Emerson Schaunaman, 8, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Arrangements are pending with Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory.www.schriversmemorial.com

Celebrate a life with the whole community in The Dakota Scout. Contact obits@thedakotascout.com to have your loved one remembered today.

It seems crazy.

Bring together 100 bands in two days on five stages in downtown Sioux Falls for a music and arts festival.

That’s what Corey Church has done, building the Four Winds festival into a two-day celebration of music with local, regional and national acts.

Read more

A 69-day adventure came to an end, and 16-year-old Ned Estabrook was back home after his hobo trip to the 1901 World’s Fair, according to the Aug. 20, 1901, edition of the Sioux Falls Press.

As far as Ned knew, Professor John Lloyd, a former Sioux Falls art instructor and the other half of the “Lloyd–Estabrook Hobo Club,” had kept heading east for Rhode Island after the duo parted ways.

The pair of intentional hobos set off late thanks to a storm on the morning on June 10, 1901. They were well practiced, already used to walking 10 miles before breakfast, and set out with around 15 pounds of supplies each, according to the Sioux Falls Press archives that detail their journey.

Read more

Stay up to date with The Dakota Scout + Lyrical Limelight event listings from across the state. From festivals and concerts to theater performances, local sports and community gatherings, we bring you the latest updates on entertainment and activities for all interests. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun, cultural experiences or vibrant nightlife, you’ll find plenty of exciting events to explore.

Submit your events to The Dakota Scout and Lyrical Limelight by emailing events@thedakotascout.com.

THIS WEEK

Friday, Aug. 21

Kool Deadwood Nites

Friday, Aug. 21-23 • Activities begin at 8 a.m.
Downtown Deadwood • Free Main Street concerts

Kool Deadwood Nites rolls through its final weekend with classic cars, auctions, cruising and live music. Friday’s schedule includes a rod run and performances by Stereo Trip, Play Some Petty, Mr. Wu’s Thunderstruck and Hotel California. The event continues through Sunday.

Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival

Friday, Aug. 21 • Activities throughout the day
Riverside Park and throughout Yankton

Yankton’s signature summer celebration runs Friday through Sunday with a juried arts festival, food, music, family entertainment, a Saturday parade and events around Riverside Park.

Custer Crazy Days

Friday, Aug. 21 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Throughout Custer

Custer’s community-wide Crazy Days returns Friday and Saturday with sales, shopping and activities at participating businesses throughout town.

AMPT! featuring Short Notice Trio

Friday, Aug. 21 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Steel District, Sioux Falls

Short Notice Trio performs during Downtown Sioux Falls’ lunchtime AMPT! summer music series.

Fridays on the Plaza

Friday, Aug. 21 • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
12th Street Plaza, Sioux Falls • Free

The weekly downtown gathering pairs lunchtime entertainment with rotating food trucks at the 12th Street Plaza.

Central States Fair

Friday, Aug. 21 • Fair opens at noon
Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City

The Central States Fair begins its Aug. 21-29 run with carnival rides, food, exhibits and a week of grandstand entertainment. Friday night’s headline attraction is ArenaCross & Freestyle MotoX.

Geoff Gunderson at the Old Courthouse Museum

Friday, Aug. 21 • Noon-1 p.m.
Old Courthouse Museum plaza, Sioux Falls • Free

Geoff Gunderson performs during the Old Courthouse Museum’s outdoor summer concert series.

Friday Night Farmers Market

Friday, Aug. 21 • 4-7 p.m.
Pomegranate Market, Sioux Falls

The weekly market brings local growers, food producers and other vendors together for an early-evening stop in downtown Sioux Falls.

NESC Fourth & Freeze Polar Plunge

Friday, Aug. 21 • Registration at 5 p.m.
Hayti Football Field, Hayti

Special Olympics South Dakota hosts a football-night Polar Plunge in Hayti. Registration begins at 5 p.m., with the plunge taking place after the football game.

Four Winds Music & Art Fest

Friday, Aug. 21 • 5 p.m.
ICON Events, DaDa Gastropub and additional downtown venues, Sioux Falls • $30 single day / $45 weekend • All ages

Four Winds opens a two-day downtown festival spanning rock, punk, metal, emo and alternative music. The festival uses multiple downtown venues and continues Saturday.

