Hill City Prevailer

Winter festival returns Feb. 18-19

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:04am
The annual Black Hills Winter Festival hosted by Miner Brewing Company and Prairie Berry Winery returns Feb. 18-19. This family-friendly, free event will take place on the campus of Miner Brewing Co. and Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City.
Activities include live music, outdoor fire pits, an igloo bar with mulled wine and hot cocoa, crowler fishing, beer, bingo and more.
Saturday, Feb. 18
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Oh Geez! Pop Up Shop
11 a.m. Crowler Fishing 
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Miner Mutt Dash 
Sponsored by Bar K9

Council approves Memorial Park plan

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:00am
A large crowd gathered at the Hill City Common Council meeting on Jan. 23 to show their support and ask questions about the proposed plan to renovate Memorial Park. 
According to city administrator Brett McMacken the park board has been formulating this project for several months and is now at the culmination. Specifically, they have been looking at what the potential vision and improvements for Memorial Park could be over a long-term scenario. 

Grant applications open for local projects

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 9:50am
The Hill City Area Community Foundation (HCACF) is once again accepting grant applications from area nonprofits.
Any nonprofit organization, including nonprofit community organizations, schools, churches or government-related entities are encouraged to apply. 

Frye-Mueller stripped of assignments, suspended

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 9:49am

District 30 Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller is being investigated by a Select Committee on Discipline and Expulsion after allegations  by a Legislative Research Council  staff member.
The developing story began Jan. 25 when Frye-Mueller was stripped of her committee assignments. Frye-Mueller sat on Senate Local Government and Senate Health and Human Services.
The decision, which came from Watertown Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, came without comment.

Back to school or off to jail: Legislators seek update to South Dakota juvenile justice assessment system

Published by admin on Wed, 02/01/2023 - 4:05pm
One of the key tenets of juvenile justice reform in South Dakota – keeping low-level youth offenders out of custody in favor of rehabilitative services and a return to public school attendance – is causing headaches for South Dakota education officials, who say they are not equipped to deal with habitual offenders in school settings.

Board munches on animal feeding

Published by admin on Thu, 01/26/2023 - 9:12am
Trustees and residents spoke candidly about the deer problem in Keystone at the Jan. 18 Keystone Town Board meeting.
Resident Lynette Gohsman began the conversation saying, “I love the deer, they’re cute, they’re fun.”
Gohsman then cited numerous examples of how the deer are a safety hazard, saying there are “hundreds” in town. 
“It’s ridiculous. And the squirrels. They’re feeding every wild animal possible in this town,” she said.
The board seemed to agree with Gohsman. 

Chili cook-off huge success

Published by admin on Thu, 01/26/2023 - 9:09am
The annual Breakin’ the Winter Blues Chili Cook-off began promptly at 11 a.m. Jan. 21. Between the basketball tournament in the morning and the Burning Beetle in Custer in the evening, crowds of people gathered in Hill City to enjoy the afternoon. 
Despite the scattered snow flurries, many described the weather as a “perfect chili day.” 

Church hosts unique sock drive

Published by admin on Thu, 01/26/2023 - 9:07am
The First Congregational Church in Keystone hosted Socks in the City Wednesday, Jan. 18. The evening  was filled with fellowship, food, fun and a lot of socks. 

Keystone wins ‘Super Bowl’ of awards

Published by admin on Thu, 01/26/2023 - 9:04am
The Town of Keystone has won the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS) Water and Wastewater System of the year award for 2022.
The award is rather prestigious, going to only one city or town in all of South Dakota each year. 
 It’s not an award given out lightly. Mike Moeller, a trainer as well as a technical assistance training specialist for SDARWS says it’s not a participation award.
“They have to earn it” Moeller said.

Critics say state falls short in mussel spread

Published by admin on Thu, 01/26/2023 - 8:58am
The confirmed finding last summer of zebra mussels in Pactola Reservoir – 15 miles west of Rapid City in the Black Hills National Forest – has sparked greater scrutiny of South Dakota’s efforts to protect bodies of water from aquatic invasive species, which spread exponentially and can negatively impact ecosystems, water intakes, fisheries and beaches.