Mark Skogerboe, the Freedom Poet, will be in period costume reading the Declaration of Independence in front of “Founding Fathers Black Hills,” the recreation of Independence Hall out by Reptile Gardens, Wednesday July 8 at noon. The reading is free and open to the public for those who would like to hear our nation’s founding document read as it was in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall some 239 years ago. The Liberty Bell will ring throughout the day, every hour on the hour.

The South Dakota Blue Ribbon Task Force on education came to Rapid City last night. The task force met at the Ramkota with educators, then business leaders, and lastly yesterday evening with members of the general public. The meeting last night was fairly well attended, with about 85 people present.

Sponsored by the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group, combat artist James Pollock of Pierre will visually present his documentation of the Vietnam War on Saturday, June 13 at Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, 930-1130 am.

Sponsored by the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group, Lakota writer Ed “Eagle Man” McGaa will talk about his most recent book, the autobiographical Warrior’s Odyssey: Spirit of Crazy Horse, on Saturday, May 9, at Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, 930-1130 am.

South Dakota Rep. Jeff Partridge was one of the featured speakers at the Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting March 7, 2014

South Dakota Rep. Dan Dryden was one of the featured speakers at the Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting March 7, 2014

South Dakota Senator Bruce Rampelberg was one of the featured speakers at yesteday’s legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City.

At the Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting yesterday, Tonchi Weaver with South Dakota Citizens for Liberty asked about HB 1228 concerning debt collections for monies owed to the state of South Dakota.

At the legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City today, a question was asked about SB 176 concerning textbook which “provide[s] for the development of online resources and a rubric of textbook analysis for use in school districts, to make an appropriation therefor.” The question was about why we were seeking to hire a private agency to do something that government was prohibited by law from doing.

At the Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting todya, a question was asked about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and whether working with such groups violated the oath of office taken by legislators.