Beadle County Democrats hear from Volesky

By Louise Van Poll

Ron Volesky was the guest speaker at the recent Democratic Forum. Volesky served 16 years in the state legislature.
He began his talk with information about the newly organized Library Foundation, of which he is a founding member.
“When then Gov. Noem and others wanted to slash funding to libraries and basically stripped the State Library of all funding, some local Huron residents came together with the understanding that we would need to save our Huron Public Library,” said Volesky. “As a non-profit 501c3 organization, we can raise money to support the library in ways the library, as a public institution, cannot.”
He thanked several of the local donors to the foundation sitting in the room as well as acknowledging the many library board members and patrons in the audience.

A large crowd came to hear his remarks. Volesky also spoke about the need for a homeless shelter in Huron. He serves on the Salvation Army Board of Directors, and he said plans are under way to discuss and find a resolution to this need in the summer.
Lt. Shannon Bluer was in attendance and told the assembly that the need is great. “When we first arrived in Huron four years ago, we knew this was an issue,” she said. “You can put someone up in a motel for a night, but at 11 a.m. at checkout, the problem still remains.”
Bluer said if anyone doubts the need for a homeless facility, they should come spend a day with her at the Salvation Army.
Volesky ended his remarks with a reminder of the benefits that the Democratic party has achieved for the working people. “Are you a teacher? Do you have a pension through the SD State Retirement System? That was Gov. Harvey Wollman,” he exclaimed. He pointed out that Wollman also started the four-year medical school at USD.
“We have to get the message out that democrats are working to help the working people,” he said. “The children, the poor, the people who can’t afford healthcare. The same marginalized folks that Huron’s Hubert Humphrey championed for years as a U.S. Senator and Vice President of the United States.”
It was added that these are also the same values and people that Gladys Pyle fought for, supported and encouraged throughout her career.
The evening ended with Cully Williams, candidate for a District 22 House seat, speaking about pertinent legislative issues and answering questions from the audience.