Elevated Comfort Foods

Friday, Aug. 21 • 6-8 p.m.
Plum’s Cooking Company, Sioux Falls • $90 plus tax

Chef April Johnson leads a hands-on cooking class built around elevated takes on familiar comfort-food dishes.

Downtown Friday Nights

Friday, Aug. 21 • 6 p.m.
Downtown Spearfish

Spearfish closes another week with live music, food, drinks and downtown activity during its summer Friday-night series.

The Music of Sting - A Hegg Brothers Show

Friday, Aug. 21-22 • 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Trio Jazz Club, Sioux Falls

Jeremy and Jon Hegg lead an ensemble through the music of Sting during a three-night, six-show engagement at Trio Jazz Club. As of Trio’s Aug. 17 venue email, Friday’s 6:30 p.m. performance was sold out with only a few seats remaining for the 9 p.m. show.

Brown County Speedway races

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.
Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen

Friday-night dirt-track racing returns to Brown County Speedway with six racing classes scheduled as Aberdeen’s season heads into its late-summer stretch.

Black Hills Speedway Season Points Championships

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.
Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City • $15 general admission

The 2026 points season reaches championship night with IMCA Hobby Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, 360 Sprint Cars, WISSOTA Mod Fours, IMCA Modifieds and WISSOTA Street Stocks. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Pert Near Sandstone

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.
Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Minnesota roots band Pert Near Sandstone headlines the Levitt lawn with its acoustic mix of bluegrass, old-time music and contemporary songwriting. MoonCats opens the evening.

Riley Green: Cowboy As It Gets Tour 2026

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Riley Green brings the Cowboy As It Gets Tour to Sioux Falls with Justin Moore, Mackenzie Carpenter and Adam Hood.

Kansas City Monarchs vs. Sioux Falls Canaries

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7:05 p.m.
The Birdcage, Sioux Falls • Tickets from $13.75

The Canaries open a weekend series with Kansas City on Kids Night and RCM Fireworks Friday. Gates open at 6:05 p.m.

Music by Lucas Olsen

Friday, Aug. 21 • 8 p.m.
Spearfish Public House, Spearfish

Lucas Olsen performs a Friday-night set at Spearfish Public House.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Four Winds Music & Art Fest

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 2 p.m.
ICON Events, DaDa Gastropub and additional downtown venues, Sioux Falls • $30 single day / $45 weekend • All ages

Four Winds opens a two-day downtown festival spanning rock, punk, metal, emo and alternative music. The festival uses multiple downtown venues.

Prairie Fest 2026

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Early-bird activities 7-9 a.m. / Festival 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Good Earth State Park, Sioux Falls • Free

Prairie Fest celebrates South Dakota’s grasslands with guided outdoor activities, live music from Maygen & The Birdwatcher, food trucks, wildlife programming, native-plant education and family activities. Registration is required for the limited early-bird sessions but not the main festival.

Step Big Walk for Parkinson’s

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Sioux Falls registration at 8:30 a.m.
Brookings, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Yankton • $35 adults / $25 youth

The South Dakota Parkinson Foundation hosts its annual statewide fundraising walk in five communities. Sioux Falls participants gather at Harrisburg North Middle School Track, with an opening ceremony at 9:15 a.m. and the walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. Times vary at the other locations.

Annual Honoring at the Hiawatha Asylum Site

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Noon
Hiawatha Indian Asylum site, Canton • Free

Community members gather at the former Canton Indian Insane Asylum site to honor Native people who were confined and died there. The public observance is followed by a potluck meal at Canton United Methodist Church.

Sizzlin’ Summer Nights Car & Bike Show

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 4-8 p.m.
Downtown Aberdeen • Free

Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles fill Main Street for Aberdeen’s annual Sizzlin’ Summer Nights. The downtown event also includes food and activity around Malchow Plaza.

