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by Margaret Figer,. Editor’s Note - This article expresses the author’s opinion. The South Dakota Legislature will open January 6 in Pierre. The short session will crowd legislators somewhat but they” spend many hours late at night and into the mornings studying proposals and bills, all of which are supposed to bring better or. not necessarily more govern ment to the people of the state of South Dakota District 24 consists of Gregory, Tripp and the east half of Todd County. Representing citizens in the state House of Representa tives in Pierre from this district are Mr. Harold Lieh of Herrick, S.D. and Mr. Fred Litton of Millboro, S.D. District 24’s sena tor is Mr. Bill Sutton of Bone steel, S.D District 23 is considerably larger landwise but population figures are comparable to those in District 24. The west half of Todd County, all of Bennett County, the southeast corner of Shannon County, all of Jackson, Washabaugh, Mellette, Jones and Lyman Counties make up District 23. It’s representatives are Mr. William Jensen, White River and Mr. Marvis Hagen, Kadoka in the state House of Representatives. Mr. Clint Rob erts, Jr. of Presho is the state Senator. All are Republicans with the exception of Sutton. All are ranchers with the exception of Hagen who owns a hardware store in Kadoka. The dividing boundary line in Todd County between the two districts follows Highway 83 from the Mellette County line south to its junction with High way 18. It continues on 18 west to its junction with the Lakeview road and follows that road south to the road west into Rosebud, S. D. The boundary continues through Rosebud west and south to St. Francis and then skirts St. Francis on the west side thus putting all of St. Francis, S. D. into District 24. The boundary continues south out of St. Francis on the Kilgore road to the state line. Therefore, all of Mission town is in District 24 but people living west of Highway 83, though they may have a Mission mailing address, vote in District 23. Rosebud itself is split by the boundary. People living south of the Lakeview road (which enters Rosebud on the east and conti nues through town) vote in District 24. Citizens north of the road vote in District 23. I called each legislator Mon day, got ahold of four and visited about what the big issues would be this session. The gentlemen agreed the biggest issues would be the Oahe irrigation project, weather modification, land use legislation, income tax and may be the Governor's airplane a gain. Both legislators asked what I thought about county severance and I said I'd like Todd County to remain attached to Tripp County. I'm not immediately aware of any bill having been profiled, but if a bill seeking repeal of the laws attaching the two counties reaches the floor of either House or Senate, I recom mend a vote against it unless new circumstances warrant another look at the issue None of the legislators felt the airplane issue would be as big as last year, and one felt there may be a move to repeal the livestock tax put into effect last year. Weather modification is getting a lot of publicity right now with folks divided on this issue about as sharply as they are on the Oahe irrigation project. Another legislator feels that the state and county are headed away from a democracy to a bureaucracy citing the Environ mental Protection Agency and its waste treatment and open burning regulations as an exam ple of the legislature passing a law and letting, in his words, “bureaucrats implement it.” He also feels the safety inspection program for vehicles is a rip-off to Joe Citizen and is planning to introduce legislation in that area. The six legislators are being hosted by citizens of Mission at an informal Constituents Meet ing in Mission Monday, Decem ber 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Western Bowl. It’s a nonpartisan meeting which, in plain talk, means both Democrats and Republicans are keeping their party structures out of it. It’s just a meeting open to the public giving them the chance to bend their legislator’s ears about issues they want explored and bills they want introduced, passed or defeated. If you can’t make the Mission meeting Monday afternoon, there'll be another in Winner at the Frontier Room of the West side at 8:00 p.m. Monday eve ning. Citizens are always wel come to call, visit or write legislators at the state house in Pierre. Mail can be addressed to each representative in care of the Legislative Mail Room, State Capitol, Pierre, 57501. It’s been my privilege to have visited with the six legislators enough to know they are all genuine, respectable, down-to- earth gentlemen who go to Pierre with the idea of truly represent ing their constituent’s best inter ests. They don’t get involved in fancy schemes to waste taxpay er’s money but are concerned with knowing what voters are thinking. Politics is often flavored with the art of compromise but I have yet to see one of our state legislators trade away a vote for something bad. To be sure, a bit of wining and dining takes place in Pierre and influences is pressed into service in the corridors, hallways and meeting rooms. But when it comes down to brass tacks on the floor of the House and Senate, the legisla tors, as a group and individually, vote their convictions, and can tell you why. The few mistakes they make are honest ones. District 24 Senator Billie Sutton, Bonesteel. District 24 legislators Harold Lieh, Herrick, left, and Fred Littau, Millboro, right. District 23 legislator Clint Roberts, Presbo Tr District 23 legislator Marvis Hagen, Kadoka District 23 legislator Bill Jensen, White River,
Newspaper Details
Mission Todd County Tribune
Mission, South Dakota, US
Thu, Dec 25, 1975
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Richmond C.
USA 11 Dec 2025
Other Publications Near Mission, South Dakota
Mission Todd County Tribune
