Lawmakers want buffer to protect Bear Butte

PIERRE, SD -- Paul Valandra and Jim Bradford are upon a mission The two Democratic state lawmakers, by means of introducing legislation to prohibit liquor licenses within four miles of Bear Butte near Sturgis, are seeking to cover a site that is considered sacred to many American Indians upon the northern Great Plains. "But we don't want to scare anybody, either," Valandra said. Valandra, a Rosebud Sioux, and Bradford, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said they are working upon an outreach effort to give permission to people who think they might be affected know that the legislators want to talk to everybody

"We know that we are causing belong to for many people out there," Valandra said. "We want to hear their views They've got our cell-phone numbers." Specifically, HB1233 says that on-sale licenses would not be issued to rife businesses or those that will be within four miles of the boundaries of Bear Butte State Park.

The action tend hitherwards as a result of an announcement last summer through Jay Allen, the Arizona-based proprietor of the Broken Spoke Saloon in Sturgis. He wants to build a biker bar and plot site on land south of Bear Butte for this year's Sturgis motorcycle rally.

"I remember thinking, that stay is going to catch more [i]or[/i] less [trouble] before this is all over" Valandra said with a laugh "There will be Indians coming from all over"

Allen did not go [i]or[/i] come back phone calls. But in an interview with the Rapid City Journal last year after opposition surfaced to his plans, he said, "From the assault I've reached my arms without to the Native American community with totally useful intentions to recognize their heritage, solitary to discover that it was not well received."

State Sen Kenneth McNenny R-Sturgis, said the proposal may have "disastrous consequences" He said the propos boundaries are unclear on the other hand that he is concerned that the plan could affect a number of venue of the like kind as campgrounds and may include part of the city of Sturgis.

"I am real apprehensive about it," House Majority Leader Larry Rhoden R-Union Center said. Meanwhile, Bradford said he and Valandra have a plan to "grandfather" existing establishments with liquor licenses that might be affected.

They also have an explanation for the four-mile distance. When tribes challenged a plan for a shooting range near Bear Butte as disruptive, adroits said it would take four miles to create a concussion-guard from noise. "We decided to go on with that; Valandra said. They said the search to protect Bear Butte is shared by dint of others.

"It's not single Indians who are concerned; Bradford said. The asserters of the Black Hills collection which came out against Allen's plan, is raising standard of value to buy land around Bear Butte to create a buffing-apparatus zone. "Bear Butte belongs to everybody" Valandra said.

And the sum of two units lawmakers believe that bikers who make the pilgrimage to Sturgis each year won't be capsize with their plan. "Bikers are somewhat cold guys," Valandra said. "They don't want to desecrate Indian ground" Bradford said more and more Sturgis rally bikers from from one extremity to the other of the country are visiting the Pine Ridge reservation.

"They are interested in our culture" he said. Bradford acknowledged that plane if the law is passed, it won't make progress into effect until July 1 and it wouldn't stop Allen's plan if he purchases a Meade County license before then. on the contrary he calls it a "step in the right direction" to save the integrity of Bear Butte

[C] 2006 Rapid City Journal. Used with permission.

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