McCrossan Boys Ranch Xtreme Event Challenge Rodeo

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 5 p.m.
McCrossan Boys Ranch, Sioux Falls • Adults $15 advance / $16 gate • Youth $5 advance / $8 gate

The 18th annual Xtreme Event Challenge Rodeo features the Northern Bull Riding Tour, mutton busting and a pre-show performance by Nobody You’d Know. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., entertainment begins at 4 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 5 p.m.

Ruthie Craft with Devon Sants

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.
The Custer Beacon, Custer

Austin-based singer-songwriter Ruthie Craft performs with Black Hills songwriter and storyteller Devon Sants for a Saturday night show at The Custer Beacon.

Mountain States Ford Demolition Derby

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.
LEI Arena, Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City • $20-$50

The Central States Fair turns the arena over to the Mountain States Ford Demolition Derby for a Saturday night of automotive destruction.

Edward Bell Comedy at Lucky’s Club 224

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7-9:30 p.m.
Lucky’s Club 224, Sioux Falls • $20-$25

Denver-based comedian Edward Bell headlines Lucky’s with Austin Black and Rob Mo. Bell’s debut album, Residual Income, reached No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart, and his touring résumé includes comedy festivals around the country.

Mississippi Heat

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.
Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Chicago blues group Mississippi Heat brings more than three decades of touring experience to the Levitt Shell under the direction of harmonica player and songwriter Pierre Lacocque.

Sunday, Aug. 23

Leading Ladies & Dakota Spirit Marathon

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 6 a.m. MDT
Lead through Spearfish Canyon to Spearfish

Runners take on marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K distances through the northern Black Hills. The women’s marathon begins at 6 a.m., with additional races following that morning.

SD State Championship at University Plains Speedway

Sunday, Aug. 23 • Racing at 3 p.m.
University Plains Speedway, Brookings • $5 ages 12 and older / Under 12 free

The Brookings dirt and clay oval hosts its state championship with mower, wing kart, flat kart and stinger classes. Spectator gates open at noon, with hot laps scheduled for 2 p.m.

PRCA Range Days Rodeo

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 7 p.m.
LEI Arena, Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City • $20-$50

The Central States Fair begins three consecutive nights of PRCA Range Days Rodeo action with broncs, bulls, barrels and other professional rodeo competition.

Steely Dane: The Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls • $35.81-$52.52

Steely Dane brings a large jazz-rock ensemble to the Orpheum for an evening built around the Steely Dan and Donald Fagen catalog.

Monday, Aug. 24

Mondays at McKennan with Funk Uh Fried

Monday, Aug. 24 • 7-8:30 p.m.
McKennan Park Bandshell, Sioux Falls • Free

Funk Uh Fried closes out the Monday evening concert series with funk and pop spanning several decades.

Tuesday, Aug. 25

Indian Taco Tuesday

Tuesday, Aug. 25 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
McCrossan Boys Ranch Visitor Center, Sioux Falls

McCrossan Boys Ranch hosts its monthly Indian Taco Tuesday, with ranch residents serving lunch during the public community fundraiser.

Trivia Tuesday

Tuesday, Aug. 25 • 7:30-10 p.m.
Wooden Legs Brewing Company, Brookings • Free

Teams test their knowledge during Wooden Legs Brewing Company’s weekly trivia night, with prizes available for the strongest collection of random facts.

Wednesday, Aug. 26

McCrory Gardens Community Day

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
McCrory Gardens, Brookings • Free

McCrory Gardens opens its grounds with free admission during its monthly Community Day. Last admission is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

High Rise at Outlaw Square

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Outlaw Square, Deadwood • Free

High Rise performs in downtown Deadwood as part of Outlaw Square’s Wednesday Night Free Summer Concert Series.

Monthly Comedy Contest at Lucky’s Club 224

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 7-10 p.m.
Lucky’s Club 224, Sioux Falls • Free

Comedians compete in Lucky’s monthly contest hosted by Adam Goodge. The August show also includes a feature set from the previous month’s winner, Bill Bartor.

Thursday, Aug. 27

Downtown @ Sundown

Thursday, Aug. 27 • Vendors at 5:30 p.m. / Music at 6 p.m.
Downtown Brookings • Free

Brookings closes its five-week Downtown @ Sundown series with outdoor music, local food and beverage vendors, retail booths and free children’s activities.

