Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Lifelight CEO Josh Brewer about the music festival in downtown Sioux Falls on Sunday, August 31st.

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-generations who gather together in the name of Jesus.

• Lifelight involves many church denominations, working together in unity based on the truth of God’s Word and the essentials of the Gospel.

Set against the beauty of downtown Sioux Falls the LifeLight Festival is a dynamic, free event that brings together people of all ages for a powerful celebration of faith, music, and community. Featuring an impressive lineup of Christian music artists, inspiring speakers, and exciting family-friendly entertainment, the festival offers a unique experience filled with uplifting messages and memorable performances. Beyond music, the festival grounds are filled with family-friendly activities, food trucks, and vendors, all designed to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. LifeLight Festival’s mission is to share the hope and joy of the Gospel, making it a highlight in the region for fellowship and renewal.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Mr. and Mrs. Gee. He turns 100 years old this October. He is also one of the last surviving members of the U.S.S. Battleship South Dakota crew. He tells about his service from enlistment to building his own business after his Navy experience. Mr. Gee gets choked up still after 80 years about crew members getting blown up from a gun powder accident to the charred pilots transferred to the ships hospital.

from the South Dakota BB-57 website:https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/battleships/south-dakota-bb-57.html

USS South Dakota (BB-57), 1942-1962

USS South Dakota, lead ship of a class of 35,000-ton battleships, was built at Camden, New Jersey. She was commissioned in March 1942 and in August was transferred to the Pacific where she was soon involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 26 October1942, her anti-aircraft guns played a prominent role in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, during which her forward sixteen-inch gun turret was hit by a Japanese bomb. Shortly thereafter, she collided with USS Mahan (DD-364). Damage from these incidents was repaired locally, and she was heavily engaged, and damaged again, during the 14-15 November battleship night action off Guadalcanal, a battle that effectively ended Japan's plans to retake that strategic island.

Following repairs in the United States, South Dakota operated in the Atlantic from February into August 1943, including service with the British Home Fleet. She then returned to the Pacific and took part in the Gilberts and Marshalls invasions in November 1943-February 1944. The battleship operated with the fast carriers during raids on Japanese bases during that time and into the Spring of 1944. She next participated in the June 1944 Marianas Campaign, using her heavy guns to shell enemy positions on Saipan and Tinian. In the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 June, she was hit by another Japanese bomb.

Another stateside overhaul prepared South Dakota for further Pacific combat operations. From October 1944 to the end of World War II over ten months later, she screened carrier task forces during strikes in the Western Pacific that ranged from the South China Sea to Japan. The invasions of Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were among these operations. In March and April 1945, South Dakota's guns joined in bombarding Okinawa. She shelled targets in the Japanese Home Islands in July and August, during the final acts of the Pacific War, and was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 during the Formal Surrender of Japan. South Dakota returned to the United States soon thereafter and was decommissioned in January 1947. She remained inactive until October 1962, when she was sold for scrapping.

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Becky Rasmussen, founder of Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls, about new South Dakota Legislation SD 58 that took affect last month.

Call to Freedom now has 28 staff members. The AG has prepared a large law enforcement presence armed with his new legislation SD-58 that took effect on July 1.

Read these key points carefully.

Protection for Minors:

Proof of force, fraud, or coercion is NOT REQUIRED when the victim is under 18. Consent from a minor or their guardian, or a mistake about the minor’s age IS NOT A VALID DEFENSE. Mandatory sentences can now be 15-20 years. The new definition of COERCION now includes exploiting impairment, abusing legal processes, or using debt control. P.S. Mark grew up in Sturgis.

From Call to Freedom's website:

Mission

Call to Freedom brings hope and wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation by navigating a healing path through our continuum of care model.

Vision

To ensure every person has the right to live with freedom, dignity, and respect.

Statement of Faith

We model Christ in our approach to restore wholeness to those impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Values

DIGNITY

We value the individuals we serve and accept them where they are on their healing journey. We demonstrate respect and empathy within the Call to Freedom culture through validation, listening, and providing support.

PERSON-CENTERED

We focus on the needs of the individuals we serve by ensuring they receive the services, being flexible, and honoring them.

EMPOWERMENT

We empower individuals and communities to prevent sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation through education and safety strategies. We empower the individuals we serve to create and achieve personal goals. We empower our team members to utilize a care team approach with clients, each other, and partners.

