Walk planned to honor toddler victim

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WAGNER — Concerned parents will march July 30 in Wagner to remember 2-year-old Rielee Lovell and to protest the effects of methamphetamine on the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

Activist Frances Zephier, of Lake Andes, said Wednesday that the 10 a.m. 5K memorial walk will begin at the Wagner tribal housing project where the 2-year-old’s body was found July 4, and it will end at the Wagner City Park.

The march has been approved by the tribe’s governing board, she said.

Taylor Cournoyer, 21, and Laurie Cournoyer, 28, have been charged in the child’s death. Each was charged abuse or cruelty to a minor, and failure to notify law enforcement of the death of a child.

Both allegedly used meth and other drugs after Rielee’s death, which went unreported for more than a day and a half.

Zephier said meth use is a dangerous and growing problem on the reservation.

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