Bart Pfankuch

Bart Pfankuch

Title: content director; expertise: agriculture, state government, education, rural issues, Indigenous people, poverty; language spoken: English; contact: 605-937-9398 / bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org

After 10 years in prison, woman vows to end meth addiction

After 10 years in prison, woman vows to end meth addiction

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The turbulent path that led Athanasia Comer of Sioux Falls to a life of drinking, drugs and a decade behind bars can be traced to the moment when she was 11 and her stepfather appeared in her bedroom naked. Though he had been verbally and physically

Woman forges new future with family, not meth

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The lowest, most frightening point of Brandi Snow-Fly’s 15-year methamphetamine addiction wasn’t getting arrested, going to prison or losing custody of her children. The bottom came when Snow-Fly was in California several years ago, on the back end of a 5-month meth bender during

At age 60, madness of meth still haunts woman

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In addiction parlance, it’s often said that an alcoholic or drug user must “hit rock bottom” before they can finally lift themselves to sobriety. For Teresa Peratt of Sioux Falls, the trauma throughout her life was so great – and her addiction and drug use so

Hot Springs woman hid addiction but found misery

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Throughout her 10-year addiction to methamphetamines, Valerie Henry always told herself she was better than the other hard-core meth addicts she encountered. Born and raised in a middle-class family in the tourism town of Hot Springs, S.D., Henry was brought up with a strong moral

Meth addiction takes toll on South Dakota women

Meth addiction takes toll on South Dakota women

PIERRE, S.D. – The scourge of methamphetamine addiction continues to ravage South Dakota and thousands of its residents and families. Statistics from the state Attorney General’s Office reveal that the meth epidemic has worsened in recent years. In 2017, a total of 3,390 people were arrested on meth-related

Despite controversy, ‘alienation of affection’ cases still filed in South Dakota

Under the tenets of ancient English common law, when wives were legally considered the property of their husbands, a jilted husband could sue any man who deliberately broke up his marriage and stole away his wife. Even as centuries have passed, and society has generally done away with the notion

Coveted Independent voters may choose next SD governor

As the Nov. 6 election approaches, the two established political parties in South Dakota are working furiously to attract voters from a somewhat mysterious yet growing and increasingly influential voting bloc: Independents. Republicans and Democrats in South Dakota are making phone calls and knocking on doors to convince the 126,