Our Towns 2019

OUR TOWNS BLACK HILLS PIONEER

SECTION 1 OF 4

2019 EDITION

The businesses, organizations and people making a positive difference in the Northern Hills.

Section

2

Section

3

Section

BLACK HILLS ROUNDUP CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

A SLEW OF NEW BUSINESSES OPEN IN 2018

TINTON TRAIL EYED FOR 'OFFICIAL' STATUS

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Page 2, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Spearfish hit $48.8 million of building project valuation in 2018

Spearfish saw another busy year of construction in 2018, reaching total building project valuation of $48.8 million – the third-highest in the city’s history There were 109 new residential units permitted in 2018, along with 21 new commercial building permits, such as the new McDonald’s building, pictured in July.

By Kaija Swisher Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — It didn’t top 2017’s re-

cord-breaking building project valuations record, but 2018 was another busy year for the building inspection department with $48,873.345.57 in total project valuation – the third-highest in the city’s history – with 396 total various types of building permits issued.

“This is great news for the city of Spearfish,”

Building Official Tom Paisley said. He explained that the numbers for total project valuation come from an estimated cost of each project that requires a building permit. Permits are required for new buildings, additions, alterations, and repairs.

“Once again this year we saw a good balance of both residential and commercial projects,” Paisley said.

Overall, the city issued residential permits for 109 new residential units,

In 2018, thee were 109 new residential units permitted in Spearfish. Pioneer photos by Kaija Swisher

which included 60 single-family dwellings and 49 apartment units.

“This is nine more residential units than we had in 2018,” Paisley said.

There were also a variety of commercial building permits issued, including 21 new commercial building permits for businesses like the new McDonald’s restaurant, Lookout Mountain Plaza, The Granary District, Sawyer Brewing, Creekside Bistro,

Jake’s Auto Body, the Pub at Miller Creek at Elkhorn Ridge Golf course, and more.

“SEDC (Spearfish Economic Development Corporation) is extremely encouraged by the strong 2018 building permit valuations,” Kory Menken, SEDC executive director, said. “This is another indication that the Spearfish economy remains healthy and is moving in the right direction. Based on our current prospect activity, we anticipate 2019 could be yet another exciting year for our community.”

To compare, in 2017, the city saw a record $51,989,447.50 total building project valuation, representing 439 various types of building permits.

In 2016, the building project valuations totaled $43,778,969.81, with 453 permits issued; in 2015, the total building project valuations was $46,350,137.83, with 458 permits issued.

The city hit its previous record in 2014, with total valuation of $49,103,173,

The Black Hills Pioneer reflecting 513 total permits.

In 2013, there was approximately $36 million in total valuation, and construction valuations totals were close in 2010, 2012, and 2013, with a dip in 2011, reflecting 44 new single-family homes and total construction valuation around $18.7 million.

Since 1991, the next closest record for total new construction value was 2004, at approximately $44 million.

“2019 is also looking like it will be another busy year,” Paisley said. “There are several new developments underway, and there will be more buildable lots with the extended development of Evans Addition, more lots in The Reserve on Higgins Creek, and more lots at Elkhorn Ridge Golf Estates. We have issued several permits for single-family dwellings at Top Shelf Addition, The Reserve, and Elkhorn Ridge. Our first permit of 2019 was issued for an eight-unit apartment in the Reserve Addition.”

Paisley added that this month, the city will be adopting the 2018 edition of the International Building Code, residential code, fire code, mechanical code, property maintenance code, existing building code, and mechanical code.

“It is important for us to adopt the most recent editions of these codes to ensure that new construction

Our Towns 2019, Page 3

In 2018, Spearfish saw another busy year of construction in 2018, reaching total building project valuation of $48.8 million – the thirdhighest in the city’s history. The total permits included 21 new commercial building permits. Pioneer photos by Kaija Swisher in our community is built to the most recent standards for fire and life safety,” he said, explaining that the public has an expectation of building safety. “That expectation of safety is a result of what building officials and inspectors do every day. We strive to make the building permit process as easy as we can. Plans are submitted and reviewed for code compliance. After the plans have been approved, then our inspectors perform several inspections during the construction phase

which include structural, HVAC, fire, plumbing, and final inspections prior to occupancy.”

Paisley added that Spearfish is fortunate to have a very knowledgeable team of professionals who have several years of experience in construction and code compliance.

“We also work very well other city offices which include Planning and Zoning, Engineering, and Flood Plain, along with the State Electrical Commission, State

Plumbing Commission, State Health Department, State Fire Marshall and South Dakota DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources),” he said. “It is a team effort that provides minimum standards for safety in the built environment. We are also fortunate to have some very incredible contractors in our area that make our jobs easier.”

Paisley complimented his staff for their work in 2018.

“I am grateful for these folks every day; they do an

Work continues at the Village at Creekside, a new multiuse development off of North Avenue and Yukon Place in Spearfish.

exceptional job,” he said. “It is important for the public to realize the importance of Building Inspection. We enforce minimum building code standards to ensure the homes we live in and the businesses we enter are safe.”

The Building and Development office can be reached at 642-1335, and more information is available at cityofspearfish.com/ departments/building_services/index.php.

Page 4, Our Towns 2019

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 5

Ag outlook optimistic for 2019

Ag producers and business owners are optimistic about 2019 and pending livestock sales. Pioneer file photo by Mark Watson

By Tim Potts Black Hills Pioneer

STURGIS — The agriculture outlook for western South Dakota is fairly optimistic for 2019 according to the ag bankers, brokers, ag business owners and several ranchers who shared their thoughts recently on prices, weather, disease, and opportunities.

Gary Cammack, state senator, Cammack Ranch Supply owner and rancher: “The outlook for ag in 2019 is good, although we don’t like to see the big snow banks, but it gives us all hope for green grass, and the other thing is that the ground is frozen and when the snow melts, it will run a lot of water,” said Gary Cammack, a state senator, Cammack Ranch Supply owner and rancher. “The Union Center area has not had any significant run off for over two years, and so this should fill most dams and reservoirs and get the grass started.” Cammack talked about the cold weather just hanging on, and how tough that is for livestock producers.

“The weather reporting station at Maureen, S.D., re-

ported the average temperature was three degrees, the second coldest February on record and the sheer misery of day-after-day cold temperatures takes a toll on the livestock.”

Those ranchers who calf early have really had a tough go, for the most part they have saved the calves by living with them 24 hours a day.

“As of right now, there has been some death loss, but for the most part the losses are further south of here, and more significant losses there,” Cammack added referencing areas that are flooding.

“For those in the grain market, the commodity markets do not look good, we have significant stock of corn and soybeans, it just doesn’t look good,” he said.

Cammack discussed a bill before the South Dakota Legislature that would allow the growing of industrial hemp that was vetoed by Gov. Kristi Noem.

“I supported the hemp bill. The big opportunity I thought we missed was the processing plants, because almost all states surrounding us have legalized the growing of industrial hemp and so the processing plants will likely not locate in South

Dakota,” said Cammack.

Cammack shared thoughts on ranches being handed down from one generation to another.

“A significant amount of young people are coming back to the area. We have a new school being built at Union Center and the number of kids in each grade are in the teens, and I trace the families coming back to the really good cattle prices in 2014 and 2015,” Cammack added.