INTEGRITY

We utilize a care team approach to provide consistent and dependable support to the individuals we serve. We continually improve our model based on research and feedback.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels talks with Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead and Chief Deputy Jeff Gromer about the new prison, license plate readers, immigration holds and jail inmate programs.

from their website:https://sheriff.minnehahacounty.gov/dept/so/so.php

Sheriff's Office

Our mission is to preserve public safety and quality of life within Minnehaha County. Our agency’s mission must be carried out by employees who are motivated and encouraged. We recognize the value of all of our employees in assisting us to fulfill our mission. We strive to provide the highest standards of law enforcement service in order to achieve the best possible result. Arriving at the best possible result requires a great amount of patience, compassion, and integrity. These qualities, as well as many others, assist all of us in performing the duty that we are expected to accomplish; not only by the public, but also within ourselves.

We recognize that everyone at the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office must be committed to the values of Professionalism, Intellect and Integrity with an understanding that the application and management of our resources, including the professional development of all employees, is a shared priority. Together with our community and professional partners, we will provide useful resources, improving the quality of life and promoting the best community to live, learn, work and raise a family.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Task Force members Representative Jack Kolbeck of District 13, Gary Jamison of District 12 and Senator Jim Melhoff of Pierre District 21 about the finalizing of the four hear process of a new penitentiary campus.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Rick Tupper and Karen Dunham, Board Directors of the Battleship South Dakota Memorial about the upcoming Navy Week celebrations.

80th Anniversary of the End of World War II

August 9 10:00 AM Battleship South Dakota Memorial, 12th Street and Kiwanis Ave. Sioux Falls, SD

Guest Speakers Senator John Thune and Rear Admiral Wosje

Navy Band Ambassadors

Navy Ceremonial Guard

Sailors of the USS Constitution

Displays from US Naval History and Heritage Command

WW II Vehicles

US Navy Week in Sioux Falls August 4-10

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Siouxland Librarians Neliesha Daws and Nicole Norton about the many opportunities for families at all of our City of Sioux Falls libraries.

from their website: siouxlandlib.org

Siouxland Libraries Mobile App
Download our app to search the catalog, access your account, renew and place items on hold, and turn your phone into a digital library card.

Get the Siouxland Libraries app: iOS | Android

Download, Read, and Listen
Libby by OverDrive
Libby offers thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines to use on your phone, tablet, or e-reader. You can also send eBooks to your Kindle. Learn more about Libby here or get started below.

10 checkouts at a time | 21-day checkout period | 10 holds at a time

Get the Libby app: iOS | Android | Kindle Fire | libbyapp.com

Help

Hoopla
Hoopla offers music, movies, tv series, comics, eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, Great Courses, special kids’ content, and more.

5 checkouts per month | Checkout periods vary

Get the hoopla app: iOS | Android

Help

READsquared
Track your progress for Siouxland Libraries reading programs such as 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, and the Winter and Summer Reading Programs.

Get the READsquared app: iOS | Android

Learn a New Language
Mango Languages
MangoLanguages_Logo_wide.jpg

Start your language-learning journey with the Mango app. See the full list of available languages here. Use Mango anywhere, just enter your library barcode number.

Get the Mango app: iOS | Android

Help

Upskill Your Career
LinkedIn Learning
LIL-logo-for-web.jpg

Unlimited, anytime, anywhere access to nearly 6,000 courses and over 205,000 video tutorials on a variety of topics.

Get the LinkedIn Learning app: iOS | Android

Note: When logging in to the app, the "Library ID" is siouxlandlib.

Programs & Education

Siouxland Libraries provides free technology access, challenges to motivate readers, and services to educate learners for every phase of life. Learn more about all-ages reading programs and resources for each age group below.

Interested in presenting a program at Siouxland Libraries?

All Ages

Read books, win prizes – check out our reading programs. Siouxland Libraries provides free reading challenges to motivate, educate, and inspire.

Prepare your child for school by providing fun, interactive opportunities to explore and learn.

Explore your creative side or discover your world through stories, hands-on activities, experiments, and videos!

Find free higher-education prep, reading recommendations, entertaining events, and more.

Connect in our welcoming spaces, continue learning with our materials, and discover a passion for reading, writing, and creative expression.

ServicesCards & Accounts

Learn about our circulation policies and register for a card online.

Expanded Access

Visit the library after hours at certain branches with Expanded Access.

Help and FAQ

View frequently asked questions and ask us for help.

Meeting and Study Rooms

Learn how to reserve a meeting room or study room.

Outreach Services

Learn how the library can bring our materials to you.

Research Requests

Siouxland Libraries staff will fulfill basic research requests for local or regional information as they are able.

Technology

Siouxland Libraries provides free Wi-Fi, free computer access, affordable printing options, and more.

Test Proctoring

Students who qualify may use our free exam proctoring service.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.