Our Community

Wreath-making tradition continues

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 9:53am
The Hill City Evergreen Garden Club is busy making wreaths for the holiday season. The effort is an ambitious undertaking the group has been doing for quite some time.
According to various members, wreath making began long ago, with the first wreaths being made on coat hangers, using bundles of weeds wired together. The first wreaths were sold at the Kris Kringle Kraft fair where a purchaser could choose a bow of their choice to add to the hand made wreath. The club sold all their wreaths that year and collectively knew this might be a good fundraising idea.

Art council focuses local with Paint and Sip

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 9:52am
Twelve painters came to the Hill City Arts Council (HCAC) Paint and Sip at the Prairie Dog Taproom Nov. 13. The painters created a Black Hills silhouette and sunset piece with local artist Jillian Kosmala instructing the evening. 

Trees and Trains will light up holiday season

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 9:49am
This year’s South Dakota State Railroad Museum (SDSRM) Trees and Trains event is shaping up to be one the biggest in recent memory. There are currently 23 businesses, individuals or organizations that have signed up for a tree, and Twyla Nielsen, SDSRM office coordinator, said she expects to have 32 trees overall.
“During Covid we had maybe 13-14 trees,” said Nielsen, who has been with the museum for the last five years. 
This is the first year that the museum’s beloved Rick Mills will not be organizing the event. Mills passed away in April. 

A splash dam and a tunnel in the Black Hills

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:42pm

Before we begin discussing this topic, we must first relate some facts and history of the Warren-Lamb Lumber Company (W-L). If I had a quarter for every time someone told me that they were going to write a book about the W-L, I would have $1.50. Dr. Wolfe of Spearfish did write an article about the company some time ago. I have yet to read the article, but he has asked me to take him around the State Park and show him places related to the W-L.

Down Memory Lane Nov. 15

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:41pm

10 YEARS AGO, 2015

‘Sprinkles for Sprinklers’ launched for Growing Roots

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:40pm

Growing Roots Preschool and Custer Lutheran Fellowship (CLF) are launching the “Sprinkles for Sprinklers” campaign to address a critical infrastructure need: the required $38,000 replacement of CLF’s fire sprinkler system. This fix is essential for the facility to maintain its state safety license, securing the future of the child-centered preschool, which serves 16 local families.
The financial burden for this essential upgrade falls on CLF, whose partnership with the preschool goes back to the program’s founding three years ago.

Sheriff's Log Oct. 19-Nov. 1

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:36pm

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Thursday, Oct. 30
6:21 p.m.: A Toyota Prius was seen making a strange u-turn north of Custer near Avenue of the Chiefs. A deputy searched for the poorly-piloted Prius but found nothing. It wasn’t really clear what sort of public safety problem the car was posing.  

Black Hills Live Nov. 12, 2025

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 8:38am

Wednesday 11-12

Custer Area Economic Development Corp.
Black Hills Energy
Custer, SD
7 AM

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Driver’s License Exams 
Custer County Courthouse 
Annex Pine Room
Custer, SD
8 AM to 5 PM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30-9:30 AM

Wednesday Life Group
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
10 AM - 12 PM

‘Hill City really knows how to party’

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 8:35am
High Country Guest Ranch was hopping Friday night as a packed house kicked off the 13th annual Girlfriends’ Weekend with the much-anticipated fashion show.
The event has become a popular and signature start to Hill City’s Girlfriends’ Weekend that promotes local shopping, dining and reconnecting with friends and enjoying downtown Hill City, all while raising money for a charitable cause. This year’s beneficiary, the Hill City Boys and Girls Club of the Black Hills, is a long-standing pillar in the community.

Fresh food drive thru opens in Hill City

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 8:33am
The Tatanka Cafe, tucked away on Hwy. 385, is a drive-through casual restaurant serving fresh food all day. The idea to serve fresh food locally sourced came from owner Faris Hussein, who said he has always wanted to own a restaurant. 
“I love bison,” Hussein said. “They represent America.”
Tatanka Cafe serves bison it gets from Rapid City. Hussein said it’s actually against federal law to inject hormones or antibiotics into buffalo, so all the meat he serves is considered organic.