The Brookings Register

06/03/2026

Talk about a close race: Incumbents Mellissa Heermann and Roger DeGroot have advanced in the Republican primary for District 7 South Dakota House, defeating newcomer Dennis Willert.

Out of thousands of ballots cast, Heermann edged out DeGroot as the top vote-getter by five votes (1,683 to 1,678).

Both incumbents will now face Democrat Blake Stevens in the November general election to compete for District 7’s two seats. DeGroot says his priorities remain focused on public worker raises and economy growth, while Heermann plans to continue pushing legislation to protect vulnerable populations from fraud.

Read the full story for candidate reactions, legislative priorities, and the complete precinct breakdown.

BROOKINGS — In a three-way primary contest among Republicans to decide which two would advance to the November general election, incumbents Roger DeGroot and Mellissa Heermann emerged victorious over newcomer Dennis Willert.

06/03/2026

Assistant Sheriff Dave Biteler secured a decisive victory in Tuesday's Republican primary, defeating Shawn Hostler with 2,506 votes to 1,141.

With the primary in the rearview mirror, the stage is now set for a November general election showdown. Biteler will face off against independent candidate Manny Langstraat — meaning two current members of the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office will compete for the top job this fall.

"The victory doesn’t mean we stop right here and take a break," Biteler said. "It’s always forward."

Read the full story for candidate reactions, future plans, and a complete precinct-by-precinct voting breakdown.

BROOKINGS — Republican voters in Brookings County gave a solid endorsement to Dave Biteler in the June 2 primary election for county sheriff, awarding him 2,506 votes to Shawn Hostler’s 1,141 votes.

06/03/2026

Kelsey Bowman has secured a spot on the Brookings School Board following Tuesday's election, winning just under 60% of the vote against opponent Marcie Dierks.

Bowman, who owns KB Consulting and previously served as the district's assistant business manager, says she plans to focus on academic proficiency, community transparency, and fiscal responsibility.

"Whether I earned your vote or not, I will work every day to represent all members of our community and keep students at the center of every decision."

Read the full story for the complete breakdown and Bowman's reaction:

BROOKINGS — Kelsey Bowman secured a spot on the Brookings School Board Tuesday.

06/02/2026

Looking for a free family outing this summer? McCrory Gardens is opening its gates for a new series of monthly, completely free "Community Days."

Running once a month through October, these unstructured open houses encourage everyone to explore the 25-acre landscape, pack a picnic, and enjoy nature at their own pace.

They even have wearable butterfly wings and explorer backpacks with magnifying glasses for the kids!

Check out the full list of dates, what you can expect to see blooming month-by-month, and how this new program came together:

BROOKINGS — From walking among head-high perennial grasses to watching monarch butterflies fuel up for migration, McCrory Gardens is inviting area residents to slow down and experience nature free of charge.

06/02/2026

Fewer lanes, safer streets?

The Brookings City Council just got a first look at a new 25-year blueprint for the town’s traffic, and it includes some major proposed changes — like putting several high-traffic local routes on "road diets."

The plan looks at narrowing parts of Main Avenue South, Medary Avenue, Summit Pass and 15th Street South to reallocate space for pedestrians and bikes. Why narrow the roads? Experts say it drastically cuts down pedestrian crossing distances and forces traffic to naturally slow down.

Read the full breakdown of what’s being proposed, where a new roundabout might be on the horizon, and when the council is expected to vote on the plan:

BROOKINGS — The city’s leaders got a peek at potential improvements in the community’s transportation network over the next 25 years at the May 26 meeting of the Brookings City Council.

06/02/2026

“The end of life is a journey for the whole family.”

For 15 years, the Rev. Gregg TeBeest has walked alongside Brookings families during their most poignant moments as a hospice chaplain. He recently earned a doctorate in thanatology (the study of death and dying) to better understand the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of human mortality.

Read more about his unique ministry, the biggest misconceptions about hospice care, and what his recent research revealed about healthcare in South Dakota:

BROOKINGS — For 15 years, the Rev. Gregg TeBeest, 65, has served as chaplain for the Brookings Health System. A major role of his chaplaincy is hospice care: it demands helping a patient face end of life issues, spiritual and emotional, and helping them make end of life decisions. It also invol...

06/02/2026

Calling all Brookings home cooks, bakers, and backyard grill masters!

The Brookings Register has launched a new page called Yum — and it’s all about the food, recipes, and people that make our community taste so good.

We want to feature your kitchen creations. You don't need a culinary degree or a fancy restaurant; we just want the real, tried-and-true recipes that your family loves.

Here is what we need from you:

✅ The recipe: Your go-to ingredients and steps.
✅ The photo: A snapshot of the finished dish (or you cooking it!).
✅ The story: Tell us why this dish is special to you.

Let’s share the flavors of Brookings! Send your recipes and photos to [email protected] or tag your food posts with .

We can't wait to see what you're cooking up!

06/01/2026

A Kansas truck driver escaped safely after his 2016 Peterbilt semi-tractor caught fire north of Brookings early Saturday morning.

The driver pulled over after noticing a burning odor, only to see the front end of his truck glowing before it went up in flames.

Read more on the multi-department response that closed the ramp for more than two hours:

BROOKINGS COUNTY — A driver escaped unharmed after his trailer-less semi-tractor burst into flames near Interstate 29 in the early morning hours of May 30.

06/01/2026

A Brookings man is facing up to 25 years in prison after a grand jury indicted him for a March burglary at Riddle’s Jewelry.

Police say more than $78,000 worth of diamond rings were stolen — but investigators found a smear of blood at the scene, leading to a state lab DNA match.

Get the full story on the investigation and how a borrowed bicycle tied into the crime:

BROOKINGS — A grand jury in Brookings County has indicted a Brookings resident on multiple charges for his alleged role in a burglary involving the theft of diamond rings valued at more than $78,000.

06/01/2026

Two juveniles are in custody after a pursuit through Brookings County on Interstate 29 early this morning.

The teens were allegedly driving a stolen Ford F-550 truck from the Sioux Falls area and attempted to collide with traffic before hitting spike strips.

Get the details on the chase and the agencies involved:

BROOKINGS COUNTY — Two 17-year-old juveniles are in custody following an early morning pursuit on June 1 through Brookings County on Interstate 29 in a stolen vehicle that ended in the Watertown area.