If you have not had a chance to sign our online petition to Protect Bear Butte, please take a moment to sign! The petition is to oppose the liquor licenses for Broken Spoke Campground. Deadline is Monday June 30th. Hearing is Tuesday, July 1st at 3:30 Meade County Commissoners Building.
http://www.petitiononline.com/BBappeal/petition.html
Thank you for your continued support to Protect Bear Butte!
Tamra
'I'm not afraid to speak on behalf of the mountain'
Posted: June 27, 2008
by: Rob Capriccioso
Click to Enlarge
Photo courtesy Tamra Brennan -- The two-story bar at the Broken Spoke Campground is one of many developments that have popped up around sacred Bear Butte over the last two years.
PIERRE, S.D. - A group of impassioned Indians gathered at South Dakota's Bear Butte State Park June 21 to pray for healing and to highlight what they call ''horrifying'' commercial developments around their revered mountain.
The gathering was attended by more than 40 Natives, with some traveling from as far away as Canada to pray and honor the lands. Bear Butte is considered sacred to dozens of Native nations, including the Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho tribes, some of which own small sections of land near the mountain.
The 4,422-foot peak has been used for thousands of years as a religious and commemorative place for vision quests, ceremonies of passage and renewal, spiritual offerings and medicine gatherings.
In recent years, economic development in the form of bars, concert venues and campgrounds has become increasingly upsetting to Indians who have long made religious pilgrimages to the site. About a dozen developments currently operate in close proximity to the mountain, many of which have been built since 2006 in an attempt to lure bikers and tourists to the area.
Tamra Brennan, founder of the grass-roots organization Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation, lives near the base of the mountain. She said that noise from motorcycle rallies and drunken partiers, as well as fireworks and flashing strobe lights that are sometimes shone onto the mountain, have disrupted the sacred lands.
''The struggle has gotten difficult over the last few months,'' Brennan, Eastern Cherokee, said. ''It's been hard to keep people informed on new developments. The issue is a lot more critical now than even a few years ago.''
Brennan and others are urging the Meade County Commission to deny alcohol licenses for the Broken Spoke Campground, which they say is one of the most disruptive developments in the area.
Originally called Sturgis County Line Bar, the two-story, 25,000-square-foot venue is in transition to be operated by Boston-based Target Logistics, an international company that provides housing, transportation, life support and hospitality services. The property was previously under the sole management of developer Jay Allen, who lost his alcohol license last year due to character issues.
Developers with Broken Spoke recently expressed interest in offering helicopter rides over the mountain, which further angered Natives in the area. The Native American Rights Fund has consulted with local Indians on helping to legally stop the rides under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.
Developers have also pursued plans to build a concert stadium and an RV park in addition to the bar already on the grounds.
''It's going to make it practically impossible to pray in peace,'' Brennan said.
Target Logistics President Joe Murphy has said in the past that he is ''happy to sit down and listen to our critics'' and that he is ''respectful'' of his critics' religious views. He could not be reached by press time for further comment.
The commission's meeting to determine whether the campground will get its alcohol license is scheduled for July 1. Brennan's organization is encouraging tribal members from throughout the region to make their voices heard prior to meeting day. Organizers believe that visitors will be discouraged from frequenting the venue, if liquor cannot be served.
The National Congress of American Indians is opposed to the alcohol license application submitted by Broken Spoke.
''Both the location and the character of the applicant are unsuitable for any alcohol licenses,'' according to a letter sent by NCAI to the Meade County Commission.
The organization also recommended that county commissioners ''use their broad discretion over alcohol licenses to begin government-to-government consultation with affected local Indian tribes to establish notification and consultation procedures for decisions that affect religious practice at Bear Butte and all American Indian sacred sites.''
Republican Gov. Mike Rounds and some state legislators have also tried to conserve and protect lands around Bear Butte, but have been unsuccessful to date.
Alberta Fischer, a Montana-based Northern Cheyenne elder, said she is hopeful that the damages she's seen as a result of the developments will one day end. She first started making treks to the mountain as a young girl when she watched her grandparents and parents pray and perform religious ceremonies there.
''I grew up with it. I know the true significance of that mountain. It's been a part of my life, which is why I'm opposed to any development. I'm not afraid to speak on behalf of the mountain.
''There's going to be somebody who will listen to us one of these days. And that's what I pray for.''
