Brandon Valley Journal

Jill Meier/BV Journal

Sioux Metro Growth Alliance organized the June 30 ground-breaking celebration for the new Culver’s restaurant coming to Brandon at 908 N. Splitrock Boulevard. Jessie Reily (sixth from right) has been named as the owner-operator for the chain restaurant’s 1,111th store.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 11:54am

Culver’s breaks ground on new store in Brandon - Restaurant chain’s store No. 1,111 planned to open in early 2027

Submitted photo

Brandon Valley’s Tony Thoreson was crowned as the National Girls Assistant Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Thoreson has served in this role for 55 cross country and track and field seasons.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 11:22am

A national treasure - BV’s Tony Thoreson is Assistant Girls’ Coach of the Year

Tom A. Savage/BV Journal

The Little Free Library at the entrance of Aspen Park on Monday, July 6. A similar one will be placed at Pioneer Park next month.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 11:12am

Little Free Library coming to entrance of Pioneer Park

Submitted photo

Brandon Valley’s Little League All-Star team is competing for the state title in Rapid City this week. Members of the team are, from left, row one: Palmer Steen, Maddex Jensen, Carter Darling, Max Sanford, Baylor Dykhouse, Maze Millsap; row two: Beckett Matzke, Truett Elder, Coy Shepard, Thomas Gleason, Coe Melcher and Emmett Krivarchka. They are coached by Ryan Millsap.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 11:06am

BV Little League’s ‘road to World Series’ begins in Rapid City this week

Jill Meier/BV Journal

Tam an Kim Le have built a successful nail salon business in Brandon over the last 15 years.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 10:27am

Fifteen years later and still living the American dream - Vietnamese couple builds successful nail salon business

Tom A. Savage/BV Journal

With high temperatures forecasted for the weekend, mud volleyball may be the answer to stay cool. The longstanding tradition is always a big draw that offers plenty of laughs.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 10:14am

Valley Springs, Brandon organizations stage community parties this weekend

Tom A. Savage/BV Journal

Jake Halseth threw the first complete game no-hitter for Brandon Valley this season on Tuesday, June 30 against Renner.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 10:08am

‘We let him go’ Halseth’s no-hitter highlights Legion Post 131’s week

Tom A. Savage/BV Journal

Dan Dykhouse of the Valley Dogs watches a flyball off his bat on Wednesday, July 1 in Valley Springs.

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 10:07am

Tough week for Belugas, Dogs in amateur baseball

on Nagel pitches for the Valley Dogs on Sunday, June 14 in Valley Springs.

Submitted photos

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 9:59am

From the Cubs organization to the Class B Valley Dogs

Courtesy of Huset’s Speedway Hall of Fame

Paul Krueger

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 9:54am

Five to join Huset’s Hall of Fame ranks this Sunday

Tom A. Savage/BV Journal

A group of children celebrate the Fourth of July at Val Lemkau’s house in Brandon on Saturday, July 4

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 9:46am

Brandon Valley area joins the USA 250th celebration

Jill Meier/BV Journal

Brandon Park Superintendent Devin Coughlin fastens a clamp to a light post along Holly Boulevard as he hung more than 30 Hometown Hero banners last week. The banner project is a joint endeavor of the Brandon VFW and the Ed Polzine Fund with cooperation from the city. Banners can be ordered now through Aug. 1, and they will be added the boulevard later that month. For more details, see Talk of the Town on page 3.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 2:27pm

Hometown Hero happiness

Submitted photo

Dan Ahlers, a Dell Rapids resident, has served South Dakota as a State Senator and a State Representative. Now he wants to be South Dakota’s next governor.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 2:24pm

Dell Rapids man eager to be South Dakota’s next governor

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 2:18pm

Brandon now under stage 2 lawn watering guidelines

Jill Meier/BV Journal

Preparation work began Monday for the forthcoming roundabout on Holly Boulevard that will serve as an entrance point to the planned Fareway grocery store at South River Park Avenue.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 2:17pm

Construction begins this week on city’s first roundabout

Submitted photo

Brandon’s Teddy Krivarchka recently placed seventh in the 11-12-year-old division of the Future Masters Golf Tournament.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 2:03pm

Teddy Krivarchka chasing golf dreams one tourney at a time

Valley Dogs third baseman Ryan Hunsaid throws to first base against the Belugas on Tuesday, June 23.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 1:50pm

Belugas outlast Valley Dogs in all-BV amateur ball matchup

Jill Meier/BV Journal

It’s clear there’s still a bit of work to be done on the technique of sliding into homeplate as the Jones Family Eye Care coach awaits his slap on the hand. See more photos in our photo gallery, https://brandonvalleyjournal.com/.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 1:43pm

T-Ball is Where It All Begins

A severe thunderstorm in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 28 brought tornado-like wind speeds along Highway 11. Damage was most visible on the north end of Corson at Matt’s Repair, where strong winds tipped one trailer-camper on its side and pushed a second into the ditch. Owner Matt VanDkyke was awaiting the insurance adjuster to recoup the loss. Bookkeeper Joanne Moen said the value of the two campers is in the $200,000 range. (At left) Branches were piled up in between a home and a business in Corson on Monday morning. Trees along the fence line (at right) of Greg and Sheri Carmon’s property just south of Midwest Railcar Repair were damaged as a result of probable straight-line winds. Roofs were torn up and buildings were down at Driftwood Dairy near Baltic, where wind speeds were recorded at 65 miles per hour.

Jill Meier/BV Journal

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 1:26pm

Mother Nature ‘huffed and puffed’ along Hwy. 11

Brandonites Gary and Barb Fish raise a pint in Dublin at The Old Punch Bowl. And, they brought the Brandon Valley Journal along for the party. If you’re venturing out – near or far – remember to put the Journal on your packing list, snap a photo and email it to editor@bvjournal.info with a brief summary of who is pictured and where the picture was taken. Then, look for it in an upcoming issue of the Journal.

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 11:27am

Journey with the Journal

Brandon Valley Journal

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The Brandon Valley Journal

Brandon Valley Journal

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The Brandon Valley Journal

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