Dustin Oedekoven, state veterinarian and executive secretary South Dakota Animal Industry Board.

“As for losses, I’ve not heard of large numbers, but certainly several folks have realized losses throughout this difficult winter. It will certainly have an impact, especially in light of low commodity prices and trade related expanded prices of supplies,” said Dustin Oedekoven, the state veterinarian and executive secretary South Dakota Animal Industry Board.

Oedekoven talked about old and new diseases that will affect the livestock industry.

“My office has been work-

ing with the swine industry in preparation for a potential introduction of African swine fever virus, a foreign animal disease that has not been identified in the western hemisphere, but which has been spreading rapidly throughout China, as well as other Asian and European countries,” Oedekoven said.

The viral disease is spread by contaminated products, infected animals, and perhaps on the clothing and products of unknowing travelers, he said. The disease is highly fatal to pigs, and there is no treatment or vaccine.

With the U.S. pork industry exporting nearly 27 percent of its production, the industry is very concerned about the impacts of a potential introduction.

Oedekoven said this year’s legislative session went well.

Senate bill 40 will allow for the continued renovation and expansion of the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at SDSU. The new construction began in 2018 and should be completed by this fall. The new and expanded facilities is there to assist livestock and pet owners, as well as all of us who enjoy animal protein, in ensuring a healthy animals and a safe and

wholesome food supply.

Senate Bill 43 makes possible the continued development of a Rural Veterinary Medical Program at SDSU. Students interested in a veterinary degree will apply to the University of Minnesota, but will be able to take their first two years of veterinary education at SDSU, and at in-state tuition rates, before transferring to University of Minnesota for the final two clinical years.

Rich Blair, broker and Meade County rancher:

“What I hear and most commented from people is that the calf market isn’t really to bad, and even the hay market, isn’t bad, but the operating expenses are so high,” said Blair. “I don’t think the livestock losses were as big this year as last year due to the cold and wet weather, in a normal year, a producer may see a 5 to 10 percent loss and last year it was more in the 15 percent area,” Blair said.

The challenges of the ranchers for 2019 and into the future, include: hay and forage production and it looks good moisture wise, market volatility, learning how to market and packer AG OUTLOOK Pg 6

Page 6, Our Towns 2019

SPEARFISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Spearfish Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is a private, non-profit corporation formed in 1980 to improve lives by creating economic opportunities for the community and its citizens. The primary areas of focus of SEDC are business expansion, attraction, and retention, while improving quality of life in the community. SEDC is committed to “growing business by nature.”

For more information on joining SEDC and making a greater impact in the community, contact SEDC at 642-3832 or visit www.spearfishdevelopment.com

RE/MAX IN THE HILLS

The Black Hills Pioneer wall,” he added.

from Pg 5

AG OUTLOOK processing capacity.

“The ranchers are going to grow the business, expand the cattle herd and yet, we don’t have as much packer expansion,” said Blair.

The younger people trying to start in the ranching business struggle due to the large capital investment needed and high expenses, including one of the major issues of the high cost of health insurance and learning marketing skills.

“The difference on making it work and not, a lot of times is when and how you market,” Blair added. “The biggest deal to marketing is making the decision when you want to market and not when your back is against a

Bryce Richter, Pioneer Bank and Trust, vice president, ag/ commercial loan officer: “I would say that the outlook for western South Dakota ag producers is cautiously optimistic. After last year’s wet weather and two years of stabilized livestock commodity prices, there is the feeling that producers want to be optimistic, but after being so close on the heels of catastrophic weather in 2016 and 2017 and a quick and precipitous drop in commodity prices in 2016 people are a little afraid to be too excited,” said

Bryce Richter, Pioneer Bank and Trust, vice president, ag/commercial loan officer Richter works with roughly 100 ag producers over a territory including Harding, Perkins, Butte, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Ziebach and Haakon counties.

Richter discussed the challenges he saw for someone trying to get into the ranching business in 2019.

“The challenge is the same as previous years, primarily and almost entirely being less than adequate capital. Ranching is a very capital intensive business model, and one in which generating that capital takes a significant amount of time,” he added.

Growing a ranching

business is consequently very time intensive and doesn’t happen overnight, he said.

“This business model runs very contradictory to the way the world has evolved, where immediate results are desired and expected. These culture clashes make it very difficult unfortunately, especially for younger people, to enter into the ranching business and experience sustained long-term success,” Richter added.

Mike Johnson, First Interstate Bank vice president/agriculture loan officer:

Johnson has approximately 140 ag clients and works throughout most of western South Dakota “In 2017, the lack of hay

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Belle Package liquor

City owned Belle Package Liquor boasts the largest beer cave in Belle Fourche, a vast selection of wine, and a great collection of craft beers — sample a single bottle, or create your own craft beer sampler!

Nonalcoholic treats include old fashioned 1919 Keg Root Beer, snacks, and Dimock Cheese. We also have a large variety of cigars in our humidor.

Stop in and shop and enjoy our everyday low prices, volume discounts and great in-store specials. If we do not have your favorite wine, beer or spirit in stock, let us know and we will be happy to place a special order.

THE GLASS SHOP

Livestock stand together to block the wind, waiting for the morning feed, just outside Eagle Butte. Pioneer photo by Tim Potts Wade and Kendra Beringer, owners of The Glass Shop located at 436 E. Colorado Blvd., Spearfish, have been providing residential and commercial glass glazing for 11 years.

They use only high quality products and offer a service that most people do not know how to perform. Their expertise in glazing has won them Master Craftsmanship Awards for custom shower and specialty glass, specialty curved etched glass and glazing, curtain walls, store fronts, and automatic entrances.

Visit their website at www.theglassshop.net for more information and to view samples of their work, or give them a call at 605-642-3872.

OUR TOWNS Special Edition

is produced by the Black Hills Pioneer newspaper 315 Seaton Circle, Spearfish, SD 57783 (605) 642-2761 • (800) 676-2761 • www.bhpioneer.com Letitia Lister, publisher | Mark Watson, managing editor Sona O’Connell, advertising manager | Paul Baker, layout

The publisher will not be responsible or liable for misprints, misinformation or typographic errors herein contained.

Publisher also reserves the right to refuse any advertising deemed not to be in the best interest of the publication. © 2019 BLACK HILLS PIONEER,

all rights reserved.

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 7 production really hurt a lot of our livestock producers. When they don’t have hay, they only have a couple choices, buy hay or sell the cows,” Johnson said.

“The ranchers that I work with have been working on improving the quality of their herds, you just can’t imagine the improvements that I have seen in the past 25 years, they are just so much better today,” said Johnson.

“Everyone has just really done a good job of putting quality herds together.”

“Everything you read about agriculture is negative.

And here, I don’t have that. And yes, it can turn in a minute, but the future looks good,” Johnson added.

Justin Tupper — owner and general manager of St. Onge Livestock:

Courtesy photo

“I think the ag sector is in pretty good shape, with the new trade deals getting worked out.

I think there is a lot of potential, especially in the cattle industry to have some growth,” said Justin Tupper,

owner and general manager of St. Onge Livestock. “Some of the challenges, are going to be making sure we can sustain that and we don’t overgrow. It is widely thought we are in an expansion with the cow herd, and some, along with myself, may question that. I think there is real potential for this to be a pretty good year.”

Tupper discussed cattle prices and where they may be this fall.