Bear Butte was listed as a National Natural Landmark in 1965, as a National Historical Place in 1973 and as a National Historic Landmark in 1981. It has been on the National Historic Landmarks threat level watch list since 2004.
http://www.indiancountry.com:80/content.cfm?id=1096417592
For more information, visit www.ProtectBearButte.com.
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Bear Butte alcohol license hearings sure to draw opponents
Bear Butte alcohol license hearings sure to draw opponents
By Joe Kafka, The Associated Press Thursday, June 12, 2008
7 comment(s) Normal Size Increase font Size
Alcohol license requests for a sprawling campground, bar and concert area near a Black Hills butte that's sacred to Native Americans will be opposed at a July 1 hearing in Sturgis.
An opponent of the Broken Spoke Campground, formerly known as Sturgis County Line, complains it will disturb Bear Butte's tranquil aura.
For centuries, members of various Native American tribes have gone to Bear Butte to pray, fast and hold religious ceremonies. They say noise from large campgrounds and bars in the area, which have sprung up over the years to cater to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, disrupt the normally peaceful setting.
Joe Murphy, president of a Boston firm that plans to buy the Broken Spoke Campground and is leasing it until the alcohol license issue is settled, said Thursday the business will try to be sensitive to qualms about noise and commotion.
"We want to make any accommodation we need to to work with anybody's beliefs," Murphy said. "We respect their religious views and hope we don't disturb them. We're happy to sit down and listen to our critics."
Murphy is president of Target Logistics, an international company that provides housing, transportation, life support and hospitality services. He said Target Logistics wants to buy the campground from Jay Allen, who lost his beer and alcohol licenses last year.
Allen also owns Broken Spoke properties in Laconia, N.H.; Daytona Beach, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Murphy said his firm is negotiating for them, too.
Tamra Brennan, founder of a grass-roots group seeking to protect Bear Butte, said she will urge the Meade County Commission to deny alcohol licenses for the Broken Spoke Campground. Brennan, who lives near the base of Bear Butte, said she complained about noise during last year's motorcycle rally and was shrugged off.
Campground noise was so loud one night that it rattled the windows in her house until 2 a.m., she said. Brennan said strobe lights were shone on Bear Butte at night, and the campground manager didn't understand why she would complain about it.
"There are people trying to pray in solitude and peace that are up on the mountain at all hours," she said.
Bear Butte, an ancient volcano that never erupted, is not like a church that has services only on Sundays, said Brennan, an Eastern Cherokee Indian and founder of Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation.
"The land is our church," she said. "We don't just go into a church once a week and spend one hour and then that's it. This is not a religion; this is a spirituality."
The 4,422-foot peak has been a state park since 1961 and is protected as a National Historic Landmark. It has a special area set aside for Indian ceremonies, and regulations prevent other visitors from interfering with those who are praying.
However, the butte is surrounded by private property and growing commercialization.
Joell Romick, the county commission's administrative assistant, said both an on-sale liquor license and a beer license are being sought for the Broken Spoke Campground.
The campground features a 25,000-square-foot bar, or the equivalent of a building that's 250 feet long and 100 feet wide.
In 2006, Native Americans and others opposed initial approval of a liquor license for Jay Allen because the campground is within three miles of Bear Butte.
Allen lost the beer license for his campground a year ago after commissioners received complaints he was not paying his bills.
Alcohol licenses can be denied on the basis of character and location.
Commissioners said 10 months of unpaid bills spoke to the character of Allen, an Arizona-based motorcycle rally entrepreneur.
In December, the county commission rejected Allen's renewal application for an on-sale liquor license, again citing character issues after some contractors who did work at the campground claimed he had not paid them.
Allen said the campground had been a financial headache and that some contractors overcharged or didn't finish their jobs.
Later, a judge said the county commission must reconsider denial of the liquor license because of the proposed change in ownership. The commission balked and requested an intermediate appeal from the state Supreme Court, but that has been denied, Romick said.
Murphy said plans are in the works to keep the campground open all summer, beginning next year. A swimming pool is being added along with other improvements for campers, and it will be geared to families at times other than rally week, he said.
"We want to make it a nice, quality family experience," Murphy said.
"We want to make a solid commitment to the Sturgis area," he added. "We're hiring as many local contractors as we can, and we're trying to bring jobs and money into the area."
