Hill City Prevailer

DOT says no to restroom sign mall location

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 9:06am
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has denied the town’s request to relocate the public restrooms to the Keystone sign mall property.
A letter from Custer area engineer Rich Zacher explained the decision. 
“The removal of the sign mall would be in conflict with the original sign mall agreement that could require compensation to past billboard owners,” it read. Town board president Rick Greene said the decision “leaves us with pretty much the same location we have unless anyone has one.”

Tour de Chocolate returns this weekend

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 9:04am
The 11th annual Tour de Chocolate is taking place on Feb. 11 throughout the day in correspondence to business hours. 
Visitors and community members are invited to take a tour of around 29 businesses across Hill City. At each stop, businesses will offer a feature chocolate treat with no purchase required as well as store specials. 

Polar Bear Chili Cook Off Saturday

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 9:01am
Another chili cook-off is coming to Hill City, only this time it is a fundraiser for the Tin City Masonic Lodge No. 112. 
According to Mason John Knapp, “We started it so we could raise money to help us support the things we do for the kids.” 

Leaders differ on tax cut legislation

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 8:54am
Republican legislative leaders are promising a conservative approach to the various tax cut bills that have been submitted during this session of the Legislature. Democratic leaders, who for years have backed a sales tax cut on food, aren’t entirely optimistic about the fate of this year’s tax cut legislation.
Their comments were made on Thursday, Jan. 26, to a group of editors and publishers in Pierre for Newspaper Day at the Legislature.

Legislative leaders weigh in on Hawaii trip

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 8:52am
Republican and Democratic legislative leaders differed Thursday in their opinions about what should happen to former colleagues who took a state-sponsored trip to Hawaii during the last years of their terms.
The leaders made the comments to editors and publishers during Newspaper Day at the legislature Jan. 26.

Winter festival returns Feb. 18-19

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:04am
The annual Black Hills Winter Festival hosted by Miner Brewing Company and Prairie Berry Winery returns Feb. 18-19. This family-friendly, free event will take place on the campus of Miner Brewing Co. and Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City.
Activities include live music, outdoor fire pits, an igloo bar with mulled wine and hot cocoa, crowler fishing, beer, bingo and more.
Saturday, Feb. 18
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Oh Geez! Pop Up Shop
11 a.m. Crowler Fishing 
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Miner Mutt Dash 
Sponsored by Bar K9

Council approves Memorial Park plan

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 10:00am
A large crowd gathered at the Hill City Common Council meeting on Jan. 23 to show their support and ask questions about the proposed plan to renovate Memorial Park. 
According to city administrator Brett McMacken the park board has been formulating this project for several months and is now at the culmination. Specifically, they have been looking at what the potential vision and improvements for Memorial Park could be over a long-term scenario. 

Grant applications open for local projects

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 9:50am
The Hill City Area Community Foundation (HCACF) is once again accepting grant applications from area nonprofits.
Any nonprofit organization, including nonprofit community organizations, schools, churches or government-related entities are encouraged to apply. 

Frye-Mueller stripped of assignments, suspended

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 9:49am

District 30 Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller is being investigated by a Select Committee on Discipline and Expulsion after allegations  by a Legislative Research Council  staff member.
The developing story began Jan. 25 when Frye-Mueller was stripped of her committee assignments. Frye-Mueller sat on Senate Local Government and Senate Health and Human Services.
The decision, which came from Watertown Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, came without comment.

Back to school or off to jail: Legislators seek update to South Dakota juvenile justice assessment system

Published by admin on Wed, 02/01/2023 - 4:05pm
One of the key tenets of juvenile justice reform in South Dakota – keeping low-level youth offenders out of custody in favor of rehabilitative services and a return to public school attendance – is causing headaches for South Dakota education officials, who say they are not equipped to deal with habitual offenders in school settings.