Hill City Prevailer

Downtown merchandise displays discussed

Published by admin on Wed, 07/16/2025 - 9:30am
The Hill City Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission discussed downtown merchandise displays at its July 7 meeting. The discussion centered on a proposed ordinance and no action was taken on the matter.
The proposed ordinance reads, in part, that it will be unlawful to display merchandise by affixing it to the exterior of any permanent or temporary structure within the city’s Central Business District or Sign Transition Area.

Continuance granted for protection order between Keystone trustees

Published by admin on Wed, 07/16/2025 - 9:24am
A July 14 hearing for an order of protection filed by Keystone Town Board president Casey McNulty against fellow Keystone town trustee Matt Fullilove will be continued until Aug. 25. 
The case refers to an incident that McNulty alleges took place June 29 at 2 p.m. The petition claims that McNulty was sitting on a deck with his business partner, Randal Connelly, when Fullilove approached them and began to threaten to start a fight. 

How Wall is building a model to encourage housing growth

Published by admin on Wed, 07/16/2025 - 9:22am
This small western South Dakota town known internationally for Wall Drug and its proximity to Badlands National Park seemed like the perfect place for Ana Komar to fulfill her dream of running a scenic flight business.
Komar, 30, has been a licensed pilot for five years and owns a four-seat Cessna. She was looking for a spot to use her skills and feed her adventurous spirit and love of natural beauty by launching a business flying tourists over dramatic terrain.
In many ways, Wall was perfect.

Not true, says board president

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 10:15am
Keystone Town Board president Casey McNulty addressed an accusation around town that he is involved in a “property scam and being investigated by Airbnb and the FBI.”
McNulty discussed the issue briefly at the July 2 town board meeting. 
“I want to assure you that I am not. That’s not true. There’s nothing like that going on,” McNulty said. 
McNulty was thanked for getting firefighters to the top of a hill after a tree caught on fire earlier this week.
“It could have been a very, very bad situation,” said Brandi Hunsaker.  

Public input jail expansion meetings scheduled

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 10:15am
Pennington County will host two meetings to learn about and provide input on the proposed jail expansion project. The meetings will be held Tuesday, July 15, and Monday, July 28, at 5:30 p.m. at The Monument— LaCroix Hall, Section C (444 Mt. Rushmore Road in Rapid City).
Community members will hear directly from Pennington County commissioners, the Rapid City Police Department, the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, local courts and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

Hill City School is heating things up

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 10:09am
Work is well underway on a much-needed upgrade to Hill City School’s infrastructure with the addition of a new boiler room—a 600 square-foot expansion to the existing middle school. According to contract company Dean Kurtz Construction’s website, “The project is designed to relocate and upgrade the school’s mechanical systems, ensuring long-term operational efficiency and flexibility.”
The new system will serve both the elementary and middle schools, while the high school will continue using its own boiler and rooftop units.

Former state employee gets seven years

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 8:47am

A former South Dakota Department of Social Services employee was sentenced to seven years in prison after earlier being convicted of stealing $1.78 million in state and federal funds from the department’s division of Child Protection Services.
“This jury conviction and sentence confirm that public trust is not for sale,” said state attorney general Marty Jackley in a press release. 

Opt-out option for ambulance

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:44am
As property tax remains a hot topic across the state, the idea of a tax opt-out may raise concerns for some taxpayers. But when it comes to emergency medical services (EMS), cutting costs could be more costly than you think. 
The Hill City Ambulance District has chosen to opt-out of the proposed tax levy—the maximum tax levy for ambulance districts is $0.60 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation. The service is asking for an additional $125,000 in order to maintain operations and continue providing adequate services to the area. 

City seeks floodplain map grant

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:43am
The City of Hill City seeks a Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant to map its floodplain. Hill City Common County (HCCC) aldermen approved the proposal at the June 23 meeting of the council. If the grant is awarded, it will cost the city 10 percent, or $16,080, of the total project cost. The city was encouraged to apply by the state, city administrator Nate Anderson told council members. 
The HMA grant replaced the former Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which would have cost the city 25 percent.

New fees to come in national forest

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:41am
The Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) has approved a fee increase at some of its most popular day use sites and changes for off-highway vehicles (OHV) riders. 
The approval means an extension of the current season into the shoulder season, October-mid May, and will mean a $5 entry fee to sites like Dalton Lake, Sheridan Lake South, Bismarck Lake and Steamboat Rock. In total, 16 sites, those with a toilet and/or garbage collection, will now have a shoulder season fee.