2005).

November 14, 1959: Brrrrr! Temperature Bottoms Out At -17 In Sioux Falls

2011-11-14T00:40:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 14, 1959, Sioux Falls recorded its coldest day in November, a chilly -17.

An excerpt from the National Weather Service:

SD Weather History and Trivia for November: "On November 14th, 1959 during a major early season cold spell the temperature in Sioux Falls fell to -17 degrees. Not only is that a record low for the day, it is also the coldest temperature on record in Sioux Falls for the month of November. The low of -17 degrees was equalled on November 30th, 1964."

November 13, 1927: Aviatrix Pioneer Nellie Willhite Takes Her First Plane Ride

2011-11-13T00:05:00.001-06:00

On this date, November 13, 1927, aviation pioneer Nellie Zabel Willhite of Sioux Falls took her first airplane flight.

An excerpt from Famous Deaf Women:

womenanddeafness / Famous Deaf Women: "She enrolled in South Dakota’s aviation school and happened to be the first female ever in South Dakota to be involved in the pilot program, as well as the first deaf women. Her first flight took place on November 13, 1927. Nellie’s father had bought her a plane and she named it after him “Pard” which was his nickname. Her plane was a long-wing Alexander Eaglerock and it was considered one of the most popular aircraft of its time. Nellie could barely hear the engine of the plane, but the vibrations of the plane is what warned her if there was a problem. She earned her money to live by doing air shows, races, and rides for anyone."

November 12, 1933: Massive Dust Storm Hits S.D., Sioux Falls

2011-11-12T00:35:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 12, 1933, a massive dust storm hit South Dakota and Sioux Falls.

An excerpt from South Dakota, p. 26 (2007).

November 11, 1933: "Great Black Blizzard" Hits Beadle County

2011-11-11T00:38:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 11, 1933, what was described as a "great black blizzard" hit Beadle County. The Evening Huronite described the huge dust storm that hit the Karnstrum farm:

By mid-morning, a gale was blowing, cold and black. By noon it was blacker than night, because on can see through night and this was an opaque black. . . .

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 132 (2005).

November 10, 1978: Badlands Designated A National Park

2011-11-10T00:28:00.001-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 10, 1978, Badlands National Monument became Badlands National Park.

An excerpt from Trails.com:

About Badlands National Park | Trails.com: "On November 10, 1978, Badlands National Park was officially designated as a U.S. national park. Its 244,000 acres are in southwest South Dakota, in Jackson and Pennington counties, near the town of Interior."

November 9, 1989: Sioux Falls Skyforce Play First Game

2011-11-09T00:02:00.001-06:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 9, 1989, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, a member of the Continental Basketball Association, played their first game. They lost 117-99 to the Omaha Racers at the Barnett Center in Aberdeen.

November 7, 1916: Prohibition Passes, Woimen's Suffrages Doesn't

2011-11-07T00:20:00.000-06:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 7, 1916, South Dakotans approved prohibition but continued to deny women the right to vote.

An excerpt from Woman Suffrage By Federal Constitutional Amendment, p. 16 (1917):

Carried prohibition and lost woman suffrage: "On November 7, 1916, woman suffrage and prohibition amendments were voted upon in South Dakota. It was the first time these two questions have gone to referendum in the same election and the results furnish interesting data for comparison.

Certain facts tell a story which should make progressive, patriotic Americans and fair-minded Congressmen reflect.

Prohibition was carried by a majority of 11,469; woman suffrage was lost by a majority of 4,664. Prohibition was lost in thirteen counties; in one of these, Lawrence, which lies in the heart of the mining country, prohibition was lost by two votes, and woman suffrage was carried.

In all the others a large foreign population was the dominant power. Had nine of the sixty-eight counties of the state not been included in the returns woman suffrage would have been carried."

November 6, 1891: The Northwestern Stockman Newspaper Begins

2011-11-06T00:34:00.003-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 6, 1891, the Northwestern Stockman newspaper begins publication in Rapid City.

November 5, 1865: Bishop Thomas O'Gorman Ordained in St. Paul, Minnesota

2011-11-05T00:36:00.006-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, November 5, 1865, the long-serving bishop of the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese and O'Gorman High School's namesake, Bishop Thomas O'Gorman, was ordained in St. Paul, Minn.

