It was less than a week ago when I broke the story on District 5 GOP House candidate Seth Phillips facing a DUI charge, and getting picked up for consuming marijuana while driving after that arrest.

I did notice one of the local paywalled Watertown media outlets wrote about it after me. (Not sure if they bothered with any credit since they certainly didn’t break the story.) So it’s safe to say that a huge number of District 5 residents are aware that one of the local candidates is working on adding to his rap sheet while he’s on the campaign trail.

There’s an adage referred to as the “First law of holes,” which states  “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” Unfortunately, Seth is not following this adage in the response he posted to his social media regarding the story:

In his response to the information about his recent DUI and smoking pot while driving charges, now Toby Doeden acolyte candidate Seth is telling everyone that he was also a meth addict and hurt people.

I’m thinking he should have stopped digging the hole after the DUI and Driving while smoking the weed charges. Now he’s telling us there are worse things in his background – but he’s rebuilding!

It’s one thing to run for office years after one puts their life back together. It’s entirely another to do so while the wreckage is fresh on the train tracks, and the flames are roaring.  As far as voters are concerned, Seth is still digging the hole, and now they will be asking about the extent of his admitted meth use ..and what does he mean about hurting people?

Did he tell police where he got the meth? Did he help put his meth traffickers and manufacturers in prison?  And what about the people he hurt? Is this more in the metaphysical sense, or did he physically assault them, and what were the consequences?  He’s just made these things issues to be brought up in his campaign.

Seth is due back in court on Monday morning here in Brookings County at 9AM.  And it also looks like he has an old 2023 case (06MAG23-000132) for driving with suspended license & speeding that is still pending becuase the ticket went to collections and does not seem to have ever been resolved, because the balance due as of 3/21/2026 is $400.00.

I’m guessing they might ask about that in court as well. Seth should also include that in his rebuilding plan before he runs for office.

South Dakota Democrats – even with depleted numbers – continue to school the SDGOP on the things a Political Party are supposed to do as they raise funds for their activities in South Dakota:

SDDP March 2026 FEC Report by Pat Powers

Starting with a reported $53,267.67, Democrats added $39,471.03 to it, against $33,661.84 spent. Leaving $59,076.86 cash on hand.  More importantly, they included 14 pages worth of donors. Which is 14 pages more than the SDGOP reported a couple of weeks ago, when they reported $21 in unitemized donations.

The SDDP is reporting nearly twice what the SDGOP has on hand for cash. What a sad state of affairs for my party.

Thune: Democrats Refuse to Support Commonsense Reforms in SAVE America Act

“Democrats – the party that, the Democrat leader said, does not object to photo ID – well, Democrats blocked it.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the above remarks on the Senate floor.

Thune: Securing America Starts With Funding DHS, Not Defunding Police

“Democrats had to dial back on their hostility to law enforcement once before for political reasons. … So perhaps they should think twice before making defunding law enforcement and Homeland Security their signature issue this November.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Attorney General Jackley Announces Centerville Man Convicted by Jury in Triple Murder Trial

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Centerville man has been found guilty by a McCook County Jury, for a 2024 triple homicide that occurred in Centerville, SD.

Jay Ostrem, 65, was found guilty Friday of three counts of First-Degree Murder. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, 2026.

“Today’s verdict delivers justice for the victims and their loved ones. We are grateful for the hard work of law enforcement and prosecutors, and we continue to keep the families in our thoughts,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Victims in the shooting death were identified as Paul Wyland Frankus, 26; Zachary Frankus, 21; and Timothy Richmond, 35. The incident was reported near 10 p.m. May 27, 2024, at a residence in Centerville.

South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) led the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and the Turner County State’s Office.

                                                                                                  -30-

Pat Roseland Announces Candidacy for Rapid City Common Council, Ward 5

Pat Roseland, a longtime Rapid City resident, U.S. Navy veteran, and former Ward 5 council member, has announced his candidacy for the Rapid City Common Council representing Ward 5. The election is Tuesday, June 2.

Roseland served on the Common Council from July 2022 to July 2025, including a term as Council Vice President. He attended 97.7 percent of all council meetings, voted against the 67 percent council salary increase in June 2025, and spearheaded the city’s new vacation rental ordinance.

Spending his childhood in Faith and Dupree, SD, Roseland was raised with West River values. A U.S. Navy veteran called to duty during wartime, he earned his nursing degrees and worked as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Rapid City Regional Hospital for two decades before retiring. He has lived in the West Boulevard neighborhood for more than 30 years. Since retiring, Pat’s strong, steady leadership has helped several local organizations reach new heights.

“In my time campaigning in my previous races, I have spent months knocking on doors and listening,” Roseland said. “Two things came through loud and clear: people want their neighborhoods protected as the city grows, and they want to feel safe. I’m coming back to city council to make sure the citizens of Ward 5 are heard.”

His priorities for a new term:

Safe neighborhoods and secure public spaces: Push for full staffing of the Rapid City Police Department and increased foot patrols in commercial corridors and parks.

Preserving neighborhood character: Protect Ward 5’s residential fabric, ensure compatible new development, and defend Rapid City’s historic districts.

Enforcing the vacation rental ordinance: Compliance audits, a public reporting dashboard, and real consequences for repeat violators.

Infrastructure ahead of demand: A proactive capital plan for streets, water, and sewer, featuring clear timelines and public progress reports.

“Rapid City is growing, and that is a good thing—but we cannot lose what makes this a great place to live,” Roseland said. “I want safe streets, enforced vacation rental rules, protected historic districts, and infrastructure that stays ahead of the curve. Ward 5 deserves that, and I have the experience and the drive to make it happen.”

