Hill City Prevailer

Legislators discuss session battles

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:44am

This year marked South Dakota’s 100th Legislative Session, and it was complete with both victories and battles, according to District 30 Sen. Amber Hulse and Rep. Tim Goodwin. Rep. Trish Ladner was contacted as well but was unavailable for comment.
“This session was a tremendous success for our values, our communities and the future of South Dakota,” Hulse said.
Both Hulse and Goodwin said they got some meaningful legislation through this session.

Fire prompts evacuations near Town of Keystone

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:20am
A fast moving fire in Keystone prompted evacuations of two neighborhoods east of town March 22.
Battle Creek Fire Department supported the Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department on the wildland fire north and west of South Rockerville Road and Hwy. 40. The South Dakota Highway Patrol had South Rockerville closed at the intersection of Hwy. 40. Forest Service Road 365.1F, the site of the actual fire, remained closed throughout the weekend. By mid-afternoon March 24 it was reopened, and the fire was confirmed completely contained.

Park board seeks community engagement

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:19am
After an hour and a half executive session which resulted in a vote to move forward for a no-rise Third Street bridge, the Keystone Town Board of Trustees began its regular meeting  March 19. A no-rise is usually obtained to make certain that a bridge will not increase flood heights.

Town reaches radius decision for marketing

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:18am
A town marketing meeting was held March 19 prior to the regular meeting of the Keystone Town Board. Town Board president Casey McNulty said the purpose of the meeting was to make sure businesses outside of Keystone town limits are being included in the town marketing plans.
Discussion ensued as to what radius outside of town would be used for marketing inclusion with McNulty asking, “Where do we stop?”
A five-mile radius would include most familiar businesses and Custer State Park but would exclude the Gaslight by a mere half mile. 

County to look at administration building operation hours

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:17am
The Pennington County Commissioners voted at its March 18 meeting to work with the county human resources department to conduct an administration building hours of operation study.
The Pennington County Administration Building implemented a four-day work week in 2023, serving the public Monday-Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Parking enforcement falls to city

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 2:26pm
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office is not ticketing cars facing the wrong way on a street. That is according to deputy Jim Waldrop, who answered questions from the mayor at the March 10 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting.
Mayor Tana Nichols asked Waldrop specifically about parking on Pine Avenue after an incident occured, on which she did not elaborate. Waldrop explained to aldermen that currently the issue is a city one, suggesting it be made into a city ordinance.

Town looks into hiring for marketing, again

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 2:23pm
A special meeting was held in Keystone March 11 to discuss an issue with the Roy Street Bridge and marketing plans.
Contractors working on the Roy Street Bridge hit and broke a water line. An emergency water line repair  was invoiced to the city in the amount of $40,835.82.
“When the bridges are built, I beams are put into the ground,” which, Keystone Town Board president Casey McNulty says go down 30 feet. “So they put those right through the city water line.”

School board talks extracurricular success

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 2:23pm
Much of the discussion revolved around the year’s athletic and extracurricular success and coaching staff at the March 10 meeting of the Hill City School Board of Education.  
The board unanimously approved the coaching list for the 2025-26 school year. Todd Grabow highlighted what he said are the excellent coaches and volunteers of the sports programs as a big part of the students’ success. 

Petitions on property taxes begin to take shape

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 2:22pm
Two unique ways to address the property tax issues facing homeowners are making their way around the county. Fern Johnson is circulating an informal petition of protest asking for removal of the Pennington County Department of Equalization (DOE) Shannon Rittberger and some of the office appraisers.
“The majority of the problem has been with the director himself,” Johnson said. “And the way he’s operating. He’s interpreting the law outside the language of the law.”

Some legislators shift to blaming county spending

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 12:58pm

Two years ago, South Dakota lawmakers were so concerned about the financial struggles of counties that they devoted a summer study to the topic.
After it was completed, state Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish, a former Lawrence County commissioner and member of the study committee, said it was illuminating.
“I do believe we’ve had a lot of education that’s taken place because of the summer study — especially with the committee members and the word they’re getting out to constituents and fellow legislators about the hardships counties are having and why they’re having it.”