“It is fairly a stagnant market especially compared to 2014 and 2015, we have been in a complacent market, a six weight steer is in the $1.60 range, and we have hung in that area for quite some time,” Tupper said. “With all of the other prices for these ranchers, the operating and fixed costs all going up, a $1,000 calf is almost a necessity anymore to maintain viability for a lot of these folks.”

Tupper said that February was as tough of a winter month as he can remember in a long time. Winter, from October to the middle of January, was mild weather and great for our ranchers, but February and March, rolled around and it was really a tough start to the calving season.

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Page 8, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

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Our Towns 2019, Page 9

Spearfish schools seeing progression with school-wide Title 1

By Mark Watson Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — The school year is not over, and already teachers and administrators are seeing a marked benefit from implementing schoolwide Title 1 this year.

Before the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the Spearfish School District operated using a targeted Title 1 program.

“Title” is a federal program that exists to provide support to support to schools, to serve underperforming students or subgroups of students and provide additional supports, said Nick Gottlob, principal at West and Mountain View Elementary schools in Spearfish. He is also the district’s Title coordinator.

“In our district, the recent discussions from tradition from targeted assistance to school-wide title applies only to Title 1,” he said.

Traditionally, Gottlob said, school districts operated based on the number of students who received free or reduced lunches.

Operating under the targeted Title 1 program, students in kindergarten through fifth-grade are screened at the beginning of the year, and those identified are multiple qualifying factors are placed in the Title 1 program, with parents’ permissions. This allows the students to be placed into smaller groups to receive intensive instruction in reading and/or math.

“Generally, schools that are schoolwide title have a threshold of at least 40 percent free and reduced lunch or higher,” Gottlob said. “Spearfish has always been below that threshold.

But in recent years, our numbers have crept closer to that number. In the K-2 world, we’ve been around 34-36 percent, and even as high as 38 percent in the last couple years.”

He said a couple years ago, the state Department of Education, with guidance from the federal Department of Education, authorized schools not previously reaching that 40 percent threshold to apply for waivers. The Spearfish School District weighed the pros and cons of the switch and then applied for and was granted the waiver to launch a school-wide title program.

This is applied in kindergarten through fifth-grade.

At Mountain View, there is one title teacher providing literacy assistance; there are three at West Elementary providing the same; and there are two certified Title teachers and one paraprofessional teacher providing assistance in both literacy and math.

Now, instead of pulling identified

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The Spearfish School District launched its first year of school-wide Title 1 this year.

Title teachers assist core classroom teachers lowering the student-to-teacher ratio.

Courtesy photo students out of their core classrooms and into the Title rooms during times they were designated, Title teachers assisted by special education staff go into the core classrooms and assist those primary classroom instructors.

“This essentially lowers the student-to-teacher ratio,” Gottlob said.

Then, during designated blocks, all students are broken into groups ranging from three to 15 where they receive instruction.

“The greater the skill deficit, the smaller and more intensive the group is and the instruction is,” Gottlob said. “For some kids, who are at or above grade level, that intervention block turns into an enhancement and enrichment activity versus a skill remediation.”

These intervention blocks are at least 20 minutes and no more than 40 minutes daily, he said.

Gottlob said performance data shows the school-wide Title program is working.

“Our achievement data and growth data indicates that it works. Our teacher judgment indicates that it is working,” he said. “We are able to do things in this year’s schedule that we couldn’t have otherwise due to rules and regulations.”

But data is only a fraction of the tools he and his staff use.

“For me to take some really powerful teachers who are really strong in their craft and use them to impact not just a small group of kids by themselves all day in a room, but to push them into a classroom and support all the kids in the school, I don’t need student data to tell me that is

the right thing,” Gottlob said. “My approach to continuous school improvement and student achievement is doing the right thing and doing it well; the data will take care of itself.

I will never be a principal who is worried more about a test score than a kid.”

“I appreciate that the Department of Education has recognized that if the school-wide title model is effective for schools with over 40 percent free and reduced lunch, there’s probably values to it for those that are under,” Gottlob added. “Our goal whether they are Title or not is to meet every kid where they are at and advance them.”

Gottlob said the main emphasis in Mountain View and West Elementary is on literacy.

“It’s not that math is less important, but if kids can’t read the rest is for naught,” Gottlob said. “Kids K-2 are learning to read. We go beyond K-2, they read to learn. So it is really important that we develop readers.

Not just kids who can test as readers, but kids who can read fluently, can read with comprehension, and what we really want is to have kids that love to read.”

Gottlob said that the Spearfish School District allocates nearly all its Title 1 federal funding on personnel.

“The remainder of funds allocated supports other programs - math and reading,” he said of the after-school and summer school programing. But, due to insufficient federal funding, the programs are supplemented with a grant from the Spearfish Foundation for Public Education.

Dr. Lisa Lundstrom opened Green Circle Chiropractic at 2709 Lazelle St. in Sturgis in February 2019, after moving back to the Black Hills from Big Sky, Montana.

Dr. Lisa started her chiropractic circle in Rapid City in 1999, and successfully adjusted as many families as she could for 15 years. She was then able to continue her passion for chiropractic care for 5 years while in Montana.

Dr. Lisa and her chiropractic assistant, Jan Brengle, are back together, continuing quality chiropractic care in western South Dakota.

At Green Circle Chiropractic, you will get educated on what chiropractic is, why people get adjusted, and how chiropractic care will benefit you. Walk-ins are always welcome, or call 605-720-6288 to set up an appointment.

INTEGRITY MEATS

Integrity Meats is a custom & state meat processing plant. They carry South Dakota made cheese, Hutterite chickens, fresh & frozen cuts of meat, halves or whole sides of beef and pork, and a variety of ready-to-eat products including summer sausage, German sausage, jerky, beef sticks, keilbasa, pickled jalapeno Polish, and pickled eggs. They also offer wild game processing in the fall. Their excellent customer service allows them to put quality and honesty at the top of the list.

Serving customers for over 18 years, stop by and visit them today at 404 Industrial Street, Belle Fourche.

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Page 10, Our Towns 2019

~We are here to help because We Care about You~

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Looking to Buy or Sell in the Black Hills?

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L-R: Doug Clark, Joyce Drabek, Rich Drabek, Debra Leverington, Mark Leverington, Nancy Cole

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 11

Deadwood gaming turns 30

In 2018, the Deadwood table game handle was roughly $70.2 million, up 1.43 percent when compared to 2017. Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson

Deadwood gaming sees $1.1 billion in action, employs 1,175 Casino contributions an integral part of state, local economy

By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD — Boosting and bolstering both local and state coffers, Deadwood gaming remains big business, with casino operators seeing more than $1.1 billion in action and experiencing a slight rebound in 2018, with positive growth in both the slot and table game categories.

“The Deadwood Gaming Association had a 1.5 percent increase in overall handle in 2018 over 2017,” said DGA executive director Mike Rodman. “This is the first real increase in revenues in several years. We would attribute our gaming increase to several factors including a stronger national economy, changes to the Deadwood and Department of Tourism coop marketing campaign that added focus to the shoulder seasons, additional family visitor options with the return of stagecoach rides during the summer, additional room inventory driven by the mid-year opening of the Tru by Hilton property, and

additional events made possible by funding from the newly created Bid District 8.”