Roseland serves on the Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission, the Rapid City Planning and Zoning Commission, and as Vice-Chair of the Journey-On Board. He is Vice-President of the Museum Alliance of Rapid City (The Journey Museum), past president of the West Boulevard Neighborhood Association, and past president of the Black Hills Historical Society. He received the 2020 Governor’s Award for History as well as the 2018 Rushmore Honors Award. He also co-authored “Rapid City Historic Downtown Architecture” and is a graduate of Leadership Rapid City, Class of 2011.

“I have proven I will show up and advocate for your interests if you are willing to send me back to the Council for the next three years,” Roseland said.

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From Facebook, looks like Rapid City lawns are greening up!

I heard a rumor – just a rumor, so take it with that value – this week that allegedly Gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden had to break down and hire Jordan Mason out of Rapid City to do paid petition circulation for his campaign to get on the ballot.

If that’s the case, along with the information coming out of Aberdeen, it seems as we roll up to the deadline on March 31 that the Doeden Camp is getting a bit nervous about having sufficient signatures.

It also makes me wonder if Toby asked Taffy whether it was ok, considering the postcard that Mason sent out a couple of months ago from his PAC..

I wouldn’t think Taffy would be pleased. I’m also slightly surprised Tiffy. er, Toby would be eager to snuggle up with someone who was reminding people about his TIF’s as well.

If the rumor is true, it shows what desperation will do for a campaign.

Republican David Johnson running for State Senate District 33

RAPID CITY – Republican David Johnson is officially announcing his candidacy for the South Dakota State Senate in Legislative District 33. This district includes portions of Pennington County in the central Black Hills, northern and southern portions of Rapid City, and the communities of Black Hawk and Summerset in Meade County.

David previously held that position from 2021 to 2024. He has a distinguished history of service, with his legislative experience including serving in the State House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020.  He served on the Appropriations, Veterans Affairs, and State Commerce Committees, among others. David also served eight years as an officer in the US Air Force and Reserves and holds an MBA from the University of South Dakota.  Beyond his legislative work, David is active in the community. He is the past president of the Rapid City Chapter of the SD Right to Life organization and currently serves on the boards of two statewide adolescent care/treatment organizations.  He’s also the immediate past president of the board at the Johnson Siding Volunteer Fire District. Known as the “Tree Guy,” David Johnson has been the owner and operator of a tree care business and tree nursery since 1980.

“My primary objective in the Senate has been reducing the size of state government and the resulting costs, burdens, and taxes that over-regulation imposes on SD’s families and businesses,” says Johnson. “My time in the state House was marked by the challenges of Covid and the national turmoil that followed.  I was proud to be involved in keeping South Dakota’s small businesses open and the general economic condition above the fray of national politics.  South Dakota remained open for business and the state legislature played a substantial role in that effort.”

In announcing his campaign, Johnson emphasized his commitment to reducing the size of state government and protecting the interests of South Dakota citizens. “I’m ready to return to Pierre to continue my successful record representing SD’s families, protecting individual and private property rights, and sustaining the rational, effective, conservative policies that make South Dakota the best place in America to call home,” he stated.

Johnson grew up in Rapid City, graduated from the School of Mines and worked as a software engineer for two aircraft companies.   He and his wife, Karen, returned to Rapid City in 1991 where they raised three daughters and are now proud grandparents of five.

The Primary Election will be held on June 2nd, followed by the General Election on November 3rd, 2026.

No. Seriously.

The fundraising committee chair for the South Dakota Republican Party, as noted by the screen-shot from the SDGOP’s website, has filed petitions to run for the South Dakota State Legislature.

I’m not sure that I can find descriptive words to express the depths of how poorly their fundraising has been. Abysmal? Insufficient? Dumpster-fire is reserved for Toby Doeden nowadays. But you get the drift.  The SDGOP has managed to achieve epic lows in raising money, and now the party’s fundraising committee chair wants to bring these same  accomplishments to State Government?

Werdel was in the news earlier this year about the party’s fundraising. According to DakotaNewsNow:

“I think the main thing for this is we get the people involvement. It’s not just big money coming from the big donors,” said Amber Werdel, SD GOP Fundraising Committee Chair. “We have people that are donating towards this. Yes, hopefully they will win a gun. 

Read that here.

There’s actually not a lot out there on-line about Amber Werdel to find out what qualifies her for the office. But as tends to happen I started to do some cursory digging… and very, very unexpectedly, I went down the rabbit hole.

Holy buckets. Did I ever fall down the rabbit hole. In doing some research, there were three criminal cases that popped up. The most recent was 2002, longer ago than I would normally bother mentioning.  Except it was a felony. That gets my attention. Driving under the influence – 3rd, to which a plea of guilty was entered.

The State Republican Party’s fundraising chair is a convicted felon?  Well… technically not anymore.

Why “technically not anymore?” Because according to the court record, on 9/5/2023 (entered into the system on 9/14) there was an order granting pardon on her record.

An honest to God pardon issued in 2023? Less than 3 years ago?  And now after receiving it, Amber is running for the South Dakota House of Representatives? That is not something you see every day.

First time in 20 years of writing this website that I’ve run across it. I don’t recall the last time we ever had a convicted felon – who was later pardoned – in charge of raising money for the SDGOP, much less making a run for the South Dakota House or Representatives.

I mean, it’s a free country and all.  But very similar to the D5 candidate Seth Phillips matter I ran across and broke the news on earlier this week, it’s not my place to judge whether the District wants to place someone with that record into a place of power in Pierre, as opposed to 19 thousand or more other people in that district.

But, the choice isn’t mine. If you’re a District 23 voter, the choice is yours.