Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks to Bill Zortman about his 60 years in broadcasting.

From Chat GPT

Biography

Bill Zortman built a broadcasting career spanning more than 60 years in radio, television and newspaper journalism.

Here are some highlights of his life and career:

• Early life: Grew up on a sheep farm near Onawa, Iowa.

• Education: Attended the University of Iowa, studying broadcast journalism.

• Military service: Served with the Iowa Air National Guard beginning in 1968.

• Television career: Worked in television news in Iowa, New Mexico, Texas and other states, including serving as a news director.

• South Dakota: Moved to the Sioux Falls area with his wife, Carolyn, in 2000.

• Red Cross: Served as executive director of the American Red Cross in South Dakota and Nebraska, including during the September 11, 2001, period.

• KELO Radio: Joined KELO in 2007 and became host of It's Your Business and It's Your AgriBusiness.

Awards and recognition 2024 Award

Milt Hakel Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award

Presented by the National Farmers Union on March 11, 2024, recognizing his longstanding coverage of agriculture and rural communities.

He also received recognition from the Real Estate Association of the Sioux Empire for his community involvement.

Retirement – October 30, 2026

Bill Zortman concluded his broadcasting career on October 30, 2026, after more than six decades in journalism and thousands of radio programs. He turned 80 in September 2026.

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Best of

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Bill Nelson of Minneapolis, MN, about his work about prostitution.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Kory Van Sickle — Presided of SDRRMA. The South Dakota Rock & Rollers Music Association is a nonprofit organization based in Sioux Falls that celebrates the history of rock and roll music in South Dakota. It honors the musicians, bands, radio personalities, recording studios, music venues, and other people who helped shape the state's music scene.

The South Dakota Rock & Rollers

The 2026 inductees include the following:

Bands:

● Soulcrate

● Randy McAllister

● Quazy

● Judd Hoos

● Easy Street

● 12½ Charlies

Production:

● Adam Ellsworth

Studio:

● Pulse River

Venue:

● Phil’s Pub

Event/Festival:

● JazzFest

DJs:

● Angie Kessler

● Karla Brown

Lifetime Achievement:

● Don Lerdal

● Chuck Case

Special Recognition:

● Scott Hudson

● White Wall Sessions

The induction concert is set for October 24 at the District in Sioux Falls, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

History of the organization

• 2008: The organization was established to recognize and promote the people who built South Dakota's live music scene.

  The South Dakota Rock & Rollers

• Hall of Fame: It created an annual induction celebration recognizing influential South Dakota musicians, bands, venues, and music-industry professionals.

• Preserving history: It collects and shares photographs, memorabilia, and stories about the state's musical past.

• Supporting young musicians: It sponsors youth Battle of the Bands events and provides grants to South Dakota school music programs. The organization reports awarding more than $45,000 in music grants.

  The South Dakota Rock & Rollers+1

Who runs the association?

Its published board of directors includes:

• Kory Van Sickle — President

• Michael Cornette — Vice President

• Amy Ellsworth — Secretary

• Scott Hudson — Treasurer

Other board members include John Fiksdal, Mick Jensen, Jered Johnson, Evan Jones, Alex Massa, Tom Odea, Laura Tjaden, and Vesta Wells Johnson.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Paul Horsted about his new book South Dakota Yesterday & Today.

From Chat GPT:

. Paul Horsted has a significant Sioux Falls connection, especially early in his photography career:

• He grew up in Brandon, South Dakota, near Sioux Falls. While still in high school, he began photographing assignments for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
• After high school, he continued doing freelance and sports photography for the Argus Leader and eventually worked there full-time.
• His current statewide historical photography project also includes Sioux Falls locations and historic photographs.
• He is scheduled to present “South Dakota Yesterday & Today” at the Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls on October 4, 2026, at 2 p.m. The presentation includes historic views of Sioux Falls and photographs he made from the Old Courthouse Museum clock tower.
• Horsted was also a featured author at a 2025 “Beyond the Books” literary event in Sioux Falls.

