ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

Largest City: Wessington Springs

County Seat: Wessington Springs

Population: 2,180

Founded: 1883

Jerauld County History:

Jerauld County is rich in history, with legends echoing through the Wessington Hills, on which it was settled. Although the county was not officially settled until 1883, the hills were an area where trappers and Native Americans gathered to trade for many years prior to the settlement of the area.

The county is named for H.A. Jerauld, a territorial legislator from Canton, SD.

Wessington Springs, the county seat, was first platted in 1882 and was granted a Post Office in 1884. The town had first been called Elmer, but there is no recorded date for the settlement of Elmer. The town has eight places listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- Carnegie Library, Jerauld County Courthouse; the Municipal Field House; Anne Hathaway Cottage and Shakespeare Gardens; United Methodist Church; Gov. Robert Vessey home; 1905 Opera House; and the "Sears and Roebuck" Will House.

Turtle Peak lies atop a 400-foot rise north of Wessington Springs and is named for a Native American mosaic placed to form a large turtle with its head to the rising sun. It is said to be the burying place of Chief Big Turtle.

Today, visitors to Wessington Springs can visit Civil War Hero Cleveland Hall's grave at Prospect Hill Cemetery, attend the town's annual rodeo, or hunt pheasants on the area's 3,000 acres of public hunting ground.

Alpena was founded in 1883 and was named by C.W. Prior for a town in Michigan. Alpena is home of LSI, Inc., maker of Jack's Links Beef Jerky. Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today is a graduate of Alpena High School.

Lane, a small town located on the eastern edge of the county, was founded in 1903 and named for L.W. Lane who was part owner of the town site.

Tim's Recent Work for Jerauld 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 Jerauld County.

Mid-Dakota Rural Water Project

The Mid Dakota Rural Water Project was authorized in 1992. It is now over 95 percent complete, and is anticipated to be completed in 2006. Upon completion, Mid Dakota will serve more than 30,000 residents in East-Central South Dakota, including several residents of Jerauld County. $17 million was allocated in 2005 for continued construction of the Mid-Dakota Rural Water Project. $15 million was secured for the project for 2004.

James River Water Development District

$500,000 from Energy and Water Appropriations will be used for an Environmental Impact Statement for the district.

Northern Great Plains Regional Authority

The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority helps coordinate transportation, infrastructure and other projects that are important for economic development throughout South Dakota. In 2005, $1.49 million was secured for this project through Agriculture Appropriations.

Dental Care throughout South Dakota

The "Target Access: Great Plains Oral Health" consortium will receive $200,000 for 2005 to improve recruitment and retention of dental professionals in South Dakota. This is a collaboration with partners in Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming. The South Dakota Dental Association will take the lead in implementing programs that promote early student recruitment, ongoing contact with South Dakota students during their education, and facilitating their return to the state as dentists.

Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas

$250,000 from 2004 Labor-HHS Appropriations was used for the implementation of an integrated management information system, including funding for computer equipment, training and maintenance of the integrated network plan for community healthcare centers throughout South Dakota.

Law Enforcement Technology Upgrades

$250,000 requested by the South Dakota Sheriff's Association and the South Dakota Police Chief's Association in 2004 was used to upgrade communications equipment, computers and crime-fighting technologies.

Grants for Alpena and Wessington Springs

Several years ago, Tim helped Alpena obtain a $275,000 grant to improve their wastewater treatment plant.

In 2003, Tim announced that the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department received a $21,366 grant for fire operations and firefighter safety. The funding was used for training and equipment.