Northeast Radio SD: On-Demand Local Listen

🌟 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and today we’re highlighting a story of unimaginable courage right here in our community. 💛On June 9th, the Holida family’s world turned upside down when 9-year-old Sophie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. In a moving interview on Northeast Radio SD, Sophie’s mother, Ashley Holida, opened up about the grueling reality of childhood cancer—a journey filled with intense chemotherapy, radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic, and terrifying complications that left Sophie in the ICU on a ventilator for 35 days.But this is also a story of fierce resilience. Despite the unimaginable hurdles—including losing her hair, re-learning how to walk and talk, and being isolated from her friends—Sophie continues to fight with a smile. She has found immense comfort in Taylor Swift's music, which hospital staff play during her treatments to give her a "personal concert" and help ease her fears.Childhood cancer isn't just about medical treatments; it impacts the entire family physically, emotionally, and financially. Let's rally behind the Holidas! Whether it’s sending a card, sharing her story, listening to some Taylor Swift in her honor, or supporting local fundraisers, your love reminds them they aren't fighting alone.🎗️ Drop a 💛 in the comments to show your support for Sophie, and let’s keep spreading awareness this September!

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Behind the brightest smiles and the most reassuring “I’m fine”s, some of our loved ones are fighting battles we know nothing about.
In a profoundly moving interview, Melissa “Bug” Sears sits down to discuss the harsh realities of suicide loss, the insidious nature of depression, and the transformative power of speaking the truth. After losing her brother, Jordan, to suicide, and later experiencing the loss of Dave—a dedicated County employee and veteran she worked with who faithfully checked in on everyone else—Melissa chose not to hide behind the vague public phrase “passed away unexpectedly.” Instead, she used this unimaginable grief to spark a vital, community-wide conversation about mental health awareness and the urgent need for support.
Her candid reflections shed light on why we must fundamentally change how we address mental health:
The Mask of Happiness: Those struggling the most are often the ones lighting up the room. Depression frequently forces people to hold up a happy "paper face" to the world, masking their internal crisis so they aren't perceived as a burden to their family or friends.
Shattering the Stigma: By refusing to keep the cause of a loved one's death a secret, Melissa turned a personal tragedy into a public lifeline. She highlights how honest obituaries and transparent community discussions can reach people who feel completely isolated in their struggles.
The Power of Checking In: It isn’t enough to accept a reflexive "I'm okay" from a loved one. Genuine, patient listening—without trying to immediately "fix" the problem or sugarcoat the heavy reality—creates a safe space for the truth to emerge.
Embracing Professional Support: Navigating the complex trauma of losing a loved one requires immense strength. Melissa strongly advocates for therapy, emphasizing that seeking professional guidance is a crucial step for anyone dealing with deep depression or supporting someone in crisis.
Crisis Resources & Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, free, confidential support is available 24/7. You do not have to carry this alone.
National & South Dakota Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
South Dakota Helpline Center: Call 211 (for local resources and support)
National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
How do you actively create a safe space for the people in your life to share when they are genuinely not okay?

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - From fixing a broken computer in 1994 to building an award-winning web agency, Karen Antijunti’s tech journey is a masterclass in resilience and innovation. In this in-depth studio interview featuring Angie Yahne from StartUp Watertown, Karen shares the evolution of PPwix Website Services and how she navigates major industry hurdles to protect her clients.The $500 Pivot: Karen's web development career exploded after she charged a friend just $500 to redo an outdated psychology website. This single project snowballed into massive local success, eventually earning her the title of Web Developer of the Year in Charlotte in 2015.Surviving a Data Center Crash: When severe weather knocked out power at her Arizona data center, backup generators and cooling systems failed, taking her servers offline for nearly 24 hours. In response, Karen moved her infrastructure to a highly secure, DDoS-protected facility in Phoenix utilizing Cloudflare.Total Client Transparency: To ensure clients are never left in the dark during an outage, Karen developed a custom application. Available on Android, iOS, and desktop, this app allows clients to check real-time server status, receive direct notifications, and submit support tickets.The Future of SEO: PPWIX is currently developing a full-scale AI application designed to completely automate SEO. Expected to launch in four to six months, this tool will generate posts for websites and social media while actively monitoring search engine traffic.Ethical Business Practices: Unlike competitors who lock clients into restrictive setups, Karen refuses to use binding contracts. She provides free initial consultations and actively helps clients safely migrate their online assets from restrictive web companies so they maintain full ownership.Watch the full video to hear Karen's incredible story of launching a business during the 2010 financial crisis, her candid take on avoiding the dark web, and her practical advice for aspiring tech professionals. What steps are you currently taking to secure your business's online infrastructure?

