Volume 129, Number 40 Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Sisseton, SD $1.25

NEWSYou Can Use

Spring Has Sprung!

$1.25 each

Wheaton Dumont Co-op Elevator, Sisseton, Friday, Mar. 29, 2019 Grain Close.

Spring Wheat $5.30Corn $3.16Beans $7.84

Grain Markets

WeatherTemperatures

Precipitation

Hi Lo Rain WindMar 22 42 25 -- 10Mar 23 50 24 -- 29Mar 24 36 26 -- 14Mar 25 37 21 -- 12Mar 26 44 23 -- 18Mar 27 53 34 -- 29Mar 28 41 30 -- 17 Wind is the peak for the day and in MPH.

visit us on the web at www.sissetoncourier.com

Check outPublic Notices

in this week’s paperIncluded in this week’s

Sisseton Courier are eight pub-lic notices with information that is a matter of public record and may be of interest.

This week’s paper includes the Roberts County Commissioner Proceedings, a Notice of Special Execution Sale, three Notices to Creditors, Sisseton School Board Minutes, Sisseton School Notice of Cancelled Election, and Notice of Vacancy on the Sisseton School Board.

Children in grades K-4 are invited to the Sisseton Memorial Library for Reading Capers on Thursday, Apr. 4, beginning after school until 5:00 p.m. Come join in a “Rockin” adventure with crafts, reading, snack and a fun time. Participating students should bring an old t-shirt that can get paint on it with them to the Library.

Participants must pre-reg-ister by calling the library at (605) 698-7391. Space is lim-ited.

Reading Capers at the Library

Apr. 4

The next Community Round Table discussion will be held at the Grow SD office on Wednesday, Apr. 3, at noon. This is a chance to share your ideas and the projects your organization/business is working on or would like to see in the Sisseton Area.

Can’t make it? Join in vir-tually as the discussion goes live on Facebook. Feel free to invite someone you think should be at the table!

CommunityRound Table

Discussion Apr. 3

Children ages 3-5 are invit-ed to the Sisseton Memorial Library Story Time on Saturday, Apr. 6, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. for a time of sto-ries and easy children’s crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

No pre-registration is required.

Story Timeat the Library

Apr. 6Staff from the office of U.S.

Sen. Mike Rounds will visit Sisseton on Tuesday, Apr. 2, to assist residents with any issues they may have deal-ing with federal agencies. Staff will be at Rosalie’s Restaurant, Bakery and Lounge, 9 8th Ave. E., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Apr. 2.

Questions or concerns regarding this visit can be directed to Sen. Rounds’ Sioux Falls office at (605) 336-0486, or by visiting www.rounds.senate.gov.

Rounds Staffto visit Sisseton

on Apr. 2

Sisseton Blood Drive will be held Monday, Apr. 15, from 12:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Sisseton City Hall. For an appointment, contact Judy Myrum at 605-698-7953. This Blood Drive is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary.

For more information or to schedule a donation, call 877-258-4825 or visit us a vitalant.org.

Sisseton BloodDrive to be held

on Apr. 15

Sisseton High School stu-dents enjoyed the SHS Prom on Saturday, Mar. 30.

Thirty-six couples signed up to participate in this year’s Prom Grand March. They are as follows:

Student Body President Tiffany Davenport escorted by Richard Albright

Student Body Vice President Courtney Heath escorted by Nate Nielsen

Student Body Secretary/Treasurer Angelia White escorted by Pete Jensen

Senior Class President Elise Heesch escorted by Logan Schaunaman

Senior Class Vice President Jalen Agnew escorted by Ryder Schmidt

Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer Libby Medenwald escorted by Xavier Donnell