According to the yearend summary issued by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming in January, gamers visiting Deadwood in 2018 dropped $1.1 billion in machines and on tables.

Deadwood gaming finished 2018 with a 1.5 percent gain in the cumulative totals, as compared to 2017 levels.

Under the handle comparison category, Deadwood’s table game handle was $70.2 million in 2018, up 1.43 percent when compared to 2017 levels. Under this same category, the slot machine handle was just over $1 billion, up 1.5 percent as compared to 2017.

LIV Hospitality Chief Executive Officer Caleb Arceneaux said 2018 was a good year for his company’s properties.

“Considering the construction disruption that came with the massive Cadillac Jack’s project, we are happy with the results,” Arceneaux said. “We experienced slight

growth at both of our facilities and we look forward to that trend continuing through 2019. We remain confident that the future of Deadwood is bright and the stakeholders invested in our beautiful mountain town will remain vigilant in the effort to reinvent, refresh and reintroduce Deadwood to millions of people around the world.”

Rodman said the casino win in Deadwood, or the amount casinos actually report as revenue, makes it a multi-million-dollar industry, with state-wide impact.

“Deadwood is around a $100-million-dollar industry whose economic benefits are felt not only throughout the Black Hills, but the entire state, driving tourism and economic benefits,” Rodman said.

That said, there is concern to those in the industry regarding the shuttered Main Street properties and the overall loss of gaming devices in Deadwood.

In comparing fiscal year GAMING Pg 14

Deadwood’s gaming industry turns 30 this year. The implementation of gaming in Deadwood turned the ailing community into a top destination town Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson

By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD — Due to technological advances, hitting a jackpot in Deadwood is no longer accompanied by the clatter of coins clanging in the tray, but 30 years of gaming in the gulch is still reason to make quite a bit of noise.

Deadwood’s gaming story actually started more than three decades ago. Faced with the financial perils of living in a dying town, a group of local businesswomen and men decided to take the challenge of introducing a new industry to the area head-on and formed the Deadwood You Bet Committee, engaging in an active pursuit to bring gaming to Deadwood.

That core group of eight Deadwood You Bet Committee members was comprised of Tom Blair, Linda Blair, Bill Walsh, David Larson, Mary Dunne, Mike Trucano, Betty Whittingham, and Melodee Nelson.

The group’s vision for Deadwood was for gaming to help, not only with economic development and job creation, but also tying gaming tax proceeds to historic restoration and preservation to help with the town’s badly-needed infrastructure and building improvements.

“It started as an idea presented to Deadwood’s then-mayor Tom Blair at a time that Deadwood was in serious financial trouble,” Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman explained. “The Deadwood You Bet Committee approached the 1987 legislature with the idea of gaming and were told to go gather signatures if they wanted the voters to approve a constitutional change. They gathered those signatures by attending every parade and fair across South Dakota for 18 months and it was placed on the 1988 ballot and approved by the voters with the caveat that the citizens of Deadwood must approve gaming by at least 60 percent, which they did in April of 1989.”

30 YEARS Pg 16

Page 12, Our Towns 2019

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The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 11

GAMING 2017 to fiscal year 2018, the number of active retail licenses decreased by two. The number of licensed devices decreased by 86.

“While we believe this is a trend back to stronger retail on Deadwood’s Main Street, we look forward to some of these shuttered store fronts being returned to retail spaces,” Rodman said.

By the books

Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson

As set forth in state law, the gaming tax rate totals 9 percent of the adjusted gross revenue; 1 percent goes directly to the state general fund, 40 percent of the tax is transferred to the Department of Tourism, and 10 percent is paid to Lawrence County and the remaining, roughly 50 percent stays in the commission fund.

In addition, each device which includes both table games and slot machines, is assessed an annual device fee of $2,000. These device fees, all licensing fees, and all other miscellaneous revenue is deposited with the state treasury in the commission fund.

The administrative costs of the commission on gaming are paid from the commission fund and amounted to 8.75 percent of total revenue collected in fiscal year 2018. In addition, $100,000 is distributed to

The Black Hills Pioneer the State Historical Preservation Loan and Grant fund and up to $30,000 can be distributed to the Department of Social Services for Gambling Addiction Treatment and Counseling Program grants.

All other revenues remaining in the commission fund are then paid to the city of Deadwood until such time as the net municipal proceeds paid to the city of Deadwood equal $6,800,000 for each calendar year.

In Fiscal 2018, the net municipal proceeds paid to the city of Deadwood reached $6.8 million and in accordance with state law, the distribution of funds in excess of this amount changed; 70 percent of the excess was transferred to the state’s general fund, 10 percent was distributed to other municipalities in Lawrence County and prorated according to population, 10 percent was distributed to school districts in Lawrence County, and prorated based upon the previous year’s average daily enrollment and 10 percent to the city of Deadwood.

The amount distributed to school districts is offset by a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the state aid the district receives.

According to the 2018 Fiscal Year Report (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018) from the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, $15,966,077 was collected in gaming taxes and fees.

The industry generated $3,242,285 for the South Dakota Department of

Our Towns 2019, Page 15 Tourism, $2,722,192 to the state general fund, $100,000 to South Dakota Historic Preservation, $810,571 to Lawrence County, $244,139 to the municipalities of Spearfish, Lead, Whitewood and Central City and another $244,139 to the Lead Deadwood, Spearfish, Meade and Belle Fourche school districts with the balance of the distribution, after administrative costs, going primarily to the historic preservation and restoration in the City of Deadwood.

As such, the city of Deadwood received a distribution of $7,234,221.

Municipality distributions break down as follows: Spearfish, $177,787; Lead, $48,519; Whitewood, $15,080; Central City, $2,752.

School district distributions break down as follows: Spearfish, $175,408; Lead-Deadwood, $56,953; Meade, $11,407; Belle Fourche, $370.

Rodman said, according to the 2018 State of the States report from the American Gaming Association, Deadwood Gaming employs 1,175 direct employees with $46 million in wages, tips and benefits, making it one of, if not the largest employers in the northern Black Hills.

“There are also several hundred indirect employees representing the suppliers and vendors of the industry,” he added.

Rodman said the industry is optimistic that 2019 will be another year of strong gaming performance.

“With the building and fall

Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson opening of the Outlaw Square, it will bring a new and exciting dynamic to Deadwood’s Main Street,” Rodman said. “We will also have the increased publicity for Deadwood Gaming celebrating its 30th Anniversary and the HBO release of the Deadwood movie.”

As far as new initiatives go, while the legislature failed to give legalized sports betting in Deadwood wings, there may be part two to the story.

“While we are disappointed that the legislature failed to give the voters of South Dakota the opportunity to decide if they want the ability to wager on sporting events in

Deadwood, we will be soon meeting to decide if Deadwood will go gather the signatures so South Dakotans will have the opportunity to decide on the 2020 ballot,” Rodman said.

“Surrounding jurisdictions are currently moving forward with sports wagering legislation. The ability to wager on sporting events in Deadwood would provide another amenity for our visitors to enjoy, creating additional hotel stays, shopping and restaurant visits. It would be another marketing opportunity to boost Deadwood’s shoulder seasons and keep Deadwood a competitive gaming destination.”

Page 16, Our Towns 2019

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The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 11

30 YEARS Deadwood Gaming kicked off at high noon Nov. 1, 1989. Since that time, the industry has experienced both ups and downs, but has succeeded in remaining relevant to consumers by constantly innovating.

