Who says there is nothing to do in Sioux Falls?
l3wis 
2014
Did former AL Publisher Randell Beck retire on his own fruition?
Beck was a guest on Knobe’s show yesterday, talking about his goal to recruit mentors;
Randell Beck, former publisher of the Argus-Leader, is on mission. He is leading an effort to enlist 500 more mentors for students in our elementary, middle, and high schools. Currently there are about 1000 people investing an hour a week in helping a child succeed. The list of students needing mentors is long. Mr. Beck will talk about a new effort to attract people like you to help.
I did not hear the program, so I still need to get the following information confirmed, but a listener told me that Beck has a new job at Avera in community relations. Not sure if this has something to do with his mentoring and is a volunteer position, or a paid position? BUT if it is a paid gig, it makes you wonder why Beck ‘retired’ early from GANNETT if he still wanted to continue to work? It’s one thing to want to make a career change when you are 30, 40 or even 50 but to jump the publishing industry when you are close to retirement seems a bit odd.
So did Beck ‘retire’? I’m sure we will get the answer to that question the same day we find out what Gannett paid Dan Scott to settle out of court.
Council candidate recruitment
There has been a lot of shuffling around in the council races this year, especially with councilors Entenman & Aguilar deciding not to run for re-election, leaving only Erpenbach (who currently doesn’t have a challenger) and Rolfing as the only two incumbents running (Rolfing has two challengers) There are three people competing for Jim’s empty seat, and currently NO challenger to Bonita Schwan for Sue’s empty seat.
While the first thing I would like to see is a challenger to Special Interest/Zero Accomplishment Erpenbach, one has to question if there has been any ‘SOFT’ recruitment of a challenger to SON organizer, Schwan.
My first suspicions were that the mayor and his minions (Zach Crago w/the SD Democratic party) were actively looking for a challenger to Bonita.
My new speculation is that with Erpenbach not having a challenger, she is focusing on finding a challenger to Schwan. There have been a couple of names thrown out there, and I suspect a decision will be made soon. While I am going to keep those names to myself, for now, I will say that the people they have been courting share an image, age and gender with Schwan, but hardly the style or education/work experience of Schwan.
I guess we will have to see who Erpenbach drags to Carnegie Hall kicking and screaming to pick up their nominating petitions.
SF Planning Commission Chair to get a city loan for affordable housing
This is something I harp on all the time, the city contributing more to affordable housing;
“We are pleased to award $350,000 to Grandview LLC, owned by Mr. Ken Dunlap, for the purpose of constructing Westwood Apartments,” Community Development Director Darrin Smith said.
“We have heard for a long time about the need for affordable housing. Well, I call that the talk. Doing the talk. But I think what we’re looking at today is kind of doing the walk with it,” Ken Dunlap with Grandview LLC said.
Darrin Smith with Community Development says the money from the city will be given as a loan, to be paid back over the next 32 years.
Hey, sounds like a great program, and it is, BUT . . . am I the only one that thinks this is a conflict of interest that the development company Planning Commission Chair Ken Dunlap is involved with is getting this loan from the city?
Yes, his position is a volunteer one, but a part of me just says this isn’t right (ethical). I’m starting to wonder if there is any board/council member in this city anymore that is simply doing the job for the value of good government instead of self-interest?