Brennan said the nearly one-square-mile campground is a blight on the area. It will feature noisy concerts during the Aug. 4-10 motorcycle rally and will offer helicopter rides over the butte, she said.
"To add helicopter rides over Bear Butte is just appalling," Brennan said. "This is complete disregard for Native American beliefs and the respect of the people who are in ceremonies on the hill."
Helicopter rides over the mountain will violate two federal laws dealing with freedom of religion for Native Americans, she said.
But Murphy said he doubts many helicopter rides will be staged.
"If we had someone who wants to go for a helicopter ride, we would make the helicopter available to them at the campground," he said. "If someone asks to fly over Bear Butte, we'd take them unless it's not allowed."
Murphy noted the area has several other large campgrounds and bars.
"The rally period is a very intense, and whether we're there or not, we're not having any more effect on Bear Butte than the other campgrounds in the area," he said.
On the Net:
www.brokenspokecampground.com/schedule-of-events.cfm
http://www.protectsacredsites.org/
http://www.protectbearbutte.com
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/06/12/news/top/doc4851a08e3740e147427725.txt
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
PROTECT BEAR BUTTE!
"Providing news and information about Native American Issues & Causes"
"Helping to make a difference for our people in Indian Country, one day at a time. What will you do today to help make a difference?"
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
By Joe Kafka, The Associated Press Thursday, June 12, 2008
7 comment(s) Normal Size Increase font Size
Alcohol license requests for a sprawling campground, bar and concert area near a Black Hills butte that's sacred to Native Americans will be opposed at a July 1 hearing in Sturgis.
An opponent of the Broken Spoke Campground, formerly known as Sturgis County Line, complains it will disturb Bear Butte's tranquil aura.
For centuries, members of various Native American tribes have gone to Bear Butte to pray, fast and hold religious ceremonies. They say noise from large campgrounds and bars in the area, which have sprung up over the years to cater to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, disrupt the normally peaceful setting.
Joe Murphy, president of a Boston firm that plans to buy the Broken Spoke Campground and is leasing it until the alcohol license issue is settled, said Thursday the business will try to be sensitive to qualms about noise and commotion.
"We want to make any accommodation we need to to work with anybody's beliefs," Murphy said. "We respect their religious views and hope we don't disturb them. We're happy to sit down and listen to our critics."
Murphy is president of Target Logistics, an international company that provides housing, transportation, life support and hospitality services. He said Target Logistics wants to buy the campground from Jay Allen, who lost his beer and alcohol licenses last year.
Allen also owns Broken Spoke properties in Laconia, N.H.; Daytona Beach, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Murphy said his firm is negotiating for them, too.
Tamra Brennan, founder of a grass-roots group seeking to protect Bear Butte, said she will urge the Meade County Commission to deny alcohol licenses for the Broken Spoke Campground. Brennan, who lives near the base of Bear Butte, said she complained about noise during last year's motorcycle rally and was shrugged off.
Campground noise was so loud one night that it rattled the windows in her house until 2 a.m., she said. Brennan said strobe lights were shone on Bear Butte at night, and the campground manager didn't understand why she would complain about it.
"There are people trying to pray in solitude and peace that are up on the mountain at all hours," she said.
Bear Butte, an ancient volcano that never erupted, is not like a church that has services only on Sundays, said Brennan, an Eastern Cherokee Indian and founder of Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation.
"The land is our church," she said. "We don't just go into a church once a week and spend one hour and then that's it. This is not a religion; this is a spirituality."
The 4,422-foot peak has been a state park since 1961 and is protected as a National Historic Landmark. It has a special area set aside for Indian ceremonies, and regulations prevent other visitors from interfering with those who are praying.
However, the butte is surrounded by private property and growing commercialization.
Joell Romick, the county commission's administrative assistant, said both an on-sale liquor license and a beer license are being sought for the Broken Spoke Campground.
The campground features a 25,000-square-foot bar, or the equivalent of a building that's 250 feet long and 100 feet wide.
In 2006, Native Americans and others opposed initial approval of a liquor license for Jay Allen because the campground is within three miles of Bear Butte.
Allen lost the beer license for his campground a year ago after commissioners received complaints he was not paying his bills.
Alcohol licenses can be denied on the basis of character and location.