Junior Class President Kellie Karst escorted by Corbin Cornelius

Junior Class Vice President Ashlyn Hansen escorted by Andrew Kranhold

Maddie Pistorius escorted by Junior Class Secretary/Treasurer Josh Johnson

Maycee Halfaday escorted by Matthew Moen

Zoey Gruby escorted by Koben Huber

Taryn Yammerino escorted by Anthony Tchida

Sheridan Swanson escorted by Trevor Anderson

Kaitlyn Fisher escorted by Wyatt Gruby

Aja Redwing escorted by Taeron Ryan

Savannah Sahnow escorted by Kendrick Hofland

Alicia MacConnell escorted by Marcel Wanna

Hannah Olsen escorted by Keanan Pikarski

Talia Estwick escorted by Braimen Steen

Alanna Brant escorted by Brandon Keller

Danae Azure escorted by Cameron Bochat

Thea Korneliussen escorted by Challenge Meng

Mack Eastman escorted by Gabe Shepherd

Ayianna Chanku escorted by Cameron Huber

Nikki Abraham escorted by Ben DuMarce

Shauna Breece escorted by Sherman Parizo

Isabel Morales escorted by Jaylyn Brant

Justina Carias escorted by Liam Carrera

Madison Kemnitz escorted by Ty Peterson

Sidney Myrum escorted by

Isiah GrimmHannah Goodhart escorted

by Austin BackmanJacinda Redday escorted by

Dane ChristophersonEmma Dahl escorted by

Slayton CrandallAli Metz escorted by Reece

HansonKatelyn Beaudreau escorted

by Sage FluteMartina Weyand escorted

by Levi Greseth

Couples step out at 2019 Sisseton High School Prom

Leading the 2019 Prom Grand MarchJunior and senior class officers leading the Grand March of 36 couples at the Sisseton High School Prom on Saturday, Mar. 30, were (left to right) Richard Albright escorting Student Body President Tiffany Davenport; Nate Nielsen escorting Student Body Vice President Courtney Heath; Pete Jensen escorting Student Body Secretary/Treasurer Angelia White; Logan Schaunaman escorting Senior Class President Elise Heesch; Ryder Schmidt escorting Senior Class Vice President Jalen Agnew; Xavier Donnell escorting Senior Class Secretary/Treasurer Libby Medenwald; Corbin Cornelius escorting Junior Class President Kellie Karst; Andrew Kranhold escorting Junior Class Vice President Ashlyn Hansen; Junior Class Secretary/Treasurer Josh Johnson escort-ing Maddie Pistorius. ~ Courier Photo

Tribal Council removes Chairwoman Robertson at hearing on Friday, Mar. 29At a scheduled Removal

Hearing on Friday, Mar. 29, Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Chairwoman Ella Robertson was removed from offi ce by the Tribal Council. At press time, a new Tribal Chairperson had not been named, and no other in-formation was available, other than that a motion was made and passed to remove Robert-son as Tribal Chair.

Robertson had been sus-pended on Tuesday, Mar. 19, following an executive session of the Tribal Council. At that time, the Council passed reso-lution SWO-19-014 suspend-ing Ella Robertson from the Tribal Chair position, with pay, until the removal hearing on Mar. 29 in Council chambers.

Background Information on Robertson’s Suspension Leading Up to the Removal Hearing

The highlights of Robert-son’s suspension on Mar. 19, prior to her removal from of-fi ce, were as follows:

• Tribal Council was made aware of alleged misconduct of Tribal Chairwoman Robertson.

• Due to the nature of the al-leged misconduct, Tribal Coun-cil determined that suspension was warranted, pending a re-moval hearing, for Gross Ne-glect and Improper Conduct.

• It was the goal of the Tribal Council to ensure that Tribal Chairwoman Robertson’s sus-pension was followed promptly by removal proceedings where she was afforded the full oppor-tunity to defend herself against the charges of Gross Neglect and Improper Conduct.

• The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Constitution and By-Laws grants the DCA and/or the Tribal Council the authority to determine improper conduct and the Tribal Council deter-mined the following charges support the alleged Gross Ne-glect and Improper Conduct of offi ce:

1. Section 4(a)1. Gross in-competency: unable or unwill-ing to perform the duties of of-fi ce.

The Council alleged gross neglect of duties by failing to follow the Accounting Policy when Chairwoman Robertson obtained an unbudgeted leave payout without authorization and therefore … in violation of Section 4(a)1, Gross incompe-tency: unable or unwilling to perform the duties of offi ce; Code of Ethics of the SWO Revised Constitution and By-Laws.

