Jon Michaels' Forum

About Jon Michaels' Forum

A community issues and answering program that focuses on the city and people of the Sioux Empire.

Publisher

MWC

Category

education · government · news

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Sept 2022

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

199 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   2026 South Dakota Rock & Roller's Music Association - Oct. 24 at the District

   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. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   "South Dakota Yesterday & Today"...Meet Paul Horsted 2 PM Sunday Old Courthouse Museum Oct.

   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. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Chief Jon Thum and Sherriff Mike Milstead on Flock Cameras, Sniper Shooters at Concerts

   Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum and Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead about everything you need to know about Flock cameras, Sharp Shooters at Levitt Falls concerts, curfews at the Sioux Empire Fair and more. from AI:: Sioux Falls Flock cameras The Sioux Falls Police Department partnered with Flock Safety to deploy ALPR cameras around the city. The city says the system is intended to help investigate crimes, locate stolen vehicles and missing people, and identify vehicles of interest. Sioux Falls' policy says the cameras do not use facial recognition and are not used for speeding, red-light, or parking enforcement. The city's policy states that ALPR data should generally be retained for no longer than 30 days, subject to South Dakota records-retention requirements. An independent, volunteer-maintained mapping project currently documents about 50–54 ALPR locations in Sioux Falls, most identified as Flock cameras. This is not an official city inventory, so the exact number and locations can change. Jon Thum is the current Chief of the Sioux Falls Police Department. Born and raised in Sioux Falls, Thum began his career with the department as a patrol officer in 2005 and served in various roles including sergeant, lieutenant, and SWAT commander before being appointed chief in July 2021. He succeeded Matt Burns, who retired after six years as chief. Thum’s tenure has focused on community engagement, diversity within the force, and modernizing operations, including the recent launch of the department’s Real Time Information Center in January 2025 to assist with crime tracking and investigations Mike Milstead is the current Minnehaha County Sheriff, having served since May 1997 — nearly 30 years. He began his law enforcement career with the Sioux Falls Police Department in 1973, rising to lieutenant before being appointed sheriff. He was re-elected six times without opposition. On January 28, 2026, Milstead announced he will not seek re-election and will retire at the end of his term (January 4, 2027). At 71, he described the decision as a "huge step" after over 50 years in law enforcement. He endorsed Captain Josh Phillips, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office, as his successor. Bobby Smith has also launched a campaign for the seat. Milstead served on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Attorney's Anti-Terrorism Task Force, and the National Sheriff's Association board. He is the state's most experienced sheriff. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Who has been a guest on Jon Michaels' Forum

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Rick Tupper
• Karen Dunham
• Neliesha Daws
• Nicole Norton
• Pam Pakieser

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

81

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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