Articles by J.P. Skelly

A combination farm and agricultural research organization shared its story during Value-Added Day at the South Dakota State Fair. Christina Lind says Blue Dasher Farm is a diverse operation. “Some of our primary products are [Read More…]

The owners of the Fort Hays Old West Town, a tourism destination just south of Rapid City, have about 150 days each year to turn a profit, relying on robust visitor spending from Mother’s Day [Read More…]

Three people were injured, one fatally, in a multi-vehicle crash six miles east of Highmore shortly after 10 o’clock Wednesday morning. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety reported three motorcycles were traveling westbound on [Read More…]

Governor Larry Rhoden today (Sunday) announced the mobilization of 12 South Dakota National Guardsmen to support ongoing operations in Washington D.C. at the request of President Donald J. Trump. “South Dakota stands in solidarity with [Read More…]

Sheep producers across the state celebrated their first South Dakota State Fair in the brand new Shed complex in Huron.  Department of Ag and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts says the Shed has been years [Read More…]

Dakota Wesleyan University is celebrating its 140th anniversary. President Dan Kittle told a gathering the communities of Ordway and Mitchell were vying for the opportunity to host DWU back in 1885. “At that time the [Read More…]

A father and son were recognized Wednesday for saving a couple and their dog from a mobile home fire in Mount Vernon on April11th. Deputy Trestin Jerke was conducting a traffic stop when he and [Read More…]

The City of Mitchell Street Department will be working on removal of street lights, sidewalk and curb and gutter at intersection of 1st Ave and Main St. Thursday July 28th, 2025. The intersection will be [Read More…]

A 55 year old woman from Mitchell and a 66 year old woman  from North Jackson, Ohio have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Catherine Hamilton [Read More…]

The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Pierre, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, in Panama City, Florida, Nov. 15. The naming of LCS 38 honors the legacy of the citizens of Pierre and the [Read More…]

The South Dakota Department of Revenue estimates that tax collections from the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally totaled $1,581,736, marking a 13% increase over last year’s collections of $1,399,501. These figures include revenues from state sales [Read More…]

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is turning to advanced technology to make dangerous vehicle pursuits safer for both the public and law enforcement. Troopers now have another key tool to track suspects without putting lives [Read More…]

Mitchell Technical College has been recognized as the #1 community college in South Dakota and ranked #13 nationally in WalletHub’s 2025 Best & Worst Community Colleges report. Each year, WalletHub evaluates more than 650 community [Read More…]

SD Searchlight-Makenzie Huber U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was blunt in his opening remarks during a Dakotafest policy discussion on Wednesday about the state of agriculture. While South Dakota farmers in parts of the [Read More…]

SD Searchlight-Makenzie Huber The United States can win the “AI race,” but not without the infrastructure and data centers necessary to develop the emerging technology, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson told members of the Greater Sioux [Read More…]

Congressman Dusty Johnson continued his mission of recognizing veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam era from 1955 to 1975 Thursday at Mitchell VFW Post 2750. “Our office has honored more than 1,200 [Read More…]

On Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, two-way traffic is scheduled to be shifted onto the newly reconstructed southbound lanes of S.D. Highway 37 north of Mitchell. The traffic switch is anticipated to be complete by the [Read More…]

South Dakota Public Broadcasting Executive Director Julie Overgaard announced today layoffs that will affect 15 SDPB employees. The affected positions are across the spectrum of programs and services that SDPB provides. They impact SDPB local [Read More…]

Dakotafest is a magnet that draws agricultural leaders like American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall. “I come to be at Dakotafest to meet the farmers and ranchers here in South Dakota and also be [Read More…]

A new federal farm bill is two years overdue but finally writing a new one will be a priority when Senators and Congressmen return to Washington next month. Senator John Thune says much of the [Read More…]