ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

Largest City: Gregory

County Seat: Burke

Population: 4,290

Founded: 1862

Tucked in between the Missouri River and the southern border of South Dakota, Gregory County includes the communities of Burke, Gregory, Bonesteel, Fairfax, Dallas, Herrick, St. Charles, Lucas and Dixon. Burke serves as the county seat for the estimated 4,290 residents.

Gregory County is home to the Fort Randall Military Post, established in 1856 to help keep peace on the frontier. Fort Randall Military Post was named after a career Army officer who also served as Deputy Paymaster General of the Army, Colonel Daniel Randall. The military post was located just south of the present site of the Fort Randall Dam. It also served as a major navigation link on the Missouri River and operated for 36 years.

Tim's Work in Gregory County:

As South Dakota's senior Senator, Tim is well-positioned to secure federal funding for projects that are important to Gregory County and to all of South Dakota. He has used his seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for programs that directly impact the lives of people in Gregory County.

Tim Aids Burke Business and Community

In 2002, Tim worked to provide $99,000 in federal funding from the USDA Rural Development program for the Burke Community Club to build an office facility. The facility houses three local businesses and created five new jobs.

Tim also worked to secure $70,000 in federal funding for the Burke Business Promotion Corporation to establish a revolving loan fund that would provide businesses with technical assistance and other services. This funding also came from the USDA Rural Development program.

Tim Backs Small Schools, Helps Them Connect

In 2002, Tim announced that Burke and Gregory school districts in Gregory County would receive Small School Achievement Awards. They were awarded $9,260 and $13,917 respectively. These awards are given to rural communities with a daily attendance of no more than 600 or less than 10 persons per square mile, helping them meet our state’s definition of adequate yearly progress.

In 2001, Tim announced $5,908 in E-Rate funding of for the Gregory School District. Funds helped the school pay for Internet access and telecommunication services.

Tim Boosts Fire Halls, Warning System

In 2001, Tim announced Bonesteel would receive $57,000 from the USDA Rural Development program to build an addition to their fire hall. Also that year, Burke received $49,000 to expand their fire hall from the same program.

In 2001, Tim also worked to provide $12,015 in funding from the USDA Rural Development program for Burke to upgrade their emergency warning siren system.

Other Gregory County Accomplishments:

Tim Aids South Dakota Transit

In the 2007 budget, Tim and the Senate approved funding for transit services throughout South Dakota from the Federal Transit Administration for a total of $7,875,000. An additional $4.3 million will go support public transportation in communities with less than 50,000 people, and $405,000 will be dedicated to elderly and rural bus service. Moreover, $329,000 will go to Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) transit, which helps people leave the welfare rolls and enter the workforce by getting them to the areas where jobs are located.

In 2004, Tim announced funding for The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority. This organization helps coordinate transportation, infrastructure and other projects that are important for economic development throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In 2004, $1.5 million was provided for this program. In 2005, an additional $1.49 million was provided.

Tim Helps to Manage Wildlife

In 2006, Tim secured an earmark of $750,000 in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill to help manage wildlife in a way that will reduce damage to agricultural and natural resources, minimize threats to public health and safety, and protect property. As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Tim is working in the Senate to secure $742,000 for this program for next year.

Similarly, from 2003 through 2005, Tim worked to award a total of $2.25 million in federal funding for the Animal Damage Control Program within the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Funds helped offset the costs of damage associated with controlling predators, as well as nuisance and diseased animals. The program is vital for South Dakotans who suffer wildlife damage to their land, property, crops or livestock.

Tim Works to Prevent Domestic Violence

In 2006, Tim announced that the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault would receive $175,000 to buy equipment and pay for programming. This organization works throughout all of South Dakota to train law enforcement officers, medical personnel and victims’ advocates to respond to family violence and incidents of sexual assault.

Tim Gets Equipment for Law Enforcement

In 2006, Tim announced $100,000 in federal funding to buy equipment for our state’s new criminal investigation facility, improving law enforcement investigation services throughout South Dakota. South Dakota recently built a $25 million law enforcement building that will house the Attorney General’s office, the Division of Criminal Investigation, the state crime lab, the law enforcement training academy, the state radio communications center, indoor firing ranges, exercise facilities, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. This federal funding will be used to purchase equipment for the facility.

Tim Helps Restore the Missouri River

Over the past few years, Tim has secured more than $2 million from the Energy and Water Appropriations to address sedimentation and conduct restoration of the Missouri River.

Tim Pushes for Community Health Care

In 2004, Tim announced the Community Health Care Association of the Dakotas would receive $250,000 federal funding for the implementation of an integrated management information system. This would include funding for computer equipment, training and maintenance of the integrated network plan for community health care centers throughout South Dakota.

Interesting Fact:

Initially, a portion of Gregory County was opened to settlement by President Benjamin Harrison on February 10, 1890; however, the rest of the county was opened to homesteaders by President Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1904.