Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a Sioux Falls resident lost $60K to a text scam
Be sure to catch Matthew Mayer on the Sioux Falls Patch calendar
What's up Sioux Falls! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a Sioux Falls resident lost $60K to a text scam
- Are you accidentally wrecking Sioux Falls’ recycling system with your bin?
- Which Sioux Falls deputy just earned Deputy of the Year honors?
Also on today's calendar: 3:30 pm and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Sioux Fallsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Sioux Falls? Post it to Sioux Falls photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Sioux Fallsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Sioux Falls.
- Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 45 and low of 25 degrees.
- Wednesday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 44, low: 22.
- Thursday: Very windy; colder, with a high of 30 and low of 6 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Sioux Falls man loses $60K in recent text scam (argusleader.com) — Sioux Falls police are warning residents after a 66-year-old local man in cancer treatment lost about $60,000 in a months-long text scam promising millions in return. Investigators say there’s been a recent uptick in fraud attempts and urge anyone asked to send money or gift cards for promised payouts to contact law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division immediately. 
2. What are you putting in your recycling bin? (dakotanewsnow.com) — Sioux Falls’ recycling quality has dropped sharply since 2019, and local officials say confusion about what belongs in the bin is a big reason why. Recycling leaders explain which items cause costly damage, what can safely go in your bin, and how a new BINfluencer app can help residents sort recyclables correctly, especially during the holiday surge.
3. Minnehaha County Sheriff's office honors exceptional service 2025 (dakotanewsnow.com) — Law enforcement in Sioux Falls took center stage as the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office honored deputies, correctional officers, a reserve officer, and a civilian for exceptional service in 2025. Deputy Jakob DeBerg earned Deputy of the Year for going above and beyond, including calmly leading a multi-agency response during a potentially deadly hostage situation.
4. Sioux Falls School Board posts letter on state funding (keloland.com) — Sioux Falls school leaders are pressing Gov. Larry Rhoden to boost state funding for the state’s largest district instead of holding K‑12 aid flat next year. Board President Nan Kelly argues that rainy-day funds should help support public schools and teacher pay, stressing that decisions in Pierre will directly affect Sioux Falls classrooms and students’ futures.
5. Local nurse celebrates 50 years at Sanford Health (keloland.com) — A longtime Sanford Health nurse in Sioux Falls just celebrated an impressive 50 years on the job, surprising colleagues who thought they were attending a TED Talk-style lecture. Registered nurse Lynn Westerdahl, one of only six Sanford employees in the Sioux Falls market to reach this milestone, shared emotional reflections on her career, her nursing family, and advice for younger nurses about balancing work and home life.
📸 Around Sioux Falls
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Sioux Falls
★ Featured events ★
- Matthew Mayer
Orpheum Theater Center, 315 N Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls
7:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Open Weight Room
Sioux Falls Washington High School Weight Room
6:00 am - Toddler Storytime
Ronning Branch - Story Room
9:05 am - Open Weight Room
Sioux Falls Washington High School Weight Room
6:00 am - 3:30 pm
Touchmark at All Saints , 111 W 17th St , Sioux Falls
9:00 am - Preschool Storytime
Ronning Branch - Story Room
9:30 am - Lit and Knit
Ronning Branch - MEETING ROOM A
1:00 pm - Band: band concert (MS Band Ensemble)
Ben Reifel Middle School , Auditorium , Sioux Falls
6:00 pm - Open Weight Room
Sioux Falls Washington High School Weight Room
6:00 am - Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
The Social , 301 S Thompson Ave , Sioux Falls
6:30 pm - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
The Social 301 South Thompson Avenue Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103
8:45 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
📣 Sioux Falls Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Young Adult Group: Tell Me Your Thoughts — tre Ministries
tre Ministries , 900 W 11th St , Sioux Falls
6:00 pm - Toddler Storytime
Ronning Branch Library Ronning Branch - Story Room
9:05 am - Preschool Storytime
Ronning Branch Library Ronning Branch - Story Room
9:30 am - Lit and Knit
Ronning Branch - MEETING ROOM A
1:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Nova is still so looking for her forever home.
She has some anxiety that causes her to need some time to build trust, but she is so worth it. She definitely needs someone who will be able to… (Nextdoor Augustana) - Augie doesn't want to move in his reindeer onesie.
Lolita wants him to give her a ride to see Santa Claus. (Nextdoor Augustana)
- ABM Industries posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner in Sioux Falls. Apply here.
- Walgreens posted a job opening for Inventory Specialist in Sioux Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sioux Falls here.
Ok Sioux Falls! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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