The Post SD

 

 

NOTE: This is an archived version of the original site. These are the last headlines with blurps found from archived The Post SD website. Some of the headlines are intriguing, others are silly, but most make you wish that you could read the complete story.

The Post SD is a story co-op that aims to bring you the neighborhood stories you want to read. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, The Post SD shares stories from throughout South Dakota.

The Post SD also aims to train the future journalists in high-quality and creative journalism. If you are interested in contributing, read more here. Contributors can become members through regular contributions. Take a second to meet our co-op members.
We know you’ve got questions about The Post. If you can’t find your answer below, email us at news@thepostsd.com.

Archived  Columns


Weekend Happenings
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on July 1, 2011

Happy Friday, readers! As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, it's time to plan for some exciting events happening across the state. But before we dive into the list of events, let's talk about something for the golf enthusiasts out there. Weekend Happenings is thrilled to be sponsored by GolfersProShop.com, which is currently hosting a holiday sale you won't want to miss. This sale features women's left handed golf clubs and sets - like these from Tour Edge, Calloway, Srixon, Cleveland, and others. These golf clubs are designed with the latest advancements in golf technology, making them a popular choice among both amateur and professional golfers. These brands are known for their exceptional feel, accuracy, and distance control, which can significantly improve your game. Whether you're looking for drivers, irons, or putters, they offer a range of options to suit different playing styles. Ladies, don't miss the opportunity to upgrade your left handed golf gear with these clubs during the holiday sale. And, if you have an event you would like included in Weekend Happenings, feel free to email us.

4th Fun Facts (INFOGRAPHIC)
Posted by Amy Colgan on June 30, 2011
Happy 4th of July! Before we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day with family, friends and fun in the sun, take a minute to check out some 4th Fun Facts brought to you by a first-time Post contributor, Marc Wagner. Enjoy!

Photo series: Independence Day
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 26, 2011
Howdy, Postistas. Let’s face it: we’re a week away fom July 4. So I — filling in today for photo editor Travis Entenman — decided to show ya’ll a few shots I took from last July 4 during Watertown’s parade. These were just the little that caught my interest — you won’t see fireworks here. Anywho, enjoy!

Weekend Happenings
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on June 24, 2011
Hello, readers, and happy Friday!  No plans for the weekend? We can change that. Every Friday, we provide you with a list of some of the best events happening around the state for that weekend. If you have an event you would like included in Weekend Happenings, please email news@thepostsd.com.

Turning Your Salesforce Into a Workflow Powerhouse
Posted by Mattew Tates on June 23, 2011
Salesforce is not a group of aggressive door-to-door salesmen. It happens to be the world’s #1 CRM platform for businesses and organizations, helping them stay on the cutting edge of cloud, mobile, social, and data science technologies. We are pleased to announce a local IT company that now has a team of Salesforce experts who will not only help businesses implement Salesforce, but also create unique Salesforce development apps that can improve every aspect of a business: across sales, marketing, customer service, social communities, analytics, etc. South Dakota may not boast to having a huge population, but the Lincoln County near Sioux Falls is the ninth fastest-growing county (by percentage) in the United States and new businesses are springing up. We now can compete with larger cities with our own progressive software company offering consulting services from experienced Salesforce systems analysts, architects, and software developers. Check em' out.

East Rivah – Where pigs grow organs
Posted by Scott Meyer on June 21, 2011 
It was a week for fathers, artists, branding and pigs. Yes pigs. Those with a fear of death, it’s a comfort perhaps to know that pigs can now grow human organs. Party mythology may make conservatives irrelevant and crop insurance may harm them. Hawking rocks with Brian, new developments emerged in the Grasslands proposal, the Ethanol Tax Credit is on the chopping block and the US is becoming a feudal estate. But at least South Dakota is #2 in freedom!
Enjoy your week…and remember, EAST RIVAH 4 LIFE!

Singer mixes J. Cash with B. Ladies
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 23, 2011
If I had a million dollars, I’d kill a man just to watch him die . . . Singer mixes Johnny Cash with the Barenaked Ladies? That’s what the press release says; we’ll see how that goes. Or perhaps you’ll see how that goes. The gentleman in question, Sioux Falls-based Toby Kane, is playing July 1 at noon behind Old Courthouse Museum. [...]

Huron has a Rap Star
Posted by Joe OSullivan on June 21, 2011
A photo of Haiti Boy White Boy from their website. (I have an inkling as to who is who.)There. I said it. Huron has a rap star. Or, more like a rap posse, a la Wu-Tang Clan. Well, not a fully-blown star, since the Haiti Boy White Boy’s “Huron Anthem” has fewer than 1,000 YouTube hits. But it’s time to change that, isn’t it? Oh, [...]

