The Fall River Reader

Like her print predecessor from 20 years ago, the Fall River Reader will primarily be concerned with issues that affect residents of Fall River County, in South Dakota. We hope to provide in particular the sort of detailed analysis and information on critical topics that doesn't appear in local publications. 

We hope to have some fun, too, with human interest stories and perhaps some comic relief.

We are lovers of liberty and supporters of the smallest possible government, whether local, state or national. We will present our views, but welcome opinion from all. That said, we will not publish submissions that are incoherent or vulgar, and we will be the judges of that standard. We strongly encourage writers to back up claims with data and provide links to that data where appropriate.

This is a work in progress at every level, so please be patient with us as we develop and grow.  

FIRST, A LITTLE HISTORY. When we started the printed Fall River Reader in 2020, we were responding to local government overreach, the violation of open meeting laws, the failure of the state Attorney General to prosecute those violators and the failure of the media to report on these things. In fact, when the newspaper failed to report on one issue, we attempted to purchase a large display advertisement that outlined critical violations, including documentation references. To our horror, the newspaper refused to accept our advertisement. In response, we turned the advertisement into a handout and papered the county. The gratitude of  citizens spurred us to take things a step further and begin publishing the bi-monthly Fall River Reader. The paper continued for a couple of years, but circumstances caused the publishers to give up the effort for time with family.

AND TODAY. The last election revealed serious problems in our election process. We are not suggesting that the problems actually changed the outcome of any of the candidate selections or ballot initiatives. However, they did reveal problems that clearly disenfranchised individual voters and that, in the case of a closer election, could well have given false results. The official response to the errors was at least as disturbing as the errors. Neither the county auditor nor county commissioners informed the public about the problems that occurred both before and on election day. The auditor omitted mention of the problems when interviewed by SD SEARCHLIGHT and at the post-election canvas, instead proclaiming the election a success. Only when former Commissioner Paul Nabholz brought up the problem at a subsequent commissioner's meeting did the auditor address the issue. The Secretary of State's office, when contacted by citizens, referred the issue back to the auditor. With the fox in the hen house, any meaningful investigation was over.

And so, it appears that it is time once again for the public to create an open forum for debate and analysis of the news. As before, we also hope to share some pleasant topics. And, on this day and every day, we encourage the residents of Fall River County to take matters into their own hands, in a polite but determined manner. The failures of government are, ultimately, our failures. Holding government to their oaths and their pledges is our responsibility.