First, with increased bet limits, next with the introduction of craps, keno, and roulette, and finally, an attempt to gain new market share – a bid for sports betting.

“One of the keys to Deadwood’s success has been their relationship with the voters of South Dakota,” Rodman said.

“Deadwood gaming has always been honest with the voters and lived up to their promises and the voters have rewarded that honesty with allowing the changes Deadwood needs to stay competitive as an integrated gaming destination.”

From the beginning, the vision was for gaming to help save Deadwood’s historic buildings, the You Bet campaign message aided by the tragic Syndicate Fire that destroyed a prominent Main Street building in December 1987.

“Since the legalization of limited stakes gaming in Deadwood, the industry has supported Deadwood’s historic preservation efforts,” said Deadwood Historic Preservation Officer Kevin Kuchenbecker. “The gaming tax revenue is the primary source of funds for the city of Deadwood’s preservation efforts and without gaming, Deadwood could have been another Old West ghost town.”

Trucano said legalized gambling has taken the town a long way in terms of economic vibrance.

“It’s turned a lot of broken down buildings into buildings that have a purpose and it’s helped our community a lot by providing residents with programs that help them keep their houses safe and secure.”

Rodman attributes three decades of success in gaming to several factors, including the natural beauty of the area and Deadwood’s rich history, both important bits of Deadwood’s visitor appeal.

But there’s more to the equation.

“A strong South Dakota Commission on Gaming, who from the beginning vowed to keep Deadwood gaming ‘squeaky clean,’” Rodman added. “And Deadwood’s designation as a National Historic Landmark, which set the guidelines for the Historic Preservation’s partnership with Deadwood Gaming, funded through gaming tax proceeds.”

Rodman also attributed the early partnership with the South Dakota Tourism Department and Deadwood gaming’s economic impact in the Northern Hills with gaming’s success, as well as the efforts of the Deadwood Pioneer photo by Jaci Conrad Pearson Chamber of Commerce.

“Deadwood gaming tax day are vastly different and become the visitor’s ‘base revenues fund about 30 camp’ for their entire Black percent of the state tourism more complex that those of Hills stay,” Rodman said.

30 years ago,” Rodman said. budget, making Deadwood “It has helped diversify “The customers quickly an important partner,” he Deadwood to develop more adapt to said. “With entertainment, dining and new gamover 1,175 shopping options.” ing proddirect emThe Deadwood You Bet ucts and ployees and Committee’s success in are quicker an overall The gaming tax launching what, at the to decompenrevenue is the time, was only the third lemand that sation in galized gaming jurisdiction Deadwood primary source of wages, tips in the country, is a testaoffer those and benefunds for the city new prodment to the change a handfits of over of Deadwood’s ucts that ful of motivated, focused $46 million other juindividuals can make. At dollars preservation risdictions the same time the group’s annually, efforts and without offer.” efforts saved Deadwood, Deadwood There are they unwittingly launched gaming, Deadwood gaming is currently a gaming revival across the the domicould have been 13 gaming United States that now ennant emestablishcompasses 48 states. another Old West ployer in ments and “The evolution of the the area. In ghost town 13 routed Deadwood gaming market addition, Kevin Kuchenbecker slot operover the last 30 years shows there are Deadwood Historic ations in a healthy respect from the hundreds Preservation Officer Deadwood industry and the citizens of of indirect and while the State of South Dakota jobs to supthere were for the ever-changing conport the gaming industry.” more in the beginning, sevsumer appetite,” said Caleb Deadwood gaming has eral changes over the years Arceneaux, CEO of Liv also grown to support sevhave whittled away at the Hospitality Group, which eral other ancillary businumbers. manages Tin Lizzie and the nesses along the way and “Slow revenue growth Cadillac Jack’s Complex. across the state. has facilitated the evolution “I believe the future of “With Deadwood gamDeadwood is bright and, ing’s $100 million in annual of the Main Street gaming properties back to more reas an evolving destination revenues, the economic tail establishments, which gaming market, will be of impacts touch everywhere has hurt our Main Street particular interest to multifrom government services with some shuttered propple generations moving forto banking, housing, eduerties in the short term,” ward. This is evidenced by cation, food and beverage, Rodman said.

“The Main the significant investment supply providers, construcStreet Initiative Committee in the Deadwood communition, plumbing, HVAC, hopes to rectify this with ty we have made over the gaming equipment sales more year-round activities, years. I cannot wait to see and repair, insurance probolstered by a community what the next 30 years will viders, accountants, advergathering space currently bring!” tising and marketing comunder construction to be As for the next 30 years, panies and hotel furniture called the Outlaw Square.”

Rodman weighed in on suppliers,” Rodman said.

That said, Rodman feels what he feels will contribRodman also pointed to the development of most ute to continued success. the ever-quickening pace of “Deadwood needs to be technology and the changes casino properties to include lodging has been an imforward thinking and anit has brought to the inportant step forward for the ticipate the changing cusdustry over the last three industry. tomer demands and act on decades.

“This has allowed those to provide the prod“The slot machines on the Deadwood to accommoucts and services they are Deadwood gaming floors todate more visitors and to looking for,” Rodman said.

“

”

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 17

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The Black Hills Pioneer

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Our Towns 2019, Page 19

Tourism a statewide mainstay

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By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer

NORTHERN HILLS — With tourism not only a local mainstay, but also a substantial revenue contributor statewide, the 2018 Tourism Annual Report states that visitor spending reached $3.98 billion in 2018.

About 14.1 million visitors traveled to South Dakota helping the tourism industry support 54,723 jobs.

“We are excited about the travel season ahead as indicators look positive,” said Jim Hagen, secretary of the Department of Tourism. “Our marketing efforts are generating excellent responses and engagement from our target markets. We are optimistic that it will be a good summer.”

While the state’s overall outlook is positive, the Black Hills Pioneer caught up with several local cham-

Pioneer file photos ber and visitor center officials to gauge their take on the upcoming tourist season.

Deadwood

“We’ve been in the business of entertaining guests since 1876, and we aren’t slowing down,” said Lee Harstad, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Bureau executive director, adding the chamber keeps upping the ante on its promotions and marketing, as well as rolling out the red carpet for visitors.

“Deadwood is a 24-7 town, so we always have to be on our toes working to attract visitors. One new attraction on the horizon is the Outlaw Square, which will change the Main Street landscape and offer even more for residents and visitors,” Herstad said.

An estimated 2 million to 3 million visitors tour Deadwood annually.

“We have major events throughout the year that bring in thousands of people for each event, our gaming halls are always open and our marketing efforts never stop,” Harstad said.

Harstad said there are so many fantastic things to visit and do in Deadwood, but probably the biggest attraction is Main Street Deadwood, as a whole.

“Every visitor will likely take in some of it,” Harstad said. “Our casinos throughout town are quite important as well, as our events. The Adams and Days of ’76 museums, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, our tour buses, restaurants and saloons, along with our unique retail shopping experiences, are on the tops of to-do lists, along with the highly popular Deadwood Alive shootouts and re-enactments, concerts both on Main TOURISM Pg 20

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Page 20, Our Towns 2019

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Street and Deadwood Mountain Grand, and live music throughout town most days of the week. Outdoor recreation, including usage of the Mickelson Trail, provide even more.”

A venue that has boosted and bolstered the visitor experience is the Deadwood Welcome Center.

“It’s a grand addition to town,” Harstad said. “In 2018, the first year that the Welcome Center was open for the whole year, more than 115,000 people came through the doors; that same timeframe, more than 43,000 people visited the History & Information Center. During the peak season, we assist more than 1,000 people per day seeking information on all there’s to do in Deadwood.

Asked to provide an outlook on tourism for the upcoming season, Harstad was optimistic.

“My bet is that this year will be as good if not better than 2018, which was a strong year,” Harstad said.

“Requests for information are up over this point last year, and bookings are steady, if not up.”

Harstad pointed out that the Black Hills are traditionally a road-trip destination, and will continue to be.

“But there are some new direct flights to Rapid City from the coasts that could play a factor in visitation via air. For drivers, the price of gas is near a three-year low and national economic indicators and consumer confidence is rated at an 18-yearhigh,” Harstad said. “Those factors indicate a strong season should be coming. Our target markets, however, are in states where the ag industry is a key part of the economy. That industry is experiencing challenges that could affect their incomes which could offset the boost we anticipate seeing as a result of the positive factors, but overall, we anticipate a stronger 2019.”

specific niche visitor. We have active and passive adventure. That’s what makes Spearfish a unique destination.”

A destination that is highly soughtout for the upcoming summer season, which features a wide range of events.

Popular events that draw visitors in annually include the the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder and Dakota Five-O bike races, the Festival in the Park, Corvette Rally, Downtown Friday Nights, Canyon Acoustics Series, the Black Hills Beer Run, and the Leading Ladies Marathon.

Caldwell said play “The Phantom of the Matthews Opera House” will be running in June and the Spirit of the American Cowboy Supper and Show has select dates throughout the summer.

“This doesn’t even begin to touch on the other amazing assets in Spearfish,” Caldwell said. “New to the area last year was the Spearfish Sasquatch Baseball team. We are very excited they are offering four fireworks evenings this summer.”

Asked to estimate visitor numbers for 2018, Caldwell said they’re nearly impossible to track.

“Especially since our No. 1 attraction, Spearfish Canyon, is part of the National Forest and is free to access,” Caldwell said. “Without traffic counters, it is impossible to capture the number of people in Spearfish.

I can tell you that our hospitality tax numbers increased significantly,” she said. That means more people out eating, drinking, spending the night and recreating in the Spearfish area.”

Caldwell said other staples in the community are all of the other outdoor venues in the area, the arts community — including the Matthews Opera House and the Termesphere Gallery; the Spearfish Rec and Aquatics Park, the DC Booth National Historic Fish Hatchery and Archives, and the High Plains Western Heritage Center.

Spearfish

Lead

from Pg 19

TOURISM

“We are a premier destination for visitors looking for great food, great drink, great outdoor recreation and leisure options. We are ‘Midwestern Nice,’ but with many of the amenities people find in larger resort areas,” said Visit Spearfish Executive Director Mistie Caldwell, adding that tourism is already off to a strong start in 2019. “When visitors come to Spearfish, they’re looking for an exceptional outdoor adventure experience and great food and beer, definitely craft beer. With three breweries now in Spearfish, we are looked to as a craft beer destination.”

Caldwell said there is a wide variety of visitors.

“There is something for everyone — traveler demographics and psychographics change with every season, and did I mention we don’t have a tourism off-season? We are a year-round destination, and depending on that time of year, there is a

“We are an undiscovered secret with a laid-back atmosphere, friendly, eclectic people, gorgeous scenery, and great pine-tree smell,” said Donna Job, executive director, Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center. “Where else can you learn about a historic 125-year-old gold mine that now allows scientists to study neutrinos, nearly 1 mile underground?”

In regard to the outlook for the upcoming summer, Job said that certainly, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) project will affect Lead.

“As more employees are hired each month,” Job said. “I have already noticed an increase in our visitors, as these new employees generally stop in here first.”

In 2018, there were approximately 54,000 visitors at the visitor center, one of Lead’s largest visitor attractions, showcasing the Open Cut.

“The word is out that this is the place to stop first,” Job said. “We have brochures from throughout the area that we readily share with visitors, as well as firsthand advice. We receive many families and many retired people at Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center. We are also starting to attract more young professionals who have found us online and are curious about the scientific aspect of our museum.”

Other main visitor attractions in Lead include the Historic Homestake Opera House and the Black Hills Mining Museum.

“Visitors to Lead are looking for something to do that interests the entire family,” Job said. “If it is cold, rainy, windy, they enjoy having our indoor space to explore.

Visitors often ask for more activities for children, as well as safe access to the Mickelson Trail.”

Job is optimistic about the upcoming visitor season.

“I do believe that tourism will be up this year,” Job said.”

State stats

Katlyn Richter, global media and public relations director for the Department of Tourism said that insights from a marketing and South Dakota Tourism brand perspective are positive.

“Since the Department of Tourism’s 2019 marketing efforts kicked off in November, there has been strong online activity and engagement, demonstrating a positive indication of future interest to travel to South Dakota,” Richter said.

Reports from Google Analytics for TravelSouthDakota.com, she said, show are up 23 percent over same time last year and that much of the growth in web sessions is from domestic consumers.

Direct web traffic, or people who start typing in a website without searching for it, is up 23 percent.

Organic web traffic, those searching for information on traveling to South Dakota without being prompted through paid advertisements like a digital banner adplaced on the internet, is up 41 percent.

“Overall, the strong and increased engagement on TravelSouthDakota. com can be attributed to the department’s comprehensive marketing efforts,” Richter said. “It provides solid indication that people are seeing the marketing, and their engagement indicates they have an interest in traveling to South Dakota.”

Family travelers are a primary target audience for the Department of Tourism and families now make up 35 percent of the total traveling population.

“A large majority, 44 percent, of these families are now Millennials,” Richter said. “Family travelers spend 39 percent more than travelers without children. Making memories, education and understanding different cultures are their desired outcomes for travel.”

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 21

We would like to take this time to thank our employees and customers for their loyalty and support in the last 18 1/2 years. We are grateful to our employees whose hard work & dedication is seen through our high quality standards and products. We appreciate your business and we will do our very best to continue to meet your needs.

Your continued patronage and suggestions are a vital part of our growth. And for that we are most grateful. Thanks again!

We look forward to serving you for many years to come. ~ Alana & Larry Strickland

Page 22, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

College collaboration coaxes coeds to a more well-rounded education

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

going to going to do One of the major be needing a better job factors all three institusome manmaking sure tions are engaging in is SPEARFISH — Black agers down that people outreach geared toward Hills State University the road, if in Western high school students in (BHSU), South Dakota you could South order showcase the way School of Mines & get your Dakota have secondary education Technology (SDSM&T), bachelor’s access to programs are changand Western Dakota degree you higher eduing to fit their needs as Tech (WDT) have joined would be cation and graduates. forces to create a collabour top pick that we’re “Our biggest thing orative college experifor that all on the is working with all of ence, which aims to bentype of prosame team.” the high schools in the efit students and help motion,’ …

“Many of region and help them better prepare them to Previously the things understand how importenter an ever changing the students President of South (we’re) ant it is for students to state-wide workforce.

