We're Hiring.... Meade County Jail

Employment Opportunity:     Job # 17-2 / Control Room Operator (PART-TIME) 

Posting Type:                           Open Announcement    (FEB 24, 2017)

Closing Date:                           OPEN UNTIL FILLED 

Starting Wage:                          $14.50 per Hour/ 

Application Procedures:          Please submit Application / Resume to:                                                               

• Human Resources/ 1300 Sherman Street Suite ▫ 212 ▫ Sturgis, SD 57785

CONTROL ROOM OPERATOR

(24 hours per week) 

General Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the Jail Administrator, is responsible for operating the control console to monitor and control various functions of Meade County’s sheriff and correctional operations and to provide guidance and direction to personnel.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

Control Room Operator

1. Observe monitor screens that transmit in sequence views of the sheriff and correctional operations.
2. Operate control board to stop and maintain surveillance of location where incident is developing.
3. Telephone appropriate personnel or other designated agency to notify authorities of disruptive activity.
4. Watch Correctional Officers to ensure safety and maintain peace while they are working with inmates.
5. Open secured doors to authorized personnel and public to enter and/or exit correctional facilities.
6. Adjust monitor controls when required to improve reception, and notify repair service of equipment malfunctions.
7. Log and enter daily events into computer.
8. Serve as a backup office receptionist answering the telephone, and radio traffic and greeting individuals.  Answer questions and direct individuals to the appropriate personnel.
9. Prepare reports.
10. Attend training, seminars and workshops as deemed necessary.
11. Wear Personal Protective Equipment as deemed necessary.
12. Perform duties in a manner consistent with safe practices and policies.
13. Perform other such duties and functions as deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certification.
• Minimum one (1) year secretarial experience preferred.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment to include typewriter, copy machine, fax machine, computer, etc.
• Knowledge with law enforcement a plus.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to demonstrate good communication skills, written and oral.
• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with the general public and other employees.
• Ability to demonstrate good organizational skills.

PLEASE COMPLETE A MEADE COUNTY EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION

February Veteran of the Month: Mr. Terry Corkins

Mr. Terry Corkins: Sturgis, SD 

Service years: 1984-1991

Mr. Corkins joined the Army at the age of 21.  He was first sent to Fort Knox, KY and Fort Benning, GA. His career field was a M1 Armor Crewman which is responsible for operating armored equipment, such as the tanks used to destroy enemy positions. 

Mr. Corkins served a tour in Korea for one year. He was then sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana where he finished his time and was then honorably separated from the military. 

Mr. Corkins has been awarded: 

• Army Service Ribbon
• Army Lapel Button
• Good Conduct Medal
• Overseas Service Ribbon
• Army Achievement Medal  (1st Oak Leaf Cluster)
• National Defense Service Medal

Following his military service he came back home to South Dakota where he worked as in varied professions to include: long haul truck driver and construction worker. The call to service was ever echoing and he has been the caretaker supervisor at the Black Hills National Cemetery for the past 17 years.  At times, he has also served as the acting director at the Black Hills National Cemetery in the absence of an appointed director.

Mr. Corkins is a member of the local American Legion in Sturgis. He plays a mean game of darts and watches baseball - but overall, he really enjoys spending time with his family and particularly his grandson. 

Notes from Commissioner Ted Seaman

On Wednesday, February 22, the Meade County Commission held the 2nd meeting of February 2017.  Four commissioners were present with commissioner Galen Niederwerder absent due to an illness. The agenda was light, so it was a fairly short meeting.  

After waiting several years, the Black Hawk Sidewalk Project was finally approved by the the SD Department of Transportation.  The County Highway Superintendent also informed the Commission that the Wyrich Bridge over Bear Butte Creek is ready to be replaced and work should begin this year. 

Mr. Terry Corkins was awarded Meade County Veteran of the Month and several of his friends and fellow veterans came to support and applaud him for his accomplishments.  

Once again, the Elkview Campground transfer of a malt beverage license was deferred. A variance for a large on premise sign for Rushmore Equipment was denied by the Commission. 

Veteran of the Month - December 2016

Mr. Darrel Barry: Union Center, SD 

Marine Service years: 1951-1954

Mr. Barry’s grandfather homesteaded near Union Center, SD.  Mr. Barry attended rural schools and graduated from New Underwood High School with a class of sixteen - to include 8 boys and 8 girls.  

After high school, he worked for Gossard Dirt Work running large equipment.  Knowing the draft notice was coming; he enlisted in the Marines. While at Boot Camp, the Army attempted to draft him - though all too late. 

He was sent to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow in California.  Back then, they had to take a train to their training sites.  After Boot Camp, he went to 29 Palms to continue with his heavy equipment experience and training where he was part of building the rifle ranges.  Interestingly enough; years later his son was able to train on these same ranges. 

Mr. Barry was eventually ship bound for Japan and Korea.  During part of this time, he worked on a crane slinging mail. This duty had previously caused issues for others assigned this task, but not for him.  Other duty assignments included being a prison guard at a high security prison.  

Following military service, he returned back to the family ranch. During this time, he unknowingly met his future bride to be.  He loved apple pie and she was the one that keep making them. Years later while Mr. Barry was working at the Sturgis Sale Barn, they reconnected and married in 1957.  

Eventually, he moved the family home to continue to work the family ranch. He too worked for Western Cattle Company, various ranches, drove truck, worked at the county highway shop and was a brand inspector. At the age of 84 he was finally told to retire. 

