Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Craig Severtson of Flandreau, founder, and Sam Gotham, board member, of "Helping Kids Round First Base. How baseball (and softball) has opened the door to help kids in Nicaragua (and other 3rd world countries) with nutrition and even health care. (Best of)

from their website: helpingkidsroundfirst.org

Life in Nicaragua is difficult, that's why we are here to help

Extreme Poverty

Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America

Baseball is king

Like youth all around the world, kids grow up dreaming of playing in the big leagues

Lack of Resources

Few resources means few opportunities, and we are here to provide them

"We are training a group of young girls between 7-20 years old, some of them have had issues with domestic violence and drugs. Through softball they have found refuge to improve their lifestyle."

by Yahoska Rivas, Softball Coach

"The project has come to innovate and it has been great for the economy of our families and food security of the children. We are very grateful for the help, even despite the pandemic."

by Claudia Guillén, community resident

"All of the equipment and financial support has made it possible to help kids in Rivas. Without Helping Kids Round First, it wouldn't be possible for my players to reach their dreams."

by Johnny Alvarez - Coach,Working for a Dream Academy

"It's not just the community that benefits from the equipment but also the surrounding communities."

by Emperatrice Velasquez, Pastor of Lutheran Church

Published

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Public Affairs Director, Jon Michaels (since 1977) talks with Bob Kolbe (in the Clock business since 1972).

from chat gpt:

Based on publicly available information, Robert ("Bob") Kolbe of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is best known as a local historian, antiques dealer, and civic volunteer.

Profile

• Lifelong Sioux Falls resident with a strong interest in the history of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, and South Dakota.
• Owner of Kolbes Antiques, Books & Clocks, specializing in antiques, clocks, watches, local history books, crocks, and jugs.
• Active in historical preservation and education, giving public presentations on South Dakota history and local heritage.
• Served as president and later president emeritus/past president of the Minnehaha County Historical Society and has served on the South Dakota State Historical Society Board of Trustees.
• Has participated in public meetings of the Minnehaha County Commission, often speaking on local history and civic issues.

Based on publicly available records, Robert ("Bob") Kolbe had a local political career in Minnehaha County and Sioux Falls, centered on county government rather than state or federal office.

Political profile

• Served as a Minnehaha County Commissioner, representing Sioux Falls and surrounding areas during the 1990s.
• Ran for Mayor of Sioux Falls in the 1998 nonpartisan mayoral election against incumbent Gary Hanson and former City Council member Anne Hajek. Kolbe finished third with approximately 7.7% of the vote (1,538 votes).
• His public service emphasized county government, local fiscal management, historic preservation, and community development, reflecting his longstanding involvement in local historical organizations.
• There is no public record indicating he served in the South Dakota Legislature, U.S. Congress, or held another statewide elected office.
• Because the 1998 Sioux Falls mayoral election was nonpartisan, Bob Kolbe was not officially affiliated with a political party on the ballot, and I could not find reliable public documentation identifying him as a Democrat, Republican, or another party

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Public Affairs Director Jon Michaels talks with Sioux Falls Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nold about 1,900 employees and almost 25,000 students.

From the school district website:

Superintendent of Schools

The Office of the Superintendent is the chief executive office of the School District, providing overall leadership for the school system. The Superintendent, with the assistance of two assistant superintendents and various Senior Directors and Directors maintains a vital staff and strong curriculum for the K-12 program and early childhood; provides special programs for children of diverse backgrounds and abilities and support services such as transportation, libraries, and counselors. The Superintendent manages 24 elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools, an alternative school, a career technical education academy, and other related buildings; prepares the annual budget and oversees the fiscal management of the District; is responsible for making policy recommendations and implementing adopted Board policies; and serves as chief liaison with the community-at-large.

Dr. James Nold has served in the field of education for more than three decades and has led the Sioux Falls School District as Superintendent since 2025. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the District's Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services for nine years.

Dr. Nold served as the Principal of Washington High School from 2006 to 2016. He has also been an Assistant Principal, Teacher, and Coach. He received his Doctoral Degree at the University of South Dakota after earning his Master’s Degree at South Dakota State University, his Specialist Degree at the University of Sioux Falls, and his Bachelor’s Degree at Augustana University, where he also competed in collegiate wrestling.

Demonstrating his deep beliefs that all children deserve educational opportunities, Dr. Nold considers it a great honor to have twice led an education team to Ethiopia to establish an English Literacy program at schools that serve the poorest of poor in that country.

He and his wife Tammy, a school counselor, have two children, Hailey, a clinical counselor for a mental health agency in Minnesota, and Riley, a Physics Doctoral student at UC Berkeley.

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