Source: History of S.D. With Personal Mention of Citizens of S.D., Vol. II, p. 1133 (1904).

November 4, 1996: President Clinton Gives Late Night Speech In Sioux Falls

2011-11-04T00:12:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, November 4, 1996, President Bill Clinton gave a campaign speech just before midnight at the Sioux Falls Arena.

An excerpt from his speech:

"This is the last election of the 20th century for President, the first election of the 21st century, an election occurring against a background of almost breathtaking, unimaginable changes in technology and science, in the way we are simply organized to work and live and relate to each other and the rest of the world. The young people here in this audience today, in a few years many will be doing jobs that have not been invented yet. Many will be doing jobs that have not been imagined yet.

One little piece of evidence about how much the world is changing -- when I became President there were 3 million Americans who were living and working in their homes, making a living. That was four years ago. Today there are 12 million Americans doing that because of technology, and four years from now there will be 30 million Americans doing that.

We just signed a contract, the United States did, with IBM to develop a supercomputer that will do more calculations in one second than you can do at home tonight on your hand-held calculator in 30,000 years. That is an example of what is happening."

November 3, 2002: Pres. George W. Bush Touts John Thune--And Rick Huffman

2011-11-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

On this date, November 3, 2002, President George W. Bush made a campaign appearance in Sioux Falls in support of Rep. John Thune's first run for the U.S. Senate.

But also during the address, the President singled out Sioux Falls resident Rick Huffman for his volunteering as a Big Brother.

An excerpt from the President's speech (Access to the S.D. State Libary network may be necessary to read the article.):

Student Research Center - powered by EBSCOhost: Remarks in Sioux Falls, South Dakota: "Today, Rick Huffman came out to the airport. Rick, stand up. I know--[applause]. I appreciate you coming. Let me tell you why I'm introducing Rick, because he understands society can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. See, Rick is a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters right here in Sioux Falls. Rick is doing his part. Rick is--and there's his little brother. Yes, sir. There is a young man who is headed for college. I can see it, as sure as I'm standing here. Rick is going to help him work hard, and he's going to go to college and realize the greatness of this country.

And Rick is what I'm talking about. See, all of us can be a soldier in the army of compassion here in America. Many of you are, and I want to thank you for what you're doing."

November 2, 1889: South Dakota Has More Cattle Than People

2011-11-02T00:40:00.000-05:00

Image by Lunar and Planetary Institute via FlickrOn this date, November 2, 1889, South Dakota, along with North Dakota, became states.

Also on this date, South Dakota had more catle--350,937 head--than people--328,000 residents.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 271 (2005).

November 1, 1989: Legalized Gambling Begins In Deadwood

2011-11-01T00:09:00.001-05:00

Image by Serge Van Cauwenbergh via FlickrOn this date, November 1, 1989, legalized gambling began in Deadwood.

An excerpt from the City of Deadwood:

City of Deadwood : "From historic to contemporary, Deadwood's 80-plus gaming halls provide the same lively action they did over 100 years ago. By the mid-1980's, many of the City's historic buildings were dilapidated. In 1986, Deadwood citizens formed the 'Deadwood U Bet' organization and advocated legalized limited stakes gaming to increase tourism and generate historic preservation funds. Legalized gaming in Deadwood began on November 1, 1989."

October 31, 2002: President George W. Bush Stumps for Janklow, Thune, and Rounds in Aberdeen

2011-10-31T00:38:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 31, 2002, President George W. Bush made a campaign appearance at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

An excerpt of his speech:

And there is a reason why. Mike Rounds has got a vision for education for this State that says no child will be left behind, a vision which says every child can be educated. There's a reason why to vote for him, besides the fact that he's a good and honorable man. It's because he's got a vision that's positive for the future of this State.

There's a reason to support Janklow, besides the fact he and I are good buddies. There's a reason to support him, besides the fact it will be a vote that I can count on to make sure that we go the right direction in this country, and that is, he's got a solid record of accomplishment in the State of South Dakota.

And there's a reason why John Thune ought to be in the Senate. He's an independent fellow who works on behalf of the citizens of South Dakota with all his heart. He can work with both Democrats and Republicans. He doesn't get caught up in all the nasty rhetoric that tends to divide our Nation's Capital, that rhetoric which sends bad signals to many of our citizenry. He's a fellow who works hard on behalf of the schoolchildren of South Dakota. After all, with his help we were able to send $185 million in educational funding this year. John Thune was working hard to make sure that the schools of South Dakota were treated well.