Gary Allan with Julie Eddy

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7 p.m.
Mary W. Sommervold Hall, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls

Country singer Gary Allan performs at the Washington Pavilion with special guest Julie Eddy.

The Clover Fold

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7 p.m.
Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Sioux Falls six-piece The Clover Fold brings its blend of Americana, outlaw country and traditional folk to the Levitt lawn.

Paul Cauthen

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 8 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls

Paul Cauthen brings his country, rock and soul-influenced sound to The District. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show scheduled for 8 p.m.

2026 Corn Palace Festival

Thursday, Aug. 27
Main Street and Corn Palace, Mitchell

The Corn Palace Festival begins its official Aug. 27-30 run with carnival rides, food and specialty vendors, produce judging and festival activity surrounding the Corn Palace.

Free Weekly Comedy Show at Billy Frogs

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7:30-9 p.m.
Billy Frogs Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls • Free

Billy Frogs hosts a different mix of local and touring comedians every Thursday, followed by karaoke. The official Sioux Falls event listing confirms the series runs weekly through Dec. 17.

Have an event we should consider for a future roundup? Send the event name, date, time, location, ticket or event link, and a short description to Lyrical Limelight/The Dakota Scout.

Future Events

Check back each week for an updated list of future events.

Mac McAnally

Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 7 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls

Veterans Stand Down

Friday, Sept. 18 • 8:30–11:30 a.m.
South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Sioux Falls

Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 3–8 p.m.
Cherapa Place Plaza, Sioux Falls

Eerie Echoes Vol. 6

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 8 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $30 • 18+
The lineup includes The Confused, The Disarmed, M.A.J., Twisted Darkness, Oswald and Morris and Spike Cadaver.

Josh Packard: Church Refugees and Meaning Making

Tuesday, Sept. 22 • 7 p.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free

Huron Fine Arts Hall of Fame Celebration Concert

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7 p.m.
Huron High School Auditorium, Huron • Free

South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

Saturday, Sept. 26–Sunday, Sept. 27
Ramkota Exhibit Hall, Sioux Falls

Jo Dee Messina: Bridges Tour

Sunday, Sept. 27 • 7 p.m.
Mary W. Sommervold Hall at the Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls

South Dakota Festival of Books

Saturday, Oct. 3
Holiday Inn City Centre and nearby downtown venues, Sioux Falls

James K.A. Smith: Who Are We Becoming?

Monday, Oct. 5 • 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 6 • 10 a.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free

Ronda Civic with Fuzz Evil, Nathan Gillis and Aerica Lauren

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 7 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $15 in advance / $20 at the door • All ages

Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music Tour

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 8 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Saints of Sickness Tour

Thursday, Nov. 12 • Doors at 6 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $20 in advance / $25 at the door • All ages

The touring bill includes Elisium, Etched in Embers, On My Six and Driven Under.

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue

Thursday, Nov. 12 • 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls

Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero

Friday, Dec. 4 • 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 • 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6 • 1 and 5 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party

Thursday, Dec. 10 • 7 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Toughest Monster Truck Tour

Friday, Jan. 22, 2027 • 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027 • 1 and 7:30 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls • Tickets start at $25

The Dakota Scout is changing how it delivers its journalism online.

The Sioux Falls-based newspaper, launched in September 2022 as a journalist-owned, locally operated and printed news organization, is moving its website and digital publishing operation from Substack to Beehiiv.

The change will occur the evening of Monday, Aug. 24. It’s the first platform shift for The Scout since its launch four years ago, and it comes as the newspaper has grown beyond the capabilities of the platform it used to establish its digital operation.

For readers, the change should be largely seamless.

The Scout’s website will move to a redesigned Beehiiv-powered version of TheDakotaScout.com, while readers who receive Scout stories by email will continue receiving them in their inbox. Paid subscribers will retain full access to the newspaper’s journalism, and free subscribers will continue receiving headlines and story excerpts.

Existing subscribers — both free and paid — will be migrated automatically, and paid subscribers will not need to re-enter payment information.

