ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

Largest City: Hot Springs

County Seat: Hot Springs

Population: 7,453

Founded: 1883

Fall River County
History:

Looking for a great summer getaway? From the crisp waters of the Angostura Reservoir to the warm, hot springs-fed pool at Evans Plunge or a dig at "The Mammoth Site," Fall River County has much to offer. These activities all lend clues to the history of Fall River County, "The Southern Gateway to the Black Hills."

More than 26,000 years ago, a pack of Ice Age animals were trapped and died in a spring-fed sinkhole on the southwest edge of what is now Hot Springs. Today visitors to "The Mammoth Site" can view an active dig from walkways built around and over the construction site.

Thousands of years after these animals sank into the earth, in December 1882, the town-site of Hot Springs was laid out. Due to an influx of people seeking cures in the town���s hot springs, the town was reorganized in 1886 and duly incorporated under territorial laws. Soon after, the town���s newspaper, a bank, and an educational institution were established, and several elegant sandstone buildings sprung up around town. Today visitors continue to flock to Hot Springs to experience the warm waters of Evans Plunge.

The Community of Edgemont, located on the south bank of the Cheyenne River, was settled by the Lincoln Land Company in 1891. Edgemont���s streets are lined with trees, and the town���s center features a miniature lake used for ice skating in the winter months.

The other towns of Fall River County are Smithwick, Hat Creek, Ardmore, Evans, and Oelrichs, which was once quite an important cattle shipping station on the line of the Elkhorn railroad.

Tim's Recent Work for Fall River County:

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tim is able to help secure funds for important projects throughout South Dakota. Several projects that have gained funds through this process have had an impact on the standard of living in Fall River County. Recent initiatives include:

Heartland Expressway Construction

This year, South Dakota���s congressional delegation secured a total of $69 million to complete the Heartland Expressway through Fall River County to the Nebraska border. The bill provides a total of $250 million for South Dakota projects. The Heartland Expressway project involves several improvements in the U.S. Highway 385 corridor. When completed, the Heartland Expressway will provide four-lane, divided highway service between Rapid City and Denver. Both Tim and Senator John Thune were conferees on this year���s Transportation Bill. In 2004 the project received $250,000 and in 2005 $2 million was secured for the project.

Tourism Research and Marketing for the Black Hills

In 2003, Tim secured $1.5 million for the Black Hills Center for Tourism Research. This project allows Black Hills State University and the business community to work in tandem to better understand the factors that can improve the tourism industry in the Black Hills Region. An additional $1 million was secured for initiatives that will attract tourists to the region. This project was built off of the research done at the Black Hills Center for Tourism Research.

Wildlife Control

Tim helped secure $2.55 million in federal funding over a 3 year period for the Animal Damage Control Program within the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The program helps South Dakotans offset the costs of damage associated with controlling predatory nuisances and diseased animals. Overall funding for the program is a cooperative financial partnership involving county, state and federal governments.