The Cheyenne River Sioux
Tribal
Council has been fighting to protect all
resources at
Mato Paha
(English: Bear
Butte), and the Tribal
Council authorized its Legal
Department to commence legal
challenges. Many local residents are
working with the Tribe, and have joined
forces in making the legal challenges. The
main case is before the South Dakota Supreme
Court, asking the court to force a county
wide referendum on whether Jay Allen dba
Stugis County Line & Bear Butte Sunsets,
should have a beer permit on his property
next to Mato
Paha.
Levin et al.
v. Meade
County Board of Commissioners, Appeal
No. 24258 (South Dakota Supreme Court).
Briefs are filed, and there
are 3
amicus
(friend of the court) briefs filed alongside
Cheyenne River’s position (Northern
Cheyenne, NCAI/NARF,
and UND
Law School). The Rosebud Sioux Tribe and
the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe also filed
motions asking permission to file amicus
briefs.
In addition
to this main case now before
the South Dakota Supreme
Court, there are 7 more court
challenges pending before Meade County
Court, 4th Judicial Circuit. Those cases
concern virtually automatic approvals
of beer and liquor permits for 2 biker
bar/campground/outdoor concert devlopers.
Four cases challenge Meade County's
approvals for Jay Allen doing business
as Bear Butte Sunsets,
LLC and
Sturgis
County Line, LLC
(Case numbers
CIV 06-212,
CIV
06-213; CIV
06-355; CIV
07-12). Three cases challenge approvals
for Gary
Lippolds doing business as Rock-N-the
Rally at Glencoe,
Inc. (Case numbers CIV 06-273, CIV 06-356,
CIV 07-11).
This
information is current as of May 19, 2007.
Tribes and parties seeking
information may contact me, or may choose to
contact the Meade County Court Clerk's
office, civil division, PO Box 939, Sturgis,
SD 57785, phone 605-347-4411.
Anyone
wishing to send comments about protecting
Bear Butte from approving more beer and
liquor licenses close to the Butte, can do
so by email, fax, letter, or in person at a
hearing, addressed to Attention: Meade
County Auditor (address and email below)
:
