Hill City Prevailer

Fire breaks out in Keystone again

Published by admin on Tue, 12/23/2025 - 9:58am
A fire reported at 2:43 p.m. Dec. 17 roared to life two miles east of Keystone town limits. Named the Greyhound Fire, the blaze grew to 166 acres in an area locals refer to as Government Field, a local gun range, on Hwy. 40. The fire moved east and those along Hwy. 40 between Playhouse Road and Rushmore Ranch Road were in a set to evacuate stage as emergency responders worked on the scene. 

Trustee suggests contingency committee

Published by admin on Tue, 12/23/2025 - 9:53am
As a fire burned just two miles outside of town, the Keystone Town Board briefly discussed what the town can do in emergency situations. Trustee Matt Fullilove reminded fellow board members that this was the third fire in town in the last year and that a fire contingency committee might be in order. He expressed concern over where, not just people, but their animals might go. 
Finance officer Samantha Epler said, “We have cots at the fire station” but was unsure for how many people. 

Water, sewer rates approved with no opposition

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 1:14pm
Hill City Common Council (HCCC) aldermen set water and sewer rates at the council’s Dec. 8 meeting
The new rates are, “inevitable,” according to mayor Tana Nichols, who thanked aldermen and staff for working so hard on the rate structure.
“We are not trying to hurt anybody. This stuff should have been done a long time ago,” Nichols said.

A closer look at the Keystone sewer plant

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 1:13pm
Every day drivers coming to Keystone from Hermosa pass the Keystone sewer plant. The lift station is a tiny building that sits right off Hwy 40. It is the lifeline from the plant to town, connecting the sewer lines to the plant itself located yards away. The system is what is known as gravity fed.
“Gravity couldn’t take it up there, so we pump it up the hill,” said Keystone’s superintendent of public works Jerry Przybylski about the town’s wastewater. 

Hill City preschool achieves exemplary rating

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 10:50am
The Hill City School District Board of Education met Dec. 8 for its final meeting of 2025.
Special education (SPED) director Breanna Lende-Hanson introduced Abby Zuniga, the SPED early childhood and preschool teacher. The two recently went through the application process for the Preschool Levels of Excellence Program, in which the preschool earned an exemplary rating and received an official certificate.
Superintendent Blake Gardner commended the pair, noting the courage it takes to pursue an evaluation of this caliber early in their careers.

Goodwin, Hulse, Ladner react to budget pitch

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 10:44am

Following Gov. Larry Rhoden addressing state legislators regarding his proposed $7.44 billion budget Dec. 2 at the State Capitol in Pierre, District 30 legislators agreed 2026 could be another year with a tight budget, although just how tight remains to be seen.

City holds hearing for phase two funding

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 9:56am
Jennifer Sietsema, executive director for the  Black Hills Council of Local Governments and Joe Noble of city engineering firm AE2S joined the Hill City Common Council at a special meeting held Dec. 4 at the Hill City Center. This was a required meeting to apply for the next round of funding for the water and sewer infrastructure projects. 

Town votes to hold elections in November

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 9:55am
The Town of Keystone has chosen to hold its municipal elections in November. The decision was made at the Dec. 3 Keystone Town Board meeting.
A new 2025 state statute requested the town either align with the primary or general election date. 
Some trustees, like Matt Fullilove and David Cofoid,  were already leaning toward that month, versus the other option of June. Cofoid thought November made more sense because “you have more elections.” He also brought up whether business owners would be present that late in the season. 

Commissioners continue to discuss libraries

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 9:54am
Pennington County has held meetings with the libraries in Wall, Keystone, Hill City and Rapid City. 
Jordan Neeb, director for the commission office, told commissioners at the Dec. 2 meeting the county meetings with the libraries have  been “very productive.” 
“There’s been a lot of misinformation out there,” Neeb said, adding there is now a “pretty good understanding” of the situation.
As a whole, there were no deal breakers with the draft contract language sent to each library, but there  were concerns.

Kiosk proposed for Hill City

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:15am
A citizen-suggested vehicle registration kiosk may gain ground in Hill City. The idea was proposed by Deb Whitman at the Nov. 24 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting.