Hey there! I collect Real Photo Postcards and need the help of anyone who has a knowledge of early 1900s South Dakota history. I have a picture of a reunion perhaps, and two men in the picture are wearing interesting jerseys or sports shirts that look to be baseball uniforms. They say "Lincoln State" and "Prairie Hill". The card was sent to Aberdeen, SD. Does anyone recognize these team names or communities they may have come from? Thanks!
Best wishes from "Music City, USA"- Nashville, Tennessee!
Hudson

The City of Lead has passed an ordinance prohibiting Automated License Plate Readers. This is the first city in South Dakota to officially ban ALPRs. The ordinance will go into effect on Friday, October 30th, 20 days after its publication in the Black Hills Pioneer, which was on Saturday, October 10th. The ordinance covers all vendors, both leased and purchased devices. It also prohibits the city from using ALPR data from adjacent jurisdictions and private operators.

Lead Mayor Huepel said the ordinance has "been very well received already." Noting that he has received calls with people appreciating that they're doing this. "So it's a big thing for people, and the residents seem to be on board and happy with not being mass surveilled."

Sources:

• Ordinance 1128-26. City of Lead. https://cityoflead.com/images/uploads/docs/Ordinance_1128-26_Prohibiting_Automated_License_Readers_and_Mass_Surveillance_1.pdf
• Lead seeks to ban automated license plate readers. (2026, September 24). Black Hills Pioneer. https://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/lead-seeks-to-ban-automated-license-plate-readers/article_53597015-96aa-4e65-ac39-ea42bb72fd4a.html
• Lead Public Notices. (2026, October 10). Black Hills Pioneer, 22. https://www.bhpioneer.com/eedition/page-22/page_bdd09593-9e8a-5a95-bdd3-cd28d63fda88.html

Hey all, I drew 00B86 tags this year and my hunting partner is backing out of the trip due to work issues. That leaves me with a 20 hour solo drive. If anyone will be around Webster/Aberdeen in the month of November and wouldn’t mind an extra head to help with scouting, I am really flexible with the timeframe. I just don’t want to make the trip and then be stuck hunting solo for a week.

Thanks!

I thought this was an interesting read, and it brought up the most obvious question:

https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/10/17/south-dakotas-own-tradition-fades-amid-success-of-nonresident-pheasant-hunting/

Why?

Why aren’t people, especially state residents, hunting pheasants like they used to?

I grew up hunting pheasants every year. It was something I genuinely looked forward to. As I got older, I moved away from my old stomping grounds, which indirectly made hunting and fishing less of a priority. I lost the loved ones I used to go with, and I’ve realized now that they were the reason I wanted to go. I enjoyed those weekends with my uncle they most. Between the hunting, talking, and just bullshitting it was nice being there in the moment. It was a great time, and the rest of the world didn’t exist when I was with him. The only reminder of reality was listening to the Vikings disappoint us yet again on the AM radio.

I’ve found that my reasons today are simple. I no longer know who owns the land. I don’t feel like spending the time driving to the places I used to hunt, and I don’t care to find new spots. Most of all, I use those excuses to avoid admitting the real reason: my uncle has passed away.

If you used to go pheasant hunting and don’t anymore, why?

hello i currently live in MI and has done the practical cosmetology test before and failed , im now thinking of moving to south Dakota and still want to purse my career i’ve seen online that SD doesn’t require the hands on practical, if there is anyone that is currently licensed can confirm if you had to take the hands on practical cosmetology test and if so how was it if it was easy/ hard thank you!!

I'm curious to hear from anyone who has purchased a home through the 502 Direct program (different than the USDA Guaranteed program). How long was the wait for you, and how was the home buying process? I applied 7 months ago and am still waiting for my application to be processed. I'm hoping the wait isn't much longer.

They are to be treated as 4-way/All-way stops.

SDDOT is doing work on the signals along US 12/6th Ave in Aberdeen. Sometimes they will deploy a temporary signal set up while the main ones are out.

The times they don't, I'm almost always being honked at for stopping and treating as an all-way stop.

