Jon Michaels' Forum

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels talks with Downtown Lions member, Todd Smith, about the annual pancake story.

from websites and facebook:

What does buying a Sioux Falls Lions Pancake Days ticket do? -Pays for 200+ glasses in Sioux Falls to be donated a year-250 people to get eye exams at our local Falls Community Clinic -Provides donations to Sioux Falls schools for school supplies, winter clothing and holiday gifts-Provides...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Pat Starr, Sioux Falls City Council, NE Dist., now a candidate for the Sioux Falls School Board.

Biography (from Sioux Falls Council Website)

Pat is a lifelong South Dakotan who was raised in Canton and Yankton. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Political Science from Mount Marty in Yankton. Following graduation, Pat and his wi...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Allison Renville and Jacklyn Franklin about Allison's run for City Council

from her website VoteRenville.com:

Originally from Sisseton, South Dakota Renville got further involved in the Sioux Falls scene in 2022 after spending 18 years focusing on media representation and her political activism. Motivated by the recent need for realistic and relatable community leadersh...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Josh Brewer, CEO and Evangerlist for Lifelight, about the next downtown Festival this time at Nelson Park.

from their website:

WHAT MAKES LIFELIGHT UNIQUE?

• Every Lifelight event and the LifeLight Youth Center is FREE to the public and is done by faith, and yet is still able to maintain top-quality production and event.  

• LifeLight reaches and attracts multi-genera...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Jill Baker, Executive Director for the Community Action For Veterans, about their Stand Up for Women Veterans event.

From their website:

MISSION: Developing  communities of care for veteran and military families living in South Dakota.

Contributions are used to facilitate connections within a statewide network of local partners. Together, we strive to create a better w...

Public Affair4s Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Christy Menniing Vastenhout, Chief Development Officer of McCrossans, about their upcoming fundraising banquet.

from their website:

Join us for an extraordinary evening at the McCrossan Wildest Auction in the Midwest, where we bring you the thrill of live auctions, the magic of Nashville, and the promise of unforgettable moments—all in support of the boys at the Ranch!

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Huset;s Speedway General Manager Doug Johnson about the upcoming summer season starting on May 12th.

from their website: husetsspeedway.com

"HUSET’S SPEEDWAY ADDS $100,000-TO-WIN HUSET’S HIGH BANK HUSTLE TO $250,000-TO-WIN BILLIONAUTO.COM HUSET’S HIGH BANK NATIONALS

Inside Line Promotions – BRANDON, S.D. (Nov. 8, 2023) – A pair of six-figure World of Outlaws NOS Energy...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Jared Wiklund, Director of Communications of Peasants Forever and Quail Forever, about the big Festival and Banquet this weekend.

From their website:

SEMINAR STAGES SEMINAR STAGE PUBLIC LANDS PAVILION

The Public Lands Pavilion features an exciting lineup of dynamic speakers and an exhibitor area celebrating the country’s 800 million acres of prairies, forests, mountain...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell, Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the District of South Dakota, and Gregg Peterman, First Assistant U.S. Attorney.

from their website:

The office of the United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota sees its roots in the United States Attorney for the District of Dakota Territory.  Including parts of what are today Nebras...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Allison Morrisette, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Coordinator about a serious situation in South Dakota

from Attorney Generals press release:

The attorney general’s office has put a new focus on crimes against Native American people, recently hiring two women to address problems Vargo described as interrelated: human trafficking and missing or murdered Indigen...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Phil Hamman (Author) of two books about the Gitchi Manitou murders 50 years ago.

from Amazon books:

Gitchie Girl: The Survivor's Inside Story of the Mass Murders that Shocked the Heartland Paperback – January 12, 2016 by Phil Hamman (Author), Sandy Hamman (Author) 4.5 out of 5 stars    1,159 ratings 3.8 on Goodreads 1,694 ratings

A terrified voice cried out in...

Public Affairs Director Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks about the coming Tacos and Tequila Festival with Brian Jamros, President of the Sioux Falls Canaries, and Nick Noland, President of Social House Promotions in Kansas City.

from the Tacos and Tequila website: https://tacosandtequilasiouxfalls.com/

Tacos and Tequila Festival is coming to Sioux Falls, SD at The Birdcage on August 17th, 2024!! 

DON’T MISS hip hop legen...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Becky Rasmussen of Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls and in Pierre...Mary Beth Holzwarth, South Dakota Human Trafficking Coordinator about trafficking in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the Midwest

from the SD Attorney's website

Mary Beth Holzwarth began her new job as South Dakota’ Human Trafficking Coordinator  on Nov. 28. For the past 13 years she has served as the CEO of...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks to Senator Jack Kolbeck about the upcoming legislative session.  Jack is on his seventh and last year.

from his home website in 2022:

Hello, Sioux Falls!

My name is Jack Kolbeck, and I was born in McCook County South Dakota and worked on a family farm. I went to college at South Dakota State University where I earned my degree in business. After college I married my wife Mu...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977), talks with Bruce Blumer from Tea, SD, about his nonprofit, Haiti Alive, and his book, "It's Not My Problem...Or Is It".

from his website: HaitiAlive.org:

"Piti piti zwazo fe niche li"

Little by little the bird builds its nest

Haiti Alive is a nonprofit organized to serve God and to bring hope, health, and happiness to the people on the island of LaGonave, Haiti. We convey the m...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Sioux Falls Police Officer Bridget Devlin, Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue Officer Steve Fessler and Ken Versteed, Executive Director of the Community Blood Bank..

from their website:

Tuesday, December 26 Scheels (41st St. & Western Ave.) between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  *All who donate blood receive an event t-shirt, Oh My Cupcake’s voucher, ...

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with John McLaughlin, Ph.D. about Catholic discrimination in Sioux Falls and where he grew up in Alabama.  John is also a pioneer in special health and education.

from his website:

John McLaughlin, Ph.D. has been an education entrepreneur his entire working life.  At age 24 he started a school for students who benefited from a highly personalized education.  Now in its forty...