SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES

For Immediate Release:    Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Contact:  June Hansen, Chair, SD Board on Geographic Names, 605-773-3415

Board On Geographic Names Seeks Input On Proposed Name Change For Harney Peak In Pennington County

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names (SDBGN) is seeking public input on a proposed name change for Harney Peak in Pennington County.  There has been one name proposed for the peak:  Black Elk Peak. The peak is located in western Pennington County in the Black Hills National Forest. 

The board is soliciting input regarding the proposed new name for the feature or whether there is support to retain the current name. Also the board is soliciting the public to see if there are other alternate names for the feature that should be considered. 

The SDBGN follows the guidance from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The guidelines state that preferred names be descriptive of topographic forms suggested by local history, folklore, or incident, or by associated natural life or other phenomena, including American Indian or other ethnic names appropriate to the area. A proposed name should not duplicate another name in the state or nearby in an adjoining state. If a personal name is proposed, it must be determined in the public interest to honor the person or family for historical or commemorative reasons, and that person must have been deceased at least five years. 

The board is taking written comments until May 1, 2015. SDBGN is also holding public meetings across the state for the purpose of taking public comment on the name for the feature. The meetings will be held as follows:

April 28, 2015 (Tuesday)                Martin, S.D.                           5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (MDT)

                                                      Library/Community Room

                                                       101 Main Street

April 29, 2015 (Wednesday)          Custer, S.D.                          10 a.m. – Noon (MDT)

                                                     Custer County Annex – Pine Room

                                                     447 Crook Street

April 29, 2015 (Wednesday)          Rapid City, S.D.                    5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (MDT)

                                                     Adoba Eco Hotel – Ballroom

                                                     445 Mt. Rushmore Road

May 5, 2015 (Tuesday)                   Flandreau, S.D.                    5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (CDT)

                                                      Royal River Hotel – Royal Room

                                                      607 S. Veterans Street

May 6, 2015 (Wednesday)             Pierre, S.D.                            5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (CDT)
                                                     SD Cultural Heritage Center

                                                     900 Governors Drive

Please note the Custer meeting is being held in the morning starting at 10 a.m. (MDT).  All other meetings start at 5 p.m. local time. The meetings are an open forum for public comment that will allow individuals to come any time within the time period stated above. The board will be available to the public for a minimum of two hours in each location. SDBGN will extend its meeting in any location to accommodate individuals who wish to give public comment. 

Comments should be submitted no later than May 1, 2015.  A comment form is available upon request or can be downloaded from the SDBGN website:  http://www.sdbgn.sd.gov/  Written comments will also be accepted at any of the public meetings. 

Please send comments and recommendations to:

South Dakota Board on Geographic Names                  Phone: 605-773-3415

South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations                FAX: 605-773-6592

302 East Dakota                                                        Email: David.Reiss@state.sd.us

Pierre, SD 57501

For more information, contact June Hansen at 605-773-3415.

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