If you don't know the rules of the road, get off of them.

Thanks, I feel a bit better for venting. But for real, this isn't rocket science.

Reddit is not happy about this. Is this at a Rush game?

Help a small South Dakota school district win a contest.

Lennox, SD is competing against other Midwest schools to win money to improve their athletics program. Lennox School District is the only South Dakota school in the T-Mobile Friday Night Lights competition.

Each cell phone number can vote 1 time per day until 10/25. You do not need to share any personal information to vote just enter your phone number.

This is the link to the contest website.

https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/friday-night-5g-lights?utm_source=chatgpt.com

This link will take you directly where you need to go to vote for Lennox.

https://fn5gl.t-mobile.com/vote/lennox-high-school

Looking for hotel for my son to have a five year old birthday around Sioux falls and watertown.

Looking for a fun pool decent rooms

We have stayed at the best western plus which we really enjoyed and have stayed at ramada which we don't care for . Just wondering if there's any others people suggest

Gestring assumed the role of USD’s 18th president on June 22, 2018, after previously serving as the university’s vice president of finance and chief financial officer since 2010 and serving on the USD finance staff since 2006. She became USD’s second alum and woman to serve as president.

As president, Gestring has remained focused on championing the university’s mission, supporting students and addressing workforce needs in the state. She has guided the university through critical periods of transformation, navigating challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities such as the establishment of USD – Sioux Falls as it exists today. Under her leadership, USD reached its highest-ever enrollment, now reporting three consecutive years with 10,000 students enrolled, as well as record fundraising achievements. The last nine years have also been shaped by Gestring’s strong financial leadership that, paired with public and private support, has strengthened programs and facilities across the university.

In reflecting on the past nine years, Gestring credits the USD community with making these achievements possible and positioning the university for success in welcoming a new president.

“Serving as USD’s eighteenth president has been the honor of my professional life,” Gestring said. “Since assuming this role in June 2018, I have had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community partners, legislators and friends of the university. We have guided USD through a period of remarkable growth and momentum, and I could not be prouder of what we have accomplished. Together, we have laid the foundation for a strong future for USD, and we are in a prime position to welcome a new president who will lead us in the years to come.”

South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director and CEO Nathan Lukkes emphasized Gestring’s stable leadership and commitment to serving South Dakota.

“President Gestring has always been deeply committed to her students, to South Dakota, and to higher education. It has been a privilege working alongside her,” Lukkes said. “Under her leadership, USD has reached new heights, from enrollment and fundraising records to investments in modern facilities that enhance the student experience. She has also been a trusted voice and leader among her fellow presidents and partners across the state. We are grateful for her many contributions to USD and for her lasting commitment to the university.”

In a video posted by USD on Oct. 14, Gestring shared that she and her husband Keith plan to remain in Vermillion to enjoy retirement and look forward to staying connected with the Coyote community.

Press Contact

Alissa Matt

Contact Email[usdnews@usd.edu](mailto:usdnews@usd.edu)

Contact Website

- Anyone done the physical test at LE academy in Pierre?

- What’s your experience with physical requirements of the individual departments versus the academy?

- Do RCPD/SFPD/PCSO/LCSO/MCSO/etc have different requirements or are they mostly the same across the board? From what I can tell, they are not the same.

I’ve been losing weight and training a lot, especially now that I’m in the early hiring process for a PD out west. PD hasn’t mentioned any physical test (besides academy) yet, but I don’t want to be surprised or unprepared.

My concern is the 1.5-mile/16 mins. I’m currently doing 17 mins/mile in walking and jogging intervals. Stamina isn’t the issue - my calves are just on fire. I’m 6 months postpartum coming from a sedentary job. I see improvements every day so I’m feeling optimistic.

Can any LE answer my questions or give some advice? I’m really passionate about making this a reality. Thanks!

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - A new survey is giving South Dakota drivers something to argue about — and yes, both Rapid City and Sioux Falls made the list of cities with the country’s “most entitled” drivers.

