Hill City Prevailer

Reflecting on the year that was

Published by admin on Wed, 01/03/2024 - 4:36pm

Welcome to the new year! As we step into 2024, it’s with great pleasure that I reflect on the accomplishments and growth of our school district in the past year.
The first semester of this school year was one of significant achievement and progress. Noteworthy is the top five ranking of our school and the progress our students have made. Across all grades and subjects, our students have shown growth on the NWEA test. This success is a reflection of the commitment of our educators, the support of families and the determination of our students to excel academically.

It’s a new day

Published by admin on Wed, 12/27/2023 - 10:00am
In just a few days, the calendar will flip. We’ll say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024. We’ll start the first of 365 blank canvases and try harder to get things right this time. Mistakes will be made for sure. Some resolutions will completely flop. But that doesn’t stop us from trying. 

Season of serendipity

Published by admin on Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:18am
I was walking in the woods with a friend of mine today. I was looking for a rock formation that I’ve been on top of before and for some reason haven’t been able to locate since. This time again was a complete failure. 
As we were walking back to the trailhead I told her the real trail to the formation says something about a box spring but I’ve never been able to locate that either.
She stopped and looked at me and said,  “you mean this box spring?”
I couldn’t believe it.

Property tax relief bill ready to go

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2023 - 8:39am
We can all agree that property taxes are skyrocketing! It is no longer an East River or West River issue—it’s statewide and it’s only getting worse. Many homeowners, whether they live in the city, in the county or on a farm or a ranch, have reached out to their legislators regarding their property taxes, acknowledging their willingness to pay their property taxes, but voicing their concerns about the increased financial burden.

The kindness of strangers

Published by admin on Wed, 12/06/2023 - 9:15am
I am a great traveler. I think it is one of my best skills. I learned early how to take care of myself without having to rely on others, how to read maps, how to navigate complex transportation systems and how to feed myself even when I have no money.
I could write a book on some of the interesting adventures I have had, from dumpster diving for mushrooms at an Aldi in Australia to deciphering the Cyrillic train system of Moscow in less than a few hours.

Christmas like a child

Published by admin on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 9:13am
Last Wednesday I spent some time walking up and down Hill City Main Street delivering copies of Down Country Roads magazine to the businesses. At every stop, the businesses either had Christmas decorations up or were in the process of decorating. 
Now twinkly lights glimmer in the store windows, crèches dot the streets, garlands drape the sidewalk railings and all that is before you reach the Alpine Inn, which has transformed into a winter wonderland. Hill City has a way of making the Christmas spirit contagious. 

The story of the reluctant journalist

Published by admin on Tue, 11/21/2023 - 8:54am
A few weeks ago for a work assignment I had to attend a creative writing seminar, during which we were tasked with talking to a fellow attendee about significant moments in our life when we were children, young adults and at an older time in our lives. After we discussed these events, we then had to pick one to write more in depth about. I chose to write about my young adult life, when I decided what I was going to major in while I was at Chadron State College (CSC).

The power of stories

Published by admin on Wed, 11/15/2023 - 9:50am
Last week I traveled back to Minnesota to visit friends. Rather than doing anything big or exceptional together, my friends and I primarily told stories. 
We had deep conversations over breakfast and shared the stories of our trials over dinner. We curled up by the fireplace in the evenings with cups of tea and talked about our dreams and the longings of our hearts. We talked as we walked and as we worked. And it was wonderful. 

The gratitude cup

Published by admin on Wed, 11/08/2023 - 9:24am
What a month is November! Not as spectacular as October, not as festively-inclined as December, but with its own spice and savor. We’ve been dazzled by the first of many frosts sparkling in amber-rose sunrises; we’ve seen the first winterish stars appear in the pale blue of a clear-cold sky, with the slivered moon hanging just above the horizon. Winter is approaching. 

A little more stillness

Published by admin on Wed, 11/01/2023 - 9:24am
Does anyone else need more stillness in their life? Before the snow flew, I’d been going to Tracy Park just to sit by the creek and soak up the stillness. I loved the sound of the water as it bubbled across the rocks and continued on its merry way. The occasional bird sang, and it was all so peaceful. 
It seems like life is going too fast lately. There are way too many things to juggle, and all I really want is a little stillness. Not silence, but stillness.