Hill City Prevailer

Garden club stays busy

Published by admin on Thu, 12/16/2021 - 10:00am
The Hill City Evergreen Garden Club celebrated the holiday season with  a party and holiday wreath wrap up. The party, which was attended by about 30 members, featured holiday music, a gift exchange and an assortment of delicious treats. 
The party was also the club’s last meeting of the year highlighting many of the club’s accomplishments including its biggest fundraiser, wreath making. 

Out with the old, in with the new

Published by admin on Thu, 12/16/2021 - 10:00am
Plans for the new building at McGregor and Main in Hill City were unveiled at the Dec. 6 Hill City Planning and Zoning meeting. 
The 11,950 square-foot building will be two stories with a mezzanine on the upper level. The completed structure will be 33 feet high and will be designed with early 20th century and Italianate elements integrated to “add to the architectural character of Hill City,” according  to P and Z documents. 

Keystone once again tables COVID-19 bonuses

Published by admin on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 9:56am
The Keystone Town Board once again tabled the vote on employee COVID-19 bonus money. A brief discussion about the bonuses took place at the Dec. 1 town board meeting. 
Trustee  Sandi McLain thought it was a way to say thank you to the employees for staying through the pandemic. Trustee Matt Fullilove was in favor of bonuses as he received one from his job and it was very valuable to his family.  Board president Kwinn Neff thought the pay raises for 2022 were sufficient to incentivize the employees. 

Menorah lit at Mount Rushmore

Published by admin on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 9:54am
Each year a small group of Jewish people come to Mount Rushmore National Memorial to light the Chanukah menorah. 
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, often referred to as the Festival of Lights.  The holiday commemorates a military victory for religious freedom  by a small group of Jews, called the Maccabees, over a large army of  Greeks. The victory was marked by the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah, an eight place candelabra. 

Housing, parking to be studied

Published by admin on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 9:49am
The Hill City Economic Development Council (EDC) hopes that a housing study will shed light on the confusing 2020 Census data and on the needs the city may have for new housing. The 2020 Census numbers show the population of Hill City is 872 people, a marked decrease in population since the last census in 2010, which showed the city had 948 people.  
The EDC knows there is a need for housing of all types in Hill City. Where to house seasonal workers is a huge issue.

Keystone senior center may permanently close

Published by admin on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 9:47am
The Keystone Senior Center Board met for the last time this year. There is dire concern it may have met for the last time ever unless volunteers step up.
The Dec. 2 meeting was attended by eight individuals and two board members, neither of whom will be on the board next year. And without a board the fate of the center is obvious.

Permit approved for daycare

Published by admin on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 9:50am
Concerns over neighborhood covenants for an applicant requesting a conditional use permit (CUP) were addressed at the Nov. 22 Hill City Common Council meeting.
Sarah Johnson requested the CUP to run a daycare out of her home on Bishop Mountain Drive. Johnson had previously run a daycare out of this same property up until a few years ago. Once a CUP is not used for 12 months it ceases to exist and must be reapplied for. 
Property files from the city show no complaints from neighbors concerning the previous daycare. 

Parade a huge hit in the Heart of the Hills

Published by admin on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 9:48am
The hundreds of people who lined Main Street in Hill City Friday evening understand Hill City knows how to do a parade. The  Olde Tyme Christmas Parade featured floats from all over the region. Private people, businesses, nearby towns and Pennington County all came together to kick off the Christmas holiday season and the traditional start of the holiday shopping experience.
The parade coincided with the town’s Kris Kringle Craft Show,  where people could buy from local artists, bakers and jam-makers. 

Black Hills Bistro opens in Hill City

Published by admin on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 9:44am
Dreams can come true, even if it takes 20 years for them to be fulfilled. That’s what Black Hills Bistro owner Jen Schmoll has learned after the first week of her new restaurant opening. Jen runs the new Hill City breakfast and lunch spot with her mom Carol Speirs; collectively the women have 30 years of experience in the restaurant business. 
Schmoll is from Hill City and is excited to be doing what she loves in her hometown.

Illuminating Hill City: Lane of Lights well received

Published by admin on Thu, 12/02/2021 - 9:39am
What began as a dream has turned into a pinnacle event for Hill City and the start of the Christmas holiday season. The Lane of Lights, a 40,000 light extravaganza along Museum Drive, was illuminated for the season with a traditional caroling event complete with cookies and hot cider.
Hill City School District choral teacher Sylvia Larson led the crowd of about 50 people in traditional carols including “Silent Night” and “Deck the Halls.”