Hill City Prevailer

Keystone attracts bikers

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 10:21am

The 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally drew huge crowds to the tiny town of Keystone.

“We were going to come no matter whether they cancelled it or not,” said Carlos Brando, 38 of Fort Lauderdale.

He rode 3,000 miles so far on his bike. It is his second time at the rally.

“The ride itself, it’s not only about Sturgis it’s about riding through the Black Hills,” he said. “Even if they had closed Sturgis we would still have come out because of the ride. The only time you’re going to have contact with somebody is when you sit down for lunch.”

P and Z discusses business registry

Published by admin on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 10:21am

The Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission has been working on a new ordinance to regulate transient merchants in town.

During discussion, the possibility for a business registry for Hill City businesses has been discussed. At Monday’s planning and zoning meeting, the commission discussed the possibility of creating a business registry for Hill City.

Budget hearings set

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:21am

Budget hearing dates have been set, according to the most recent Keystone town board meeting.

The first hearing takes place Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. This meeting will focus on the general fund. A meeting to discuss other funds will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 after the regularly scheduled town board meeting. An Aug. 26 meeting will be held at 5 p.m. to discuss the entire budget.

Bikers: ‘This is better than Christmas’

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:19am

The roar of a motorcycle engine became the soundtrack in Hill City starting Aug. 7 as the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally officially kicked off.

Main Street was closed to all traffic save bikers, and the streets were packed as Rally goers came from all over to enjoy what Hill City has to offer.

“It’s just nice to see people out and about again,” said Bob Jacobson, who made the trek from Alabama for the tenth consecutive year. “I’m excited to be here.”

Going back to school

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:18am

School in Hill City starts on Aug. 19, and Blake Gardner, superintendent for the Hill City School District, is ready.

He said his team did a great job navigating the COVID-19 waters, and he is looking forward to seeing kids back in school.

“I miss our staff, I miss our kids, I miss our parents,” he said. “So I cannot wait to see these people and get back to the new normal.”

Nichols sells Mangy Moose

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:18am

This year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be the last hurrah for Tana Nichols as owner of the Mangy Moose.

The owner of the Hill City Main Street restaurant and bar for 25 years, Nichols has decided to move on and has sold the bar.

“It has been 25 years of stress, and I’m pushing 68,” Nichols said. “It’s time.”

Overall, for Nichols 2020 has been a good year — better than normal, she said.

With people being cooped up because of restrictions due to COVID-19, people are eager to get out.

Ride to benefit vets

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:18am

The inaugural Keystone Veterans Rally and Ride kicks off Aug. 15 from the Harley Davidson shop in Sturgis.

Keystone will be the last stop for the ride, according to the most recent Keystone Chamber of Commerce meeting.

The ride is the brainchild of Keystone’s new chamber director Robin Pladson.

Council passes sign ordinance 2nd reading

Published by admin on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:17am

The Hill City Common Council had a busy meeting Monday night where it passed the second reading of the sign ordinance revision and passed the first reading of the 2021 budget.

Out of these two matters, the council addressed the second reading of the sign ordinance first.

“The only changes from the first reading is some grammatical corrections and updating the ordinance year to 2020,” said Dani Schade, development service coordinator for Hill City.

First houses in attainable development approved

Published by admin on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 10:57am

The first houses in Hill City’s attainable housing development have been approved.

The approval came at Monday night’s Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

“It’s a banner day for Hill City,” said Rollie Noem, a member of the commission, once the last house was approved.

In total, five houses in the development were approved.

Bench honors Pechan

Published by admin on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 10:56am

A memorial bench celebrating the life of Bev Pechan now adorns Keystone Cemetery.

The bench was donated by her son, Paul Pechan, as a way to commemorate the ties his mom had to Keystone and the Black Hills.

“She loved that cemetery,” Pechan said. “She used to say it was the only one in the world where you could see Mount Rushmore.”

Knowing how humble his mom was, Pechan thought the best thing he could do was to put a bench in that people could sit on and use and enjoy.