President of Western President of Black Hills would have go on to some higher The collaboration will Dakota Technical Institute talking State University Dakota School of Mines to start all about don’t education experience,” allow students to transand Technology over again require any Bolman said. “And we fer credits between schools in order with their bachelor’s degree if they new degrees or any new things that do not mind whose it is.” to change their career trajectory had a two year degree from a techniThis type of collaboration isn’t without having to start from scratch any one of us has to do,” Black Hills cal college.”

State University President Dr. Tom a new concept in the collegiate with a totally new program.

“A lot of our alums from the Jackson Jr. added. “It’s just a matter world; however, it’s the first major “A partnership between four-year School of Mines wish they had a few effort made by separate schools in of restructuring some of the things universities and a technical college more business courses,” Rankin we already have.”

Western South Dakota to openly enmight seem odd to some, but our said.

“So I think there’s some oppor“We know that in South Dakota courage students to seek alternative union is founded on the desire to we need an educated workforce,” solutions to their personal career tunities for us to team together and help students obtain higher educasaid Dr. Jim Rankin, president based curriculum needs. collaborate to help make our gradution,” said Pam Stillman-Rokusek, “Campuses across the U.S. have alates stronger.” marketing coordinator for WDT in a of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. “That educated ways been collaborators; it’s how we With such a diverse number of prepared statement. “Following the workforce could be from a two year share students, alumni, employees, industries in the state of South pathway that best suites them, so school or a four year school. … We ideas, research, etcetera,” Jackson Dakota, the collaboration also adthey can make good wages and help just need to make sure we’re giving said. “This was a chance to revisit a dresses the growing need for emfill workforce needs.” our South Dakota citizens an opporcouple of things and to be more straployees to be less specialized and Dr. Ann Bolman, president of tunity for education that makes the tegic about how we could advance able to cross-train in a wider range Western Dakota Tech said the colmost sense for them and helps out higher education.” of jobs. laboration won’t be bringing any the state.”

All three presidents were opti“One really good example is our changes to the schools’ curriculums All three presidents acknowledge mistic about the collaboration, and computer aided design (CAD) classany time soon, instead it marks a the changing needs of employers grateful to each other that the ines,” Bolman said. “Students who change in the way the three schools throughout the state and the imporstitution they represent was able to are in their (SDSM&T) engineer approach a competitive enrollment tance for students to be able to enter programs often will take some of see past its own objectives and work market. the workforce ready to meet those towards the betterment of South our CAD classes because their go“The change really has to do with changing needs.

Dakota. ing to get a lot more hands-on and just an attitude that, we’re all in this “This is important not because “I’m appreciative of the fact that understand of how that software boat together, and we want people to works and in the classes at School of we’re working together and looking find the path that leads them to their there aren’t jobs for our students after they get two years of schooling,” for what we can do to better serve Mines, the faculty members really best future possible,” she said. “We Bolman said. “But when students South Dakota and our students,” don’t have time in their courses to don’t feel like we’re in competition have been in their jobs for a while Rankin said. pack in both the theory and applicawith each other, we feel like we’re often employers will say, ‘hey, we’re tion.”

Dr. Ann Bolman

Dr. Tom Jackson Jr.

Dr. Jim Rankin

Pictured is the Black Hills State University campus. Photo courtesy of Brittany Schoenfelder

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 23

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Page 24, Our Towns 2019 in the ed to Spearfish Lois and I mov d evan ds ith four young ki oke, spring of 1991 w br e er w e d in a truck. W et. ck erything we owne po y m in $1,200 cash d ha I d an , bt en de in apartm t e three-bedroom We moved into th r moved Carpets and neve above Versatile suffered is st month here, Lo out. Within the fir her leg. in ot bosis blood cl a deep vein throm had no e W l. ita in the hosp 5,000 She spent 10 days $2 r he ot an cumulated insurance and ac ec ch ks to remember writing in debt. I can still . month for $15.00 the hospital each the spring by d an nd ou ar Things turned the busise ha able to purc of 1992 we were o…time ag s ar ye Lecy. 27 ness from Mr. Vern flies! undere most kind and Vern Lecy was th took he s A e had ever met. essstanding person w sin bu r he ot duced us to meso us around and intro a ith w d te e were gree rfi es and citizens, w Spea sh! se, “Welcome to what unusual phra thought love it here!” We You are going to sh, SD. rfi ea e to describe Sp this was the them e back th on d rase is printe To this day, that ph d on a sign on the north rd an of my business ca g. in ild bu side of our g, along all types of floorin r fe of e w Today of winds as and other bran with Hunter Dougl ibutors str di e e are exclusiv dow fashions. W t heat. an di ra or oor” in flo Fl m ar W p te “S of floor heat ique, low voltage Warm floor is a un system flooring, d safely under any it can that can be installe so s, te ! It self regula furincluding WOOD ed fix r de un here, even yw an d lle sta in be ating and e danger of overhe niture, without th ed floor. damaging the finish 27 years here and look r We’ve enjoyed ou e! or forward to many m - Tim Verhulst

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The Black Hills Pioneer

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OUR TOWNS

Section

2

The Black Hills Roundup celebrates its 100th anniversary this summer. Courtesy photo

Black Hills Roundup set for 100th go-round

SECTION 2

OF

4

By Jason Gross Black Hills Pioneer

2019 • BLACK HILLS PIONEER

BELLE FOURCHE — One of America’s oldest continually running outdoor rodeos turns 100 this year, when the Black Hills Roundup takes place July 2-7.

“Very few PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association) rodeos can say that,” Black Hills Roundup Committee Chairman Clay Crago said in describing a centennial celebration. “To carry on the rodeo and the cowboy tradition for 100 years is just phenomenal.”

Events for this year will include a cattle drive, mutton bustin’, ranch rodeo, concerts, steer roping, a downtown carnival, two nights of fireworks, and four PRCA rodeo performances.

The cattle drive will include about 200 head of longhorns and begin about 30 miles west of Belle Fourche. Some of those cattle will be used for that night’s ranch rodeo.

“We’re trying to go back to the old days somewhat but still keep a modern rodeo,” Crago said in describing preparation for the 100th. The added events for this year could include chuckwagon races, Native American tepees, and a free Fourth of July street dance.

That return to the roots is what Crago looks forward to the most. He

also anticipates seeing how attendees respond to what the Roundup does.

Crago’s familiarity with the Roundup goes back many years. He is part of a ranch family and has gone from committee member to chairman.

“There are so many that are unforgettable,” Crago said when asked about his Roundup memories. “I think some of the best ones are the fireworks that Fritz Carlson puts on, and just the caliber of bucking stock that comes to the rodeo.”

One of the biggest changes Crago has seen is the ranch rodeo that made its debut here 10 years ago, along with two nights of fireworks and four PRCA performances.

An estimated 12,000 people attended last year. Crago said this year’s Fourth of July parade would be larger than usual and thinks 25,000 people may be in town that day.

Honors piled in for the Roundup in 2018.

It was named the PRCA Medium Outdoor Rodeo of the Year. Its committee earned induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The facility was named Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Badlands Circuit Ground of the Year.

“It’s kind of been a fairy tale for us,” Crago said in describing 2018. “I don’t know how you top it.”

History of the Black Hills Roundup

Started in 1918 to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War I, and named the “Tri-State Roundup,” the Black Hills Roundup drew 15,000 spectators to Belle Fourche its first year.