Commissioners said 10 months of unpaid bills spoke to the character of Allen, an Arizona-based motorcycle rally entrepreneur.
In December, the county commission rejected Allen's renewal application for an on-sale liquor license, again citing character issues after some contractors who did work at the campground claimed he had not paid them.
Allen said the campground had been a financial headache and that some contractors overcharged or didn't finish their jobs.
Later, a judge said the county commission must reconsider denial of the liquor license because of the proposed change in ownership. The commission balked and requested an intermediate appeal from the state Supreme Court, but that has been denied, Romick said.
Murphy said plans are in the works to keep the campground open all summer, beginning next year. A swimming pool is being added along with other improvements for campers, and it will be geared to families at times other than rally week, he said.
"We want to make it a nice, quality family experience," Murphy said.
"We want to make a solid commitment to the Sturgis area," he added. "We're hiring as many local contractors as we can, and we're trying to bring jobs and money into the area."
Brennan said the nearly one-square-mile campground is a blight on the area. It will feature noisy concerts during the Aug. 4-10 motorcycle rally and will offer helicopter rides over the butte, she said.
"To add helicopter rides over Bear Butte is just appalling," Brennan said. "This is complete disregard for Native American beliefs and the respect of the people who are in ceremonies on the hill."
Helicopter rides over the mountain will violate two federal laws dealing with freedom of religion for Native Americans, she said.
But Murphy said he doubts many helicopter rides will be staged.
"If we had someone who wants to go for a helicopter ride, we would make the helicopter available to them at the campground," he said. "If someone asks to fly over Bear Butte, we'd take them unless it's not allowed."
Murphy noted the area has several other large campgrounds and bars.
"The rally period is a very intense, and whether we're there or not, we're not having any more effect on Bear Butte than the other campgrounds in the area," he said.
On the Net:
www.brokenspokecampground.com/schedule-of-events.cfm
http://www.protectsacredsites.org/
http://www.protectbearbutte.com
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/06/12/news/top/doc4851a08e3740e147427725.txt
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
PROTECT BEAR BUTTE!
"Providing news and information about Native American Issues & Causes"
"Helping to make a difference for our people in Indian Country, one day at a time. What will you do today to help make a difference?"
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
NCAI Supports Bear Butte Issue with Opposition letter 6-10-08
We received a opposition letter from NCAI today. This is what they sent to Meade County Commissoners in addition to a prior Resoluton for the Protection of Sacred Sites. You can view the letter and Resolution on our website at
http://www.protectbearbutte.com/NCAI%20Letter%20Broken%20Spokes%206-11-08.pdf
It's a great letter!
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
http://www.protectbearbutte.com/NCAI%20Letter%20Broken%20Spokes%206-11-08.pdf
It's a great letter!
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Bear Butte Petition ~ Protect Bear Butte
Protect Bear Butte
http://www.petitiononline.com/BBappeal/petition.html
View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Meade County Commissioners, Sturgis South Dakota
June 2008, the Supreme Court DENIED the Meade County Commissioners appeal.
The Meade County Commissioners will hold a hearing on July 1, 2008 to make a FINAL determination on the revocation of Jay Allen's, liquor license for the Sturgis County Line (now known as Broken Spoke Campground, LLC).
We are hereby requesting the Meade County Commissioners CONTINUE to DENY, Jay Allen's appeal.
Please keep in mind, this appeal and hearing are a separate issue from the new owners Target Logistics, filing for a NEW liquor license, which will now also be heard in July.
We are requesting that everyone OPPOSE BOTH issues.
Background on issue:
Bear Butte is a sacred mountain located eight miles east of Sturgis, South Dakota.
There are four National designations for Bear Butte:
National Historical Landmark, listed on December 21, 1981
National Historical Places, listed on June 19, 1973
National Natural Landmark, listed on April 1965
Registered National Trail (Bear Butte Summit Trail), listed on June 1,1971
Bear Butte has been on the National Historic Landmarks Program threat level watch list since 2004.
Bear Butte was established as a State Park in 1961.
Bear Butte is sacred to the Plains Tribes who continue to travel to the mountain each summer to pray and hold their annual ceremonies. Instead of praying in peace, traditional people are forced to pray with loud music from bars, motorcycle noise, flashing strobe lights over the mountain, and intoxicated campers nearby.
