Hill City Prevailer

A little more sunshine

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 8:54am
I get called a lot of different names as a journalist. The children at the elementary school call me Paper Lady or Camera Lady. Different people around town call me miss, ma’am, honey, sweetheart and more. A couple of people even make jokes about my last name every time they see me.
At times, it’s a term of endearment. Other times I think people just forget my name and need a quick substitute. 

Property Tax Update

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 8:53am
The drafting of property tax relief legislation has already begun in preparation for the 2025 legislative session.  Myself, Mary Fitzgerald, Dennis Krull and legislative candidates Tim Goodwin, and Amber Hulse met  July 1 to discuss options and begin drafting legislation to present in Pierre in January. Also in attendance was Robert Paul, Fall River County Commissioner Joe Allen, business owner Don Olsted, legislative representative for SMART, Keith Grieser, and lobbyists Matt Krogman and Lisa Gennaro.

Leading a charmed life

Published by admin on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 8:55am
There are many different column-worthy topics this week.

Trading offhanded comments for kindness

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 8:48am
I’m getting rather tired of offhanded comments. You know, those comments that we and others make without really planning or thinking ahead. It just sort of slips out before we know it. Sometimes these comments are funny. Sometimes we’re surprised by their insightfulness. But other times, these comments are just hurtful. 
Wickionary defines offhanded comments as “careless; without sufficient thought or consideration,” or “curt, abrupt and unfriendly.” 

Why does Keystone need a chamber?

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 8:55am
Do you know what’s going on in Keystone for Independence Day? 
Nothing.
Yes, that’s right. 
Up the road at Mount Rushmore National Memorial visitors can celebrate the birthday of the country with music and dancers.
In the town?
Nothing.
Residents and visitors can see fireworks in Custer after spending the day in Hill City enjoying a parade and ice cream social.
And in Keystone, the closest town to the Shrine of Democracy…nothing.

Rethinking baby steps

Published by admin on Wed, 06/26/2024 - 8:49am
Just take baby steps—this seems to be the most common suggestion whenever we are feeling overwhelmed or struggling to overcome something. And yet, what do we mean by baby steps? 
According to Wiktionary, baby steps are “A small effort made toward the completion of a much larger task.” 
So effectively by telling someone to take baby steps, we’re encouraging them to take small steps toward their end goal, which is often good advice. As Aesop said, “Little by little does the trick.”

Sprawling scapes

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2024 - 9:39am
As I rode down to Rapid City today I got to thinking about the Catron Boulevard/ Moon Meadows corridor. I don’t think I realize how much it’s changed in the last few years. 
It used to be that only an energy company was there. And now there is a bank and a couple of hospitals/ clinics. A  coffee cabin and a strip mall. A storage facility and an entire housing development. I bet I missed a couple of things, didn’t I?
 I can remember passing the maze when it was still open and now wondering what it’s going to be in a few years from now. 

The to do about to-do lists

Published by admin on Wed, 06/12/2024 - 8:52am
People keep asking me how I keep track of everything as a journalist. The simple answer is I write everything down. 
This is a trick I learned in college. I’m not the best auditory learner, but if I listen to something and write it down, I’ll remember it. So I write every meeting, interview, event and photo shoot on my wall calendar at the office. 

Shower the people

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 9:09am
I woke up today with a James Taylor song on my mind. I haven’t heard it in ages. But my day yesterday was filled with so much love, it’s likely that’s what got my brain humming, “shower the people you love with love, show them the way you feel, things are gonna work out fine if you only will.”
Yesterday as I sat poised to make the crux move on the rock climb gossamer, I heard my friends below. One yelled, “Be kind to yourself.” She somehow knew my head was racing with thoughts of doubt and fear.

Life doesn’t come with an eraser

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:00am
Sometimes I wish life came with an eraser. 
In junior high I had an English teacher who forbid the class from writing with pencils. Instead, he wanted everyone to use a pen so they were more thoughtful and less haphazard in their writing. For those who dared use a pencil, he promised he would bite off the eraser if he saw it being used.