“Substack has been a wonderful partner since The Scout’s first issue, but the newsroom has reached the point where a new platform can better serve the newspaper and our growing subscriber base,” said Joe Sneve, who co-founded The Scout with fellow journalist Jonathan Ellis.

Sneve said the move to Beehiiv will give The Scout greater control over its digital operation while opening new opportunities for the newspaper to improve the experience for readers and build its audience.

“Growing pains are a good problem, and we’ve been planning this transition for months so moving our website will be as seamless as possible for our faithful readers,” Sneve said.

The move also reflects how The Scout has evolved since its first issue four years ago.

While the newspaper continues to publish a weekly print edition, much of its journalism is now produced and published online between editions. Digital readers have access to dozens of additional stories each week that don’t appear in the printed newspaper, including breaking news, government and politics coverage, investigations and other reporting from across Sioux Falls and South Dakota.

That online operation has become an increasingly important part of The Scout’s journalism and its relationship with subscribers.

The Beehiiv platform will allow The Scout to exercise greater control over the presentation of its journalism, its website, reader data and digital tools as the company continues to expand its online operation.

Substack helped The Scout launch its digital presence in 2022, but the platform has evolved significantly since then. Sneve said some of those changes have made it less suited to the needs of a growing, community-focused news organization.

“The Scout has outgrown Substack,” Sneve said.

The move means The Scout will no longer publish through the Substack app. Readers will instead access the newspaper’s journalism directly through TheDakotaScout.com or through its email newsletters.

The newspaper’s founders say the move to Beehiiv is ultimately less about changing technology than creating more room for the journalism and business to grow.

The first Scout story on the new platform will be published at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Readers should check their spam or junk folders that morning if they don’t see an email from The Scout. Moving the message to the primary inbox — or replying to it — can help ensure future emails are delivered there.

Readers who already subscribe do not need to do anything to maintain their subscriptions.

There could be some minor issues as accounts are migrated and the new system comes online. Readers who have trouble accessing their accounts or logging into The Scout’s new website can call 605-271-4586 or 605-413-3177, or a phone call can be requested by emailing info@thedakotascout.com.

For readers who haven’t yet subscribed to the newspaper that covers the people, institutions and decisions shaping Sioux Falls and South Dakota, the platform change also provides an opportunity to take advantage of the full scope of The Scout’s digital journalism.

Subscriptions are $7 a month or $77 a year and provide full access to The Scout’s online reporting, including dozens of stories published each week that aren’t included in the weekly newspaper.

Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman was seriously injured Wednesday night in a paragliding accident that also killed his 8-year-old son, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The accident also injured his 10-year-old daughter. The injuries were minor.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call Wednesday evening to report the crash northeast of Aberdeen.

Read more

A new residential treatment center for women dealing with substance use disorders is scheduled to open Monday in Yankton following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.

Park Haven Learning and Recovery Center is an 18-bed facility designed to serve women, including pregnant women and mothers with dependent children. The center is located at Summit and West Fifth streets near Westside Park, across from Avera Sacred Heart Hospital.

The facility is the result of a private-public partnership. Avera Sacred Heart Hospital constructed and owns the building and is partnering with Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services to provide programs and services.

Read more

A developer behind a $95 million downtown Sioux Falls project that received an $8 million tax incentive from City Hall this year is facing allegations of fraud and more than $6 million in unpaid loans in Iowa.

And while Mayor Christine Erickson’s office has made no indications that the so-called Switchyard project that broke ground in downtown Sioux Falls last month is in jeopardy, at least one other project Des Moines-based developer Jake Christensen is involved in has stalled amid an ongoing legal battle east of the South Dakota state line.

Read more

MITCHELL – The prospects of finishing the Farm Bill this year could hinge on the outcome of the midterm elections in November, South Dakota’s congressional delegation said Wednesday.

If Democrats win back the House or Senate, they might choose to put off major legislation, including the Farm Bill, until they assume the levers of legislative power next year.

“Once the election is complete, we will know the prospects of getting it done by the end of the year,” Sen. Mike Rounds said.

Read more

The “silver tsunami” of retirements at Sioux Falls City Hall that former Mayor Paul TenHaken warned of in recent years is upon his successor.