October 30, 1946: Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw Born In New York

2011-10-30T00:45:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 30, 1946, longtime Rapid City mayor and broadcaster Jim Shaw was born in Elmira, New York.

An excerpt from Wikepedia:

Jim Shaw (American politician) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Jim Shaw was the mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota from 1997 - 2001, and from 2003 - 2007. He is the second longest-serving mayor of Rapid City. Shaw's 8 years in office were highlighted by his successful economic development efforts, which resulted in Rapid City gaining more than 3000 new jobs during his years in office, according to the RC Economic Development office.

Shaw was born October 30, 1946 in Elmira, New York. He grew up in Dundee, New York and attended the State University of New York and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

October 29, 1890: Pierre Says Huron Stiffing Bands, Out Of Money In Capital Fight

2011-10-29T00:19:00.001-05:00

Image by Heather Culligan via FlickrOn this date, October 29, 1890, the Pierre Capital Journal reported that Pierre's rival in the state capital location campaign was not paying its bands and had run out of money.

Excerpts from History of Dakota Territory, Vol. 3, p. 172 (1915):

October 28, 1904: Ragtime Pioneer John William "Blind" Boone Performs In Aberdeen

2011-10-28T00:39:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 28, 1904, ragtime pioneer and pianist John William "Blind" Boone of Columbia, Missouri performed in Aberdeen.

An excerpt from Blind Boone: Missouri's Ragtime Pioneer, p. 56, (1998):

October 27, 1957: Secretary of Agriculture Egged At Corn Picking Contest

2011-10-27T00:21:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, October 27, 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, was egged by five farmers at the state corn picking contest south of Sioux Falls. The egg throwers were upset with federal farm policy.

The five farmers were fined $50. The president of the S.D. Farmers Union, Paul Opsahl, denounced the farmers' actions the following day. He said the state's farmers should work for parity through "democratic means" and not violence.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 242 (2005).

2011-10-26T00:19:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 26, 1942, the battleship U.S.S. South Dakota played a decisive role in the air and sea Battle of Santa Cruz in the south Pacific during WWII.

An excerpt from Just Wind: Tales of Two Pilots Under Pressure, p. 36 (2003):

October 25, 1999: Golfer Payne Stewart's Learjet Crashes Near Mina

2011-10-25T00:37:00.000-05:00

Image by iccsports via FlickrOn this date, October 25, 1999, professional golfer Payne Stewart's Learjet crashed near Mina, killing all six people on board.

An excerpt from a CNN report from November 23, 1999 about the crash:

CNN - New evidence: Payne Stewart's plane lost pressure before crash - November 23, 1999: "Federal investigators said Tuesday the cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage of golfer Payne Stewart's Learjet 35 includes the sounds of a low-pressure alarm -- consistent with suspicions that the plane lost cabin pressure during its flight.
Stewart, 42, was one of the world's most recognizable golfers because of his trademark knickerbockers."

October 24, 1973: TV Show Kojak Set to John Cacavas' Music Premieres

2011-10-24T00:08:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 24, 1973, the CBS police drama Kojak first airs, featuring music by Aberdeen native John Cacavas.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 54 (1992).

October 23, 1895: N.M. U.S. Senator Clinton Presba Anderson Born In Centerville

2011-10-23T00:36:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

On this date, October 23, 1895, New Mexico U.S. Representative and Senator and President Harry Truman's Secretary of Agriculture, Clinton Presba Anderson, was born in Centerville.

An excerpt from Wikipedia:

Clinton Presba Anderson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Anderson was born in Centerville, South Dakota, on October 23, 1895. He was educated in the public school system of South Dakota, attended Dakota Wesleyan University 1913-1915, and the University of Michigan 1915-1916, though he never received a degree from either institution."

October 22, 1951: Rodeo Star Casey Tibbs Featured On Cover Of Life Magazine

2011-10-22T00:34:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 22, 1951, a 22 year old Casey Tibbs, a rodeo star from Fort Pierre, was featured on the cover of Life magazine of that date.

