Community Calendar

Omaha author Jeff Barnes introduces The Forts of the Dakota Territory. The program is presented by Deadwood History Inc., and Deadwood Historic Preservation with a grant from the South Dakota Humanities Council. The presentation covers twelve of the territory’s military posts, spanning more than 150 years of Dakota history. “The Dakota forts rank among the most important in the history of the Great Plains, and all with histories tied to the Sioux nation,” said Barnes. His talk includes a brief history of the posts, seldom-heard tales, and many rarely seen historic images and maps. Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center; 12:00 p.m. Sponsored in part by the South Dakota Humanities Council. The event is free.

Join us for October Deep Talks with Chris Combs, SURF 2025 Artist in Residence, as he previews his upcoming exhibit Desperate Remedy/Little Ones. Through interactive and time-based sculptures made with found objects, metal, wood, and materials from SURF, Combs explores the mysterious world of neutrinos—particles that are invisible, omnipresent, and nearly massless.

How to attend:
Deep Talks is held at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center (160 W. Main Street) in Lead, South Dakota. The event begins at 5 p.m. MT with a social hour, featuring a beer tasting from Crow Peak Brewing Company (21+ only) and light refreshments. Speaker presentations will begin at 6 p.m. MT.

Join virtually at https://sanfordlab.org/events/deep-talks-art-invisible-air-chris-combs

Deep Talks is made possible by Crow Peak Brewing Company, Edward Jones Financial Advisor – Chris Mitchell, RCS Construction, and Charles & Jolene Lichtenwalner.

Feed Your Mind
"Building a Brewery" featuring Ben Hanten, founder of Ben's Brewing Co
The first brewery in Dakota Territory was opened in Yankton in 1866 by German immigrant Charles F. Rossteuscher. Almost 160 years later, Ben Hanten, founder of Ben's Brewing Co., will share his experience of converting the historic Freeman Company building into a thriving, modern-day brewery.

Feed Your Minds are held on the first Friday of each month, and there is a free-will donation to attend. The one-hour event will be held on the second floor of the Mead Building, 82 Mickelson Dr in Yankton, SD.

Please join us for our Fall Author event with Traci Lambrecht, who writes as P.J. Tracy, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30pm at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She is the coauthor/author of fourteen detective novels – the Monkeewrench series and the Detective Margaret Nolan series. We invite you to listen to Traci Lambrecht in the Celebrate Center of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and stay for a book signing afterwards. The event is free. Donations support Augustana Library Associates programming.

Journalist Tim Velder will present the gripping true story of the December 1945 murder of a St. Paul, Minnesota, liquor store clerk and the subsequent nationwide manhunt for the suspect, George Sitts. Velder will trace the dramatic sequence of events – from the initial crime, capture, and conviction, to Sitts’ daring escape in January 1946 and the ensuing chase through the Black Hills and into Wyoming that left even more tragedy in its wake. Drawing from more than 35 years of research, including newspaper accounts and first-person stories, Velder brings this incredible chapter of history to life. Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center; 12:00 p.m.; free for members and $5 for non-members.