So, although Horsted now lives in Custer, his professional photography career has strong roots in the Sioux Falls area.

I found a specific Sioux Falls photograph by Paul Horsted from his new South Dakota Yesterday & Today project, plus some useful clues about the other Sioux Falls locations he documented.

Confirmed Sioux Falls photograph

Queen Bee Mill — view from the upper floor, 1910

This is the clearest example I could verify. Horsted found a historic photograph taken from an upper floor of the Queen Bee Mill in 1910. Because the mill burned in 1956 and no longer exists, he used other historic photographs to determine the original camera position and then used a drone to recreate the same view today.

The resulting pair shows:

• Then: Sioux Falls as seen from the Queen Bee Mill in 1910.
• Now: The same perspective recreated by Horsted with drone photography.
• The photograph is included in his 2026 book, South Dakota Yesterday & Today.

Other Sioux Falls locations

Horsted's new book contains 350 historic/modern photo pairs covering more than 100 South Dakota communities and numerous landmarks, and the project specifically includes Sioux Falls.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with new sports announcer Sy Ewoniuk from Aberdeen, SD.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Mick Nesseim, Bill McGinnis and "Hawk" Mayer of the Vietnam Veterans of America Post about the POW/MIA ceremony in Sioux Falls.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day 2026 is Friday, September 18. It is observed nationally on the third Friday of September. The Sioux Falls Ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, 1021 W. Bailey Street, Bring your lawn chair. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be held at the Veterans Alliance, 1600 W. Russell Street. Reception to follow at the VFW/American Legion Armory, 1700 W. Russell, use north door.

Warrior Ethos: I will always place the mission first...I will never leave a fallen comrade.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Alexis Crowley, Marketing Specialist at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.

from gpt

2026 Sioux Falls Area Humane Society Bark in the Park event: October 10, 2026, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. It includes a 3K walk and 5K run for people and their four-legged companions.

Sioux Falls Area Humane Society is an open-admission animal shelter and adoption center serving Sioux Falls and surrounding communities. 

Address: 3720 E. Benson Rd., Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: 605-338-4441 

Visiting hours:

• Monday–Wednesday: 11 AM–6 PM
• Thursday: Closed
• Friday–Saturday: 11 AM–6 PM
• Sunday: 11 AM–4 PM 

They offer dog, cat, and small-animal adoptions, fostering, volunteering, microchipping, a community pet food bank, and other animal-support services. 

Sioux Falls Area Humane Society official website

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Frank Kloucek about his candidacy for Public Utilities Commissioner.

from Chat GPT

Frank J. Kloucek is a South Dakota farmer and former Democratic state legislator from the Scotland area. He served 22 years in the South Dakota Legislature — 16 years in the Senate and 6 years in the House. A 2025 South Dakota legislative commemoration described him as the longest-tenured Democrat to have served in the state Legislature.

Background

• Born: September 27, 1956, in Yankton, South Dakota.
• Education: South Dakota State University; he graduated in 1978.
• Occupation: Farmer; he and his wife, Joanie, farm near Scotland.
• Legislative service: District 19, serving in both the House and Senate over multiple terms.
• Legislative work: He served on water-development oversight committees and worked on issues including agriculture, veterans, transportation, public safety, environmental matters and rural economic development.

2026 Public Utilities Commission campaign

Kloucek is currently campaigning for a seat on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). His campaign says he is emphasizing fair utility rates, renewable energy, consumer protection, transparency and accountability.

A June 10, 2026 filing with the South Dakota Secretary of State identifies Frank John Kloucek as the candidate and treasurer of the campaign committee.

One recent campaign-related issue is his proposal for a one-year pause on new AI data-center projects, which he says would allow time to study effects on electric rates, grid reliability, water supplies, infrastructure and property rights.

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