Hill City Prevailer

Family piano makes its way back to the Hills

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 10:48am
By Leslie Silverman
 
A Steinway piano manufactured in 1885 made its way back to Rapid City and to the family that originally owned it, the Halley family. 
Terry Tullis was born in Rapid City in 1942. His dad was a geologist at the South Dakota School of Mines  and Technology and was chairman of the department until 1968. 
“My parents at some point somehow got to know the Halleys,” Tullis said.
He’s not certain if they rented a room from the family or how the connection came about. 

Trash talk over as action begins

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 9:09am
Downtown Keystone got a mini-makeover prior to the start of rally week. 
Town board president Kwinn Neff could be seen by business owners cleaning the streets of the town. Neff rented a pressure washer and along with the public works department and the Battle Creek Fire Department helped to beautify the town. The fire department will not bill the town for the work and considers the efforts a part of the partnership the town has with the department. 
Business owners throughout town were elated.

Man dies in motorcycle crash

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 11:47am
One person died and another person was injured Saturday morning in a fatal crash involving three motorcycles that occurred near Keystone. 
Names of the three people involved are not being released pending notification of family members.

Vacation rentals again a hot topic

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 11:35am
The Hill City Common Council meeting July 26 saw a large turnout from city residents and business owners alike. Both the action items and the discussion items were hot buttons with both sectors, as well as the council members themselves.
The action items that stimulated robust discussion referenced a topic that has increased in top-of-mind awareness for many cities across the state and nation: nightly vacation rentals of residences within the city limits. 

Tempers flare at meeting

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 10:22am
By KC Bunch
 
On  July 29, the Hill City City Council held a special meeting to address a referendum petition brought by citizens of Hill City with concerns over the financing of the approved Business Improvement (BID) District Project for Area  No. 1.

Bountiful blossoms burgeon show

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:45am
The Hill City Evergreen Garden Club flower show blossomed with entries this year. The bountiful blossoms with a country fair theme featured annuals, perennials, container gardens, wildflowers and even beautiful place setting entries.
And while the garden club consists of over 40 adult members it’s the younger generation that truly brings smiles to all who attend the show. Eleven-year-old Grace Daiss created an intricate container garden with a camping theme.

Vacation rental moratorium, registry move to council

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:39am
A temporary moratorium on conditional use permits for nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods was recommended by the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission at its July 19 meeting. That recommendation now makes its way to the Hill City Common Council.
The temporary moratorium, if approved, would not exceed 120 days. This would allow the planning and zoning commission to continue its work in tackling the influx of nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods Hill City has seen.

City has second round of budget talk

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:37am
Highways and streets were discussed at length at the July 21 Hill City budget hearing. Alderman Jason Gillaspie questioned why the city had not yet developed a prioritized road plan. 
“I don't see any other street repairs or anything listed on here,” He said. “I know there’s the start of a plan but no mention of anything else.”
And while the city is carrying over $30,000 to a street improvement fund, Gillaspie wanted to know how the fund was going to be used.

‘Children’s Blizzard’ storms South Dakota readers

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:32am
The South Dakota One Book is making its way across the state.
The book, entitled, “The Children’s Blizzard,” is a historical novel based on the 1888 blizzard that hit the Western plains of South Dakota and Nebraska. The blizzard killed 235 people, many of whom were children or teachers, as the storm hit suddenly and at the time that many  teachers in one room schoolhouses were letting students out for the day.

Local man faces murder charge

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:11am

Eight years after her body was found dumped in a wooded area just off a Pigtail Bridge on Iron Mountain Road in Pennington County, law enforcement believes they have found Meshell Will’s killer.
Richard Melvin Schmitz, 53, a Hill City resident who used to live in Custer, was taken into custody at his home and charged with second-degree murder.
Nancy Herman, a Custer resident who for the past eight years has advocated for Will through social media and yearly vigils, said she started to shake and cry when she was told an arrest had been made.