Hill City Prevailer

Keystone packed for show

Published by admin on Thu, 07/09/2020 - 10:52am

On a given Fourth of July weekend, the town of Keystone can expect to see an influx of people.

But this year was different.

Fireworks were being held at Mount Rushmore National Memorial for the first time in over a decade with President Donald Trump and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem in attendance, and the already busy summer tourism town was packed to the gills.

“It's just a good day to celebrate America,” said Brad Johnson, who made the trek out to the Black Hills from California.

Sheriff: 21 charged in connection to Mount Rushmore protests

Published by admin on Thu, 07/09/2020 - 10:52am

A total of 21 individuals — 20 adults and one juvenile — were arrested and charged relating to the protests in Keystone, according to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

It was the protests that brought Freddie Longsworth of Pine Ridge and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe to Keystone July 3.

Longsworth was there to protest the Trump administration and its policies and practices towards indigenous people.

Interviewed before the protest started, Longsworth said he was hoping for a good turnout.

Removal of Mount Rushmore: Not on Noem’s watch

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:28am
The afternoon of June 26, Gov. Kristi Noem took to Facebook and penned a post that she entitled: “Not on My Watch.”
The 545-word post was in response to some voicing their opinion on social media that Mount Rushmore National Monument should be removed.
“Now we’re seeing threats to Mount Rushmore,” Noem wrote. “To those who would threaten America’s Shrine of Democracy, I have one simple message for you: Not on my watch.”

Stay safe with fireworks

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:27am
Independence Day is here and, with the celebration of our nation’s independence comes fireworks.
Yes, there are the fireworks at Mount Rushmore National Memorial this year, but that’s not the only reason why fireworks are on the mind of the Pennington County Fire Administration.

Pladson is new Keystone chamber director

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:25am
The Keystone Chamber of Commerce has a new director.
Robin Pladson came to the chamber after a thorough search, which included a background check. 
Born in Hot Springs and raised on a ranch east of Buffalo Gap, Pladson made annual trips to the Hills. Last summer she and her husband bought a home between Keystone and Hill City.

All school reunion postponed one year

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:19am
 
Held every five years, the Hill City all school reunion is meant to bring alumni of the Hill City School District together.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the all school reunion scheduled to be held this year has been postponed one year.
“Because of COVID-19, we are postponing to the third week in September 2021,” said Ellen Jenter, who helps organize the event.

CCC Museum holds open house

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:18am
 
On a hot Saturday, the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum of South Dakota held an open house.
The open house was well attended, said Otto Bochman, executive director of the museum.
“The numbers were down from last year, but that’s to be expected with really hot weather and coronavirus,” Bochman said.
The museum had to close for two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bochman said, but since reopening, people have been coming to the museum — albeit not as many patrons as last year.

Final preparations taking shape

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:14am
Keystone is preparing for the July 3 Mount Rushmore fireworks in a big way.
The town held the last of its special meetings for the event on June 24. Discussion centered on parking, crowd control and road closures. The town also decided not to designate the event as a special town event, which would have lowered the transient vendor fees from $800 to $25.
At the suggestion of Trustee Kwinn Neff, the board voted to extend the normal 30-day window allowing transient vendors to operate from July 1 to Aug. 16 without getting a second transient license. 

County adopts wheel tax

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 10:20am
On June 16, the Pennington County Commission adopted a wheel tax for $2 per wheel with a maximum of $24 per vehicle.
The vote, which was a 4-1 vote, came after long deliberation on the tax.
“We are talking about this going into effect Jan. 1, 2021,” said Gary Drewes, Pennington County commissioner.

Main Street to be closed for rally

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 10:14am
The Hill City Common Council voted Monday to proceed with the annual closure of parts of Main Street during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The decision was made at Monday’s council meeting after the city of Sturgis voted to have the rally this year but with some changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.