Harrisburg names Sioux Valley News official newspaper after publisher warns of local-news decline

The Harrisburg City Council voted to designate the Sioux Valley News as the city’s official newspaper after a public-comment speaker described the difficulties of sustaining local newspapers and explained how legal notices work.

During public comment, a local publisher — who identified himself as the owner and publisher and gave a Canton mailing address — recounted his efforts to cover Harrisburg and said local business advertising had not sustained a locally based newspaper since 2009. He warned that relying on regional outlets and social media leaves gaps in consistent local coverage.

“Since 02/2009, the CBLA has spent over a $100,000 to try to cover Harrisburg, to try to bring in the news, to try to bridge the gap and get weekly timely stuff out,” the publisher said. He explained that a newspaper must publish in the county for a year to become eligible to print legal notices in that county and that a paper licensed in Minnehaha County cannot automatically serve as the legal county publication for Lincoln County without separate arrangements.

Councilmember motioned to approve the Sioux Valley News as the official newspaper of the City of Harrisburg; the motion passed by voice vote. Councilmembers on record voting in favor included Wazinski, Maxwell and Larson. The council did not discuss any alternative proposals in the meeting record.

The publisher urged residents and the city to support local journalism through press releases and advertising, and he noted tools to search legal notices online at southdakotapublicnotices.com. The council’s action establishes the Sioux Valley News as the city’s designated outlet for official notices going forward.