The Story of Sunny Radio
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on June 7, 2011 
There’s a new radio station in the Sioux Empire area. Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with John and Heidi Small, owners of Sunny Radio (92.1 FM) in Brandon, SD. Watch what they had to say about this locally-owned 80s radio station. [...]

Oldest known tornado photo from Howard
Posted by Joe OSullivan on May 24, 2011
It might also be the meanest photo of a tornado. The photo ran as part of a slideshow on historic tornadoes over at Slate. The photo itself comes courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hat tip to Jeremy Fugleberg the tip-off. [...]

The Rapture: an alternate history
Posted by Bryan Aukerman on May 23, 2011 
At 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight time, a shocking milestone passed over the globe like a gargantuan, selective lint-roller. Witnesses claim it started with a large rumble at about 5:50 p.m. and escalated until the clock struck 6, at which time the rumble became a deafening roar. But it wasn’t the hailstones of fire, the clouds of flesh-eating bats, or the [...]

Little Mosque on the Prairie: Good for laughs, bad for paranoia
Posted by Amy Spaulding Zimbelman on May 10, 2011 
 I’m not a big TV watcher. So when a friend started recommending a Canadian sitcom to me, I almost cut her off to tell her that, well, I’m not a big TV watcher.   Until I heard the name: “Little Mosque on the Prairie.”   “For real? There’s a show out there called ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie?!’ How could I have missed [...]

Love Wins
Posted by Bryan Aukerman on April 21, 2011 
Love Wins. This seems to be a pretty agreeable phrase unless you’re horribly pessimistic or were recently dumped. Another group that disagrees with this statement is the majority of conservative Christians, and let’s be honest, we are in South Dakota so surely you know a person who falls under this category (if that person isn’t you yourself). [...]

The Shroud of Turin encounter
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on March 16, 2011 
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent season in the Christian Church—the preparation of the Christian believer for “Holy Week”. Last Wednesday, Augustana students were able to use their own investigating skills about one of the most recognizable human figures in history: Jesus Christ. The story of Easter and the crucifixion is one that shapes the [...]

Brookings Woman Goes on Financial Diet
Posted by Katie Huff on January 25, 2011 
As the holiday season passed, I found our bank accounts diminished and our stomachs and pantry growing larger and it did not feel good. As well as a time for reflection and family, the holiday season is rife with opportunities to be gluttonous and extravagant, which (upon slight self examination) I have found is something I need no excuse to do. When the [...]

The Socie Awards
Posted by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel on January 21, 2011 
We are all familiar with the annual Academy Awards, The Golden Globes and The Emmys, but the first ever “Socie (pronounced so-shee) Awards” were held last night in order to recognize South Dakota’s own social network users.

Week in Review-Round 5
Posted by Megan Brandsrud on January 7, 2011 
After taking a hiatus for the holidays, we were back with our first Week in Review of 2011 this morning.In case you couldn’t tune in live, here is the video footage.  If you ever want to participate in the chat, join in at 11 every Friday morning so you can tell us what you liked that week on The Post. 

About The Post SD

What is The Post?
It looks like a blog, but kinda of reads like a magazine. What is a “story co-op”?
The Post is considered a story co-op, which means a team of contributors creates and publishes the site’s content. Like traditional publications, our stories are assigned and edited and we do pay attention to ledes, nut graphs, inverted pyramids and other story building elements found in basic journalism. However, we tell stories and take more of a feature approach to our articles vs. hard news writing. We use narratives and different points of perspective to tell stories about people behind the headlines. Our makeup comes from different elements of blogs, magazines and newspapers, but The Post is a story co-op.

Is The Post only online?
Yes, but we are all over the Internet. By subscribing to our RSS feed, The Post will be delivered to your email box for each new post. Our stories are published on The PostSD, but you can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Posterous,Vimeo, YouTube and Flickr.

Why does The Post exist?
The Post exists to be a home for journalism in South Dakota. Many of our contributors are students or recent graduates and use The Post as a way to build their portfolio. We are also a place for former journalists and casual writers to publish work they believe others will enjoy.

Is The Post a content mill just trying to make money? And why is there ads and a spot to donate on the ad?
The Post is not owned by a major media giant nor is its mission coated in dollar signs. In fact, The Post is the creation of a people who want to tell stories about interesting things in South Dakota. We are not in this for the money, but it helps us produce better quality content and more of it. We accept monthly sponsorships from local businesses as well as donations to supplements costs. The sponsorships allow us to feature local business and the donations allow readers to support local journalism. For more information about sponsorships and donations, go here.