New Mayor Christine Erickson’s administration announced Wednesday that it has begun hiring searches to fill two more cabinet positions made vacant by the planned retirements of longtime department heads whose departures coincided with the end of her predecessor’s tenure.

Read more

Some random thoughts, observations and things rattling around in my head during the dog days of summer ...

• Toby Doeden, you lost. The runoff was almost a month ago. Get the signs down. Saving S.D. will have to wait for another time.

• Adam Vinatieri, Hall of Famer. Very cool. Pretty cool too seeing Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson, his sister sitting in the front row for the ceremony. Four Super Bowl rings. Two Super Bowl-winning kicks. NFL’s all-time leading scorer. If Vinatieri isn’t the GOAT among NFL kickers, who is? Fight me.

Read more

Stanford Mark Adelstein, a former South Dakota State Senator, philanthropist and businessman, died peacefully on August 10, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife Lynda Clark Adelstein, his sons Daniel Adelstein (Judy), James Adelstein, Jonathan Adelstein (Karen), his grandchildren Adam and Alexis, Shirley (Joshua Sanderlin), Michael (Laura Molnar) and Danielle as well as his great-granddaughter Lea Sanderlin. He is also survived by his brother Robert Adelstein (Carol) and his cousin Jerry Mizel (Liora).

Stan had a profound love for Rapid City, the State of South Dakota and a passion for public service. He served in the state legislature between 2001 - 2013, first in the House of Representatives, then as a state senator. He relished the fight for good causes and often said representing the people of District 32 was the best job he ever had.

Stan is well known for his charitable giving and leadership in civic and public service organizations including: The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, St. John’s McNamara Hospital, the Journey Museum, the Dahl Fine Arts Center, the Black Hills Symphony, the Black Hills Playhouse, Lutheran Social Services, the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City, the Club for Boys, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting among many other organizations. Stan continually asked the question, “how can I help?” He committed his time, money and expertise to friends and strangers alike, changing many lives for the better.

The son of Morris and Bertha Adelstein, Stan was born in Sioux City, Iowa and grew up in Rapid City. Stan earned bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He met his first wife Ita Korn Adelstein (1930- 2009), a fellow student at the university. Ita and Stan married in 1952 and had three sons, Daniel, James and Jonathan. Stan’s love for his sons was fierce. He delighted in their successes and proudly celebrated their achievements to anyone who had the patience to listen. His five grandchildren and his great-granddaughter were a great joy for him and represented his hope for the future.

Stan took great pride in his Jewish faith, participating in national and international Jewish organizations and was a staunch advocate for Israel. He was a national leader for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, and the Republican Jewish Coalition. He was often called upon to represent the Jewish community at public events, such as helping to establish the Hanukkah menorah at the State Capitol in Pierre. He spearheaded the move of The Synagogue of the Hills from Ellsworth Air Force Base to Rapid City where it found a permanent home in a building he donated.

Stan proudly served his country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1955-1957) and as a captain in the South Dakota Army National Guard (1957-1961). As a civilian, he was a reservist for the National Defense Executive Reserve and was appointed as a reservist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In 1999, he was appointed as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army and in 2001 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of the U.S. Army. He was also a member of the American Legion.

After his military service, Stan assumed the role of engineer and estimator at Northwestern Engineering Company, founded in 1924 by his father. He became president of the company in 1968 and later assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, overseeing its growth into one of the region’s largest highway and heavy construction companies. He later led the company’s transition into real estate acquisition and development.

Stan was incredibly fortunate to meet Lynda Clark in 1998; they were married in 2011. Together, they traveled the world and shared an appreciation for art, music, their beloved dogs and above all else, each other. Lynda filled Stan’s days with joy and meaning. His children are profoundly grateful for Lynda’s unwavering devotion, care and compassion during the difficult final chapter of Stan’s life.

Stan’s family would like to thank the staff at Good Samaritan St. Martin Village for the loving care they gave Stan during his last few years. We also wish to thank the doctors, nurses and therapists at Custer Hospital for their excellent care of Stan during a critical stage of his illness. They gave Stan the precious gift of additional time to spend with family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Stan’s memory may be made to The Synagogue of the Hills, The Journey Museum, South Dakota Public Broadcasting or The Club for Boys.

