An item in the 2014 Veteran's Administration budget appeared to confirm the closing of the Hot Springs facility. According to the Rapid City Journal, Senator Tim Johnson questioned VA Secretary Eric Shinseki about it during the Department of Veterans Affairs Appropriations hearings. Shinseki responded that this was an oversight, and no decision had been made. Read more »
Rapid City Veterans Resource Center Finds New Home
A ribbon cutting was held for the new Veterans Resource Center at the University Center-Rapid City. Started as a club at school for veterans, Joshua Kosola's dream was to help his community of fellow veterans. Read the full article in the Rapid City Journal and at KEVN Black Hills Fox.& Read more »
SD National Guard Soldiers Deploy to Afghanistan
Eleven South Dakota National Guard soldiers were formally deployed to Afghanistan on Feb. 15 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, KEVN TV reports.
The public affairs detachment will document the work of the U.S. military, escort civilian journalists covering the war and help train Afghans in public affairs work. Read more »
Save the VA Committee Plans Community Meeting in Hot Springs
The Save the VA Committee will give the same presentation they delivered in Washington at a community meeting on Tuesday, according to a post on the committee's website.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs.
The committee met Jan. 28 with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, South Dakota's congressional delegation and the governor to make their case against the VA's proposal to close its facility in Hot Springs. Read more »
US Secretary of Veterans Affairs WILL Meet with Hot Springs Save the VA Group
Last October, Save the VA Committee had invited the Secretary of the US Department of Veteran's Affairs to meet with them in Hot Springs. The group wanted to discuss the future of the Hot Springs VA health facility. They finally received a reply last week; the answer was yes to a meeting but not in Hot Springs and not with Secretary Eric Shinseki. Shinseki said the group could meet with an under secretary and in Washington, DC. Read more »
VA Secretary Will Meet with SD Delegation
The US Veterans Affairs Secretary will meet with South Dakota's congressional delegation and members of Hot Springs' Save the VA Committee, KOTA's MyTown reports.
All three members of South Dakota's delegation sent letters on Wednesday criticizing Shinseki for offering only a meeting with an undersecretary.
Learn more about the Save the VA Committee at its website. Read more »
Future of Black Hills VA in Limbo
South Dakota congressional representatives Kristi Noem, John Thune and Tim Johnson have been waiting since October 2012 to receive a reply to their request for a meeting with US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. Save the VA Committee of Hot Springs has also requested a meeting. Read more »
Fort Meade VA Gets New Ladder Truck
Fort Meade is home to the only ladder truck between Spearfish and Rapid City, according to a post on KOTA's MyTown site.
The new truck and Fort Meade firefighters will respond to fires both at Fort Meade and in the wider community. The new truck is a 2012 Ferrara Ember 77-foot Heavy Duty 1500 gallons per minute Ladder Truck. Read more »
Deadwood Plans to Dedicate USS Maine Memorial
A century after it arrived in town, a piece of the wreckage of the USS Maine will be formally displayed in Deadwood's Richard Gordon Memorial Park, accourding to a post at KOTA's MyTown website.
The dedication ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the park. A short presentation will follow at the VFW hall at 10 Pine Street.
The USS Maine sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898. Read more »
Congressional Delegation Seeks Meeting With VA Leaders
After a meeting between VA officials and a local group turned sour, members of Congress have written to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, KOTA TV reports. Read more »
