In Custer State Park, Needles Highway is a popular route for bikers, but at times it isn't the safest.

Our chief photographer Kevin Kjergaard met up with a man trying to do his part to make it a little safer for everyone, and having fun while he does it.

"Being on the ground would be very difficult at times. You see a lot of carnage, a lot of suffering. It's very rewarding, though knowing that you're making a difference. Three weeks is a long time away from friends and family staying in conditions that are not always the best conditions," said Robert Reuland, disaster program manager at the Eastern South Dakota Red Cross.

Reuland says resources like blood are crucial, especially for people in Maui.

"People can donate blood to the time of disaster. The blood supply does get depleted pretty quickly. So anyone that's able to donate blood, that'd be greatly appreciated," said Reuland.

"Obviously in these kinds of situations. Hawaii is not going to be doing any blood drives right now for a while in these affected areas. So their supply of blood would be depleted," said Patty Brooks, executive director of the Eastern South Dakota Red Cross.

Brooks says in situations like these, it takes years for communities to heal.

"I do expect that once the recovery piece is done with the responders who are on the ground right now that the Red Cross will move into more of a disaster assessment, and we will help those who are affected by these wildfires rebuild their lives in many different ways. With their housing, financially, reunification with loved ones, mental health, we will be the boots on the ground probably for months to come," said Brooks.

Click here for more information and donation links to the American Red Cross.

This arrest comes more than a year after the same man, 62-year-old James Kaska, was investigated for similar allegations, where charges were never filed by the Codington County States' attorney's office.

"I know they did a very thorough job and we talk to a lot of kids and we felt confident enough in the case to forward it to the state's attorney's office," Watertown Police Chief Tim Toomey said in a May 2022 interview.

In May of 2022, KELOLAND Investigates sat down with the Watertown Police Department after the state's attorney's office did not prosecute a child sexual contact case against James Kaska.

"She told me that Pop-Pop had put his hands down her pants and stuck his fingers in her," Autumn Stricherz said during a May 2022 interview.

Nearly four years ago, Autumn Stricherz's then four-year-old daughter shared the disturbing news after returning from her in-home daycare, where James Kaska was left to care for children.

"He didn't even deny the act of being in her pants, himself. He didn't deny that at all," Stricherz said in May 2022.

"I don't understand. That's why I'm sitting here. I don't get it," Stricherz attorney Seamus Culhane said in a May 2022 interview.

When the Codington County States' attorney chose not to prosecute Kaska, the Stricherz family hired their own attorney for a civil case, where Kaska admits to touching the young child under her shorts. Still, no criminal charges were filed.

"I'm very happy that he's behind bars, I don't think he should have been on our streets," Stricherz said.

On Friday, the Watertown Police Department notified Stricherz that Kaska was taken into custody for a different case.

"My heart goes out to that child and the family, I've been there, so I can absolutely imagine what they're going through," Stricherz said.

The details of the new case are sealed to protect the identity of the juvenile involved, but court documents show he is accused of aggravated incest and 1st degree rape involving a child less than 13 years old.

"It could have been prevented or stopped, I don't know the details on this current case, whether it was an ongoing thing or not, it could have been prevented or stopped," Stricherz said.

Stricherz is angry and frustrated another child may have been harmed, but she's also thankful Kaska is behind bars.

"I'm hoping maybe this will reopen the doors so there can be some justice for my daughter also," Stricherz said.

Court documents detailing the probable cause for the new charges are sealed at this time. Kaska is being held on a $30,000 cash-only bond and is expected to appear in court again tomorrow.

KELOLAND News has a photographer on the scene, we will keep you updated online and on-air as we learn more.

Hundreds of teachers in the Sioux Falls School District started orientation and training Monday at Jefferson High School, and those brand new to the profession received something extra.

"We at the Education Foundation are here to surprise 80 first-time, first-year teachers with $200 grants," Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation Executive Director Allison Struck said.

Education Foundation Executive Director Allison Struck says the dollars are theirs to use as they see fit.

"Teachers are using those grant dollars to buy bulletins, posters, classroom sets of books, organization kits, puzzles, games, math manipulatives, anything that's going to help their students in the classroom," Struck said.

"More posters in my room, maybe some fun seating arrangements, also like some hands on activities and games for my kids," Jane Addams Elementary teacher Mollie Kelly said.

Mollie Kelly is a first-time teacher at the Elementary Immersion Center at Jane Addams. She's approaching the year with a nervous excitement.