Source: Wild Ride: The History and Lore of Rodeo, pp. 109-10 (2007).

October 21, 1885: Arthur C. Mellette Accepts GOP Nomination for "Governor"

2011-10-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 21, 1885, future territorial and state governor Arthur C. Mellette accepted the nomination for "governor" at the Republican meeting in Huron and later won "election." There was one problem: the territory was not yet authorized by Congress to elect a territorial governor, so "Gov." Mellette was not yet legally Gov. Mellette.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 116 (2005).

October 19, 1936: Watertown High Fingerprints Its Students

2011-10-19T00:38:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 19, 1936, Watertown High School became the first school in the world to fingerprint its students. The idea came following a talk by an FBI agent.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 177 (1992).

October 18, 1994: Sioux Falls Colleges Changes Its Name

2011-10-18T00:48:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, October 18, 1984, Sioux Falls College changed its name to the University of Sioux Falls.

Source: The Higher Learning Commission.

October 17, 1979: Arlington Native Ted Schulz Wins Nobel Prize in Economics

2011-10-17T00:54:00.006-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 17, 1979, Arlington native Ted Schulz won the Nobel Prize in Economics. The citation for his award noted, "Deeply concerned about the need and poverty in the world, and engaged in finding ways out of underdevelopment."

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 70 (1992)

October 16, 1974: Pres. Ford Visits Sioux Falls For Fundraiser And Speech

2011-10-16T00:17:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 16, 1974, President Gerald R. Ford flew from Kansas City to Sioux Falls aboard the "Spirit of '76" to appear at a campaign fundraiser at the South Dakota AAA headquarters then gave a campaign speech at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Source: University of Texas Library Document Archives

October 15, 1889: S.D. Legislature Meets For First Time

2011-10-15T00:53:00.002-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 15, 1889, the South Dakota Legislature met for the first time. In a bit of a surprise, Gov. Arthur Mellette did not give a speech that day.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 52 (1992).

October 14, 1964: Billy Mills Wins Gold At Tokyo Olympics

2011-10-14T00:21:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, October 14, 1964, Billy Mills of Pine Ridge became the first American to with the gold medal in the 10,000 meters in an Olympics. Mills set a record of 28:24.4 at the Tokyo Games.

Source: The Bet On It Book of S.D. Trivia, pp. 229-30 (1992)

October 13, 1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition Leaves South Dakota

2011-10-13T00:48:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 13, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition left what is now South Dakota after spending 54 days in the state.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 58, (2005)

October 20, 1886: S.D. Pharmaceutical Association Forms

2011-10-12T00:28:00.000-05:00

Image by t0msk via FlickrOn this date, October 20, 1886, the South Dakota Pharmaceutical Association was formed in Mitchell.

Source: Report on the Progress of Pharmacy, p. 4 (1887).

October 12, 1991: Arlette Schweitzer Of Aberdeen Gives Birth To Her Own Grandchildren

2011-10-12T00:19:00.004-05:00

On this date, October 12, 1991, Arlette Schweitzer of Aberdeen became the first grandmother in the United States to give birth to her own grandchildren through surrogacy.

An excerpt from People magazine:

Now They Are One : People.com: "What Arlette Schweitzer did for her daughter is now medical history—and the subject of a network television movie that will air around Mother's Day. One year ago on Oct. 12, 1991, the then 42-year-old school librarian from Aberdeen, S.Dak., gave birth to her own grandchildren, becoming the first American woman to do so. (A South African woman gave birth to triplets for her daughter in 1987.) 'They're active and affectionate,' says Christa of Chad and Chelsea, 'exactly what I hoped for.'"

October 12, 1981: Sioux Falls Made Balloon Completes Trip Across The USA

2011-10-12T00:12:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 12, 1981, the Super Chicken III, a balloon made in Sioux Falls, completes the first non-stop flight across the United States.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 54 (1992).

October 11, 1924: Meridian Bridge Over Missouri River Opens At Yankton

2011-10-11T00:08:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 11, 1924, the Meridian Highway Bridge, a double decker bridge, opened at Yankton over the Missouri River.

An excerpt from lewisandclarktrail.com:

Meridian Bridge in Yankton South Dakota: "The Meridian Highway Bridge was the final link for pioneer travelers who were traveling the 3,100 mile International Meridian Highway from Mexico City, Mexico to Winnipeg, Canada."

