FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     Monday, April 27, 2015
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern  (605) 773-3215 

  
South Dakota Board of Geographic Names and Attorney General Jackley Caution of a Group Seeking Funds to Rename Harney Peak
  

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Geographic Names and Attorney General Marty Jackley are notifying South Dakota consumers about an organization that is asking for donations and holding itself out as the “Official and Authorized” site for the proposed renaming of Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak. This organization has no affiliation with the government in the State of South Dakota.

According to their website, Black Elk Development of Porcupine has claimed to be the “Only Official and Authorized” website for the renaming of Harney Peak, a geographic feature in Pennington County. This organization is not affiliated with the South Dakota Board of Geographic Names or the Board’s process regarding the replacement of offensive names for geographic features. Black Elk Development’s Articles of Incorporation are not current with the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. It is also not listed with the Internal Revenue Service as an Exempt Organization eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.

The Board’s public involvement process is open to the public at no cost. There are no filing costs associated with the Board’s activities and the purpose of solicited funds by the organization is not known.

The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names was created by the 2009 Legislature to recommend replacements for offensive names for geographic features and to process requests from the public regarding names for geographic features. In some cases, this may be proposing a name for a currently unnamed feature or requesting renaming for a geographic feature. Those wishing to make public comment are encouraged to do so. Additional information about the Board and features under consideration can be found at http://www.sdbgn.sd.gov/.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division asks that consumers research all charities before giving. Knowing and understanding how much of your donation dollars will go to the actual cause is necessary in the decision making process.  Before you give, visit such sites as www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org, to verify the legitimacy of the nonprofit organization as well as its nonprofit status.
 

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