Articles by J.P. Skelly
LifeQuest Holds Groundbreaking for Microhome Village
LifeQuest held a groundbreaking for the “My Own Front Door” Microhome Village on Thursday. The Village will feature six one-bedroom, one-bathroom homes for people supported by LifeQuest. The Village will be staffed by LifeQuest employees [Read More…]
Dakota Wesleyan University introduces new offering
Dakota Wesleyan University has unveiled its newest major: Computer Systems Technology. It’s a dynamic program that bridges technology, business and communications. Fredel Thomas is Vice President of Admissions & Marketing. “The number one program that [Read More…]
State lawmaker from Mitchell has concerns regarding Governor Rhoden’s proposed budget
District 20 State Senator Paul Miskimins from Mitchell was on hand for Governor Larry Rhoden’s budget address earlier this week. On of the main points was the Governor’s proposal to leave salaries for teachers, community [Read More…]
St. Francis Indian School Receives Grant from Rachel Ray
St. Francis Indian School at St. Francis, SD, is one of 48 high schools across the country to receive a $5,000 Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant for its ProStart culinary career and technical education [Read More…]
Attorney General Marty Jackley Announces DCI is Investigating a Suspected Drug Overdose Death at Jameson Prison
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a suspected drug overdose death of an inmate that occurred last Thursday, Nov. 27, at the Jameson Prison in Sioux Falls. [Read More…]
Mitchell’s Parade of Lights brings out best of the Christmas holiday season
Fifty-two brightly and creatively decorated floats brought the Christmas holiday spirit to life during Mitchell’s annual Parade of Lights Tuesday evening. Mitchell Main Street and Beyond’s Liz Luczak was overjoyed. “That’s how cool we are, [Read More…]
Governor Larry Rhoden rolls-out his spending plan for state lawmakers
Todd Epp-SDBA Gov. Larry Rhoden proposed his first state budget Tuesday, asking lawmakers for $51.6 million in new ongoing revenue while holding K-12 education, healthcare provider rates, and state employee pay flat during a year [Read More…]
Mitchell Food Pantry provides the makings of happy Thanksgiving dinners
The Mitchell Food Pantry’s annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway was a hit once again. Karen Pooley shared the numbers during Monday’s Mitchell City Council meeting. She says they planned to give away 200 Thanksgiving meals. “So [Read More…]
Mitchell City Council approves conditional use permit for Arnie’s First and Foster
The Mitchell City Council has approved a conditional use permit for on-sale Alcohol at Arnie’s and First and Foster. Part of the plan is to offer video lottery. Attorney Jim Taylor explained how the alcohol [Read More…]
Names released in Friday morning fatal crash
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has released the names of two men involved in a single-vehicle fatal crash last Friday morning in Scenic. Crash information indicates around 12:40 am, 37 year old Nicholas [Read More…]
Corsica community braces for the impending closure of its nursing home
Community leaders in Corsica say they are determined to keep elder care — and the jobs that depend on it — in their town, despite news that the local nursing home will close Nov. 30. [Read More…]
Biologist cautions next generation against trusting a career with the federal government
Makenzie Huber-SD Searchlight When 9-year-old Liz Renner visited the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery in southeastern South Dakota with her grandfather, she was hooked. In adulthood, she devoted more than a decade of education and [Read More…]
China soybean pledge lifts prices, but South Dakota farmers still nervous
Joshua Haiar-South Dakota Searchlight South Dakota soybean industry leaders said Monday that a new trade pledge with China is lifting prices but hasn’t erased anxiety about how much farmers depend on a single foreign buyer. [Read More…]
Kingsbury County shooting investigation
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a Saturday night shooting incident in Iroquois that resulted in one person being injured and the other being arrested. “DCI was requested by Kingsbury County officials [Read More…]
Tribal radio funding flows, but future remains uncertain after clawback of public media money
John Hult-South Dakota Searchlight PORCUPINE — For the past few weeks, Oitancan “Oi” Zephier has labored among piles of vinyl records nearly 2 feet high. KILI-FM, the Porcupine, South Dakota-based tribal public broadcasting station Zephier [Read More…]
Ethan fifth-graders celebrate DARE graduation
The fifth grade class at Ethan celebrated a special graduation Friday. The students successfully completed the DARE program. Its objective is to teach elementary students to resist peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol, tobacco other [Read More…]
Officer involved shooting under investigation
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Friday night, Nov. 21, in Beresford involving a Beresford Police Department officer. “DCI will conduct a thorough, [Read More…]
Attorney General Jackley Encourages Shoppers To Watch for Holiday Scams
Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning holiday shoppers this season to watch out for scammers as well as low prices. “Scammers never take off the holidays,” said Jackley. “Consumers need to be careful whether they [Read More…]
Previewing the 2026 South Dakota Legislative session in Mitchell
Newly minted South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ryan Budmayr presented his first 2026 legislative preview to the Mitchell Rotary Club. He believes tax increment finance districts, property tax relief and data centers [Read More…]