South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

September 2012

District 6

The Debate over the District 6 debate

l3wis 11Comments

I got CC’d in an email from Ernie Otten to Michael Larson (debate coordinator). It seems Otten is blaming Democrats for not wanting to get back to Larson about the dates available and not wanting to combine debates;

Michael, we thank you for taking the initiative to schedule this debate in Lennox.My Republican House candidates and I believe that setting a different precedent for this debate is neither fair nor even-handed to the constituents of Lennox.  Debates are already set up in Harrisburg and Tea that include all the District 6 House and Senate candidates for 90 minutes (and include the County Commissioners).

District 6 contains many busy families with young children.  In deference to them, and communicated in earlier emails, we’d agreed to one combined debate, for 90-minutes (formal or informal) in Lennox.  Busy, but interested families shouldn’t have to set aside two different school nights for separate debates when one 90-min format works well in Harrisburg and Tea.

Please work with the candidates on the Democratic ticket to choose one date for a combined House and Senate 90-min debate (either Sept 24th or Oct 2nd) as soon as possible. This gives District 6 constituents a choice of three dates to fit their schedules.

Regards,
Ernie

And as you can see he CC’d me and Cory Madville;

To: Michael.Larson@k12.sd.us
Cc: hermanottendist6@iw.net, isaac@latterellconsulting.com,

MJPoppens@gmail.com, “Joel Arends\”\” <joel@arendslaw.com>, rschriever@hotmail.com, joe306@iw.net, \”Cory Allen Heidelberger\” <coralhei@lakeherman.org>, \”Scott Ehrisman” <fb.art@sio.midco.net>

What is interesting about this is that Schriever’s and Weis’ email addresses, while listed, were not CC’d, just listed, not sure why? Would it be to bring the appearance that they were being contacted? Not sure?

Michael did respond to Otten;

Mr. Ernie Otten,

While I do not understand the refusal to allow for a debate format that would allow candidates to directly debate opponents, I believe that having something is better than having nothing.  The Democrats have stated that they would be willing to debate any format and to just let them know the date.  I am sure that they will be willing to accommodate to the schedule and format.  I will devise a new format that would incorporate up to six candidates on stage.  (Although, no one has heard from Michael Jauron, so I am under the assumption that he will not be attending.)  The only date that will work for a combined event is September 24.

I would appreciate if all candidates could send a quick e-mail notice to me to confirm that they will or will not be attending.  I have received no communications from either Michael Jauron or Isaac Latterell.  This will help me greatly in the planning process.

I would also like to personally invite the county commissioner candidates to the event.  I would like to introduce them to the crowd and allow for people to talk with them after the debates.

Sincerely, Michael Larson

Lennox High School

 

 

Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

What is really going on with the pool at Spellerberg (ANON guest post)

l3wis 16Comments

Argus Leader:  Indoor Pool Issue Is Top Budget Topic

City Councilor Kermit Staggers plans to propose an amendment to next year’s city budget that would ensure an indoor pool is not built at Spellerberg Park.

It was obvious at the work session, Kermit is not going to get this amendment approved.  I doubt he will even receive a second, so it can be discussed by the entire Council.

But Parks and Rec Director, Don Kearney, said the Council is not being asked to approve construction of an indoor aquatic center. Rather, officials are hoping to take the next step by using funds to create preliminary design and schematic drawings to share with the public.

This is misleading.  Why would Parks and Rec be asking for $160,000 for design of an INDOOR pool, if they did not intend to ask for approval of construction in 2014?

Councilor Greg Jamison is working on an amendment to use the remaining aquatic facilities development funds to create a long-term master plan for indoor and outdoor pools. If approved, the plan would go through the land use committee.

This is a good idea and should have been done long ago.  This is the amendment, I believe will be approved by the Council.

Councilors also questioned whether the preliminary design study could work for an alternate site. Kearney said it would determine how an indoor pool would fit on the Spellerberg site and also provide information about operating costs and other amenities.

Sean Ervin, principal with TSP Architecture, said about two-thirds or three-fourths of the preliminary design could be applicable to another site; the rest would be Spellerberg-specific.

Why would the City be willing to spend $40,000-53,000 of the $160,000 specifically to see how an indoor pool would fit on the Spellerberg site if they were NOT still seriously considering that location?

“There have been a lot of questions, perception that we’re building an indoor aquatic center at Spellerberg, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Councilor Dean Karksy said.

This statement clearly demonstrates Councilor Karsky’s lack of understanding of the indoor pool issue.  AND, how he continually panders to both sides on most city issues.  He obviously did not hear Don say at the work session that two public input meetings have been held, and participants gave a 70% approval rating of the Spellerberg site for an indoor pool!

Kearney said preliminary design work for an indoor aquatic center is key to moving forward because people need to see what the facility would look like and how it would fit on the site.

Another one of Don’s misleading statements.  The newly formed, SF Aquatics Association, and representatives from the swim teams met with TSP, the architect, several months ago to view preliminary plans for the indoor pool at Spellerberg.

Don’s entire demeanor at the Council’s work session demonstrated to me, “a desperate attempt to sidetrack any organized effort to stop the indoor pool at Spellerberg.”

They DO NOT want a repeat of the Drake Springs petition drive and public vote.

 

Homeless Sioux Falls

Is there really a difference between peddlers and panhandlers?

l3wis 10Comments

Just another panhandler?

Cory Madville had a great post today about freedom of speech, getting a job, and panhandlers in Sioux Falls. They have turned it up a notch over the past few years, and one of their favorite spots is the off ramp of I-29 and Louise, which I have to go thru on occasion.

They have various signs they hold (always on cardboard, not white erase), I’m sure you have seen them. “God Bless” “I’m a Veteran” “I don’t know what a shower is or a job application”. One guy today had a cig hanging out of his mouth while taking money from a car. His sign should have said, “Almost out of cigs, out of beer, and out of luck, please give a f’ck!”

I don’t have a problem with giving to those in need, but seriously, if you have the energy to stand on a corner and ask for money, you have the energy to get a job, any job. Panhandlers in other parts of the world will clean your windshield for a buck.

Of course the good Christians of our society argue that a panhandler could be the 2nd coming of Christ, so we should give . . .

LOL!

Yeah, and that lotto ticket I accidentally threw away 5 years ago was the $100 million dollar winner.

But, I ask a bigger question. What’s the difference between panhandlers and Girl Scouts standing on a street corner and peddling cookies? Seriously? I drove past the intersection of 12th and Kiwanis last year to see Girl Scouts lunging at cars. True, the Girl Scouts are actually selling something, but what if you don’t want cookies? I see no real difference between a panhandler holding a sign and a Girl Scout holding a sign on a street corner, they both have the right to be there, whether you like it or not, but someone should tell mayor Huether. He may know what what state he lives in, but he seems to struggle with the country;

“This is just not the way we do things in Sioux Falls or in South Dakota, it’s not reflective of our people and our values. We can’t allow this to happen on the street corners of our town.”

Maybe we should ban panhandlers from texting while panhandling to?

But Isn’t a FREE society great!? Where we can sell cookies and ask for cigarette money on a street corner. Gawd I love America. Land of the FREE, broke, and constantly annoyed.

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