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Bear Butte Action Alert
From: Bear Butte International Alliance <bbia@matopaha.org>
For more info: http://www.matopaha.org
This ALERT contains: - Alcohol Permitting Desecrates Bear Butte - JUNE 5, Sturgis, SD - Tribes Oppose Alcohol Permitting Near Bear Butte - Send Your Objection Letters NOW! - Sample Letter to Deny 10 Permits Within 2.5 Mile Buffer Zone Around Bear Butte - Public Hearing Announcement ------------------------------------------------- Alcohol Permitting Desecrates Bear Butte, JUNE 5th, STURGIS, SD The Meade County Board Commissioners have scheduled public hearings for consideration of new/renewal alcohol permits starting after 2:30pm on Tuesday, June 5th at the Meade County Courthouse in Sturgis, SD. All of the forty-seven (47) renewal applications and two (2) new applications for alcohol permits are slated for approval, including one for a biker campground located ON the northern slopes of sacred Bear Butte. Last year, the Meade County Commissioners witnessed and heard from the local, national, and international community about liquor licensing near Bear Butte. For the first time in history, a unified effort of local community members, business owners, land owners, ranchers, and tax paying residents, joined with tribal members, tribal council representatives, distinguished spiritual delegations, faith-based and inter-tribal coalitions, environmental groups, and bikers from across the state, and indeed the world, to voice objection to alcohol permitting and its desecrating effects on Bear Butte. The South Dakota Supreme Court is preparing to hear litigation from native and non-native Meade County residents in a lawsuit against the County that questions the right to refer liquor licensing to a vote of the people. The Meade County Commissioners, in their blanket approval of alcohol permits, equate the right to own land to the right to acquire an alcohol permit. Under South Dakota law, acquisition of an alcohol permit is a privilege, not a right that comes with property ownership. Commissioners must consider two criteria in the approval or disapproval of alcohol permits: location and character, the parameters of those two criteria have not been clearly defined by the State and are based solely on the judgment of local, as opposed to state, leadership (the five (5) County Commissioners). Efforts to protect Bear Butte from a shooting-range complex several years ago began conversations about a four-mile development-free buffer zone around Bear Butte. Federal funding was discovered to be at the crux of the shooting range development and the project was subsequently stopped. An appropriate development-free buffer zone has yet to be determined and established. In recent years the SD State Legislature was introduced to the Bear Butte Bill, proposing the same four (4) mile development-free buffer zone. The bill never left the Local Government Committee and the sense is that it will never get to the floor of the legislature for serious discussion and approval unless the proposed buffer zone is reduced. One of the controversies surrounding the proposed four-mile buffer zone is that it encompasses parts of the city of Sturgis. An analysis of the forty-nine alcohol permit applications reveals that at least 10 of them, including two of the Big 3 Rally Campgrounds/Amphitheaters, are within a 2.5 mile buffer zone that extends south from the entrance of Bear Butte State Park on Highway 79 to Bear Butte Creek. The following ten (10) campgrounds and amphitheatres requesting an alcohol permit are located within a two and a half (2.5) mile alcohol free buffer zone around Bear Butte: NEW APPLICATION Crazy Coyoteys LLC., - Located one and a half (1.5) miles west of Bear Butte, just west of Bear Butte Lake. Recently this 20 acre campgrounds, formerly Rolling Thunder Campgrounds, sold at auction for some $228,000 dollars. www.crazycoyoteys.com RENEWALS Free Spirit Campground, LLC, - Located on the northwestern base of Bear Butte. According to their website, www.sturgisfreespirit.com, they have plans for expansion. Forty-three (43) acres of camping on the slopes of Bear Butte, just below the gray rockline on the sacred mountain. This is the 2nd year of new ownership. Shade Valley Camp Resort, Inc., - Located along Bear Butte Creek, southeast of Bear Butte on Highway 34. Accommodates over 335 rv sites, tent camping, cabins, showers, beer garden. www.shadevalley.com Bear Butte Sunsets,, LLC/Sturgis County Line LLC, - Owned by Jay Allen, located 1 mile north of Bear Butte, intends to develop the ?world?s largest biker bar and amphitheatre? to seat over 30,000 concertgoers. www.sturgiscountyline.net/ Dragpipe Saloon LLC., - Located across from Sturgis County Line on Highway 79, 1.5 miles north of Bear