ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: COUNTY OF THE MONTH

Largest City: Mission

County Seat: No county seat

Founded: 1909, a former version was further east along the Missouri River

Population: est. 10,088 in 2006

Located in southern South Dakota, Todd County has a rich history and strong Native American culture. The county as we know it today was founded in 1909 and named for John Blair Smith Todd. Todd was a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Dakota Territory, having previously served as a General in the Union Army during the Civil War.

The Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation covers the entire county and is home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate people. The tribe prides itself in strongly upholding Plains Indians culture, which is based on a system of organized bands and dependence on buffalo for food and clothing.

Mission is the largest town in the county and is named for one of the many religious missions that were established there in the late 1800s. Bob Barker, former host of the Price is Right, spent his childhood in Mission while his mother taught school on the reservation. The town is also home to Sinte Gleska University. The university, formed in 1970, began with 156 students and volunteer professors.

Todd county features stunning canyons, rolling hills and ranchland. The culture and geography of Todd County contributes to the strong ranching traditions in the area. Rosebud Sioux Tribe maintains a buffalo herd for food and game production and maintains the Tribal Ranch which is a hunting program for small and big game, as well as waterfowl. Today, rodeos, fairs, and pow-wows are still held annually to celebrate the local culture.

Tim's Work in Todd County:

Tim Consistently Secures Funding for the Mni Wiconi Water Project
Since 2003, Tim has directed more than $150 million to the Mni Wiconi water project. In FY 2008, Tim helped secure more than $37 million for the project. The Mni Wiconi water project serves several counties and rural communities in western South Dakota. Funding will be used for continued construction of the project, as well as operation and maintenance of that portion of the water system that is already in service.

Tim Secures Money for Tribal Law Enforcement
For FY 2009, Johnson secured $850,000 for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe's Criminal Justice System. The funds will be used for law enforcement, court operations, prosecutors, public defender's office, and detention equipment and operations on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. In FY 2008, Johnson also secured $466,000 to bolster tribal law enforcement.

Tim Works to Secure Funding for Sinte Gleska University
In 2007, Tim announced a grant of $601,742 for the university to train 120 students enrolled in their Institute of Technologies, in technical studies such as data processing, nursing, and accounting. Upon completion of the program, students will be placed in jobs requiring well-trained, talented employees as identified by tribal economic development planners.

Tim Supports Rosebud Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center
In FY 2008, Tim helped secure $766,373 for a rehabilitation center on the Rosebud Sioux Indian reservation. The funding will help build a special wing for methamphetamine treatment and rehabilitation to help overcome dependency. The area has seen a significant rise in meth-related arrests and hospitalizations.

Tim Works to Prevent Suicide
Tim currently is working to secure $200,000 in the FY 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending bill to fund suicide prevention programs on the Rosebud Sioux Indian reservation. As a member of the Indian Affairs Committee, Johnson has fought to provide our reservations with the resources they need to fight this epidemic, including funding for counseling, intervention and prevention. Johnson, a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, also secured $100,000 for FY 2009 to enhance and continue programs at the Rosebud Boys and Girls Club.

Tim Works to Advance Electronic Rosebud Integration
In 2008, Tim helped to secure $4 million in crucial funding for Advanced Electronic Rosebud Integration, which will advance state-of-the-art Army defense system electronics by creating smaller, lighter and more efficient electronic components for our nation's military. The program is coordinated by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. Johnson has continuously secured funding for the programs housed at the facility; Johnson secured $1.8 million in FY 2006 and $2.75 million in FY 2007 for the program.