Hill City Prevailer

Kiosk proposed for Hill City

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:15am
A citizen-suggested vehicle registration kiosk may gain ground in Hill City. The idea was proposed by Deb Whitman at the Nov. 24 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting.

Murder of family horse still under investigation

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:13am
Lacy and Jake Wolff recently moved to the Pactola area in hopes that their new home would “be a little sanctuary,” according to Lacy, but someone quickly turned it into a nightmare.
In the early morning hours of Oct. 9, the couple woke up to discover their beloved 15-year-old therapy horse, Cheyenne, had been brutally murdered in their own backyard. 
What they discovered that morning continues to haunt them. 

Reptile Gardens fire

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:40am

The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at  8955 S. Hwy. 16, rural Rockerville, unincorporated Pennington County, commercially known as Reptile Gardens. Upon arrival, firefighters observed an active fire in a detached agriculture shelter with heavy fire and smoke conditions extending into the ceiling and roof assembly. Rapid attack by firefighters contained the fire to the structure of origin, stopping the spread of the flames to nearby natural vegetation, infrastructure and other improvements.

Loan holding up sewer upsize project

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:39am
On the advice of its engineer, Town of Keystone trustees decided to wait to go out to bid on the sewer upsize project. The decision was made at the Nov. 19 meeting.
Zach Grapentine, town engineer, said the town has gotten a “soft approval” from the area engineer, but the plans for the project have not been officially stamped. Most importantly, the loan has not yet closed and according to Grapentine, the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) does not recommend going to bid until it does. 

County gives new contracts to local libraries

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:38am
In passing its 2026 budget, the Pennington County Commissioners cut funding to the Rapid City Public Library from $475,000 to $81,000. 
The history of the current state of the library issue in Pennington County goes back to a 1998 vote that mandated the county provide library services to rural communities.

Sanford plans to build Rapid City medical center

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:33am
Sanford Health announced Monday that it will use a $300 million gift from its namesake philanthropist, Denny Sanford, to build a medical center in Rapid City.
Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, announced the gift during a Rapid City event that drew numerous local and state dignitaries.
“This philanthropic investment will strengthen health care in this community and across the entire region,” Gassen said.

Legislators emphasize collaboration in upcoming session

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:15am
Maintaining adequate funding for public schools in rural areas across the state as property tax bills are presented in the 2026 South Dakota Legislative Session was the primary concern of school leaders who met in Custer Nov. 19 for a special board meeting with District 30 Rep. Trish Ladner and Sen. Amber Hulse. 

School board talks student success

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 10:03am
The Hill City School District Board of Education (HCSDBE) held its November meeting last Monday, spotlighting student accomplishments, reviewing district policies and outlining board goals for the upcoming year.
As has become tradition, the meeting opened with celebration of students who recently excelled at the state level.
“Any time our students and staff represent our school at the state level, we like to recognize them in front of the school board,” said superintendent Blake Gardner.

Infrastructure plans moving forward

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 10:00am
Aldermen approved an $8,600 proposal for geotechnical engineering from American Engineering Testing (AET) at the Nov. 10 Hill City Common Council meeting. The bid was about $13,000 below the other bid. Both proposals are to determine the subsurface soil and groundwater conditions at the proposed new water tank site, which is where the current big blue tank is located. 
“Is $8,600 gonna turn into $25,000 because they missed something?” asked  alderman Justin Thiry.

Hill City man drowns near Gettysburg

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 9:55am
Rescue crews from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, Gettysburg Fire and Rescue, Gettysburg Ambulance, Hoven Ambulance, Game, Fish and Parks, conservation officers, South Dakota Highway Patrol and South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) responded to a call of two men in the water.