Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Jack Kolbeck about his decision to go for District 13 in Sioux Falls and the main subjects of the upcoming South Dakota legislature.

From the internet:

Jack Kolbeck is a Republican politician from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who has served in both the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives for District 13, which includes parts of Lincoln and Minnehaha counties. He initially served in the State Senate from 2017 to 2024, including as majority whip from 2023 to 2024, before being appointed to the State House in February 2025 to fill the vacancy left by Tony Venhuizen’s appointment as lieutenant governor. Governor Larry Rhoden appointed Kolbeck, citing his experience and steady leadership, noting their prior work together during Rhoden’s time as presiding officer of the Senate.

Prior to his legislative career, Kolbeck worked in the malt beverage industry for over 50 years and has been the key accounts manager for Beal Distributing since 2002. He is also involved in various community and industry organizations, including serving as a board member for the National Beer Distributors and the South Dakota Beer Distributors Association, and as president of the 50-and-over Sioux Falls Men’s Slowpitch softball league. Kolbeck holds a bachelor’s degree in business from South Dakota State University and is a strong advocate for congressional term limits, having signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge in 2022. Although he initially announced in 2023 that he would not seek re-election due to term limits and a desire to focus on family, he accepted the appointment to return to public office in 2025

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Public Affairs Director, Jon Michaels, (since 1977) talks with Ken Versteeg, Executive Director of the Community Blood Bank and Luke Smidt, division chief for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, about the 30th annual competition with the Sioux Falls Police.

from the web:

The 30th annual Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive has officially begun in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, marking the start of a friendly competition between the Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and the Sioux Falls Police Department to raise the most blood donations for the community blood bank. The event, which runs from Monday, December 22, through January 3, 2026, aims to collect 1,300 donations, with the goal of potentially breaking the previous record of 1,272 donations set in 2021. Over the past 30 years, the initiative has collected over 21,000 blood donations, impacting more than 60,000 lives in the community.

The competition is significant due to increased blood demand during the holiday season, driven by higher travel rates and weather-related incidents that often result in emergencies requiring blood transfusions. The Community Blood Bank, a joint effort between Avera and Sanford, serves over 40 area hospitals and requires approximately 550 units of blood per week to meet community needs. This annual event is the largest blood drive of the year and plays a crucial role in maintaining adequate blood supplies during peak demand periods.

Donors are incentivized with a range of rewards, including a specially designed event t-shirt (featuring either the Fire Rescue or Police Department), a $15 Hy-Vee certificate, a free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse, two game tickets to a Sioux Falls Skyforce game, and additional perks such as a free meal from Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, a Tinner’s burger meal, a pint of beer from Remedy Brewing Co., or a $10 gift card from JJ’s Wine, Spirits, and Cigars, depending on the donation site. Donors also have the opportunity to vote for their preferred agency, with the winning team receiving a $2,000 donation to their designated charity, while the runner-up receives $1,500.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue won the previous year’s competition, securing 641 votes compared to the Police Department’s 577, and will present a $2,000 check to the Children’s Home Society, while the Police Department will donate $1,500 to the Special Olympics of South Dakota. The event is supported by numerous community locations, including the Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Headquarters, the Law Enforcement Center, Hy-Vee, Texas Roadhouse, Scheels, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, Tinner’s Public House, Remedy Brewing Co., JJ’s Wine, Spirits, and Cigars, and Avera Heart Hospital.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talked with Major Leti Crowell, an officer for 26 years and in Sioux Falls for over just a year.

From their website:

Sharing is Caring is a long-standing motto that succinctly describes the partnership between The Salvation Army and the community.

The iconic Salvation Army red kettle campaign began in 1891 by Captain Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army officer who was looking for a way to cover the cost of the community Christmas meal. Recalling his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, he recreated the “Simpson’s Pot”, an iron pot where charitable donations were placed by passersby. Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing, at the foot of Market Street where it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferry boats. By 1895 the ‘kettle’ was used by 30 locations along the west coast and by 1897 the campaign was making its mark in east. That year, the kettle effort in Boston and other locations nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy. The tradition continues still today. Sharing your donation at Christmastime helps The Salvation Army care for homeless and needy families, but also helps serve over 27 million people through a myriad of other services all year long. These include:

• Disaster Response Services which include assisting survivors of natural and man-made disasters to recover and rebuild their lives
• Social Service programs provide food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance
• Casework and Counseling with programs for health care and residential assistance and abuse counseling
• Youth Services with programs for music, athletics, arts, and crafts, camping and family counseling
• Senior Centers focused on assisting the needs of older adults --including eight Silvercrest centers where seniors’ assistance is partially subsidized by federal government dollars
• Christmas Programs in which the famous Red Kettles are a centerpiece, to help families and individuals financially at year-end with toys, meals and other assistance
• Human and Sexual Trafficking Advocacy where Army officers and staff are focused on public policy in Washington, D.C., and providing services and advocacy for victims of this international crime
• Veterans Services provide a range of support, gifts, counseling, housing assistance, and comfort to those in need
• Prison Services include Bible correspondence courses, gifts/material aid, prerelease job training programs, employment opportunities in cooperation with parole personnel, and spiritual guidance for both prisoners and their families
• Religious Services provide a place of worship and community without discrimination in every zip code across the United States

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