Blatant disregard for the spiritual beliefs and ceremonies of Native People and the sacredness of this mountain is evidenced by the increased presence of bars, clubs, strobe lights, campgrounds that sell alcohol and a proposed stadium.
For the past few years there has been a continual encroachment of bars and venues heading towards the sacred mountain. In the summer of 2006, the massive two story bar opened just one mile from the mountain, called Sturgis County Line. Their goal is to have a 50,000 seat concert stadium and a RV park, in addition to the newly built two story bar.
These large scale commercial developments invite noise and cumulative impacts of increased traffic and travel, which all stand to adversely impact the natural serenity and tranquility needed for cultural, ceremonial and other visitations to Bear Butte. They will also negatively impact the experience of people who enjoy the spiritual, cultural, and natural resources at Bear Butte.
Target Logistics, the new investors of Broken Spoke Campground, LLC (formally known as Sturgis County Line) have a very aggressive marketing campaign. Plans were announced to open the venue year round. Biker rally events are currently scheduled in June, July and in August for the annual Sturgis Rally. With this new year- round expansion, it will virtually become impossible ALL summer, to pray in peace at Bear Butte. This issue has escalated and is now, more critical than ever.
On December 5, 2007 the Meade County Commissioners unanimously voted to revoke Jay Allen’s on-sale liquor license, seemingly a good thing. The decision was based upon, Jay Allen’s character, stating he was not a suitable person to hold the liquor license in question. The character issue was a result of Jay Allen defaulting on over $100,000.00 of debt, to local contractors who helped to build the Sturgis County Line, in 2006.
In January, Jay Allen appealed the Meade County Commissioners decision to revoke his license.
On April 14, 2008 the appeal was held before Judge Bastian, at the Meade County Courthouse. Allen testified he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, purchase agreement on February 26, 2008 with Target Logistics Corporation, from Boston, MA. The agreement terms were to be finalized on May 3, 2008. Allen stated upon completion of the agreement, his only role in the Sturgis County Line would be as a promoter, and because he was no longer the owner, his character could not be basis for license revocation. Judge Bastian remanded the decision back to Meade County Commissioners. His instructions asked the Commissioners to reconsider their decision to revoke, based upon the new information that Allen would no longer be the “owner” of Sturgis County Line.
The Judge’s decision was shocking; he re-wrote legislation at the bench. This ruling sets precedence for anyone in South Dakota, if you lose your liquor license due to poor character, the simple solution is to sell to a partnership, disassociate yourself on paper, and your liquor license will be restored. The intriguing part of this decision was, as of the court hearing date on April 14, 2008, Jay Allen was still the current owner and President of Bear Butte Sunsets LLC/ Sturgis County Line. As of the hearing, the only legitimate change had been new management, since the "sale agreement" would not be final until May 3, 2008.
The Meade County Commissioner’s held an Executive Session Meeting on April 24, 2008. They unanimously voted to appeal Judge Bastian’s decision. It has been directed to South Dakota Supreme Court for further clarification, to determine if Judge Bastian had the legal authority to make such a decision.
The beginning of June, the Supreme Court ruled to deny the Meade County Commissioners appeal. The decision is now remanded back to the Commissioners to make a final ruling.
PLEASE show your support for the ongoing efforts to Protect Bear Butte by signing our online petition.
PLEASE sign with your full legal name, DO NOT use screen names or just your first name!
Thank you for your support!
We are continuing the struggle to Protect Bear Butte and hope you will join us in these efforts!
For more detailed information on the struggle to Protect Bear Butte, please visit our website at www.protectbearbutte.com
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
View Current Signatures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Protect Bear Butte Petition to Meade County Commissioners, Sturgis South Dakota was created by and written by Tamra Brennan, Founder/Director Protect Sacred Sites (tamra@protectsacredsites.org ). This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/BBappeal/petition.html
View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Meade County Commissioners, Sturgis South Dakota
June 2008, the Supreme Court DENIED the Meade County Commissioners appeal.
The Meade County Commissioners will hold a hearing on July 1, 2008 to make a FINAL determination on the revocation of Jay Allen's, liquor license for the Sturgis County Line (now known as Broken Spoke Campground, LLC).
We are hereby requesting the Meade County Commissioners CONTINUE to DENY, Jay Allen's appeal.