October 10, 1970: Sparky Anderson First South Dakotan In World Series

2011-10-10T00:39:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 10, 1970, Cincinnati Reds manager George "Sparky" Anderson became the first South Dakotan to participate in World Series.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 52 (1992).

October 9, 1900: State Veterinary Medical Association Formed

2011-10-09T00:05:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 9, 1900, a group of veterinarians met in Huron and formed the South Dakota State Veterinary Medical Association.

Source: The Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Archives,
Volume 21, p. 709 (1900).

October 8, 1804: Lewis and Clark Reach The Grand River

2011-10-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 8, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached Ree villages at the mouth of the Grand River in north central South Dakota.

Source: A S.D. Guide, p. 31 (1938).

October 7, 1919: Argus Leader Says Car Dealer Garages Common in Sioux Falls

2011-10-07T00:13:00.000-05:00

On this date, October 7, 1919, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported that automotive dealer "garages in an American city are about the most common building one can find."

Source: Sioux Falls, South Dakota: A Pictorial History, p. 76 (1985).

October 6, 1932: Minnehaha County Farmers' Holiday Association Blocks All Roads Into Sioux Falls

2011-10-06T00:08:00.002-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this day, October 6, 1932, the Minnehaha County Farmers' Holiday Association held a second straight day of blocking all thirteen main roads into Sioux Falls as a protest over low livestock and grain prices.

The blockade started the day before, October 5, 1932. The farmers were successful in keeping grain and livestock headed to the Sioux Falls markets. Roads were also temporarily blocked outside of Watertown and Yankton. The protests were peaceful.

Source: A New S.D. History, pp. 233-4 (2005).

October 5, 1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition Encounters Its First Frost

2011-10-05T00:05:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 5, 1804, while in present day South Dakota, the Lewis and Clark Expedition encountered its first frost of the trip.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 59 (2005).

October 4, 1927: Actual Drilling Begins on Mt. Rushmore

2011-10-04T00:51:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 4, 1927, after years of thought, preparation, and fundraising, drilling actually began on Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills.

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 24 (1992).

October 3, 1875: Members of Gordon Party Set Out For Sioux City To Show Their Gold

2011-10-03T00:14:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, October 3, 1875, members of the Gordon Party left the southern Black Hills for Sioux City to show the gold they had discovered and to recruit reinforcements.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 300 (2005).

October 2, 1889: S.D. Goes GOP Before It Is Even S.D.

2011-10-02T00:47:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, October 2, 1889, both South and North Dakota gave the Republican tickets pre-statehood victories, a pattern that would continue to the present day in South Dakota.

An excerpt from the October 3, 1889 Detroit Free Press:

THE FOUR NEW STATES.: "In the Dakota elections it was evident last night that both north and south states had given a decisive majority for the Republican tickets. The returns received to-day simply make more certain what then appeared to be the case and give a better idea as to the size of the majorities."

October 1, 1889: Arthur C. Mellette Elected Governor of South Dakota While State Still A Territory

2011-10-01T00:25:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, October 1, 1889, appointed Territorial Governor Arthur C. Mellette was elected governor of South Dakota, even though the state would not exist until November 2, 1889. But unlike his 1885 extralegal GOP nomination as governor, this election was legal. Mellette would soon become the last territorial governor and the first state governor.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 116 (2005).

September 30, 1987: First Lottery Ticket Sold In South Dakota

2011-09-30T00:02:00.001-05:00

On this date, September 30, 1987, at 12:03 a.m., the first lottery ticket was sold in South Dakota. The time was selected because the game was "Match 3."

Source: The Bet On It Book Of S.D. Trivia, p. 51 (1992).

September 29, 1986: Pres. Ronald Reagan Speaks At Sioux Falls

2011-09-29T00:34:00.002-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 29, 1986, Pres. Ronald Reagan addressed a crowd at the Sioux Falls Arena. Outside, approximately 500 farmers and union members protested the administration's farm policies.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 250 (2005).

September 28, 1931: Yankton Sioux Tribe Adopts Its Consitution

2011-09-28T00:50:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 28, 1931, the Yankton Sioux Tribe adopted its constitution and by-laws.

Source: Documents of Native American Political Development: 1500s to 1933, p. 486 (2009).

