Hill City Prevailer

Voters consumed by exactly what IM28 will mean

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 9:32am
As voters go to the polls there are many people discussing the “grocery tax” and what its impact will be on South Dakota and Keystone and Hill City. The proposed initiated measure (IM-28), if passed, would  prohibit a state sales tax on anything sold for human consumption, except alcoholic beverages or prepared food.

Nothing plain about plein air

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 10:08am
This year’s Black Hills Plein Air Paint Out, hosted by the Hill City Arts Council, drew a wide variety of artists to the Heart of the Hills region. Two of them, Michael Walter and Nick Hix, show the diversity of the field that comes to compete for best in show and cash prizes.
Walter heard about the Pelin Air show through an advertisement in a Plein Air magazine. He had wanted to do it last year but the dates did not work out. But this year he jumped in.

Support the Hill City Purse Project

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 10:07am
What is in your purse that you could not go without?
The Hill City Purse Project (HCPP) is already planning for the Christmas season, and they need help gathering personal and essential items to fill around 60 purses for the Cornerstone Women’s and Children’s Home in Rapid City and Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) in Custer. 
“It’s going to be pretty much patterned after what we’ve done the last several years,” said event organizer Sue Anderson. 

Black Hills Film Festival this weekend

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 10:05am
The 15th annual Black Hills Film Festival (BHFF) is kicking off in the Hills Friday, Sept. 27 with events running through Sunday, Sept. 30. People travel from across the country and even across the world for this event, which averages an attendance of 400 people. 
This year’s festival features 22 unique films in various lengths and genres divided into 11 film sessions.
“These are all independent films that were made outside of the Hollywood studios by aspiring filmmakers,” said BHFF executive director Chris VanNess. 

Commissioners approve county budget

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 9:58am
The Pennington County Commission approved the 2025 county budget at its Sept. 19 meeting. Only three commissioners were present for the vote.
The budget approved is $131,617,545, which is more than Minnehaha County’s provisional  budget of $131,084,358, according to information retrieved online. Minnehaha County includes South Dakota’s largest city of Sioux Falls.
County residents will see an increase in the county mil levy when compared to last year, rising from 3.681 to 3.685.
The county fire fund will also increase from 0.060 to 0.061.

Keystone moves toward city control of marketing

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 9:49am
The Town of Keystone is giving some responsibility of its marketing to its finance officer, Samantha Epler. The change of direction was discussed at the Sept. 18 Keystone Town Board of Trustees meeting. 
Trustees had conducted a special meeting the week before to consider a committee to handle marketing for the town. Only a handful of attendees had expressed interest in serving on that committee and it was unclear what the roles and responsibilities of the committee would be. 

Meals on Wheels provides a meal and a visit

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 9:00am
Meals on Wheels may not be for you, but it may be a possibility for a friend or loved one who needs a daily dose of good food and nutrition. Those enrolled in the program have a home cooked meal delivered to their door Monday through Friday.
The meals are prepared at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer each day, packed in hot and cold insulated containers and delivered to residents in the Custer and Hill City area. Tiffany Wilcox, the site manager and cook who prepares the meals for delivery, encourages adults to consider this option for receiving food.

Get out for the Paint Out

Published by admin on Wed, 09/18/2024 - 9:30am
For the seventh year in a row, artists will flood into Hill City for the Black Hills Plein Air Paint out Sept. 19-21.
The show will feature 20 artists, the maximum capacity that the Hill City Arts Council (HCAC) allows. Artists from South Dakota, Missouri, Mnnesota and even Pennsylvania will be on hand. HCAC board president Kristie Van Bogart says she is “pretty pumped” about the variety of artists coming in.

Council turns down T-shirt talk

Published by admin on Wed, 09/18/2024 - 9:28am
Is a T-shirt a sign and should the display of outside merchandise be regulated? 
This was discussed at the Sept. 9 Hill City Common Council meeting when the planning and zoning commission (PZC) resubmitted an ordinance amendment to prohibit the display of merchandise on exterior walls of the buildings, awnings or posts in the Central Business District (CBD). 

Erin Loder new chamber director

Published by admin on Wed, 09/18/2024 - 9:21am
Erin Loder is the new Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce (HCACC) executive director. Loder is taking over for former director Janet Wetovick-Bily who retired after 11 years with the chamber.
Raised in North Carolina, Loder is the daughter of a United States Army Green Beret. She moved to Guam in January 2020 just before Covid-19 hit. Shortly after, Loder started working for the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GWCC).