"Shannon County State's Attorney Jim Sword this week announced that he won't take legal action against three Shannon County commissioners who allegedly violated the state's open meetings law during the summer.

Three separate complaints, including one filed by the Rapid City Journal, alleged that Connie Whirlwind Horse, Francis Pumpkin Seed and Wendell Yellow Bull met secretly to plan the ouster of Sheriff Jim Daggett.

Also discussed behind closed doors, in apparent violation of open meeting rules, was the hiring of an interim sheriff, a legal adviser and a commission liaison.

Pumpkin Seed maintains he had no part in any secret decision making. But he voted with the majority on every action.

Those actions left the county in turmoil while threatening its ability to stage the Nov. 2 general election.

While it's troubling that Sword would opt to overlook the flagrant actions of the commissioners, there's some merit in his reasoning."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Hopefully they learned a lesson (The Rapid City Journal 12/10)

Also Today:
Prosecutor says Shannon commissioners learned their lesson (The Rapid City Journal 12/9)

Related Stories:
Native Sun News: County back to normal after uncertain summer (9/29)
Native Sun News: Disenfranchisement looming for Indian voters (9/22)
Opinion: Indian voting rights at risk in South Dakota county feud (9/21)
Editorial: Racial issues affecting county's business in South Dakota (9/10)
Oglala Sioux county commissioners face lawsuit over sheriff fight (8/26)