Is The Post a Sioux Falls publication?
Although headquartered in Sioux Falls, The Post is a publication for all of South Dakota. Our content comes from Sioux Falls, Brookings, Vermillion, Watertown, Mitchell, Rapid City, Pierre, Huron and everywhere in between. As an online publication, we reach readers across the globe and our contributors are scattered throughout the country. Our content is meant to celebrate the people and life in the Mount Rushmore state.

Who is The Post?
The Post is made up of two staff members and a team of contributors and is published by 9 Clouds. Find out more about us here.

I want to get involved with The Post. How?
We are looking for people to contribute stories, videos, photographs, illustrations, podcasts or anything else that goes on a Web site. If you would like to join The Post team please send an email to news@thepostsd.com and indicate your interests in contributing to The Post. If you are particularly interested in working on our music section, email Entertainment Editor Lucinda Albers at: llalbers@thepostsd.com.

I have a story idea; where can I send it?
Please send any stories ideas or news tips with details and contact information to news@thepostsd.com.

 

More on ThePostSD.com: A Unique Digital Voice for South Dakota

 

In a media ecosystem dominated by conglomerates, sensational headlines, and shrinking newsroom budgets, ThePostSD.com offered something refreshingly different: authentic, local storytelling shaped by the community itself. Launched in 2009, this digital-only platform evolved into one of South Dakota’s most innovative and culturally significant media projects. Based in Sioux Falls and published by the social media firm 9 Clouds, ThePostSD.com—commonly known as "The Post"—blended blog-style informality with magazine-grade storytelling, becoming a beloved resource for residents and a launchpad for aspiring journalists.

Although The Post ceased regular publishing in 2011, its legacy continues to reverberate across South Dakota’s media and cultural landscape. It didn’t just report the news—it told the stories that traditional outlets overlooked.

Founding and Ownership

ThePostSD.com was created by Heather Mangan and officially launched on September 1, 2009. It was published by 9 Clouds, Inc., a Sioux Falls-based marketing and consulting company that specializes in social media and digital strategy. At the time of launch, 9 Clouds was at the forefront of digital innovation in the Midwest, and The Post quickly became one of its most dynamic initiatives.

Heather Mangan, herself a journalist and editor, envisioned a storytelling platform that would empower local voices and engage younger audiences. Mangan’s vision was brought to life with the help of early editors such as Joe O'Sullivan and Megan Brandsrud, both of whom played integral roles in shaping the site's voice and style.

What Made ThePostSD.com Unique

A “Story Co-op” Model

ThePostSD.com called itself a “story co-op,” a term that described both its editorial philosophy and its operational model. It was a collaborative platform where journalists, students, creative writers, and casual contributors could publish stories. Many contributors were:

  • Journalism students or recent grads

  • Freelancers building portfolios

  • Former journalists returning to passion projects

  • Casual writers and community members

This model encouraged diversity in content and perspective, prioritizing human-centered storytelling over hard news or breaking alerts.

Narrative-Driven Content

Rather than mimicking traditional news formats, The Post embraced feature writing, often focusing on quirky, heartfelt, or thought-provoking slices of life in South Dakota. Stories took a narrative approach and were often told from a first-person point of view. Common themes included:

  • Profiles of local musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs

  • Cultural observations (like infographics for the 4th of July or reflections on "Little Mosque on the Prairie")

  • Social commentary

  • Coverage of hyperlocal events and happenings

  • Commentary on regional developments (e.g., organ-growing pigs in East Rivah)

This emphasis on people over policy and narrative over newsflash earned the site a loyal following, particularly among 18–35-year-olds, the demographic least engaged with traditional newspapers at the time.

Editorial Team and Contributors

The editorial team was lean, typically consisting of two staff editors supported by an ever-changing group of contributors. Editors included:

  • Joe O'Sullivan – Known for witty, irreverent pieces that blended cultural criticism with small-town insights.

  • Megan Brandsrud – Regular author of the popular “Weekend Happenings” column, which spotlighted local events across South Dakota.

Other contributors included photographers, guest columnists, student writers, and regional creatives. Posts were often credited with real names, reinforcing the transparency and community aspect of the site.

ThePostSD.com also encouraged reader submissions and actively recruited contributors via email and social media. Entertainment editor Lucinda Albers managed a subset of content specifically tied to music and the arts.