Dr. Amy Wagoner, a board-certified family medicine physician with nearly three decades of medical experience, is expanding the holistic offerings at Root Function Wellness Prof LLC in Watertown. The direct-pay clinic focuses on functional medicine—identifying and treating the root causes of chronic illness rather than merely managing symptoms.Root Function Wellness Prof LLC provides comprehensive, individualized care, including customized annual physicals, DNA testing, health coaching, and Reiki energy therapy. The clinic also features a robust IV nutrient and injection therapy program managed by the clinical nursing staff, offering treatments such as B12, Glutathione, and NAD+.New Non-Invasive TechnologiesThe clinic recently introduced two FDA-cleared, drug-free devices designed to improve physical and mental health without surgery, sedation, or downtime:The Emsella Chair: Utilizing High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology, this device stimulates the pelvic floor to induce the equivalent of nearly 12,000 Kegel exercises in a single 30-minute session. Patients sit fully clothed on the chair. It is utilized to treat urinary incontinence, restore core strength, and provide sexual health benefits for both men and women (including postpartum recovery and post-prostate surgery care).The Exomind (TMS Therapy): Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive therapy FDA-cleared for treating Major Depressive Disorder. The device delivers targeted magnetic pulses to the brain's emotional regulation centers. Patients experience a gentle tapping sensation during the 30-minute session. The clinic also utilizes Exomind for off-label relief from anxiety, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, brain fog, and migraines.September 15 Open House DetailsRoot Function Wellness is hosting a public Open House event on September 15 at their clinic, located at 1014 14th Street SE (directly across from the Hy-Vee Pharmacy window).9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Individual, scheduled trial sessions and demonstrations for the Emsella and Exomind machines.4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: General open house featuring food, door prizes, giveaways, special event pricing, and opportunities to consult directly with Dr. Wagoner and her clinical team.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Watertown Regional 911 Center Manager Troy VanDusen recently joined Northeast Radio SD to discuss the center’s regional impact, technological advancements, and his personal reflections on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. VanDusen, who was a Watertown police officer on September 11, 2001, reflected on how local public safety, commercial flight groundings, and local infrastructure protection dramatically evolved in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
Regional Dispatch Operations
Coverage Area: The Watertown Regional 911 Center, owned and operated by the City of Watertown, provides emergency dispatch services for six counties: Codington, Clark, Deuel, Day, Grant, and Hamlin.
Call Volume: The center processes approximately 65,000 phone calls annually, with roughly 14,000 being direct 911 emergency calls. The remaining volume consists of administrative and non-emergency lines.
Staffing & Recognition: The center employs dispatchers from diverse professional backgrounds, including former nurses, school teachers, and paramedics. This year, three dispatchers are slated to be recognized with Lifesaving Awards at the upcoming Police Department Awards Banquet.
Technological Advancements in Emergency Response
Live-Stream Video: Dispatchers can send a link to a 911 caller’s smartphone, allowing the center to view real-time live video of car accidents, structure fires, or other emergencies. This gives responding units critical visual context before they even arrive on the scene.
CodeRED Alert System: The center utilizes CodeRED to push critical emergency notifications. The system features precise geofencing capabilities, allowing dispatchers to isolate specific city blocks for targeted warnings during localized emergencies, such as a gas main break requiring a neighborhood evacuation.
Streamlined Weather Notifications: To prevent unnecessary late-night phone disturbances, the center adjusted the CodeRED system to halt automated midnight phone calls for standard severe thunderstorm warnings. However, the system will still bypass silent settings and initiate automated phone calls at any hour for active tornado warnings.

The Lake Area Tech Boom: New Programs, Huge Events & Expanding Campuses! 🚀
We had an absolute blast sitting down with Tiffany Sanderson, President of Lake Area Technical College, to get the inside scoop on all the incredible things happening at the Watertown campus! From massive new downtown events to entirely new career programs, the college is truly transforming the local community and the state.
Here are the biggest takeaways from our interview:
Rock the Block is BACK! (Sept 9th): The ultimate community welcome back party is taking over downtown Watertown. Expect food trucks, live music (including Lakeview!), and an incredible atmosphere to welcome the new students.
The Dental Hygiene Program is LIVE: For the first time in 60 years since the dental assisting program began, Lake Area Tech has launched a fully accredited, two-year Dental Hygiene program!
A First-of-its-Kind Ag Trading Center: Agriculture students now have access to a state-of-the-art commodity trading center, the very first of its kind at any two-year college in the region.
Law Enforcement Training Reimagined: The college is now training fully certified law enforcement officers through a new program that bypasses the traditional academy, offering a direct path into the field.
Conservation Officer Training: A unique partnership with Game, Fish & Parks now allows students to spend a summer training specifically as Conservation Officers.
Housing the Boom: With enrollment continuing to climb, private developers are stepping up with major new housing projects, like the Lake Area Lofts, to accommodate the growing student body.
Lake Area Tech is proving that two-year colleges are the engines of the modern workforce. Want to know more about the new programs or the upcoming events? Check out our full interview!
#LakeAreaTech #TechnicalCollege #WatertownSD #HigherEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #SouthDakota