September 27, 2000: Surface Transportation Board Recommends Rail Coal Route

2011-09-27T00:41:00.003-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 27, 2000, the federal Surface Transportation Board released a report recommending a route for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad to haul coal from Wyoming.

An excerpt from Minnesota Public Radio:

MPR: Feds Serve Southern Minnesota a 'Railroad Sandwich': "The federal Surface Transportation Board released a long-awaited report on September 27, recommending a route for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad to haul coal from Wyoming through South Dakota and Minnesota. The board issued a draft environmental impact statement after more than a year of research and public comment.
THE DM&E EXPANSION PLAN is the largest and most challenging construction proposal ever before the Surface Transportation Board. The recommendation modifies a company-proposed route to avoid any environmentally-sensitive areas along the Cheyenne River. The STB has already granted preliminary approval to the expansion. The 1,000 mile route includes the construction of 280 miles of new rail and upgrading 600 miles of existing line."

September 26, 2003: Rep. Bill Janklow Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter Charge

2011-09-26T00:35:00.002-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this day, August 26, 2003, United States Rep. Bill Janklow pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

An excerpt from Fox News:

FOXNews.com - Janklow Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in Fatal Accident - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum: "FLANDREAU, S.D. — Four days after saying he 'couldn't be sorrier' for a traffic collision that killed a motorcyclist, Rep. Bill Janklow (search) pleaded innocent Friday to manslaughter.
The Republican former governor also pleaded innocent on three misdemeanor charges in the Aug. 16 wreck.
Authorities allege Janklow was driving a Cadillac (search) 71 mph in a 55-mph zone and had just run a stop sign at a rural intersection near Trent when he collided with the Harley-Davidson (search), killing 55-year-old Randy Scott.
Trial was set for Dec. 1."

September 25, 1804: Lewis And Clark Camp Near Pierre, Have Dust Up With Lakotas

2011-09-25T00:30:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 25, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped opposite of Pierre at Marion Island (which no longer exists) and had some trouble with the Lakota.

An excerpt from the Lewis and Clark Journals:

Lewis and Clark in History - September 19 - 26, 1804: "' all things made ready to receive the band of the Souix nation of Indians, called the Tribe of Tetons. Gave the head chief the Black Buffalow a red coat & cocked hat & feather. Likewise some tobacco. We had no good interpreter but the old frenchman could make them understand tollarable well. Capt Lewis shewed them the air gun. Then we told them that we had a great ways to goe & that we did not wish to be detained any longer. They began to shows sings of stopping or attempting to stop us. Capt. Lewis who was on board ordered every man to his arms. The large swivel was loaded. They then requested that their women & children see the boat… Capt Clark took the chief and warriors on board to stay all night with them. '"

September 24, 1804: Lewis and Clark Arrive At The Bad River

2011-09-24T00:55:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, September 24, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the mouth of the Bad River in central South Dakota.

Source: A Guide to S.D., p. 31 (1938).

September 23, 1804: Lewis and Clark Encounter the Teton Sioux

2011-09-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
On this date, September 23, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition encountered the Teton Sioux in South Dakota. The explorers then named the next river they came to the Teton River, now known as the Bad River.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 59 (2005).

September 22, 2003: Rep. Janklow Holds Press Conference Re Fatal Crash

2011-09-22T00:45:00.000-05:00

On this date, September 22, 2003, United States Representative Bill Janklow held a news conference concerning a fatal car accident that killed motorcyclist Randy Scott.

An excerpt from KELOLAND-TV:

KELOLAND.com | Janklow Holds Press Conference: "Speaking with reporters, Janklow said he doesn't know what lies in his political future. He's having enough troubling getting through each day. Janklow says, 'I'm 64 years old and I've never deal with anything…you can't prepare in life to deal with the enormity of what I'm dealing with.' Bill Janklow is dealing with pain. The physical injuries of a car crash and the emotional trauma of knowing someone died in it. He says, 'I'm not gonna go into it. Because all I do is cry when I do. If it's been one of my kids I don't know how I'd have dealt with it.' Janklow wouldn't talk about the accident, except to say that he believes in the justice system. Janklow says, 'It's a big deal. It's a big deal for the Robertson family too.' The two times the congressman referred to accident victim Randy Scott, he called him by the wrong name."

