Hill City Prevailer

Pentagon to shift dollars to pay troops

Published by admin on Wed, 10/15/2025 - 3:59pm
The Trump administration plans to send paychecks to active duty troops this week, despite Congress not passing legislation to allow it during the ongoing shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to bring the House back into session to pass a stand-alone bill to provide pay for troops, welcomed the action during a Monday press conference, though he didn’t comment on whether the administration holds that legal authority. 

Vehicle-pedestrian collision Sept. 30

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:24pm
A 12-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle while in a crosswalk at Main Street  and Oak Street in Hill City Sept. 30. Hill City School  District superintendent Blake Gardner verified that the incident occurred at 12:53 p.m. and was reported to the middle school secretary and school resource officer. Both the family of the partially-enrolled student and 911 were also called.

Pennington County passes 2026 budget

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:23pm
Pennington County Commissioners adopted a 2026 budget of $131,558,231. The 2024  county population is estimated to be 115,979.
By means of comparison, Minnehaha County, which is estimated to have a 2024 population of  208,639 passed a $132,633,413 budget for fiscal year 2026.
While Minnehaha County’s budget reflects a 1.5 percent increase over its 2025 budget, Pennington County Commissioners passed a budget that was comparable to the one passed for fiscal year 2025,  which totaled $131,617,545.

Gertie Fire contained to single alarm

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:21pm

The Hill City Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported wildland fire in the Gertie Road area, approximately one mile southwest of the city limits of Hill City, unincorporated Pennington County. First arriving firefighters observed an active fire burning in cured grass and timber and immediately attacked the fire. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, the fire named the “Gertie Fire” had been contained at 18 acres. Firefighters would remain on the fire, conducting mop-up and holding operations. Active suppression operations continued Oct. 2.

Amid illegal immigration purge, new citizens are welcomed

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:06pm
Rose Wah came to the U.S. at the age of 8 to join her father, who had immigrated to Sioux Falls from the west African country of Liberia.
Wah graduated from Roosevelt High School and earned a nursing degree from South Dakota State University in 2024. She now works as a pediatric nurse at the Lifescape Children’s Services clinic in Sioux Falls.
As of Oct. 2, Wah now holds a new title—that of American citizen.
“I feel good and will now have the perks and privilege of being a citizen, especially in terms of travel,” said Wah, 23.

With prison approved, attention turns to recidivism

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:05pm
The state of South Dakota must do a better job of keeping prisoners from reoffending and ending up back behind bars, South Dakota lawmakers said this week in narrowly passing a bill authorizing a $650 million facility in Sioux Falls.
Among the concerns that opponents have about the large expenditure is whether the state has done enough to reduce recidivism, including addiction treatment. Before the state pursues such an investment it needs to improve the delivery of these services, they argued.

Vision, need for pipeline unfolds

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:06am

The Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) annual meeting  was held at the K Bar S Lodge in Keystone Sept. 25.
Executive director Kristin Conzet said the underlying message is, “We are all interconnected because we are using the  aquifers that lie beneath us.” 
Conzet stressed that Western South Dakota is growing and that the challenges uncovered by the South Dakota School of Mines study indicate  “potential of droughts, limited recharge and strained infrastructure.”

Construction manager at risk chosen

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:04am

Hill City has chosen Scull Construction for its construction manager at risk (CMAR) to lead up the water and sewer projects in town. The announcement came informally at the Sept. 22 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting and will be official after a Sept. 29 special meeting.
City administrator Nate Anderson said a committee interviewed three companies: Scull, RCS and Rice Lake West out of Golden, Colo. 

Support, donations make progress on Ponderosa Pavillion

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:03am

The new pavilion at Ponderosa Park by the Hill City Visitor Information Center (VIC) is coming to fruition thanks to a large group of volunteers and  community support. 
The Hill City Park Board gave an update on the project and its project at Memorial Park at the Sept. 22 Hill City Common Council meeting. The board has $195,000 earmarked for park projects, and aldermen approved $65,000 for the park board to spend on the Ponderosa project and its dug out replacement at Memorial Park.

Legislature OKs building new prison in Sioux Falls

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 9:52am
After 144 years, South Dakota lawmakers decided Tuesday it’s time for “the Hill” to retire.
The required two-thirds of each legislative chamber voted to endorse a 1,500-bed, $650 million replacement for the state penitentiary building that opened its doors when South Dakota was still Dakota Territory. The new men’s prison will be the most expensive capital project ever funded by the state’s taxpayers.