Please keep in mind, this appeal and hearing are a separate issue from the new owners Target Logistics, filing for a NEW liquor license, which will now also be heard in July.
We are requesting that everyone OPPOSE BOTH issues.
Background on issue:
Bear Butte is a sacred mountain located eight miles east of Sturgis, South Dakota.
There are four National designations for Bear Butte:
National Historical Landmark, listed on December 21, 1981
National Historical Places, listed on June 19, 1973
National Natural Landmark, listed on April 1965
Registered National Trail (Bear Butte Summit Trail), listed on June 1,1971
Bear Butte has been on the National Historic Landmarks Program threat level watch list since 2004.
Bear Butte was established as a State Park in 1961.
Bear Butte is sacred to the Plains Tribes who continue to travel to the mountain each summer to pray and hold their annual ceremonies. Instead of praying in peace, traditional people are forced to pray with loud music from bars, motorcycle noise, flashing strobe lights over the mountain, and intoxicated campers nearby.
Blatant disregard for the spiritual beliefs and ceremonies of Native People and the sacredness of this mountain is evidenced by the increased presence of bars, clubs, strobe lights, campgrounds that sell alcohol and a proposed stadium.
For the past few years there has been a continual encroachment of bars and venues heading towards the sacred mountain. In the summer of 2006, the massive two story bar opened just one mile from the mountain, called Sturgis County Line. Their goal is to have a 50,000 seat concert stadium and a RV park, in addition to the newly built two story bar.
These large scale commercial developments invite noise and cumulative impacts of increased traffic and travel, which all stand to adversely impact the natural serenity and tranquility needed for cultural, ceremonial and other visitations to Bear Butte. They will also negatively impact the experience of people who enjoy the spiritual, cultural, and natural resources at Bear Butte.
Target Logistics, the new investors of Broken Spoke Campground, LLC (formally known as Sturgis County Line) have a very aggressive marketing campaign. Plans were announced to open the venue year round. Biker rally events are currently scheduled in June, July and in August for the annual Sturgis Rally. With this new year- round expansion, it will virtually become impossible ALL summer, to pray in peace at Bear Butte. This issue has escalated and is now, more critical than ever.
On December 5, 2007 the Meade County Commissioners unanimously voted to revoke Jay Allen’s on-sale liquor license, seemingly a good thing. The decision was based upon, Jay Allen’s character, stating he was not a suitable person to hold the liquor license in question. The character issue was a result of Jay Allen defaulting on over $100,000.00 of debt, to local contractors who helped to build the Sturgis County Line, in 2006.
In January, Jay Allen appealed the Meade County Commissioners decision to revoke his license.
On April 14, 2008 the appeal was held before Judge Bastian, at the Meade County Courthouse. Allen testified he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, purchase agreement on February 26, 2008 with Target Logistics Corporation, from Boston, MA. The agreement terms were to be finalized on May 3, 2008. Allen stated upon completion of the agreement, his only role in the Sturgis County Line would be as a promoter, and because he was no longer the owner, his character could not be basis for license revocation. Judge Bastian remanded the decision back to Meade County Commissioners. His instructions asked the Commissioners to reconsider their decision to revoke, based upon the new information that Allen would no longer be the “owner” of Sturgis County Line.
The Judge’s decision was shocking; he re-wrote legislation at the bench. This ruling sets precedence for anyone in South Dakota, if you lose your liquor license due to poor character, the simple solution is to sell to a partnership, disassociate yourself on paper, and your liquor license will be restored. The intriguing part of this decision was, as of the court hearing date on April 14, 2008, Jay Allen was still the current owner and President of Bear Butte Sunsets LLC/ Sturgis County Line. As of the hearing, the only legitimate change had been new management, since the "sale agreement" would not be final until May 3, 2008.
The Meade County Commissioner’s held an Executive Session Meeting on April 24, 2008. They unanimously voted to appeal Judge Bastian’s decision. It has been directed to South Dakota Supreme Court for further clarification, to determine if Judge Bastian had the legal authority to make such a decision.
The beginning of June, the Supreme Court ruled to deny the Meade County Commissioners appeal. The decision is now remanded back to the Commissioners to make a final ruling.
PLEASE show your support for the ongoing efforts to Protect Bear Butte by signing our online petition.
PLEASE sign with your full legal name, DO NOT use screen names or just your first name!
Thank you for your support!
