Hill City Prevailer

School board updates COVID plan

Published by admin on Wed, 12/23/2020 - 3:04pm

The Hill City School Board voted to approve updates to the school district’s COVID plan at the most recent school board meeting.

The plan comes on the heels of the district preparing for the second half of the year.

“I think it’s diligent of us to update it as COVID evolves,” said district superintendent Blake Gardner. “There have been no changes in phase one procedures, which are enacted when there are no or limited cases of COVID in school buildings. If numbers increase to roughly six to seven percent of the building population the district may change to level 2.”

Tourism up this Christmas season

Published by admin on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:58am

The Lane of Lights is having its intended goal: it’s bringing people to Hill City.

Lorena Freis, owner of The Farmer’s Daughter, said at Monday’s meeting of the Hill City Common Council she has had several people come into her store who said they were brought to Hill City because they wanted to see the Lane of Lights.

“So kudos to the mayor and the city staff,” she said. “It’s accomplishing what we want it to do.”

Alpaca Store opens in town

Published by admin on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:57am

The central business district in Hill City has a new business.

The Alpaca Store opened a new location in early November after operating at Three Forks and Keystone, said Stuart Smith, co-owner of the Alpaca Stores in the Black Hills.

“(The Alpaca Store) has been working with families down in Peru for over 40 years now as a main importer,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years or so.”

He said he started out selling the rugs and then moved into doing stores. He said he’s usually at Three Forks selling the rugs, which he’s done for the last 12 years.

Grant helps Keystone offseason

Published by admin on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:56am

A DMO marketing assistance grant is having a huge impact on Keystone during what is normally the “off” season in the tiny tourist town.

“We got lucky,” said Keystone Chamber of Commerce director Robin Pladson. “We had to come up with an idea and it just so happens that Bigfoot was being built during this time.”

The $85,000 grant, which Keystone received, had to be used to promote marketing and impact tourism and needed to be spent before the end of the 2020.

Commercial definition tabled

Published by admin on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 11:37am

On Monday, the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to table an update to Title 9, Section 601: Commercial and Commercial/Residential Zones to the Hill City Common Council.

“We’ve been discussing this for several years now,” said Dani Schade, development service coordinator for Hill City.

Board to appraise land

Published by admin on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 11:36am

Keystone will pay for an appraisal of the property the ambulance station is sitting on.

The decision occurred at the most recent town board meeting. The cost of the appraisal will not exceed $1,500.

The decision came after lengthy discussion about the ambulance department’s idea of swapping a generator for the land value.

State wants marijuana lawsuit dismissed

Published by admin on Thu, 12/10/2020 - 11:36am

The Argus Leader reported over the weekend that the State of South Dakota through Grant Flynn, assistant attorney general, has filed a response to the lawsuit filed by Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol Col. Rick Miller.

Gardner gives COVID-19 update

Published by admin on Thu, 12/03/2020 - 10:57am

On the day before Thanksgiving, Blake Gardner, superintendent for the Hill City School District, released a video addressing COVID-19 numbers in the school district.

His address focused on both active and total cases as well as a survey that was sent out by the school district.

Cycle shop revs in Hill City

Published by admin on Thu, 12/03/2020 - 10:57am

“Who in their right mind would open a motorcycle cycle shop in October in the Black Hills,” joked Scooter Prosneski, owner of Hill City Cycles.

The answer is simple: a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast with a passion for “wrenching” and a love of community.

Prosneski has been trying to buy the former Sic Vics location for years and actually took over as the official owner in September. Since then business has been steady.

“We’re blessed,” he said. “I’ve got 4 motorcycles in here now.”

Suit filed over legal marijuana

Published by admin on Thu, 12/03/2020 - 10:57am

Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and S.D. Highway Patrol superintendent Col. Rick Miller have filed suit in Hughes County to block Constitutional Amendment A, which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

The S.D. Constitution can be revised or amended only in the manner prescribed in the Constitution, the suit reads, and a proposed amendment or revision that “fails to adhere” to the Constitution is null and void.