10 Broadcaster Press February 27, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com How To Prepare For Noem: America's Workhorses Emerald Ash Borer first term, an amendment place the value of air time By Rep. Kristi Noem was made on the House for our airmen. Proper Mission after misfloor to delay the B-21’s training and readiness are sion, whether we need to development by a decade. critical to our airmen’s respond to terrorists in Once again, I fought back, safety and success in the the Middle East or deter a by flying. It moves from city to city, and By Greg Josten, State Forester and the amendment was field. With the expansion tyrannical North Korean county to county, usually by movement Emerald ash borer is coming. It has defeated. of air space at Powder dictator, America turns to of infested firewood. But it’s also a good been found in 31 states, including MinneIn the years since, I’ve River, Ellsworth and the Ellsworth Air Force Base. hitch hiker, clinging to vehicles as they sota, Nebraska and within 80 miles of our continued to push for a U.S. Air Force now have I’m awfully proud of that. travel our highways. border in Iowa. While we haven’t found it 21st Century upgrade to critical access to one of Still, when I began One of the things South Dakotans can in South Dakota yet, it is just a matter of the Air Force’s bomber representing South Dakota the largest training ranges do before EAB arrives is limit the movetime. fleets. Finally, that looks to in the country. Moreover, in the U.S. House, there ment of firewood. If you need to buy The borer, commonly referred to as be around the corner. We by expanding the training was widespread concern firewood, purchase it locally and make EAB, is a relatively small insect. It repeatexpect the B-21 to begin facility near Ellsworth, that Ellsworth was on sure it was cut locally. If it isn’t local edly attacks the ash tree, growing in arriving on bases in the taxpayers will save about the Obama administrawood, make sure it is certified to be free numbers each year and consuming only mid-2020’s and Ellsworth tion’s list of potential base $23 million in fuel costs of insects. If you’re going camping and the layer of tissue beneath the bark that is on the list. Over time, want to have a campfire, get the wood at closures. With our national every year. is vital to the tree’s survival. It’s stealthy the B-21 will fully replace Most recently, the the campground and don’t take any wood security at stake, I couldn’t too, attacking the top of the tree first, so the B-1 and B-2 bombers: a U.S. Air Force announced allow that to happen. We it’s hard to find. The tree dies about seven home with you. much-needed modernizaexisting bomber bases fought back and were able EAB only attacks and kills ash trees, years after the first attack. Our ash trees, tion. like Ellsworth will remain to make sure the option but it will do so indiscriminately. Healthy unlike the ash trees in Asia, where the Our men and women bomber bases when the was taken off the table. insect came from, are completely defense- and unhealthy trees will be lost. We can in uniform serve with new B-21 bomber comes In the years since, prepare for the future by removing ash less against this insect. bravery, courage and online. For decades, we’ve only enhanced trees that are in poor condition now and Ash is one of the most abundant trees patriotism, so we have an Ellsworth has been home in South Dakota. It was planted extensive- replace them with young trees of different Ellsworth’s value to the indisputable responsibilto the B-1 bomber, among types. While it won’t protect us from EAB U.S. military. The South ly in our communities and in windbreaks ity to provide them with this time around, increasing the diversity Dakota Ellsworth Develop- other planes. The bomber after Dutch Elm disease started killing the skills, training and helped us both win the ment Authority has done our American elms in the 1960’s. It is also of tree types in our communities and tremendous work building Cold War in the 1980’s and equipment needed to win native to our state and can be found along countryside will ensure more resilience to on modern-day battlekeep North Korea at bay our streams, rivers and in our woodlands. losses from invasive insects and diseases a community of support today. But with a bomber’s fields. Ellsworth has long around the base, which is in the future. The borer moves from tree to tree played an important role average age around 40 an important factor when years old, the fleet must be in that mission. With the the U.S. Defense Departmodernized. That upgrade Air Force’s most recent ment looks at maintaining announcement, I’m thrilled will come in the form of its bases. Ellsworth will continue to We have also expanded the B-21. serve a mission-critical When I first arrived in the Powder River Trainrole as home to America’s Congress, a modernized ing Complex, which is next-generation workbomber wasn’t a guarreserved air space near horse: the B-21 bomber. antee. Months into my the base. Nothing can rePIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Den“David Knoff is a respect“I am grateful the Govnis Daugaard announced ed attorney and a leader ernor has appointed me Feb. 21 that he will appoint in his community,” said to the First Circuit bench,” David Knoff of Yankton as Gov. Daugaard. “He has a said Knoff. “To fill the void a circuit judge in South Dacommitment to service and that Justice Jensen and kota’s First Judicial Circuit. to the legal profession, and our other retired judges Knoff will fill the vacancy he will make an excellent have left behind will be a that was created late last judge.” challenge. I intend to do my contain nearly $19 million in additional The School Administrators of South year, when Circuit Judge Knoff is a partner in best to serve the citizens of funding, which could be used to meet the Dakota and the Associated School Board Steven R. Jensen was apKennedy Pier Knoff Loftus, South Dakota.” statutorily required increase in state aid of South Dakota continue to support pointed to the South Dakota LLP of Yankton and has Knoff has been a member to schools. the philosophy behind the work of the Supreme Court. The First practiced with that firm of the Yankton City CommisState law requires schools to receive Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force. The Circuit includes Aurora, since his graduation in sion since 2007, and served an annual increase in funding of three pergoals set forth in the legislation that Bon Homme, Buffalo, Brule, 1997 from the University of as Mayor from 2010-12. He cent or inflation, whichever is less. The emerged from the task force are certainly Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, South Dakota School of Law. is an alternate board chair inflationary factor for the current year attainable if there is continued revenue Douglas, Hanson, HutchinKnoff earned his bachelor’s for the Yankton County is 1.7 percent, which equates to approxison, McCook, Turner, Union degree from South Dakota Board of Mental Illness, and dedicated to the goal of raising teacher mately $11 to $12 million in new money to salaries. and Yankton counties. State University. is an adjunct professor at public schools. Recently, members of the South Dathe USD Law School, teach“With updated, and increased, revenue kota Legislature’s Joint Appropriations ing mediation. Knoff and his wife, Jofigures holding a place in the budget, committee adopted revenue projections zette, have three children. there’s a starting point for dialogue on for the Fiscal Year 2019 budget totaling schools receiving their statutory in$1.641 Billion. This number exceeded the crease,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade revenue figures proposed by Governor Dennis Daugaard at his budget address in Pogany said. “Public education benefitted from 2016’s new dollars and from the December. “Given the improved financial outlook, increase provided to schools last year. “Any new money for schools this seswe encourage our legislators to lift the sion would be beneficial.” Governor’s recommendation of a zero PRECISION PAINTING percent increase and follow the law as it •Interior •Exterior pertains to school funding,” SASD Presi•Commercial dent Joan Frevick said. •Residential Grain Bin Dealer Governor Daugaard’s proposal did not Quality Workmanship, Reasonable Rates include a funding increase – beyond an CLINT TUCKER uptick for increased enrollment – for public education, but the adopted projections 624-4621 Since Gov. Daugaard Names David Knoff As First Circuit Judge SASD And ASBSD Encourage Funding Increase To Support Task Force’s Ideas Buy Local! 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