The Lounge

The Dakota Scout's coverage of South Dakota's arts, culture and entertainment scene

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

INTERVIEW: John PayCheck inherited the spark — the ‘Better Plan’ is his own

Sep 15, 2026

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9 min read

INTERVIEW: John PayCheck inherited the spark — the ‘Better Plan’ is his own

Country singer talks about new album, family legacy, military service ahead of playing Bigs Bar in Sioux Falls on Sept. 17

Devin Hoffie, +1

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Sep 14, 2026

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2 min read

B&G Milkyway owners gift store to church

Celebrate Church will oversee operations at Cliff and 69th store, views business as chance to serve community

SiouxFalls.Business

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING REPORT | Dam releases, USD sculpture, Eiffel outrage, SD 250 stories

Sep 13, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING REPORT | Dam releases, USD sculpture, Eiffel outrage, SD 250 stories

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Jonathan Ellis

Podcast

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

Sep 12, 2026

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1 min read

Horse slaughter & smoking | 13 inches | 25 years since 9/11 | Commissioning public utility politics | Staying dry | Data center outrage & Chi-coms | Sept. 12, 2026 Frank Kloucek

SPONSORS Beal Distributing, First Bank & Trust, Juna Sleep Systems - Legendary Democratic lawmaker Frank Kloucek returns to the Lounge, this time as a candidate for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

The Dakota Scout, +3

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Thunder Road hits 30 years in Sioux Falls

Sep 12, 2026

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4 min read

Thunder Road hits 30 years in Sioux Falls

Family attraction marks anniversary with indoor expansion, new games, updated laser tag and more events for adults

Devin Hoffie, +1

The Lounge

Sep 11, 2026

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1 min read

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Sept. 11-17

Free, for your entertainment

The Dakota Scout

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Sep 10, 2026

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10 min read

What's going on, South Dakota? | Upcoming events & entertainment

Submit your events for The Dakota Scout's Lounge section by emailing [email protected]

The Dakota Scout, +1

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Gutzon Borglum creates mold of Verendrye marker

Sep 10, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Gutzon Borglum creates mold of Verendrye marker

This week in South Dakota history: Sept. 4-10

Dan Gehlsen

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

INTERVIEW | Rhett Walker on fatherhood, faith and being told he was ‘too country’

Sep 7, 2026

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5 min read

INTERVIEW | Rhett Walker on fatherhood, faith and being told he was ‘too country’

Veteran LifeLight performer remembers telling producers at start of career, 'I don't know how to change my voice'

Lyrical Limelight, +1

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

INTERVIEW | Nashville artist Jesse LaBelle reflects on path toward faith at LifeLight

Sep 6, 2026

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4 min read

INTERVIEW | Nashville artist Jesse LaBelle reflects on path toward faith at LifeLight

Song ‘Hey Rachel’ turned into ‘Hey Jesus’ – the rewrite changed everything

Lyrical Limelight, +1

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING REPORT | Chili, immigration fail, screwworm medicine, mobile grocer

Sep 6, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING REPORT | Chili, immigration fail, screwworm medicine, mobile grocer

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Jonathan Ellis

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

PREVIEW | Master quilter brings multidimensional genius to Pavilion

Sep 5, 2026

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3 min read

PREVIEW | Master quilter brings multidimensional genius to Pavilion

Ricky Tims offers two workshops plus evening of music and storytelling

Virginia Olson

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

INTERVIEW | LifeLight’s second act is getting bigger — and still free

Sep 4, 2026

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9 min read

INTERVIEW | LifeLight’s second act is getting bigger — and still free

Lyrical Limelight chats with Josh Brewer, CEO of LifeLight Festival

Lyrical Limelight, +1

The Lounge

Sep 4, 2026

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1 min read

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Sept. 4-10

Free, for your entertainment

The Dakota Scout

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Ford, Carter bring 1976 campaigns to South Dakota

Sep 3, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Ford, Carter bring 1976 campaigns to South Dakota

This week in South Dakota history: Aug. 28-Sept. 3

Dan Gehlsen

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Sep 3, 2026

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10 min read

What's going on, South Dakota? | Upcoming events & entertainment

Submit your events for The Dakota Scout's Lounge section by emailing [email protected]

The Dakota Scout, +1

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING REPORT | Local food, papers please, wealthy socialists, sealing history

Aug 30, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING REPORT | Local food, papers please, wealthy socialists, sealing history

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

Jonathan Ellis

The Lounge

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Aug. 28-Sept. 3

Aug 29, 2026

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1 min read

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Aug. 28-Sept. 3

Free, for your entertainment

The Dakota Scout

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Aug 27, 2026

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10 min read

What's going on, South Dakota? | Upcoming events & entertainment

Submit your events for The Dakota Scout's Lounge section by emailing [email protected]

The Dakota Scout, +2

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Minnehaha County deputies corroborate UFO sightings

Aug 27, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Minnehaha County deputies corroborate UFO sightings

This week in South Dakota history: Aug. 21-27

Dan Gehlsen

THE DAKOTA SCOUT

Wheat breeder who saved millions from starvation getting SDSU statue

Aug 25, 2026

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2 min read

Wheat breeder who saved millions from starvation getting SDSU statue

Edgar McFadden developed wheat variety that was resistant to rust

The Dakota Scout

The Lounge

Aug 22, 2026

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3 min read

Crossword, Sudoku answers: Aug. 21-27

Free, for your entertainment

The Dakota Scout

The Lounge

REVIEW | Rivorium is heavy without the blur

Aug 21, 2026

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2 min read

REVIEW | Rivorium is heavy without the blur

‘Melodic metal’ Sioux Falls band opened for Caster Volor at Bigs Bar

The Lounge

Four Winds: Music, arts festival swarm coming in downtown Sioux Falls

Aug 20, 2026

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1 min read

Four Winds: Music, arts festival swarm coming in downtown Sioux Falls

Founder Corey Church books 100 band lineup in summer staple’s 11th year

The Lounge

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sioux Falls hobby hobos tramp their way to 1901 World’s Fair

Aug 20, 2026

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3 min read

SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sioux Falls hobby hobos tramp their way to 1901 World’s Fair

This week in South Dakota history: Aug. 14-20

Dan Gehlsen