Just a few notes on happenings of the day...

Pierre Crackerbarrel coming on January 7th

Yesterday, the Pierre Chamber of Commerce sent out a notice of the first local Crackerbarrel:

Legislative Cracker Barrel
On Saturday, January 7th, 2006, our 3 local legislators (State Senator Bob Gray, State Representative Tim Rounds, and State Representative Ryan Olson) will be offering a Cracker Barrel for the public at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce Community Room from 9:30am to 10:30am. The format will be one where each legislator will have a brief time for comments, after which a question and answer session will follow. What a wonderful opportunity to speak candidly and openly about issues facing our legislators' right before session begins. The public is welcome. Cookies and coffee will be served.

I might have to stick around for that one, and get some video coverage. And Pierre Chamber, if you want better attendance, use the suggestion from South Park's Eric Cartman:

Cartman: "Say there'll be punch and pie!"
Kyle: "But we do'nt have punch and pie"
Cartman: "More people will come if they think we have punch and pie!!!"

So think "Punch and Pie."

Also from the Pierre Chamber of Commerce, add the following to your "To Do" list:

Legislative Welcome
The Pierre Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Legislative Welcome on Tuesday, January 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Ramkota River Centre. If you would like to sponsor a Legislator and their guest, call the Chamber at 224-7361 to host your favorite Legislator. Cost is $30.00 per ticket, and will include social hour, dinner and entertainment.

(But what if you don't have a favorite?) With my luck, I'd be paired with Gordon Howie, Clarence Kooistra, or Alice McCoy - a few GOP legislators I've given a hard time to lately.

Well, maybe the children aren't our future..
On the front page of this week's Wagner Press is this picture announcing the opening of Bob's Liquor and Casino in Wagner. What does that have to do with politics? On the very right hand side of the above photo is former Pierre State Senator Jacquie Kelley.

Jacquie defeated long time Senate Minority Leader Homer Harding in an upset election, and served for two years before being subsequently defeated by now Governor M. Michael Rounds. During her first campaign, Jacquie had an insipid commercial (admittedly, it worked, she got elected) with Whitney Houston singing in the background "I believe the children are our future..."

Fast forward from 1988, and "forget kids - liquor and gambling are the future now." ;)

I'm just kidding. Seriously, Jacquie was a formidable opponent, and after her defeat was long involved with serving the people and children of Hughes County, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Eastside Center for kids. She's certainly given back to the community and we wish her well.

It's noteworthy to see her in Wagner (and that she's living in Tyndall/Scotland). It's not outside of the realm of possibility to see her running in that legislative district in the near future.

And yet again, More PUC Stuff?

The PUC is the hotbed of activity lately. Big SDWC Congratulations are due to Former Tourism Director Patty Van Gerpen. Patty was just named the new Executive Director for the Public Utilities Commission.

And Public Utilities Commissioner Bob Sahr is now back in charge. Bob was just elected as president of the Public Utilities Commission. It's a rotating position that changes on a yearly basis (as long as your party is in the majority).

Amendment P is for Poker

Todd Erks, a Bar owner of Tea, SD, who has had a little trouble reading that law about gambling and games of chance has decided if you don't like the state law on gambling, you should just change it.

A few days back he said he was going to circulate petitions to change state law on gambling and Bill Harlan of the Rapid City Journal has the scoop on the fact that the petitions are out in circulation.

Last weekend Todd Erks of Tea began circulating petitions for an initiated measure that would redefine gambling to allow “Texas hold ’em” poker tournaments.

Todd’s Place is near the Harrisburg exit on Interstate 29. Erks described it as a “meat and potatoes” bar.

Erks lost his beer license for a time earlier this year, after Lincoln County State’s Attorney Tom Wollman said Erks’ poker tournaments were illegal. “That was pretty clear to me and it was pretty clear to the attorney general it was a violation of state law,” Wollman said Tuesday.

Hint - Don't ask Pennington County Commissioner Delores Coffing for help.

And that's what's happening in SDWC-Land tonight.