September 21, 1877: First Mineral Application Filed in Lead

2011-09-21T00:04:00.001-05:00

Image by J. Stephen Conn via FlickrOn this date, September 21, 1877, the first mineral application in Lead was filed in the government land office.

Source: A S.D. Guide, p. 119 (1938).

September 20, 1889: Huron College Opens

2011-09-20T00:44:00.002-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 20, 1889, Huron College opened in Huron.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 343 (2005).

September 19, 1906: Rep. Ben Reifel Born In Parmlee

2011-09-19T00:05:00.003-05:00

On this date, September 19, 1906, United States Rep. Ben Reifel, the first Native American elected to federal office in South Dakota, was born in Parmlee.

An excerpt from Wikipedia:

List of Native American politicians - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Benjamin Reifel (1906-1990) — also known as Ben Reifel — of South Dakota. Born in a log cabin near Parmelee, Todd County, S.Dak., September 19, 1906. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; U.S. Representative from South Dakota 1st District, 1961-71. Episcopalian. German and Sioux Indian ancestry. Died in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, S.Dak., January 2, 1990. Burial location Irwin, South Dakota."

September 18, 1883: Baptists Open College In Sioux Falls

2011-09-18T00:51:00.001-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 18, 1883, Baptists opened the Dakota Collegiate Institute in Sioux Falls. In 1885, they changed the name to Sioux Falls University; in 1899, the changed the name to Sioux Falls College; on October 18, 1994, they changed the name to the University of Sioux Falls.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 343 (2005).

September 17, 1958: Alfred Hitchcock Leaves Mt. Rushmore To Build HIs Own

2011-09-17T00:28:00.004-05:00

Image by mansionwb via FlickrOn this date, September 17, 1958, filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock had left the Black Hills and returned to Hollywood. Once there, he hired artist Robert Boyle create the world's largest replica of Mount Rushmore out of paper mache, wire, and wood.

Source: The Bet On It Book of S.D. Trivia, p. 13 (1992)

September 16, 1883: Presbyterians Open College In Pierre

2011-09-16T00:41:00.000-05:00

Image via WikipediaOn this date, September 16, 1883, Presbyterians opened the Presbyterian University of Southern Dakota in Pierre. In 1884, it changed its name to Pierre University.

Source: A New S.D. History, p. 342 (2005).

September 15, 2003: NorthWestern Corp. Files For Bankruptcy

2011-09-15T00:03:00.000-05:00

On this date, September 15, 2003, Huron-based NorthWestern Corp. filed for bankruptcy.

An excerpt from KELOLAND-TV:

KELOLAND.com | NorthWestern Corp. Files For Bankruptcy: "There is new misfortune for South Dakota's one-time Fortune 500 Company. NorthWestern Corporation, which claims to be one of the largest providers of electricity and gas in the upper Midwest, serves dozens of South Dakota counties. It has 600-thousand customers in South Dakota, Montana and Nebraska. But today the company announced it's filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It needs to reduce in debt and says bankruptcy is the only option, after not enough shareholders voted to add 200-million more shares of stock. The news comes the same day as the New York Stock Exchange suspended the company."

September 14, 1989: USPO Issues Sitting Bull Stamp

2011-09-14T00:38:00.000-05:00

On this date, September 14, 1989, the United States Post Office issued a new 28 cent stamp honoring Lakota leader Sitting Bull.

An excerpt from Arago:

Arago: 28-cent Sitting Bull: "A new 28-cent Great Americans Series stamp honoring Sitting Bull was issued on September 14, 1989, in Rapid City, South Dakota. The dedication ceremony was held in conjunction with a meeting of the United Sioux Tribes.
Sitting Bull was the legendary chief, spiritual and political leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux Indians. The portrait, designed by Robert D. Anderson, was based on photographs from the National Anthropological Archives of the Smithsonian Institution."

September 13, 1844: Falls of the Big Sioux "Discovered"

2011-09-13T00:24:00.000-05:00

Image by Welfl via FlickrOn this date, September 13, 1844, historians believe the first whites "discovered" the falls of the Big Sioux at what is now Sioux Falls. Historians believe Captain Joseph Allen and a detachment of cavalry camped at the falls on this date. Obviously, Native Americans had known of the area for much longer.