South Dakota governor seeks to protect Bear Butte

Monday, December 17, 2007  

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) is proposing to spend $1 million to protect the sacred Bear Butte.

Rounds wants to use the money to buy a perpetual easement that would prevent commercial and residential development on the western side of Bear Butte. That would stop some of the encroachment on the mountain by the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Tribes in the Plains go to Bear Butte to pray and hold ceremonies. They say noise from the biker rally and the presence of nearby bars disturbs the sanctity of the site.

Get the Story:
Rounds wants to protect Bear Butte (AP 12/17)

Relevant Links:
Bear Butte International Alliance - http://matopaha.org/wp
Defenders of the Black Hills - http://www.defendblackhills.org

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