South Dakota
Spearfish ‘Festival in the Park’ reports record turnout

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Each year, the Matthews Opera House hosts ‘Festival in the Park’ in Spearfish City Park to celebrate the Northern Hills arts community. The festival is the opera house’s biggest annual fundraiser.
This was Matthews Opera House Executive Director Heath Johnson’s first time running the festival. According to Johnson, Festival in the Park typically sees tens of thousands of visitors each year, but 2025 might have set a new mark.
“[According to staff,] this last Friday was the biggest night we’ve had in 10 years,” Johnson said. “We had a huge crowd, a lot of people coming. A lot of the vendors also said it was one of the biggest nights they’ve had at the festival as well.”
The Matthews Opera House debuted their new ‘Free Little Art Gallery’ (FLAG) at this year’s festival. The gallery proved to be a popular attraction.
“It’s kind of like those little libraries you see around town,” Johnson explained. “You leave art, take art. So people can come, they can create something little, leave it in there for people to see. If they see something they like, they can come and grab it.”
More detailed attendance totals are expected soon.
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South Dakota
2 dead in fatal crash in South Dakota

SOUTH DAKOTA (KCAU) — Two people died in a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning, just 8 miles outside of Canton, South Dakota.
According to a press release, a 52-year-old Ford Ranger driver was traveling northbound on SD Highway 11, at the same time as a 49-year-old driver of a Volkswagen was traveling south bound. Authorities said the Volkswagen drifted into the northbound lane, where they collided head-on.
The Ford entered the ditch onto its roof, while the other came to rest in the southbound lane.
Both drivers sustained fatal injuries. There is still an investigation ongoing. Meanwhile, the persons will not be named until family is notified.
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