ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

Largest City:
Spearfish

County Seat: Deadwood

Population: 22,300

Founded: 1877

Lawrence County History:

Lawrence County offers much more than just the backdrop for a Wild West drama series on cable television. Beyond its colorful role in the old American West, the county is home to beautiful landscape and thriving communities. Lawrence County is rich with history, with the county's roots leading back to the early years of the Black Hills Gold Rush, according to Lawrence County officials.

The city of Deadwood, which serves as the County Seat, earned the distinction of being the only city in the United States to be named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Deadwood has a colorful history, and although the town has evolved since it's early days as a wild frontier town, the characters which shaped its history continue to leave their mark. Individuals like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Preacher Smith are buried in the town's Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

Located in the scenic valley of Spearfish Creek, Spearfish was first settled in 1876. Due to the popularity of the canyon, a petition to build a road through the area was granted in 1897, and with the coming of the Black Hills Passion Play in 1938, tourism began to grow in the Spearfish area. Spearfish is surrounded by three mountain peaks, Lookout Mountain, Spearfish Mountain, and Crow Peak, which form a crown around the "Queen City." The area continues to thrive, exemplifying its motto as "The Best of the West."

In the spring of 1876, Fred and Moses Manuel and two partners discovered Homestake and quickly recognized it as one of the most promising mines in the region. As gold production expanded, so did Lead's population, and by the time South Dakota was granted statehood in 1889, it was the state's largest city. Although Homestake fell victim to a declining world gold market, Lead continues to recall its history with visitor tours, community celebrations, and the Black Hills Mining Museum. Though the town was born out of the gold rush, Lead has always been more than just a mining town. Lead was also home to the first kindergarten in the entire west, established by Phoebe Hearst, who was the widow of a powerful leader in the mining industry. Phoebe also arranged to have the mining company construct the Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building as a gift to the town. The Opera House, which is currently in the process of being restored, remains an important cultural symbol of Lawrence County.

Tim's Work for Lawrence County

Homestake Mine

When the historic Homestake Mine closed its doors in 2001, finding a new and productive use for the mine was a top priority for local, state adn federal leaders. Tim was able to secure $10 million in interim funding to mainain the viability of the Homestake Mine as a potential location for an underground lab. As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriaions Committee, Tim added teh earmark to teh Veterans Administration, Housing and Urban Development, adn Independent Agencies (VA-HUD) bill in the Appropriations Committee in July 2001. Tim was a member of the VA-HUD conference committee that approved the appropriation. Thouugh this is certainly a long-term project, Tim remains committed to teh goal of transforming the Homestake Mine into a valuable underground laboratory.

Lead Opera House Restoration

The historic Homestake Opera House has been an important symbol of teh City of Lead for nearly a centruy, known to many as the Jewel of the Black Hills. Current efforts are being made to purchase teh opera house, which was constructed between 1912 and 1914, and restore it to its original grandeur. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tim was able to help secure a $375,000 earmark in 2004. In late May 2005, the USDA approved a $25,000 grant and $285,000 loan to assist with this project.

Promoting Safety in Schools through the COPS Program

Tim helped Deadwood secure a $119,789 gran this year from the U.S. Department of Justice. The funding comes as part of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that enhances school safety. COPS provides grants to tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies. Since its inception in 1994, the COPS program has provided more than $57 million to law enforcement agencies in South Dakota, including over $2.9 million to imporve school safety in the state.

Working with Black Hills State University

TRIO Funding:
Tim helped ensuree that BHSU will receive $273,648 in funding for the TRIO Student Support Services Program from the U.S. Department of Education. Federal TRIO programs provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and motivate students towards teh successful completion of their postsecondary education.

Addressing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:
Through his seat on the Senate Appropriations Commitee, Tim helped secure $300,000 in funding in 2005 and $200,000 in 2004 for the Western South Dakota Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at BHSU. The funding goes to promoting programs that help individuals suffering from FAS. Working in collaboration wtih tribal entities and BHSU, the task force seeks to address significant unmet needs of Native American populations and of families and professionals who work iwth individuals with FAS. The task force will be structured to provide ervices, as well as build capacity, expertisxse, and resources to serve as an ongoing sustainable resource, training and reserach insitute.

Supporting Civic Education

Tim recently met with students from Spearfish High School in his Washington, DC office. The students were in the nation's capital to participate in the national We the People competition. Tim congratulated these students and their advisors and spoke with them about the history of Congress adn the importance of civic education.

Sentaor Johnson recently signed onto a letter to a subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Commiteee seeking appropriate funding for civic education programs.