Articles by J.P. Skelly

A woman from Springfield was sentenced to two years in prison on each count, suspended on conditions ordered by the court; ordered to pay $2,000 in fines, and placed on five years-probation for earlier pleading [Read More…]

A standing room only crowd packed the Davison County Commission meeting to voice its opposition to locating a South Dakota Men’s Penitentiary in Davison County a few miles south of Mitchell. Twenty-four residents offered comments [Read More…]

Mayor Jordan Hanson’s statement regarding potentially locating a men’s state prison south of Mitchell: When the proposal for a prison near our community was first introduced, I supported exploring the opportunity. The promise of new [Read More…]

There’s been plenty of rumble from Republicans about who is or could run for governor in 2026, but Democrats have been silent….until Saturday. Using the State Capitol Rotunda as the backdrop, Robert Arnold announced he’s [Read More…]

June’s First Friday served as an annual fundraiser for Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity. It’s called Garden Party. “All the proceeds are going toward housing,” said executive director Rachel Hagenbaugh. “We are raffling-off different planters [Read More…]

James Valley Drug and DUI Court celebrated James Means graduation Thursday. “The road got a little overwhelming and rough, but I never gave up,” Means told a crowded courtroom. Judge Donna Bucher shared Means has [Read More…]

Since 1998, the Mitchell Rotary Club has recognized local teachers with the Carl Sprunger Outstanding Educator Award. This year’s recipient is Mitchell High School English teacher Leslie Rylance. “To be recognized from the students is [Read More…]

Central Electric added to the recent James Valley Drug and DUI Court graduation by presenting a $1,000 Operation Round-Up grant. The funds will assist the treatment program participants with housing, utility deposits and other necessities. [Read More…]

Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko announced that Joseph Roemmich has been hired as the warden of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. “Joseph has extensive experience working in the corrections field in a [Read More…]

Three public forums regarding the potential location of a new South Dakota Men’s prison in Davison County just south of Mitchell have been scheduled ahead of the next meeting of the Reset Prison Task Force. [Read More…]

A 50 year old man from Flandreau died following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning near Sioux Falls. Preliminary crash information indicates shortly after 9am, the driver of a Ford F-350 road construction vehicle was stopped [Read More…]

A 67 year old woman from Sioux Falls woman has been indicted on one count of Grand Theft for taking unauthorized control of monies owned by 16 different victims that had a combined value of [Read More…]

By South Dakota Searchlight PIERRE – After years of political upheaval, court battles and legislative tugs-of-war, the plan to build a new men’s prison in Lincoln County south of Harrisburg is dead. Members of the [Read More…]

Mitchell School District voters have spoken. Kimberly Lofgren and Terry Aslesen were elected to the Mitchell School Board Tuesday. Lofgren was the top vote-getter with 527 votes followed by Aslesen with 512 votes and Olson [Read More…]

Small change continues to make a big difference in local communities. Central Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up® board of trustees recently approved $12,800 in grants for community projects. Operation Round-Up is powered by cooperative members who [Read More…]

A 30 year old man from California has been sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $325,000 in restitution after earlier pleading guilty in connection to an internet scam involving a Lawrence [Read More…]

The Mitchell City Council has rejected term limits for the Mayor and Council. The vote was unanimous following a lengthy and sometimes contentious discussion. The proposed ordinance would have placed three, three-year term limits of [Read More…]

A 50 year old man Flandreau, South Dakota man died following a two- vehicle crash around 9am Monday morning near Sioux Falls. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety is reporting the driver of a [Read More…]

The South Dakota Department of Health is reporting the first measles case of 2025 in a South Dakota resident. An adult in Meade County developed a measles infection after traveling internationally. The measles patient visited [Read More…]

A woman from Pierre woman has been charged with four counts of falsifying her own medical marijuana card while she was an employee of the South Dakota Department of Health. 24 year old Alexandra Feiner [Read More…]