2025

Legendary Sioux Falls Guitarist, Mike Miller dies

It is with heavy heart hearing about Mike. He is NOT the famous NBA player from Mitchell but one of the top jazz guitarists in the world from Sioux Falls. Mike played at Touch of Europe numerous times, he was the only act we could charge a cover for, and people would be lined up out the door, even in the winter! He will be missed. Besides Richard Thompson, Miller is the only other guitarist I have seen play live where I don’t understand the sound they are getting from the strings. It was eery, and beautiful.

I guess the city of Sioux Falls employees are working without pay in 2025

I am always waiting in anticipation to see what kind of atrocious raises the directors and managers are getting each year as if they are working for a tech company that makes profits. Well, once again, they are late posting the wages (this is last years). Maybe the city employees are not getting paid this year? Maybe the mayor is trying to hoard even more money for the convention center?

UPDATE: Legislature wastes no time trying to increase taxes for a convention center in Sioux Falls

UPDATE: The argument the reps will use who support this is that smaller communities in SD need this tax leverage, for needed infrastructure, which I support 100%, but Sioux Falls doesn’t need this. Some have been suggesting to reps amend the bill so 1st class cities like SF and RC cannot get this kind of tax leverage, I would also make it so the bonds have to be for NEEDED infrastructure in their communities, not play palaces.

As I have been saying, no new convention center will be built without a tax increase. The city cannot borrow $400 million without another revenue source (full doc);

So the Municipal League suckered a retired business owner in Ft. Pierre to carry their water. Hey Mike, ever read your own campaign materials from your website?

To review my credentials, I am a conscientious, common-sense Republican who is respectful of our institutions, values, and the rewards created by investing in our people and relying on free enterprise to create opportunities for the betterment of our society. 

Hey Mike, why not take your own advice and let the private sector build this Convention Center. Seems hypocritical of your ‘values’ supporting a tax increase for essentially a white elephant we don’t need.

You will notice they will try to pass this saying that it is NOT a tax increase but an OPTION for voters. It would need a 60% passage by a citizen vote in the city that wants the increase. So how the city plan to have us vote on this? Will we vote first on a tax increase THEN vote on the CC or will we just put it in one package? I am hoping the Legislature kills this, but stranger things have happened. These taxes will also NOT go away when the CC is paid off. The entertainment tax was supposed to sunset after the CC and Pavilion bonds were paid off, guess what, still throwing money at it. The Municipal League has been lobbying for this for years. Please stop! It infuriates me that my tax dollars fund this lobbyist group and all they do is find ways to tax the living Sh!t out of us. Nobody wants to pay more in taxes for another play palace. They really need their heads examined in Pierre.

UPDATE: Harrisburg’s New City Manager already in turmoil

UPDATE: Figured more stuff would come out on this. Heath VonEye left the city of Madison, SD in 2011 after only 2.5 years as planning director;

VonEye said he “will seek other avenues to achieve his personal and professional goals” in explaining his resignation as Madison’s first public works director. He told the commissioners that his decision was determined by “circumstances beyond his control.”

It may be the oldest story in the book, misuse of public funds(?), fall back on Jesus, quit without punishment and move on to another town. I also heard from a Watertown official that Mack and VonEye had a policy of NOT sharing information with the council so they would vote for stuff they wanted passed. (must of learned that from Poops, he is consistently withholding info from our council.)

Harrisburg better do some serious soul searching.

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So the new city manager just starts and she is already causing issues with her new Deputy;

According to KXLG News, Harrisburg City Administrator Amanda Mack confirmed that the city has offered Heath VonEye a position as Deputy City Administrator. VonEye is currently Watertown’s Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director.

VonEye accepted the offer, but there is no start date as VonEye still needs to complete the resignation with the City of Watertown.

The new position comes with an annual salary of $195,000.


Amanda Mack was the previous City Manager of Watertown and resigned, which the Watertown City Council made effective on November 25. VonEye chose not to accept the Interim City Manager position and the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Kristen Bobzien, holds the title.

Watertown Mayor Ried Holien told KXLG News that the city was unaware VonEye was seeking employment elsewhere. The mayor also has a succession committee that will assist with selecting a new Watertown City Manager.

Word from residents in Harrisburg is that Mack and VonEye were BOTH hired without properly posting the jobs online, in a legal paper or the Municipal League website, still digging around on that. As for the executive session to let Mack go early which was a clear violation of open meeting laws, there may be a reason they didn’t want the ‘dirty laundry’ of city staff on full display and were willing to take the hit to cover it up. Let’s just say the rumors I have heard would not only disqualify BOTH candidates to work for the city of Watertown but also for Harrisburg. Then there is the nepotism. I certainly don’t know the reason why she was fired early, but if the rumors are true they will eventually be revealed and Harrisburg is going to have a lot of mud on their face when it is all over. Watertown is beyond help.

Emily’s Hope Art Show & Auction 2025

Bob Dylan

I will be participating in the art auction. You can make bids here. There is a ton of great work in the auction and it is going to a fantastic cause, supplying businesses and organizations with NARCAN. It is a life saving tool in the fight against addiction. Buy something!

I love the BIO they wrote for me;

Bob Dylan, by Scott L. Ehrisman
Dimensions: 13.75” x 16.75”
Year: 2021
Medium: Mixed Media/Collage

A tribute to the legendary Bob Dylan, this piece blends collage, mixed media, and acrylics on art board, all encased in a shadow box under glass. Scott L. Ehrisman masterfully combines layered textures and vibrant hues to create a dynamic portrait that captures Dylan’s enigmatic spirit and cultural significance. The work pays homage to the intersection of music and art, embodying a sense of timeless creativity.

Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Scott L. Ehrisman has been practicing art and graphic design since 1991. Influenced by early pinup photography, pop art, and masters like Picasso and Van Gogh, Ehrisman’s work merges elements of Byzantine Icon art with contemporary mixed media. His distinctive style has been showcased in regional exhibitions and sold globally, reflecting a unique fusion of historical and modern artistic inspirations.