Hill City Prevailer

Goodbye to romance

Published by admin on Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:36am
Every generation has them. The icons of an era. The actors, musicians, writers who, when they pass, make you feel.
Ozzy was my icon.
For some he was Ozzy Osbourne. In my world he was just Ozzy.
I knew the name from a very young age.
His music was a part of my life.
I was and still am a heavy metal kind of girl.
And no one was more metal than Ozzy.
For those who only know the image, the titles of songs or even the dad from reality television I think you are missing the true Ozzy.

A miracle at 40,000 feet

Published by admin on Wed, 07/30/2025 - 8:23am

As you may recall from my previous article, I recently attended the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conference in Indianapolis, Ind. The conference was incredible—packed with valuable insights and ideas that I’m excited to bring back to our state and district. But as impactful as the conference was, nothing compared to what happened on my flight home.

Love it or hate it, here comes the rally

Published by admin on Wed, 07/23/2025 - 9:28am
The 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is almost upon us. As one of the oldest and largest motorcycle gatherings, it’s a pretty incredible event. The small town of Sturgis is almost unrecognizable when the vendors pop up and the streets are full of bikes. 
I’m a firm believer that locals fall into one of two opinions about it—love it or hate it. I don’t think there are many impartial people. 

Thoughts on the prison-building process

Published by admin on Wed, 07/23/2025 - 9:21am

Gov. Larry Rhoden issued an executive proclamation calling for a special session of the South Dakota legislature Sept. 23 starting at 9 a.m. Legislators of both the House (70 members) and the Senate (35 members) will consider authorizing funds for a new men’s prison; not that its necessary as the present men’s prison was built in 1881! That’s even before South Dakota became a state Nov. 2, 1889. My point is we all know it’s way, way past time to build a new men’s prison. It’s just the best, most efficient way to “git ‘er done.”

Nothing wrong with educational trips

Published by admin on Wed, 07/23/2025 - 9:20am

I have just returned from a trip to the three-day annual conference for The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is America’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators from across the U.S. who are dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism (local government). 

Tune in to the Hippie Hole dilemma

Published by admin on Wed, 07/16/2025 - 9:27am
I wrote this column on a Friday, and then on Saturday another tragedy occured. Rather than change it completely, I just want to send my condolences out to the friends and family of the deceased. This topic had been weighing on my mind for a long time. This senseless death is yet another reason to act now. My original column is below; the drowning was incident four of this summer season.
The cat is out of the bag. The rabbit has gone down the hole. Multiple times. And the question needs to be asked—is it time to close or make the trail to Hippie Hole legal?

Championing property tax relief again

Published by admin on Wed, 07/16/2025 - 8:27am

Greetings!
There is a property tax meeting this Thursday, July 17, at 9 a.m. at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Beck ballroom. The intent is to come up with draft legislation to present before the entire legislative body when session starts in January 2026. 

Rooted in freedom

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 9:47am
Independence Day marks a pivotal moment in American History. On a summer day 249 years ago, inside Independence Hall, our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and declared liberty from tyranny. Their Declaration confirms that liberty is not a privilege, but a right given by our Creator. This day is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the American spirit – and of American freedom.

Happy new year—for the state, anyway

Published by admin on Wed, 07/09/2025 - 8:46am

What kind of headline is that? Crazy, isn’t it? Well, leave it to the state and federal governments to mess up our calendar. Our normal citizens’ calendars go from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Our state year is from July 1 to June 30 and our federal government year is from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. It seems like a governmental bureaucratic shell game to me, but I didn’t get to decide. So, of course, the reason I’m saying Happy New Year is that our state’s new year just started July 1.

Appreciating what we have

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:39am
I appreciate you.
I use this phrase a lot.
With coworkers, wait staff, in supermarkets, with friends.
I kept hearing this  phrase today from Junior as I watched him run around, trying to get cars fixed in a timely matter.
He was fitting me in when a woman walked in with two kids and I told him to help her first. 
Those words are so powerful.
As was this experience. 
The dreaded “check engine” light in my car came on while in the middle of Denver.