SDPB affects people in different ways. For Janet Kahler of Rapid City, it was her inspiration to travel. This year, she traveled across the state to stop in towns and find hidden gems after being intrigued by SDPB’s segment Dakota Life. After a conversation with SPDB’s Director of Entertainment Content, Brad Van Osdel, Janet took out her atlas, circled 17 towns, and visited every single one of them. Over nine days, Janet hit the road and saw some of the things that make South Dakota so special. “I love road trips,” says Janet. “This is my third one in less than a year and a half. I just find it refreshing to find these little nooks. Everyone thinks you need to go out and see the big things, which are still gorgeous, but these small towns are unique.”

One of the joys of a road trip is that it might inspire a pit stop somewhere you never expected, which is exactly what happened with Janet. While traveling through Mobridge, Janet stumbled across something exceptional at the Klein Museum.

“I was driving along, and I came across the Klein Museum. I thought, ‘Well, that isn’t on my list, so I will check it out.’ I met a lovely lady named Diane. At one time, I sold my Wild West Wax Museum in Wall, SD, in 1998. I was walking through the museum, and I saw that they bought nine of my wax figures because the businesses in Wall had closed. They had the plaques and everything, so I knew they were mine. I just said, ‘Oh my gosh!” That was just an enjoyable thing to discover.

Along with all of the art and landmarks, Janet says one of the most significant takeaways from her trip was everyone she met. “One thing to mention is how many friendly and wonderful people are in South Dakota. No matter what, everyone is willing to help. I met a young man at a gas station who helped me with directions. Now he’s my new Facebook friend.”

Janet was married to her husband for almost 55 years before he passed away about five years ago. One of the stops she decided to make on her road trip was Springfield, where her husband went to a teacher’s college in 1959. Janet wanted to tour the Springfield Teachers College Museum, but when she arrived at the building, it was locked with a number on the door. Janet recalls one of the most memorable moments of her journey with someone from the town named Matt Huisman, who answered her call and gladly came to unlock the building for her.

“He had a cane. He said he was 85 years old. In fact, there is an interview with him in a past episode of Dakota Life about Springfield. He gave me a tour of the building and told me what to look for, including all the yearbooks. I found the yearbook from when my husband was there; his picture was in it. After Matt gave the history, he said he would go home and said, ‘When you get done, call me; I’ll come back and lock it up.’ Only in a small town would they trust you enough to take your time and tour the building. I find that just so refreshing that they would do that.”

Janet has been named SDPB Ambassador, and because of her love for Dakota Life, she visited Buffalo and Custer National Forests, Ludlow, Lemmon, Timber Lake, Mobridge, Leola, Aberdeen, Webster, Sisseton, Brookings, Sioux Falls, Garretson, Vermillion, Yankton, Springfield, Dimock, Parkston, Menno, and Wagner. “It’s amazing what each episode of Dakota Life can cover in 20 minutes about one town. I’m thinking one day, maybe next year, I’ll cover some of the little towns I didn’t catch and more.”

We look forward to hearing more about Janet’s travels in the future and are grateful for her love of SDPB programming.

Gov. Kristi Noem has issued seven pardons this fall, bringing the total number she’s granted since taking office to 348.

The pardons went to people convicted of a range of misdemeanors and low-level felonies, including decades-old repeat DUI convictions, drug possession and domestic disorderly conduct. All seven pardons were signed on Nov. 27.

Noem denies clemency to two thieves, updates commutation for woman convicted of murder

Noem has yet to issue any new commutations since the summer, when she commuted the sentences of two people convicted of murder in 1971 and 1999, respectively. Commutations shrink existing sentences, typically allowing an inmate a chance at early release. Pardons, by contrast, remove a conviction from a person’s record entirely. Noem has issued 27 commutations since her first term began in 2019. 

In South Dakota, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommends clemency after hearing from the person requesting it, unless the person qualifies for a “paper review” based on having a lower-level offense. All but one of the most recent pardons resulted from paper reviews, the other one resulted from a hearing, and all received positive recommendations.

A majority vote of the board’s nine members sends the recommendation to the governor, who has the sole discretion to issue pardons and commutations under the South Dakota Constitution.

After Noem grants clemency, pardons and commutations are filed with the secretary of state. Pardons are sealed five years later. 

The governor hasn’t always waited for or concurred with the board in her clemency decisions. In 2022, she commuted the sentence of Tammy Kvasnicka, who was convicted of vehicular homicide for a 2010 Sioux Falls traffic crash. The board had recommended denial for Kvasnicka. That commutation and six others were issued right around Christmas in 2022. 

Noem grants early release to 12 convicted of felonies for drug use

Just after Christmas last year, Noem commuted the sentences of 12 people convicted for felony drug ingestion. That charge, which is unique to South Dakota, allows prosecutions for drug possession based on a failed drug test. None of the 12 people whose ingestion charges were commuted last Dec. 29 had applied for a commutation through the parole board. In her State of the State speech delivered 11 days after signing the commutations, the governor told lawmakers that the state believes in second chances, and that the people offered them through her commutations will have the chance to return to work and take care of their families.

“If South Dakotans do get involved in drugs or another aspect of crime, that should not be the final word,” Noem said in the Jan. 9 speech. “Their punishment should match their crime, but they should also have the opportunity to rehabilitate and become better, more capable members of our society.”

The most recent pardons may be some of Noem’s last. She has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next Department of Homeland Security secretary. Trump takes office on Jan. 20, and a Senate vote to confirm Noem could come soon afterward.

12-16-24 Pardons

The seven pardons issued by Gov. Kristi Noem on Nov. 27, 2024.

A 22-year-old woman died Saturday after a car accident on Interstate 229 in Sioux Falls, according to South Dakota Departmentof Public Safety.

The woman, who was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, was driving southbound on Interstate 229 and exiting onto Interstate 29 when she lost control of vehicle, according to South Dakota State News.

The woman entered the westbound ditch before colliding with a tree, according to a DPS press release. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. The woman has not been identified pending notification of family members.