"I heard a good quote today, I heard that if you're nervous that's a good thing, it means you care, so that made me feel a little bit better (laugh)," Kelly said.

The grant will help these first time teachers start their career off on the right foot.

"I have some family friends who are teachers and just all good news, all good words," Kelly said.

"There's a national study that shows teachers spend about $500 out of pocket every year purchasing supplies for their classroom, so this is a small way for us to show them that we see them, we appreciate them, and especially that we value them choosing to teach here in the Sioux Falls School District," Struck said.

The first day of school in the Sioux Falls School District is Thursday, August 24th.

Each year during the Sturgis Rally Fire Departments from across the state gather to work on new or updated training.

"For this year, we have decided to freshen and sharpen our skills on some rope rescue training. And it's kind of a joint training that we do with other members from across the state," RCFD Captain Ryan Ricke said.

This year Rapid City teamed up with Aberdeen, Watertown and Sioux Falls. This helps them get on the same page statewide when it comes to helping the public.

As state-wide firefighters are doing their annual training, working with ropes, repelling, and going up as a team, they're accomplishing and getting over new fears to be ready for any situation they might come into.

"Heights have never been my thing, I come from the beach and water is kind of my thing. I've not been around the mountains or the cliffs much so this is all fairly new to me and it's a bit nerve-racking but it's fun having all the guys here supporting me," Firefighter EMT Clayton Martinez said.

While this training is great for new firefighters like Martinez, it's also a refresher for the others.

"It's more so just a mental battle per se. This equipment is all pretty strong and it pretty much takes care of the job for you, so you don't have to use too much of your own energy. It's just kind of taking that step over the edge and actually trusting the equipment itself," Martinez said.

"It can be used for a variety of things. All of our USAR, Urban Search and Rescue SPecialties, require a certain amount of rope knowledge. Anything if we're going to be moving heavy things, or rescuing people. There's always some kind of rope aspect or could be," Ricke said.

Making sure they are prepared to respond to any type of emergency.

These training sessions are one of many ways the Fire Departments across the State stay ready when called on.

Here's a visualization of the day to day numbers in each category throughout the rally in 2023 vs. 2022.

Here's a breakdown of the numbers

While the largest number of changes were in warnings and cash seized, both down from 2022, the thing that may stand out most is the steep rise in drug arrests.

In 2022, there were a total of 251 drug arrests at the rally. This year, there were 401.

This 150 arrest increase represents a 59.7% increase in drug arrests overall.

KELOLAND News reached out to DPS on Friday, August 11 and again on Monday, August 14, asking for an interview or information on the following:

• Reasons that we're seeing more drug arrests this year than last year (~400 vs ~250 last year).
• Whether we've seen drugs primarily for personal use/small sales, or whether it was mainly large quantities for sale and distribution.
• The types and quantities of the drugs found this year, whether certain types were seen more than others, and whether the types of drugs have been changing year over year.
• If there were large-scale drug busts this year, or if most of these arrests resulted from more routine things such as speeding stops or DUI checks.

On Monday we received an email telling us that the data provided speaks for itself.

The data does show that there's been an increase in arrests, but does not give any context regarding why there are more arrests, what drugs have been found, the quantities of the drugs or the circumstances in which they were found.

KELOLAND News followed up, asking again for this information, and received this response:

"Thanks for reaching out to DPS.
We appreciate your interest but have nothing further to add at this time."

Hawaii’s governor warned that scores more people could be found dead following the Maui wildfires as search crews go street by street through neighborhoods where the flames galloped as fast as a mile a minute across the island.

Following Sunday's rain and active weather, we've been able to enjoy a very nice start to the new work week. Temperatures have remained well below average for this time of year, but this trend simply won't last.

One person died and another was injured following a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon near Rapid City.

A 69-year-old man drowned Friday night after falling in the water near Down's Marina in Pierre.

Another person has been arrested in connection with federal and state law enforcement's sex trafficking operation during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

A Montana judge on Monday sided with young environmental activists who said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by permitting fossil fuel development without considering its effect on the climate.

A 13-year-old Casselton youth has survived a fall of nearly 100 feet at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during a family trip.

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

35-year-old Burton Dave Chief Junior of Rapid City is charged with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Court papers say Chief was contacting who he thought were 13 and 14-year-old girls for sex.

Both were undercover agents.

If convicted, Chief faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Police say the man was grabbing something from is boat but did not return to his vehicle.

He was found in the water unresponsive.

Authorities began C-P-R until he was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The man's name has not been released until family is notified.