Butte. www.dragpipesaloon.com Glencoe CampResort, Inc. d/b/a Double J Enterprises, - Located at the foot of Rock n the Rally Amphitheatre, along Bear Butte Creek, the northern boundaries are about two (2) miles south of Bear Butte State Park entrance on Highway 79. Accommodates some 20,000 campers, rv hook-ups. Rock n the Rally Amphitheatre is and Glencoe are under ownership of Gary Lippold. www.glencoecamp.com Lamphere Ranch Campground LLC, - Located along Bear Butte Creek and adjacent Glencoe Campgrounds, the northern boundaries are about two (2) miles south of Bear Butte State Park entrance. Could not locate a website for this campground. Bear Butte Creek Campground, - Located about two and a half miles (2.5) from Bear Butte along Highway 34, one of the oldest campgrounds in the area. www.bearbuttecreekcampground.com Ride N Rest LLC., - Located on the northside of Bear Butte Creek, northern boundaries of campground are 1.8 miles south of Bear Butte State Park Entrance on Highway 79. www.aridenrest.com Iron Horse Campground, - Located 1.4 miles south of Bear Butte State Park entrance on Highway 79. www.ironhorsecampground.com ------------------------------------------------ TRIBES OPPOSE ALCOHOL PERMITTING NEAR BEAR BUTTE The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is opposing Meade County alcohol license renewals for Bear Butte Sunsets, LLC/Sturgis County Line LLC,) owned by Jay Allen, and Glencoe CampResort, Inc. d/b/a Double J Enterprises) owned by Gary Lippold. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has objected to Meade County Commissioner?s approval of beer permits for 2 locations that are marketed and developed to be the World's Largest biker bar/campgrounds and amphitheaters: Glencoes Rock n the Rally, www.rockntherally.com and the Sturgis County Line, www.sturgiscountyline.net. Both of these amphitheatres are located within 2.5 miles, the Sturgis County Line a mere one (1) mile, and intend to host over 30,000 concertgoers each. The location of the alcohol permits have been deemed as unsuitable by the tribes, as they are too close to Bear Butte, and promote negative conduct and negative energy very close to one of the oldest and most frequented natural sacred place of prayer, Mato Paha, in the Lakota language, in the English language the revered place is called Bear Butte. The Location of an alcohol permit is one of the two criteria considered for approval of the alcohol permits. --------------------------------------------------------- SEND YOUR OBJECTION LETTERS NOW! DEADLINE: TUESDAY, JUNE 5TH Comments, objections, and testimony may be offered in opposition to the approval of the Alcohol Permits by contacting the Meade County Auditor by email, letter, or fax at: Lisa Schieffer Meade County Auditor 1425 Sherman Street Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone: 605-347-2360 Fax: 605-347-5925 Email: meade@meadecounty.org Letters may also be written to the attention of the five elected officials who comprise the Meade County Board of Commissioners: DISTRICT 1 Dean Wink PO Box 137 Howes, SD 57748 PH: 605-985-5240 DISTRICT 2 Jim Schroeder 2915 Greenwood Trail Sturgis, SD 57785 PH: 605-720-2479 DISTRICT 3 Dayle Hammock 13001 Cattail Pl. Sturgis, SD 57785 PH: 605-347-2196 DISTRICT 4 Curtis Nupen 1655 Wind River Pl. Piedmont, SD 57769 PH: 605-787-4009 DISTRICT 5 Robert Mallow PO Box 477 Black Hawk, SD 57718 PH: 605-787-4382 -------------------------------------------------------- SAMPLE LETTER TO DENY 10 PERMITS THAT LIE WITHIN 2.5 MILE BUFFER ZONE AROUND BEAR BUTTE DATE: DEADLINE IS TUESDAY, JUNE 5 Lisa Schieffer Meade County Auditor 1425 Sherman Street Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone: 605-347-2360 Fax: 605-347-5925 Email: meade@meadecounty.org Mrs. Schieffer and Members of the Meade County Board of Commissioners, I am writing to urge your unfavorable consideration of the following alcohol permit applications based on one of the two criteria for obtaining a license, the location. The locations of these permit applications are too close to the proximity of sacred Bear Butte and are within a two and a half mile alcohol free buffer zone around Bear Butte. The approval of these alcohol permits promotes negative conduct and negative energy very close to one of the oldest and most frequented natural sacred places of prayer, Mato Paha, in the Lakota language, in the English language the revered place is called Bear Butte. Tribal members, representing tribes from across the country and the world conduct annual pilgrimage and ceremony to the sacred Bear Butte, continuing age old, uninterrupted ritual. Appropriate growth management of the Rally industry must respect the sanctity of the landscapes of Bear Butte. Tribal, Federal and International agencies also agree that the increasing development around