Services were held Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at The Monument Fine Arts Theatre, 444 North Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City.

Celebrate a life with the whole community in The Dakota Scout. Contact obits@thedakotascout.com to have your loved one remembered today.

A nonprofit welfare agency will expand a homeless veterans housing program in southeastern South Dakota following restoration of DOGE-era funding cuts.

Volunteers of America Dakotas has been awarded a $305,040 grant through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, ending a one-year federal funding gap.

The award restarts cooperation with the federal government that the Sioux Falls-based nonprofit maintained from 2016 through 2025 and could provide up to $933,433 through June 2029 — contingent upon continued federal funding availability, satisfactory program performance and compliance with grant requirements.

Read more

“FLOWER POWER, BABY.”

Etta McKinley had the slogan. The weather, for once, had read the assignment.

Rain had moved through Sioux Falls earlier in the day, leaving behind the kind of August evening people spend the rest of winter lying about. The sun came back out. A breeze hung around and kept the temperature reasonable. By the time music started at Levitt at the Falls, the lawn already held a sizable crowd, unusually healthy for the beginning of an opening set rather than the late-arriving swell before a headliner. The Aug. 15 concert paired Sioux Falls’ Etta and the Vendetta with Los Angeles roots collective Dustbowl Revival as part of Levitt’s free summer concert series.

That crowd would spend the next couple of hours getting progressively less interested in sitting down.

Read more

One of the worst periods of extreme drought in years has prompted South Dakota to marshal state resources in preparation for rural wildfires.

Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an executive order Aug. 18 to authorize the use of South Dakota Wildland Fire resources to assist with rural wildfires across the state, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

A previous executive order signed by Rhoden in March 2025 allowed the State to authorize the use of South Dakota National Guard resources, including Black Hawk helicopters, to combat wildfires within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District, a 7,704-square-mile, fire-protected area encompassing the Black Hills National Forest, Mount Rushmore National Park, Wind Cave National Park and dozens of communities in the mountainous region.

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Human anatomy is fascinatingly and frustratingly complex.

In each body, 600 muscles, 206 bones and 360 joints provide structural stability and movement; two lungs circulate air through 1,500 miles of airways to 480,000,000 alveoli with every breath; one heart circulates 5–6 liters of blood through 60,000 miles of vessels every 30 seconds; 600 lymph nodes activate the immune system and filter foreign invaders (e.g., bacteria, viruses), cellular debris and cancer cells coursing through 100,000 miles of lymphatic vessels; and the list continues.

As human anatomy applies to clinical medicine, some concepts are fundamentally more conceivable than others. For example, if an individual breaks a bone, they can often logically identify the etiology, understand the inhibited function and realize the immediate need for urgent care. A radiologist would then localize and visualize the fracture, and an orthopedic surgeon would reduce and fix the bone.

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The Aberdeen City Council no longer plans to discuss the placement of license-plate reading cameras in town, and proposals to use them have been shelved.

Meanwhile, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is advocating for the drafting of legislation to ensure license plate-reader technology is used appropriately and has regulations to protect public safety.

The purpose of a license plate-reader camera in a fixed location is to capture an image of a plate and store it for a set period of time. That information can be accessed by law enforcement working on specific cases. Aberdeen Police Chief Tanner Jondahl said the details can also be compared against a national hotlist, which includes vehicles affiliated with crimes like stolen vehicles and missing children.

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For many years, we’ve welcomed families into Pleasureland RV from across the country, these travelers are looking for the same thing: a chance to unplug, enjoy the outdoors and make memories while visiting federal public land in South Dakota.

Tourism is one of the engines that drive South Dakota’s economy; these public lands, like Mount Rushmore, have a storied past and bring visitors to South Dakota from all over the world.

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The South Dakota Board of Regents will ask lawmakers to approve $1 million in ongoing funding to establish a Center for National Defense as part of its fiscal 2028 budget request.

The center would be a collaborative initiative involving Black Hills State University, Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines. It would support a new Bachelor of Science in National Defense Studies and expand educational opportunities in defense acquisition, logistics, cybersecurity, engineering and emerging technologies.

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