2. Section 4(b)1. Convert-ing tribal property or monies without authorization through omission or misrepresentation of facts.

The Council alleged Chair-woman Robertson by-passed the prescribed signature pro-cess and administered the leave payout without authorization and therefore she was in viola-tion of Section 4(b)1, Convert-ing tribal property or monies without authorization through omission or misrepresentation of facts; Code of Ethics of the SWO Revised Constitution and By-Laws.

3. Section 4(b)2. Misuse of offi ce.

The Council alleged misuse

of offi ce when she obtained an unbudgeted leave payout after having been denied by the for-mer Tribal Chairman and Tribal Council. Tribal Council alleged that she used her position as Tribal Chairwoman to obtain the leave payout and therefore … in violation of Section 4(b)2, Misuse of offi ce; Code of Eth-ics of the SWO Revised Consti-tution and By-Laws.

4. Section 4(b)4. Malfea-sance of Offi ce.

Based on the above-de-scribed charges, the Council alleged that Tribal Chairwoman Robertson, in her offi cial ca-pacity, committed a wrongful act by initiating, processing, and receiving the 2017 leave payout. And further alleged an act of self-interest by expedit-ing the issuance of payment to herself and therefore … in vio-lation of Section 4(b)4, Malfea-sance of Offi ce; Code of Ethics of the SWO Revised Constitu-tion and By-Laws.

• Section 55-01-09 of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Trib-al Code states: “A person so ac-cused may be suspended from his/her position with or without pay until such time guilt or in-nocence has been established. If the allegations are not sub-stantiated, the person/defendant should be restored to full duties and responsibilities.”

• In addition to its express Constitutional duties and re-sponsibilities, Chapter 55 clear-ly permits the Tribal Council to suspend members of the Tribal Council pending a fi nal remov-al hearing.

• The Tribal Council ac-

knowledged their constitution-al requirement to provide the Tribal Chairwoman with writ-ten statement of charges against her at least fi ve (5) days prior to the hearing date of March 29, 2019, and that thr resolu-tion shall be served to the Trib-al Chairwoman within the time required.

(RESOLVED) … Tribal Council determines the need to suspend, with pay, Tribal Chairwoman Robertson from her elected position until the outcome of the hearing; and nothing in this Resolution shall be construed to deny the Tribal Chairwoman access to all of-fi cial Oyate records needed to defend herself against the

charges; and nothing in this Resolution shall be construed to make any conclusions of fact or law, or otherwise prejudge, whether or not, Tribal Chair-woman Robertson’s conduct constitutes improper conduct, malfeasance of offi ce or viola-tions of policy; that effective immediately Chairwoman Rob-ertson is suspended, with pay, pending a Removal Hearing scheduled for March 29, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in the Tribal Council chambers.

All voted in favor of the res-olution to suspend, which was signed by Tribal Vice-Chair-man Floyd Kirk Jr. and Tribal Secretary Myrna Thompson.

Sand and sandbags available for fl ood control

By Mimi LarsenStaff Writer

According to Roberts Coun-ty Emergency Manager Jim Pearson, there is signifi cant fl ooding in the southeast corner of the county and other local-ized areas, with yet more runoff to come.

“There is still a snowpack in the hills of fi ve to six inches, with a moisture content of 1.5 to two inches that will be com-ing down the streams,” said Pearson. This will cause local-ized fl ooding, depending on whether culverts are clogged or not.

Pearson also highlighted the fact that the Sheriff’s Depart-ment issued a “No Travel Ad-

vised” declaration for the town-ship gravel roads.

“They might look good,” said Pearson, “but could be soaked, or have water washed over the roads.

“And please heed the barri-cades,” he added. “Do not drive around them; they are there for a reason.”

Sand and sandbags are available at three locations for anyone needing them for fl ood control: the boat landing just to the north of Lake Traverse Resort (formerly Circle K); at the Hartford Beach State Park maintenance garage; and in Sisseton at the Roberts County Highway Department, in the southeast corner of the yard.