sacred Bear Butte threatens its status and capability as a sacred site and National Landmark. Bear Butte is a sacred site and archeological and geological treasure, akin to Stonehenge, Machu Pichu, Mt. Sinai, Mt. Ararat, the Caves of Bethlehem, the Valley of the Kings on the banks of the Nile River, and the sacred Hill of Tara in Ireland. These areas of special significance require protection and appropriate development that respects their cultural integrity, historical heritage, and national and international status as sacred places. The unregulated expansion of the Sturgis motorcycle rally industry to the very slopes of Bear Butte has spurred controversy surrounding the alcohol permitting process and I remind you that it is your responsibility to ensure this very special area is protected and preserved. Your decision to deny alcohol permitting near Bear Butte ensures appropriate and respectful growth management of the Sturgis motorcycle rally industry. The denial of the following ten (10) of the forty-nine (49) alcohol permits before you for consideration, will go far to encourage and enforce the transition to an alcohol-free buffer zone around the sacred mountain Bear Butte. Iron Horse Campground, Richard Arneson, Ride N Rest LLC., Bear Butte Creek Campground, Mary Hershey Ross Lamphere, Lamphere Ranch Campground LLC. Glencoe CampResort, Inc. d/b/a Double J Enterprises Dragpipe Saloon LLC., Richard Heinrich Bear Butte Sunsets,, LLC/Sturgis County Line LLC, Don & Judy Greslin/ Shade Valley Camp Resort, Inc., Free Spirit Campground, LLC Crazy Coyoteys LLC., Thank you for your consideration of my objection to the approval of the ten (10) alcohol permit applications listed above. Sincerely, ------------------------------------------------------ PUBLIC HEARING ANNOUNCEMENT For your information, the Notice provides in relevant part: ----------------- PLEASE PUBLISH: MEADE COUNTY TIMES TRIBUNE May 16, May 23, 2007 FAITH INDEPENDENT May 16, May 23 2007 NOTICE OF HEARING UPON APPLICATIONS FOR SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES RENEWALS Notice is hereby given that the Board of Meade County Commissioners in the Courtroom at the Meade County Courthouse, Sturgis, SD, on June 5th, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. will consider new/renewal malt beverage applications for the 2007-2008 licensing year. Said applicants are as follows: ... Iron Horse Campground, Richard Arneson, Tract D & E of BH Subdivision, lying in Tract W1/2 of Sec. 32, T6N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Ride N Rest LLC., Lot 1 & Lot 2 BH Subdivision located in the SW1/4SW1/4 of Sec. 32, T6N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Bear Butte Creek Campground, Mary Hershey Lot 2 & 3, SE1/4NW1/4, S1/2NE1/4, less portion, Sec. 5, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Ross Lamphere, Lamphere Ranch Campground LLC. S1/2 of Sec. 6, T5N, R6E, W1/2 of SW1/4 of Sec. 5, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Glencoe CampResort, Inc. d/b/a Double J Enterprises Glencoe Subtract B Lots 1 & 5, less 7 acres (2nd revision), Sec. 1, T5N, R5E, BHM; Lots 1 thru 5 S1/2NE1/4, Sec. 6, T5N, R6E, BHM; SE1/4NW1/4, less Tract A (2nd revision), Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM; SE1/4SW1/4 Lot 4, Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM; Lot 1 & 2, Sec. 36, T6N, R5E, BHM; less Govt. Lot 4; SE1/4 SW1/4, SW1/4 SE1/4, E1/2 NW1/4 SE1/4 of Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM, E1/2 N1/2 of Govt. Lot 1 of Sec. 1, T5N, R5E, BHM, Govt. Lot 2 of Sec. 6, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Dragpipe Saloon LLC., Richard Heinrich N1/2SE1/4 Sec. 1, T6N, R5E, BHM, Meade County, SD - On-Off Sale; Bear Butte Sunsets,, LLC/Sturgis County Line LLC, Sec. 6, T6N, R6E, SW of NE, SW1/2 of SENE, SENW, Lots 5, 6, 7 E1/2SW,SE (444.61 acres) Sec. 7, T6N, R6E, N1/2NE, NENW, Lot 1 (155.01 acres) BHM, Meade County, SD ? On-Off Sale; Don & Judy Greslin/ Shade Valley Camp Resort, Inc., the N1/2 and the W1/2SW1/4 of Sec. 17, excepting, therefrom West 295? of the South 150? of the SW1/4SW1/4 and 5 rods x 16 rods to School Dist. 23 and Highway ROW, T6N, R7E, BHM, Meade County, SD- On-Off Sale; Free Spirit Campground, LLC ? W1/2SW1/4NE1/4 and N1/2NW1/4SE1/4, Section 18, Township 6 North, Range 6 East, BHM, Meade County, SD (retail on-off sale malt beverage). Crazy Coyoteys LLC., Government Lot 6 in Section 25, Township 6 North, Range 5 East, of the BHM, Meade County, SD less Fritz Subdivision thereof. ? On-Off Sale ... Notice is further given that any person, persons, or their attorney may appear at said scheduled public hearing and present objections to any or all applicants, if any objections there be. Dated at Sturgis, SD, this 4th day of May, 2007. /s/ Lisa Schieffer, Meade County Auditor
