Minnehaha County designates four legal newspapers for 2025; publishers speak to commissioners

Minnehaha County commissioners designated four newspapers as the county’s official legal newspapers for 2025: the Brandon Valley Journal, Garretson Gazette, Minnehaha Messenger and the Dakota Scout.

Meredith Jerko of the commission office told the commission that South Dakota codified law requires designation of at least three legal newspapers and that Minnehaha County has used four since 2019. Jerko explained that the law sets maximum legal-line rates based on font size and column width; weekly newspapers’ legal line rate is charged at 90% of the maximum, while the Argus Leader (daily) may charge up to the full legal line rate. The county received letters and rate/circulation information from the candidate papers as part of the annual designation process.

Editors and publishers from the weekly papers addressed the commission. Garrick Mortz, editor and owner of the Garretson Gazette, said publication costs are a small fraction of county budgets but important to local readers and communities. Lisa Miller of New Century Press, owner of the Minnehaha Messenger, and Jill Meyer of the Brandon Valley Journal each thanked commissioners for continuing to designate multiple local papers. Jonathan Ellis of the Dakota Scout said he stood by to answer questions and would sign in for the record.

Commissioners said they value representation from rural communities and noted outreach from weekly papers reporting on county business. The commission voted to adopt the four papers as legal newspapers for 2025.

No change to the county’s practice of using four legal newspapers was recorded beyond the designation vote.