News

Dealing with school mental health issues

Published by admin on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 9:15am
Sara Holmberg’s job as a counselor at Dell Rapids Middle School has never been more challenging.
As fallout from the pandemic creates what the U.S. Surgeon General calls a “youth mental health crisis,” school counselors like Holmberg find themselves providing not just academic and vocational guidance, but emotional support to students and families. Forging that many personal connections is difficult, so schools are exploring ways to supplement traditional counseling with professional partnerships to make sure teens get the attention they need.

Daiss donates salary to golf program

Published by admin on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 8:54am
During the Hill City School District Board of Education meeting April 11, the board approved golf coach Josh Daiss’ desire to donate his coaching salary to the Golf Trust and Agency account. 
“He’s not doing it for the money,” said superintendent Blake Gardner. Instead, “he wants to use that money to buy gear for the kids, buy equipment and things like that.”

Crane to be inducted into hall of fame

Published by admin on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 8:53am
Local artist Jon Crane will be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021. The induction ceremony will be held in Chamberlain at the Arrowhead Cedar Shore Resort Bridges Conference Center May 21. Last year’s induction ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19.

Attainable housing life-changing: Lee Tackett grateful to finally be a homeowner

Published by admin on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 8:48am
The Bull Run subdivision was created and touted as an attainable housing project in Hill City. And for at least one resident the project has been a dream come true. 
Seventy-three year old Lee Tackett has owned his home since March 2021. His face still lights up at the thought that he is a homeowner.
“I’ve never owned a home in my life” said Tackett. “I don’t know how to own a home. I never dreamed I’d own one.”
He says the most surprising thing about his Bull Run home is that it is his. 

Taxpayer asks city for answers on Hill City Center

Published by admin on Thu, 04/21/2022 - 8:47am
There were several public comments at the Hill City Common Council meeting April 11.
Two addressed action items further in the agenda, however, and Connie Wolters once again spoke to the aldermen requesting financial information regarding the Business Improvement District (BID) project and the new Hill City Center. 

Town of Keystone test drives new software

Published by admin on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 10:13am
The Town of Keystone has test driven the new software it plans to purchase. 
According to the April 6 Keystone board meeting, Cassandra Ott, town finance officer,  said it was “quite an eye-opener” to see what up-to-date software is capable of.
The new software has a $1,000 annual fee that is  more expensive than the  software the town currently uses, but  the product will save employees time and eliminate third-party fees associated with credit card transactions.

Alley project updated

Published by admin on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 9:53am
On April 5 a group of officials, business owners and community members met at the Boys & Girls Club of the Black Hills to hear more about the upcoming alley project.
“This is really phase two of our bigger (Business Improvement District) BID Board project with the public restrooms and the enlargement of the senior center facility into the new community center building,” said city administrator Brett McMacken. 

Nightly rentals issue back on ballot

Published by admin on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 9:42am
The Hill City Common Council approved a citizen- initiated measure regarding an ordinance establishing a ban on non-owner-occupied nightly rentals in residentially zoned areas within the city of Hill City to appear on the June 7 election ballot. The approval came at the most recent meeting April 11. 
This was the second time the council approved this initiated measure (IM). However, it was determined the first time it was approved that it was not in the correct format required by the state. 

OHV workshop stresses collaboration

Published by admin on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 9:40am
The second agenda workshop for the Black Hills Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Collaborative Learning Process took place in Hill City April 5. 
The goal of the workshop was to create a Black Hills Regional OHV strategy for success,  a living document with solutions and an implementation strategy. This particular workshop had two specific topics for discussion. 
One, to develop a successful long-term strategy for stakeholders/partners and public engagement and two to collaborate across all political and ownership boundaries solutions.

Primary election candidates named

Published by admin on Thu, 04/14/2022 - 9:37am
There will only be one contested race in the June primary election, while challenges dominate at county and state levels.
Mayor Kathy Skorzewski is facing no opposition this year and will be Hill City’s mayor once again. In addition alderman Jason Gillaspie will again be representing Ward 1 as he too is running unopposed.
However there will be a race in Ward 2. Incumbent Dale Householder is being challenged by former alderman John Johnson.