Mr. Barry and Viola have 6 children, 15 grandchildren, and 4 great grand children. Mr. Barry's hobbies and loves include horses, trail rides, rodeo, and most important is spending time with his family. 

Notes from Commissioner Robert Heidgerken

The Meade County Commission met February 8, 2017 and the highway department dominated the discussion.  At a special meeting on January 30, we voted to buy a snowblower to mount on one of our loaders.  The snowblower was delivered and should be in service by the end of the week.  This will be used to blow back many of the huge piles of snow along many of our northern and eastern county roads.  Lincoln Shuck, our highway superintendent, borrowed a city type snowblower from Sturgis.  This blower only blows windowed snow, so a blade is used to pull snow back onto the road and then blown away.  Between the two blowers and the help of Mother Nature, maybe we can be ready for the next round of snow.  We are only one week past halfway through winter.

We are still discussing the scope of the Elk Vale / Elk Creek project.  Funding is always a concern.   

Crews will be working on tree removal from right-of-ways in the parts of the county not covered in snow.  If adjoining land owners need some wood chips for bedding ask the tree crew when they are on-site. 

The Commission voted to send a letter of opposition to HB 1163.  This bill is An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the board of county commissioners.  The bill states “If any commissioner is physically absent more than two meetings per calendar year without permission of the majority of the members of the board of county commissioners, exclusive of the commissioner in violation of this section, the office shall be declared vacant and such a vacancy shall be filled pursuant to chapter 3-4.”  There are many questions we have as to how this would work.

The Commission motioned to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Summerset and Meade County for on-site wastewater inspections. We authorized the Chairman to sign the same with the amendment to the second paragraph to include the re-inspection per Meade County Ordinance #33.   Summerset does not have anyone certified to do these inspections.

We also made a motion to accept the professional appraisal and set the hearing for sealed bids for April 12th at 1:00 p.m. for a permeant Cell Tower Easement at the northeast corner of the county shop lot.      

Interest in the 4H shooting sports and other programs has convinced the Meade County Fair Board to vote to build a new building at the High School location.  The Fair Board does not yet have a non-profit corporation status.  We suggested to Jenny Voigt, the SDSU 4H advisor, that she contact Black Hills Resource Conservation & Development (BHRC&D) to see if they could use their non-profit status to pass-through funds for this worthwhile project. 

JAN 2017 Veteran of the Month: Mr. George W. Blair

Meade County Veteran of the Month - JAN 2017

Mr. George W. Blair from Pleasant Valley
U.S. Army: Service years / 1943-1945

Mr. Blair heard about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while he was at the Tilford ice skating rink. Like a legion of other patriotic Americans, this attack called him to action and he became a pilot. To be a pilot required a two year college degree - but his advisor told him to ignore it and enroll in classes because soon enough - America might lower that standard. Mr. Blair did just that and enrolled in classes and flight lessons. He was eventually sent to Randolph Field, TX for flight training. Mr. Blair said that he went to his uncle (who had also been in the military) for advice before he left. His uncle told him, “stand in the back row, keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut.”

He was transferred to South Carolina for 6 months training on a bomber unit. He was one of the units that was able to fly the new shiny B25. He earned his flight wings in August 1943; sixteen months after joining the military - he was sent to join the fight. 

His first combat missions were against a Japanese airfield. He can recall seeing black spots in his vision; seconds later realizing he was being shot at. For close to a year, he flew 46 more combat missions. 

March 28, 1945 found him on an immense mission. During that mission, his fleet was dropping 27 bombs at max speed from low altitudes and using their .50 cal machine guns. The return fire created an oil leak in the starboard engine. Mr. Blair decided to shut down the engine and try to continue on a single engine, 15 miles back to mainland. It was no longer a good idea; if they had landed, they would become Prisoners of War. In a last second decision, they decided to take to the water in hopes of a US rescue. Another flight had radioed in for them and dispatched a US submarine that was patrolling around. As the bomber was skimming across the water, he hit his head on the gunsights and lost consciousness. Soon after, Mr. Blair woke up and the other crew members were already in the water. He had to inflate each side of his vest while fighting the 10 foot swells. Wave after wave would hit him making it difficult to breath. Just when he thought he was going to give up; he looks up to see Viola (sweetheart) in color with the sky in the background. He told himself that if he wanted to get home to see her, he better start fighting for his life. Soon thereafter, the US submarine showed up and pulled him to safety. That was Mr. Blairs last combat mission. 

After healing from many stitches in his head and other responsibilities, he was able to come back to SD. He and Viola were married, but only after the war was over in November of 1945. He sent a telegram home to his parents requesting they send him his best suit. He only bought her a wedding ring - due to how expensive the engagement rings were. Fast forward 20 years later, Mr. Blair asked her what she wanted for an anniversary gift? She replied an engagement ring, which she got that year. Not long after, they bought their first ranch and would fully retire in 1995 on their Pleasant Valley place. 

They have 9 children, 25 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. 

Mr. Blair served in the SD legislature from 1978-1986. Mr. Blair’s hobbies include: baseball, crosswords, playing scrabble, and ultimately spending time with family. 

Mr. Blair has been awarded the Purple heart, Asiatic-pacific theatre medal , Air medal, American campaign medal, WWII victory medal, Philippine liberation medal and Bronze star.