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South Dakota Cattlemen's Association and the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association. It is being managed by the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and has received money from more than 5,000 donors in all 50 states. Donations are still being accepted.
• About 600 ranchers applied for help by the Dec. 31 deadline, reporting losses of 43,000 cattle, sheep and horses in the Oct. 4-5 blizzard that hit with surprising intensity and dumped first rain and then up to 4 feet of snow in western South Dakota, according to Stockgrowers Association President Bob Fortune.
• "We recognize the financial assistance from the Rancher Relief Fund will not come close to fully reimbursing the ranchers that suffered devastating losses," he said. "However, we know every little bit helps in the wake of the historic storm."
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SD bills allow refusal to take part in gay wedding
CHET BROKAW, Associated Press
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Two bills filed in the South Dakota Legislature seek to protect clergy, church officials and businesspeople who refuse to take part in gay marriages or receptions because of their religious beliefs.
• The South Dakota Constitution and states laws already ban gay marriage, but Sen. Ernie Otten, R-Tea, said he proposed the bills because courts could overturn the ban as they have in other states. Lawsuits in some states have threatened businesses that refused to provide wedding cakes, flowers or other services for same-sex ceremonies, he said.
• The bills would prevent clergy or businesses from being forced to perform or supply goods or services to anything related to same-sex marriages. It could allow a South Dakota business to refuse to host a reception for a same-sex couple legally married in another state.
• The bills also say clergy and businesses could not be sued or charged with crimes if they refused to take part in gay marriages.
• Otten said the measures are not intended to hurt gay people, but he believes gay-rights activists are going too far in suing people who refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies or to provide services for such weddings.
• "It's unconscionable that somebody from the outside would come in and bring a family business to ruin over activism," Otten said.
• Don Frankenfeld, of Rapid City, a member of Equality South Dakota, said he believes the bill dealing with clergy is irrelevant because the constitutional separation of church and state protects clergy members from being forced to perform any cere (Continued on page 24)
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