United Way Executive Director Lisa Dahl and Codington Connects Board President Sara Foust recently joined Northeast Radio SD to detail exactly how local collaborations are supporting Watertown families and saving lives.
Key Local Updates & Opportunities:
Free Youth Dental Care: The Delta Dental Mobile clinic is rolling into Watertown from September 21st through the 25th. Free exams and treatments are available for youth ages 0-21, entirely regardless of insurance status. With only about 20 appointment spots available, families should call the United Way office at (605) 886-5815 immediately to lock in a time.
Local Dollars, Local Impact: When you donate, 99% of your funds stay strictly within the Watertown area to support the community. These contributions currently finance 28 local programs, including emergency public AED placements, essential senior transit services, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which actively mails free books to 933 local children every single month.
Major Donation Incentives: This year’s fundraising campaign features massive local giveaways. Pledging a first-time gift of $52, increasing a previous gift by $52, or joining the Heart Club ($500+ annually) enters you to win a $5,000 room makeover from Montgomery's. Additionally, pledges of $250 or more qualify for a chance to win a 16-person Shamrocks game suite, generously donated by Driscoll's, Watertown Ford Chrysler, and Bobcat of Watertown.
To secure a Delta Dental appointment, make a pledge, or tap into community resources, visit watertownunitedway.org or call (605) 886-5815

Have you ever driven past the same storefront or city building a hundred times and realized you have absolutely no idea what actually goes on inside? Local Mainstream Realty agent Carley Stewart realized the exact same thing about our town. Instead of just shrugging it off, she teamed up with Camille C Films to find out, creating a brand new six-part documentary series called A Closer Look: Watertown.Recently sitting down for a live studio interview on Northeast Radio 92, Carley shared exactly what pushed her to step outside her day job and capture the real pulse of the city. The goal was simple: stop taking the local sights for granted. Or, as someone wisely told her during the filming process, you have to look into your community, not just look over it.This isn't your standard, dry civic brochure. Over six episodes, Carley takes viewers behind the scenes to meet the actual people keeping the city running. She’s already released the first three parts, shining a light on city leadership, hometown culinary staples like Dempsey’s and Dakota Butcher, and the fiercely independent downtown merchants. We’re talking about Dennis Roberts sharing the deep family history behind the towering stacks at DDR Books, and local musician Sean Lenning talking shop at The Groove.The upcoming episodes sound even better. She actually went out onto the tarmac at the Watertown Regional Airport to film planes landing just feet away from the runway. She completely embarrassed herself trying to figure out how to start a golf cart for the recreation episode. She’s even highlighting how the police, fire departments, and local clinics operate day-to-day. It is a completely unfiltered, genuine look at the community.It is rare to see someone put this much effort into highlighting their neighbors just for the love of the town. Whether you have lived here your entire life or just moved in, you are guaranteed to learn something new about the people working right down the street.New episodes drop every Sunday at 3 PM. You can stream them right now on the Camille C Films YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@camillecfilms), or grab the direct links and behind-the-scenes outtakes over on Carley’s Instagram at @carley.sdrealestate.LIVE w/ Carley Stewart of Mainstream Realty About her Watertown Documentary

Breaking stereotypes and building brotherhood!Catch our latest interview with Steve and Eric from the Militiamen VMC Redleg Riders Chapter! These guys are proving that their club is all about community, family, and service.The Militiamen Veterans Motorcycle Club is a law-abiding, non-territorial club dedicated to strengthening the bond between military members, firefighters, law enforcement, and all public servants. From raising funds for the DAV to cleaning up local highways and hosting fun community events like Purse Bingo, they are making a massive impact in the Watertown area and across the state.Check out the full interview to hear about their mission and upcoming events—like the big DAV Poker Run in Brookings on September 5th!🎧 Tune in now!#MilitiamenVMC #Veterans #CommunityFirst #MotorcycleClub #SouthDakota #PublicService #RedlegRidersWhat local community event or charity would you love to see the Redleg Riders support next?

🎙️ South Dakota Business Insights with Nathan Sanderson!Catch the latest interview with Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, on Northeast Radio SD! Whether you're a seasoned business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur looking for your big break, there is invaluable insight for you here.Key Highlights:The Future of Retail: How AI, algorithmic pricing, and automated checkouts are reshaping storefronts to address workforce shortages.Tax Breakdown: Understanding the impact of the 2027 state sales tax sunset and local municipal tax caps.Succession Planning: The massive opportunity for young professionals and trade school graduates to take over established businesses as Baby Boomers retire."It's never too early to begin planning for your business's future. The first step is simply having the conversation."📍 Join the Community Conversation!Don't miss the open forum tomorrow at 9:30 AM at The Bank in Milbank to discuss state business policies, credit card processing compliance, and more. Remember to shop local!