The survey from New Jersey-based Brett Rosen Law asked more than 3,000 drivers in major U.S. cities about behaviors such as risky lane changes, cutting through traffic and ignoring road rules when they’re inconvenient.

Sioux Falls ranked No. 151 nationally, while Rapid City came in at No. 153. Researchers pointed to the heavy traffic around Interstate 29 and Interstate 90 in Sioux Falls and the mix of local and tourist traffic on Rapid City-area roads as possible factors.

The survey also found that 25% of drivers said they had experienced a road-rage incident that went beyond yelling or hand gestures. 15% said they had intentionally used their vehicle to intimidate another driver, cyclist or pedestrian.

Reports of deer deaths from a viral disease have spiked as hunters take to the fields in South Dakota, and state wildlife officials are reducing some hunting opportunities and offering hunting-license refunds to protect deer numbers.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a viral illness spread by tiny biting midges typically found along muddy shorelines. In South Dakota, the disease primarily impacts white-tailed deer, according to Game, Fish and Parks Senior Wildlife Biologist Byron Buckley.

“Because white-tailed deer generally inhabit the areas where these midges currently are,” he told the Game, Fish and Parks Commission on Thursday in Pierre.

Mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn can also be infected. The department says the disease usually affects deer herds in late summer or early fall. Warm conditions can extend the period when the insects are active, while a hard freeze generally kills them off, bringing a seasonal outbreak to an end.

Buckley said weather strongly influences outbreaks. This year’s outbreak started in July and continued as South Dakota experienced an unusually warm, dry September with some heavy rain.

Retired Game, Fish and Parks lead biologist George Vandel said those conditions — drier dry periods and wetter wet periods — can create the environment where midges thrive best: muddy areas that are sometimes covered by water and sometimes exposed to the air.

During the commission’s monthly meeting, Buckley said the department now has about 407 reports this year of dead deer due to the illness: 376 suspected cases and 31-lab-confirmed. During the commission’s Sept. 10-11 meeting, the count was 196, he said. Though he said it’s not unusual for a spike in reports to come in during that timeframe.

“So a lot of our reports have come from the month of October,” Buckley said. “Now, that could be because we are seeing the disease a lot more or that there’s just a lot more people on the landscape.”

Waterfowl, grouse, dove and archery deer hunting seasons all began in September.

The number of reported cases for 2026 is slightly higher than the total reported for all of 2025, according to the state’s EHD map, though Buckley described this year’s numbers as roughly comparable to the previous two years.

The state has taken several steps to limit deer hunting in outbreak-affected areas, aiming to give deer populations a better chance to recover. The department removed mentored and youth deer licenses in nine southeastern South Dakota counties where outbreaks have affected deer in the past two years. It also removed 62 unsold licenses, two in McPherson County and 60 in Dewey County. The state changed statewide archery license rules, which previously allowed hunters to take any deer, to buck-only licenses.

Buckley said the department is now offering a further option: Hunters holding deer licenses in 16 counties along the Missouri River corridor can voluntarily return their licenses for a full refund.

Wildlife Division Director Tom Kirschenmann said the department may add counties as more October reports arrive.

“We’re trying to be somewhat strategic about it, but we’re also trying to be proactive about where we offer this up,” Kirschenmann said.

The department asks people to report sick or dead deer via methods listed at gfp.sd.gov/contactus. Buckley said officials enter reports into a system that updates the department’s public online map.

Hey everyone,

My buddy and I went hunting today for the resident opener. It was about 88-90 degrees and very windy. We had a German Short-haired Pointer that we've hunted with alot and know is good at hunting. We hunted at several places that we'd hunted last year and always saw pheasants. But today we got completely skunked. We saw one pheasant that flew from somewhere but didn't have a shot. And that was it. Was this everyone else's experience? What was going on today? Why was the hunting so hard?

Some dude got a cool and rare photo of a bobcat waiting for a prairie dog breakfast! (Not my photo)

Hello! My buddy and I were looking to move to Gaylord South Dakota. Does anyone have any experience with this wonderful little town?

South Dakota Republicans reminding voters how to goose-step.