We are continuing the struggle to Protect Bear Butte and hope you will join us in these efforts!
For more detailed information on the struggle to Protect Bear Butte, please visit our website at www.protectbearbutte.com
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
View Current Signatures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Protect Bear Butte Petition to Meade County Commissioners, Sturgis South Dakota was created by and written by Tamra Brennan, Founder/Director Protect Sacred Sites (tamra@protectsacredsites.org ). This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition
Upcoming Hearing 7-1-08
Meade County Commissoners
Sturgis, South Dakota
Supreme Court DENIED the appeal from Meade County Commissoners in regards to Jay Allens liquor license revocation.
The Meade County Commissoners will be making a FINAL ruling on
July 1, 2008 at 3:30 p.m
PLEASE ATTEND if you are able to oppose this license.
Sturgis, South Dakota
Supreme Court DENIED the appeal from Meade County Commissoners in regards to Jay Allens liquor license revocation.
The Meade County Commissoners will be making a FINAL ruling on
July 1, 2008 at 3:30 p.m
PLEASE ATTEND if you are able to oppose this license.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Bear Butte ~ Update on Meade County Commissoners Hearing Today
Hello everyone,
Today at the Meade County Commissioners Hearing, the Broken Spoke Campground, LLC withdrew their application for a new liquor license. The basis of the withdrawal was Broken Spoke Campground, LLC filed their Corporation paperwork on May 2nd, 2008, it was filed in the state of Delaware. It was not approved by the Secretary of State in South Dakota until May 8th, 2008. They filed their NEW liquor license application on May 5, 2008. So, they had filed for their license before they were authorized to do business in the State of South Dakota.
After discussions with MCC, they decided to withdraw their application. What they will have to do now is, file for a NEW license again, which is another process. It will probably be heard at the regular MCC meeting on July 1 or 2nd.
The Meade County Commissioner’s held an Executive Session Meeting on April 24, 2008 in regards to Judge Bastians decision to remand back Jay Allen's license back to MCC. They unanimously voted to appeal Judge Bastian’s decision. It was directed to South Dakota Supreme Court for further clarification, to determine if Judge Bastian had the legal authority to make such a decision. This week, the Supreme Court denied the appeal and sent it back to Meade County Commissioners.
The Commissioners will have a hearing probably on July 1st or 2nd in regards to the appeal issue as well.
I will let you all know the exact date(s) of each hearing(s) as soon as I confirm with MCC, will know probably tomorrow.
At this point, this gives us more time to still send in additional opposition letters and resolutions..
All of the other license renewals were approved unanimously.
Thanks to the folks that sent in the opposition letters, it is greatly appreciated.
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
Today at the Meade County Commissioners Hearing, the Broken Spoke Campground, LLC withdrew their application for a new liquor license. The basis of the withdrawal was Broken Spoke Campground, LLC filed their Corporation paperwork on May 2nd, 2008, it was filed in the state of Delaware. It was not approved by the Secretary of State in South Dakota until May 8th, 2008. They filed their NEW liquor license application on May 5, 2008. So, they had filed for their license before they were authorized to do business in the State of South Dakota.
After discussions with MCC, they decided to withdraw their application. What they will have to do now is, file for a NEW license again, which is another process. It will probably be heard at the regular MCC meeting on July 1 or 2nd.
The Meade County Commissioner’s held an Executive Session Meeting on April 24, 2008 in regards to Judge Bastians decision to remand back Jay Allen's license back to MCC. They unanimously voted to appeal Judge Bastian’s decision. It was directed to South Dakota Supreme Court for further clarification, to determine if Judge Bastian had the legal authority to make such a decision. This week, the Supreme Court denied the appeal and sent it back to Meade County Commissioners.
The Commissioners will have a hearing probably on July 1st or 2nd in regards to the appeal issue as well.
I will let you all know the exact date(s) of each hearing(s) as soon as I confirm with MCC, will know probably tomorrow.
At this point, this gives us more time to still send in additional opposition letters and resolutions..
All of the other license renewals were approved unanimously.
Thanks to the folks that sent in the opposition letters, it is greatly appreciated.
In peace & solidarity,
Tamra Brennan
Founder/Director
Protect Sacred Sites Indigenous People, One Nation
www.protectsacredsites.org
www.protectbearbutte.com
"Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?"
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