News
»Airport opening marks historic day in health care, economic development on the Rosebud
Posted Local at Oct 13, 2010
By Marie Bear Shield
Oct. 7, marks a historic day in health care and economic development for the people here on the Rosebud with the opening of The Airport.
Deacon Ben Black Bear Jr. opened the ceremony with the blessing of the Airport.
Pat Bad Hand and his sons Wopila and Ray sang the Honor Song and Flag Song.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s President Rodney Bordeaux’s opening address gave a bit of history when the planning and development for the Airport began.
“In 1998, the former Tribal Administration and Council began planning the Airport to provide better service to the people,” said the President. Bordeaux also thanked the Tribal employees involved for their dedication and diligence in keeping the project going to completion. Other keynote players involved in the completion of the Airport were the FFA, South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Aeronautics, the BIA, IHS, Senators Thune and Johnson, Representative Herseth/Sandlin and the Obama Administration with the stimulus funding.
“The Obama administration has been very supportive of Indian Country”, said Bordeaux “With stimulus funding, the Airports original plan for the runway was expanded 48 feet.”
The Airport is 4800 feet long and 75 feet wide, and is designed large enough to support King Air craft.
Sherman Wright gave an overview on the history of the airport beginning Feb. 14, 2000, when Tribal Council passed resolution #2000-23, the Airport Master Plan, which selected Professional Land Arts & Kadmus, Lee and Jackson as the A & E firm to develop the airports master plan to the present completion of the airport. The Highway Right of Way committee assigned Wright in 1998 to begin the planning and development of the airport.
The Indian Health Service hospital flies out seriously ill and/or injured patients.
Since 1982, the Sanford Medical Team has flown here to the Rosebud Reservation to stabilize and transport critical sick/injured patients to Sanford for emergency medical care.
“The opening of the Airport opens a lot of doors to opportunity, making this a historic and monumental event,” said Bordeaux.