SD county name change needs legislative action

PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) – Voters in southwest South Dakota overwhelmingly approved changing the name of a county during the November election, but the new name can’t go into effect without some legislative action.

Patrick Weber with the governor’s office tells KCSR-AM that it’s unknown when the South Dakota Legislature intends to pass the needed joint resolution to rename Shannon County. Voters approved changing the name to Oglala Lakota County.

The county holds the majority of the land on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It had been named after Peter Shannon, a chief justice of the Dakota Territory Supreme Court who later helped negotiate land deals with the Lakota. Shannon isn’t well thought of among many American Indians.

Shannon County Auditor Sue Ganje says all legal documents in her office will have to be updated.