Hill City Prevailer

Homecoming parade coming

Published by admin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 11:31am

It was a busy night for the Hill City Common Council as a new alderman was appointed, the council approved the city’s first homecoming parade in quite some time and the council gave the green light to go out to bid for the Major Lake bridge project.

The meeting started off with a discussion on filling a vacancy in the council after Bill Miner resigned his post, which took affect after the last meeting.

“Under terms of resignation there are two things we can do: appointment and special election,” said Kathy Skorzewski, Hill City mayor.

Chamber and seniors unite

Published by admin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 11:30am

With a continued lack of volunteers, Keystone’s major nonprofits, the Keystone Museum and the Keystone Senior Center, are looking at creative ways to continue to play a vital role in the community.

The museum, which would normally close its doors in September, will stay open until the last week in October.

“We felt that since we opened late and did have limited hours it was necessary,” said Keystone Area Historical Society Board president Jon Veltman.

According to Veltman, the museum’s new director, Casey Sullivan, has “made a very positive impact on the museum.”

Cashing in on transient merchants

Published by admin on Thu, 09/10/2020 - 10:49am

Keystone is seeing an unprecedented number of transient vendors this tourist season, according to town finance officer Cassandra Ott.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had to renew a transient vendor license,” Ott said. “I have never seen any business pay the $800 more than once.”

The town charges transient vendors, those without a brick and mortar presence in the town, $800 to set up shop in the town for a month long period.

Wall comes down

Published by admin on Thu, 09/10/2020 - 10:48am

The rock wall right of way dispute between the town of Keystone and citizen Judy Helmer is over.

The Keystone Town Board decided in a 3-1 vote to ask homeowner Holmer to remove the rock wall, which encroaches on the town’s right of way (ROW) on Columbia Street.

Trustee Kwinn Neff was the lone vote opposing the wall’s removal. While the wall will be removed, the gravel leading up to it will be allowed to remain. Helmer got a contractor’s license for her landscaper when the project began in May.

Skorzewski remains optimistic in light of COVID-19

Published by admin on Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:55am

The nation, South Dakota and Hill City are all adjusting to a new normal in a COVID-19 world.

As cases continue to climb in Pennington County, Custer County and South Dakota Kathy Skorzewski, Hill City mayor, says the city remains ready if and when action is needed.

“We continue to have our emergency legislation best practices that we’re looking to,” she said. “That really only relates to legislation. …As they do start to rise, I keep thinking about what our original mission was, and that was to slow the spread.”

School year underway

Published by admin on Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:54am

School has begun for over 500 local students in the Hill City and Keystone areas.

According to district officials, enrollment in the Hill City School District has increased by over 40 students when compared to last year. Although the official “count day” won’t be completed until the last Friday in September, as of press time the district had 508 students enrolled. Last year the district had 467 students, kindergarten through 12th grade.

Busy Keystone summer

Published by admin on Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:54am

Busy.

That’s what most business owners have said about Keystone’s summer season.

“Honestly, we are way up,” said Clay King, who owns several businesses in Keystone. “It’s been our busiest season by a long shot.”

While numbers at King’s Presidential Wax museum are down, “people are spending more money.”

King is not alone in seeing this trend.

“We’ve been busy more than some would have thought we would be,” said Robin Pladson, who became the Keystone Chamber of Commerce director right as the summer season began.

Let’s eat!

Published by admin on Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:53am

People first, community second, great food always. Those are the three core values of Mangiamo.

Mangiamo, owned by Russ and Debrah Leatherman, is located at the site of the old Slate Creek Grill. Russ said he hopes to have the restaurant opened by the beginning of next month.

Man fined after climbing Rushmore

Published by admin on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 10:36am

A Michigan man has been fined $1,500 for climbing Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Aug. 19, court records show.

According to federal court records, at approximately 11:35 a.m. on Aug. 19, law enforcement was notified of a climber seen on top of George Washington’s head at Mount Rushmore. The man was identified in the statement of probable cause as Ayman Doppke.

Town takes steps toward mitigation

Published by admin on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 10:36am

Keystone is taking steps toward pre-disaster mitigation, according to the most recent Keystone town board meeting.

Dustin Willett from the Pennington County Emergency Management division presented the town with the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan that was approved in 2018. The plan is valid for five years.

Willett used the example of Silver City and their mitigation efforts on thinning around its location to reduce fire hazards.

“Mitigation is what we do to reduce the impact of disasters we know are going to happen,” Willett said.