ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

County Name: Meade

Largest City: Sturgis

County Seat: Sturgis

Population: 24,253

Founded: 1889

At 3,471 square miles, Meade is South Dakota's largest county in terms of area. Ellsworth Air Force Base, home to the 28th Bomber wing, is located in Meade County. The base was created in 1942 as a training base for B-17 pilots. The 28th Bomber wing has flown missions over Kosovo, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The county has a long history of military instillations. Fort Meade was an important outpost at the turn of the 20th Century and now serves as a veteran's hospital.

The county seat, Sturgis, is famous for its annual motorcycle rally. The rally began in 1937 and now draws nearly half a million riders from across the country.

The town of Faith, in the northeastern corner of the county, is known by paleontologists for the many dinosaur bones that have been discovered nearby. One of the best finds was a nearly complete and very well-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as 'Sue'.

Tim's work in Meade County:

Tim Gets New Water System
In 2007, Tim helped secure a $1.3 million dollar low-interest federal loan to Viewfield Rural Water Association, Inc. for the construction of a new rural water system.

Tim Gets Schools Improved Internet Access
In 2007, Tim announced a $21,226 grant for improved telecommunication service and internet access in Meade School District so that students may use the best technology in the classroom.

Tim Fights to Save Ellsworth
In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure commission voted not to close Ellsworth Air Force Base. This decision came after much lobbying by the entire South Dakota Congressional delegation and Governor Rounds to keep this vital air base open.

Tim Spurs Sturgis Area Business
In 2004, Tim announced a $500,000 earmark to improve the Sturgis Industrial Park. The funding was used to enhance infrastructure, making it more readily available for expansion. The goal of the project was to build on Sturgis' success in attracting light manufacturing to the area.

Tim Gets New Family Housing for Ellsworth
In 2005, Tim used his position on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee to provide $14 million dollars for new family unit houses at Ellsworth Air Force Base. This funding supported a broader base housing replacement plan that is scheduled to continue through Fiscal Year 2009. The funding replaced 60 housing units, greatly improving the quality of life for service members and their families at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Tim Gets New School for Faith through Wind Energy Development
In 2005, Tim announced $500,000 for the beginning of an innovative wind energy project, the proceeds of which will financially support construction of a new school building in Faith. The old Faith school building was condemned, leaving students and teachers in modular classrooms. This funding will help with initial wind energy construction costs proceeds from the sale of electricity will be directed to construction of the new school building.

I-90 Exit 32 Interchange Replacement in Sturgis
In 2002, Tim used his position on the powerful Senate Appropriations committee to secure $3 million dollars to replace the interchange at Exit 32 on I-90 near Sturgis. The project involves construction of a .8 mile long connecting road from Vanocker Canyon to the interchange.

Tim Works for New Sturgis Library
In 2002, Tim announced a $270,000 grant to build a new public library. The Sturgis Public Library provides school library services to approximately 1,700 students in grades K-8 for the Meade 46-1 School District. Other important services are also based at the Sturgis library, such as the bookmobile that serves 18 schools in Meade County, the Home Start program that hosts story hours for young children, summer programs that serve 350-400 participating school children, and others.

Tim Gets Maintenance Group HQ
In 2005, Tim secured an earmark for the construction of a 2,781 square meter facility to house staff functions of the Maintenance Group at Ellsworth Air Force Base. These operations were previously conducted in three separate buildings, each of which were more than 40 years old and required constant and costly maintenance. The new $8.4 million facility consolidates Maintenance Group activities into one single facility, improving overall functioning of the group.

Tim Gets Base Operations Center at Ellsworth
In 2004, Tim announced the construction of a $10 million, 2,793 square meter operations center that consolidated wing safety, base operations, weather data collection and radar approach control under one roof. A portion of the funding was used to renovate the runway lighting vault. These improvements were not included in President Bush's budget proposal, but Tim was able to secure these funds through his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Tim Promotes Black Hills Tourism
In 2002, Tim, working with Senator Daschle, secured $2.5 million to support efforts that encourage tourism in the Black Hills Region. Black Hills State University received $1.5 million to work with the local business community in identifying the factors that improve the area's tourism industry. Another $1 million was directed toward helping tourism officials in the region better promote the Black Hills as a tourism destination.

Tim Fights for Parent Resource Network
In 1999, Tim announced that the Sturgis-based Parent Resource Network received a $618,000 grant. The money came from the Department of Education's Goals 2000 program. The Parent Resource Network helps parents develop their parenting skills and become involved in their kids' educations. The grant helped them expand their operations to provide services statewide.

Tim Helps Improve B-1 Bomber Radars
In 2006, Tim helped secure $65.2 million for the improvement of the radar systems of the B-1 bombers, including those located at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The B-1 aircraft provides a unique long-range strike capability with a large and varied payload. The B-1's Offensive Radar System was designed in the 1980s to provide target detection, location, tracking and accurate weapon delivery capability. In recent years, the radar system's reliability has degraded. The B-1 Radar Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program was established to improve reliability. This funding follows $37 million in other repairs and upgrades to our nation's B-1 fleet that Tim has secured in recent years.

Tim Helps Ellsworth Get Water
In 2006, Tim was able to secure funding for a water well to serve Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB). Currently, the only potable water at EAFB comes from water treated by the Rapid City Water Division. This $3 million project will permit installation of a well at EAFB, build a treatment facility for the well, and construct a new 3,600 foot water line to the base's water storage system.

Tim Gets Chemical Weapons Detectors for South Dakota Guard Members
In 2006, Tim announced that the Army National Guard would receive chemical point detectors. These devices protect troops throughout the world. As Army National Guard units play an increasing role in our national security planning, they need to be provided with the best available equipment. Several South Dakota units have received the chemical alarms, including the 109th Engineering Company in Sturgis. This $12 million of funding will provide additional M22 Automatic Chemical Agent Alarms for the Army National Guard nationwide.

Tim Gets Telemedicine to Meade County
In 1999, Tim announced that SDSU received a $296,900 grant to expand learning and telemedicine in 12 South Dakota counties, including Meade County. Telemedicine provides technology that helps doctors provide diagnosis and patient care when the doctor and patient are separated by distance.

Tim Works for South Dakota Transit
In 2006, Tim announced $7.8 million for transit services in South Dakota. This funding came from three separate accounts within the Federal Transit Administration. An investment of $4.277 million went to non-urbanized transit in smaller communities, such as those Meade County, and an additional $405,000 was dedicated to elderly and rural bus service. An additional $329,000 went to Job Access and Reverse Commute transit, which helps people leave the welfare rolls and enter the workforce by getting them to the areas where jobs are located.

Tim Helps Protect Landowners from Losses
In 2006, Tim announced $742,000 to be used to help manage South Dakota wildlife in a way that reduces damage to agriculture and natural resources, minimizes threats to public health and safety, and protects property.