News Briefs

Art Museum hosts free community art day
BROOKINGS —The South Dakota Art Museum invites the public to kick off another year of its Free Community Art Day series on Saturday, January 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, located at 1036 Medary Avenue in Brookings.

The event brings back a popular hands-on project and the activity that launched the series: Clay Gnomes. Participants will work with local artist Rachel Funk, who will guide them step-by-step through sculpting their own miniature gnome.

Once the clay pieces have dried, participants will take home a painting kit to complete their creations.

Free Community Art Day is open to all ages and experience levels. The event is designed as a drop-in activity, allowing guests to arrive at any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

All materials are provided, and there is no cost to attend.

This free program offers a welcoming opportunity for individuals and families to explore creativity, connect with local artists, and enjoy the museum in an informal and engaging way.

For more information, visit the South Dakota Art Museum or follow the museum on social media for updates on upcoming Community Art Day events.

Indictments filed in pen drug cases
PIERRE —South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that 11 people, including seven prison inmates, three private citizens, and one person who was a state government employee at the time, have been indicted in connection with a November 2025 drug overdose death of an inmate at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.

Timothy Tyree, 46, was reported deceased Nov. 17, 2025. An autopsy revealed he had ingested synthetic cannabinoids (K2). During the same time, other inmates had indicated that they also had ingested K2.

“Our investigation uncovered a criminal conspiracy in which four private individuals—including one employed by the prison—were smuggling illegal drugs to inmates,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Illegal substances inside our prison walls create a dangerous environment for both inmates and staff. That’s why this year I introduced legislation to strengthen our law for anyone attempting to smuggle these poisons into our facilities and to deter and stop these drugs from resulting in another tragic overdose.”

Those charged are:
*** Vanessa Baker, 54, Echo, MN on five charges
*** Morgan Benson, 27, Sioux Falls, SD on five charges
*** Tricia Bradley, 56, Springfield, SD on five charges
*** Wicanhpiduta Brant, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on six charges
*** Tyler Gallant, 36, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on six charges
*** Kok Put Kach, 41, Sioux Falls, SD on five charges
*** Duoth Kek, 40, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on five charges
*** Komakeg Loyira, 30, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on five charges
*** Saquan Pemberton, 30, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on six charges
*** Keith Hawk, 30, Inmate, Mike Durfee Prison on two charges
*** Trenton Redwater, 27, Mitchell on two charges

The maximum sentences for some of the indicted defendants may be enhanced by habitual offender provisions or by state law which allows for certain criminal penalties to be doubled when committed by prisoners of a state correctional facility.

South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General investigated the death. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute.

The defendants were indicted last week by a Bon Homme County Grand Jury. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

Charges have now been filed in four of the eight suspected drug overdose deaths of prison inmates that occurred in 2025. The other three are currently proceeding through court. The four other cases remain under investigation.

SDSU Extension to host aging webinar
BROOKINGS —South Dakota State University Extension and North Dakota State University Extension will host a free webinar series on aging well.

This three-part webinar series is offered via Zoom and is designed to help older adults, families and professionals navigate key issues in aging.

“Aging well isn’t just about health. It’s about relationships, safety and planning for the future,” said Leacey Brown, SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist. “These webinars give people practical tools and insights to navigate life’s changes with confidence. Whether you join alone or host a watch party, we invite you to be part of these important conversations.”

The workshops start at 10 a.m. CST/9 a.m. MT on Feb. 18, March 18 and April 15, 2026. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. To register, visit extension.sdstate.edu/events and search “aging well”.

Participants can sign up as individuals or as a watch party host. Ideal watch party hosts include county Extension offices, senior centers, libraries or community centers. Each workshop will be recorded and emailed to everyone who registers for the event.

For the first workshop on Feb. 18, Phillip Estepp, an NDSU Extension Gerontology State Specialist located in Fargo, North Dakota, will talk about “Navigating Family Estrangement in Older Adulthood”. This webinar will explore what family estrangement is, why it happens, its impact on emotional health and caregiving, and ways to offer support and strengthen community connections for older adults.

On March 18, Teri Undem, Director of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences and a faculty member at NDSU, will present about “Polypharmacy and Deprescribing: Managing Medications for Health and Safety as We Age”. This webinar offers an overview of polypharmacy, the risks of taking multiple medications, and how planned deprescribing can improve safety and quality of life for older adults.

For the final presentation on April 15, Bobbi Thury, a Sioux Falls-based attorney, will present “Beyond the Will: The Decisions, Documents, and People that Shape Your Estate Plan”.

This webinar explains key estate planning documents and decision-makers, clarifies fiduciary roles, and offers strategies to avoid common mistakes and protect your assets.

For more information, contact Leacey Brown, SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist, at 605-394-1722 or Leacey.Brown@sdstate.edu.

Bill seeks to ban paying petition circulators
PIERRE — Paying ballot-question petition circulators would be prohibited in South Dakota by a bill the House State Affairs Committee approved Monday at the Capitol in Pierre.

Rep. Travis Ismay, R-Newell, introduced House Bill 1087 in response to several questions that appeared on the 2024 general election ballot with help from paid petition circulators.

Petitioners in South Dakota need 17,508 signatures from registered voters to propose a law, which is known as an initiative, and the same number of signatures to put a bill passed by legislators on hold for consideration by voters, which is known as a referendum. The number of signatures required to propose a state constitutional amendment is 35,017.

Under Ismay’s bill, if a court determines a campaign compensated a petition circulator — with money or gifts — the petition would be declared invalid.

The bill passed with a 9-4 vote, which means it will go to the full House of Representatives.
— South Dakota Searchlight

Vision Brookings invests in Ivy Center
BROOKINGS — Vision Brookings is a volunteer organization that enables private organizations and citizens to invest in game-changing initiatives that accelerate growth and prosperity in the Brookings area. One such investment is the Ivy Center Expansion, a community-driven initiative led by Brookings Behavioral Health & Wellness that significantly expands access to behavioral health services across the region.

A strong workforce depends not only on jobs and skills, but also on access to essential supports that allow individuals and families to thrive.

Behavioral health plays a direct role in employee stability, retention, and performance, particularly in communities facing elevated rates of depression, trauma, and substance use. By investing in projects that improve access to care, Vision Brookings helps ensure local employers can recruit, retain, and support a resilient workforce.

The $6.1 million Ivy Center Expansion tripled the size of the county’s behavioral health facility and doubled service capacity, reducing wait times and strengthening crisis response, school-based services, and community partnerships. The newly expanded 21,000-square-foot facility includes 41 clinical offices and expanded program space, supporting a projected 50 percent increase in staff over time and reinforcing local behavioral health workforce development through university training pathways.

More than $5.8 million has been raised through city, county, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, philanthropic, and private partners. Vision Brookings’ $250,000 investment, just over four percent of the total project cost, helps complete the campaign while leveraging approximately $23 from other sources for every $1 invested.

The facility is already fully operational and serves more than 2,000 clients annually, supporting working families, reducing absenteeism, and improving workforce readiness throughout the region.

“This investment reflects Vision Brookings’ focus on game-changing, catalytic, high-leverage investments in support of the ecosystem that supports economic growth,” said Carla Gatzke, Vision Brookings Board President. “Vision Brookings investment in the Ivy Center, along with significant investment by others, enables increasing workforce support in our area well into the future.”

Through strategic investments like the Ivy Center Expansion, Vision Brookings continues to support game-changing initiatives that strengthen workforce resilience, enhance quality of life, and position Brookings for long-term economic success. For more information about Vision Brookings and its workforce-focused initiatives, visitvisionbrookings.com

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