Location, Reach, and Proximity

Though headquartered in Sioux Falls, ThePostSD.com made it clear it wasn’t just a “Sioux Falls thing.” The platform published stories and covered happenings in towns like:

  • Brookings

  • Watertown

  • Vermillion

  • Rapid City

  • Pierre

  • Mitchell

  • Huron

  • And rural areas "in between"

As a digital-only publication, The Post enjoyed broader geographic reach than most local papers. It reached readers statewide and even nationally, thanks to its content being distributed via:

  • RSS feeds

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Posterous

  • Vimeo

  • YouTube

  • Flickr

This omnichannel approach gave the site a far more agile digital footprint than its print-based competitors.

Popular Columns and Highlights

Weekend Happenings

One of the site’s most beloved features was Weekend Happenings, posted every Friday by Megan Brandsrud. It was a curated roundup of events happening across South Dakota, complete with quirky commentary and occasional sponsor promotions (e.g., GolfersProShop.com).

Photo Essays

Contributors like Joe O’Sullivan often uploaded photo essays that chronicled small-town parades, local art installations, or snapshots of everyday life. These visuals added dimension to the site’s storytelling ethos.

Infographics and Humor

Some posts skewed offbeat—like the “4th Fun Facts” infographic or a faux-historical account of the Rapture—but these stories kept readers engaged and laughing.

Awards and Recognition

Although not heavily decorated in terms of national journalism awards, ThePostSD.com’s cultural impact and innovative model garnered local praise. It was featured on South Dakota media platforms and recognized within the journalism community as a forward-thinking, alternative outlet.

One of its best-recognized contributions was its coverage of local social media trends, culminating in the creation of the Socie Awards, South Dakota’s version of the Golden Globes for online personalities.

Sponsorships and Donations

The Post was not ad-heavy and made it clear it wasn’t operating as a for-profit media giant. However, to fund operations and encourage content creation, it accepted:

  • Monthly sponsorships from local businesses (e.g., Sunny Radio, Falls Food)

  • Reader donations

Its sponsorships were always tied to community businesses, reinforcing the local-first, grassroots nature of the platform.

Community and Cultural Significance

ThePostSD.com played a transformative role in:

  • Democratizing storytelling in South Dakota

  • Elevating unknown voices

  • Challenging traditional media hierarchies

  • Injecting personality and humor into local journalism

By emphasizing culture, arts, and identity in South Dakota, it subtly shifted how residents and outsiders viewed the region. Where national media might overlook South Dakota entirely, The Post proved there were layers of culture, wit, and complexity to explore.

Technological Innovation

The Post’s early digital fluency helped set it apart:

  • Launched as online-only in 2009—well before many traditional outlets had embraced web-first publishing

  • Used social media to build audience long before “social media editor” was a common newsroom title

  • Supported multimedia storytelling via YouTube videos, audio interviews, and photo slideshows

  • Offered RSS feed subscription, then a cutting-edge method of content delivery

Decline and Closure

Despite its successes, ThePostSD.com ceased regular updates in July 2011, less than two years after its launch. While there were whispers of a potential relaunch, they never materialized in a sustained way.

Reasons for the decline included:

  • The challenge of maintaining a volunteer-driven model

  • Limited revenue streams

  • Contributors moving on to other projects

  • The difficulty of keeping up momentum without institutional backing

Nevertheless, many of its stories live on in archived formats, and its impact endures in South Dakota’s journalistic memory.

Legacy and Influence

Even though its run was brief, ThePostSD.com’s legacy is outsized:

  • It proved that great journalism doesn’t require a big newsroom or massive budget.

  • It trained and empowered a new generation of storytellers, many of whom went on to careers in media, education, and communications.

  • It elevated South Dakota’s cultural profile, one quirky, poignant, or surprising story at a time.

  • It became a template for modern hyperlocal journalism, combining narrative flair with digital savvy.

For many South Dakotans, The Post wasn’t just a news site—it was a mirror reflecting their community back to them with warmth, humor, and honesty.

 

ThePostSD.com wasn’t perfect. But it was authentic, human-centered, and unapologetically local. In just two short years, it carved a lasting niche in South Dakota’s media ecosystem—one that many still remember fondly. It stood as a powerful reminder that journalism can still be personal, participatory, and community-first.

In today’s world of AI-generated news, corporate takeovers, and algorithm-chasing headlines, the model pioneered by The Post feels more relevant than ever. For South Dakota—and for local journalism—it was a glimpse of what media could be.

 

ThePostSD.com