Author: Nichole

News Briefs – September 2, 2026

Victoria Blatchford, of Sequitor Edge, speaks to the Brookings Rotary chapter about data centers last week.

Poetry event planned; Rotary hears about data centers

City rejects county nominee for Human Rights spot

Josh Linehan/Brookings Beacon Bradley Walker speaks in opposition to Flock cameras at the last meeting of the Brookings City Council. Approximately 60 citizens attended the meeting.

The Brookings City Council unanimously rebuked the Brookings County Commission on the record this week after the commissioners sent the mayor and council a candidate for a volunteer board they did not approve.

Blood still needed

Amy Cecil Holm/Brookings Beacon Judy Miller of Brookings has donated blood 29 times. Nolan Youngbluth, laboratory assistant with the Community Blood Bank, takes her blood here as part of a recent blood drive. The Community Blood Bank held its Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive on Aug. 19. Brookings Fire Department had 45 donation votes and the Brookings Police Department had 33.

Nationwide shortage mitigated by local donors.

The dream of the 90s?

Josh Linehan/Brookings Beacon Part of the author’s collection of recent Pearl Jam concert posters, designed by local artists.

On why we need to do our own work to grow.

Crudeness creeping far from ‘Holy Nutmeg!’

Courtesy photo Former SDSU football coach John Stiegelmeier is fond of saying “Holy nutmeg!” rather than using profanity.

The other SDSU in San Diego, California, conducted research this summer on the growing use of what it termed “political swearing.”

Rally traffic way down in Hills in 2026

The 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally produced 448,166 vehicle entries, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation, 16.6 percent fewer than last year’s 85th anniversary Rally and below the 462,182 counted during the pandemic Rally in 2020.

News Briefs – August 26, 2026

Courtesy photo Kassidy Peters of Pheasants Forever speaks to the Brookings Rotary chapter last week.

Arrest made for burglary; Scout changes website; Growth Alliance moves downtown; Ahlers, Gronli at Dems picnic; Rotary hears about conservation

Senior duck stamps: Rest of the story

Courtesy photo John Wilson, of Webster and Watertown, designed this 1981 Ruddy duck stamp.

Here’s “the rest of the story” of the Federal Duck Stamp and South Dakota’s involvement in this highly successful conservation program.

Some days, take two and hit to right

Courtesy photo Despite a lack of success on the “scoreboard” and “standings,” the Funky Buffalos have still never lost a party.

Writer’s block. It’s the real deal. Even for a simple bi-weekly columnist like myself.

Thomas "Tom" Lawrence

Tom Lawrence

Thomas “Tom” Henry Lawrence was born in Brookings, South Dakota on August 20, 1958 to Marcella (Lavin) and Vernon Lawrence, Sr. He passed away on August 21, 2026, from stage four pancreatic cancer.