The Roundup started on the Fourth of July and raised nearly $20,000 for the war effort. Though the war ended the year after, the popularity of the rodeo made it an annual event.

That first Roundup consisted of saddle bronc riding, wagon, horse and relay races, bulldogging, steer and calf roping, cow pony races, and a ladies’ bucking contest. Simple in setup in its humble beginning, the rodeo had no chutes or stands, and the arena was barely fenced in enough to keep the horses from getting out.

Obviously this made for more risk, as the contestant would have to catch the bronc before a ride. The rules were simple: choose a bronc, “ear” it, climb on, nod, and start.

To “ear” a horse, two or three cowboys would catch its head and bite its ear to control it, distracting it long enough to saddle up and hop on. In the ladies’ bucking contest, women were required to “shackle” their horse, tying the stirrups together underneath the horse, as it was believed ROUNDUP Pg 3

Page 2, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Deadwood Chamber of Commerce Recognized as one of the most Progressive Tourism Organizations in South Dakota

DEADWOOD CHAMBER MEMBERS NEW MEMBERS IN 2019 Allied Construciton Ann Charles Armour Roofing & Construction Black Hills Film Festival Black Hills Vacation Homes Blue Moon Properties Canyon 14-A Soda Shop Canyon View Amish Furniture & Gifts Charles Aurand Weddings Chip Shot

Custer Crossing Campground D&K UTV Rentals Nemo Guest Ranch Dahl’s Chainsaw Art Danny’s Plumbing Deadwood Custom Cycles Deadwood Insider Deadwood Mint Deadwood Ms. Chubby Deadwood Stagecoach Deadwood Station Laundry Deadwood Tasty Treats

Double Tree at Cadillac Jack’s Exit Realty of the Black Hills Giddy-Up Good Shepard Gulches Storage Hearst Library Homes & Land of the Black Hills Kiawanis Lumber Jack Forest & Treee Care, LLC Made Market at Cadillac Jack’s Marcro

BE A PART OF ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CHAMBERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA • Internet Directory Listings & Links - Award-winning website with over 1 million unique visitors per year.

• Membership Official Guide Listing - 100,000 printed annually. Large distribution across a four-state region in 550+ locations. Also distributed to meeting planners, travel shows, mailed to individual inquiries, included in relocation packets and downloaded thousands of times on Deadwood.com annually.

• Membership Electronically - Chamber membership list.

• Relocation Inserts - Provide us with your information and we will mail it out with our initial replies.

• Convention Welcome Packets -We will include your information in thousands of attractive welcome packets to conventions and meetings held in the city and surrounding communities.

• Monthly Mixers - A personal invite to all monthly mixers with an opportunity to share your business information and talents with our members in a relaxed atmosphere.

• Visit & Ribbon Cutting - Put your business in the news with a visit from the Deadwood Chamber Staff.

• FAM’s - Familiarization Tour host. Deadwood is asked to host many tour group leaders, travel agents and travel writers to familiarize them with our area.

• Economic Information - Community profile, demographic information, general business statistics, business development assistance.

• Annual Events - The biggest and best events in the region bring tens of thousands of people to the area.

• Welcome Center Board Room - Use of the board room for business meetings.

• Wild Bill Coupon Booklet - Thousands of coupon books are printed and distributed to Deadwood visitors each year. It is a one time only coupon and entitles discounts or special promotions from participating Chamber member buinesses.

• Free Publications - Each year the Deadwood Chamber prints, distributes and mails multiple promotional pieces featuring Deadwood Chamber businesses including: Visitor Guide, Deadwood Map, and more.

• Deadwood Gold Bucks - Chamber member gift certificate redemption program.

• Training Program - Free training programs are available to Chamber members, their managers and employees. Available programs include: hospitality training for frontline employees, hospitality training for owners and managers, and FAM tours for frontline employees.

Mile-up Marketing Naked Winery Oultaw Sqaure Pinnacle Cleaning Pizza Lab Rangel Construction Sacred Mountain Sturgis Real Estate Company Whitetail Creek Resort John & Terri Keene Rhonda VanDenEykel Dot O’Conner

DEADWOOD CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeanna Dewey – President Louie LaLonde – Vice President Tom Koth – Secretary Michelle Fischer – Treasurer

Susan Kightlinger Tom Rensch Kip Mau Steve Schaeffer David Schneiter Tony Sieber Weston Pleinis Dale Berg

Tom Blair Dr. Dan Leikvold Mike Trucano Kevin Kuchenbecker Pat Roberts Lonnie Strong David Ruth Jr.

DEADWOOD CHAMBER STAFF

Lee Harstad, Executive Director Marty Hallock, Controller Marta Artz, Membership Director Sarah Anderson, Event Coordinator Amanda Kille, Marketing & Sponsorship Director Dawn Burns, Sales Director Brittany Schoenfelder, Marketing & Events Specialist Robin Carmody, Information Specialist Bobby Rock, Outlaw Square Director

INFORMATION CENTER STAFF Approximately 170,000 guests visit the information centers each year Mike Olsen, information center manager

For more information on Membership with the Deadwood Chamber, call 605-578-1876.

501 Historic Main St. Deadwood, SD

605-578-1876 www.deadwood.com

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 3

from Pg 1

ROUNDUP to be safer and easier for the women to thus participate.

Roundups through the 1920s consisted of whatever the organizing group at the time decided to do, as there was no standard or type of events for a rodeo.

Many events at the early Roundups were organized by the Bit and Spur Saddle Club, which added to the entertainment and fun of the rodeo atmosphere.

Rodeo events were canceled in 1929 because of the mud in the arena. An early newspaper clipping tells of what replaced the events: “a burlesque show was put on for two or three hours …” Outdoor rodeos today are rarely, if ever, stopped on account of weather, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest the appearance of mud on many horses and competitors throughout the action of the Roundup.

The 1930s brought the chance for the younger generation to participate in the events of the rodeo.

A rancher would agree to bring a dozen calves, and children could earn $1 to ride a calf in the arena. Many youngsters also practiced their trick riding during the Roundup.

Bison have been present throughout the Roundup events since the 1940s, either in staged stampedes or entertainment.

In the 1940s, a buffalo hunt would be staged, as actors dressed in Native American garb to chase the buffalo as they ran through the arena, and in more recent years there have been trick acts with buffalo performing all sorts of interesting feats.

Chariot racing became a favorite in the 1950s and 1960s, where a two-wheeled cart pulled by one horse held a racer, and many contestants readied their horses for this event as they traveled. The horse would pull the family and rodeo supplies to Belle Fourche in true practical training, and later race against one another with much lighter loads.

The formation of the PRCA standardized seven events for the Roundup: bareback riding, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and bull riding.

Steer roping has also been added to the lineup.

Pioneer file photos

Page 4, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Visit Spearfish celebrates 10th anniversary

Destination marketing agency reflects on impact to tourism in the community

Visit Spearfish, Inc., the nonprofit destination marketing agency located at the corner of Hudson and Main streets, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019, along with all of its accomplishments and impacts to tourism and visitor attractions in the community. Pioneer photos by Kaija Swisher

By Kaija Swisher Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — It’s been 10 years since Visit Spearfish, Inc., became a reality, and on March 20 at the Black Hills State University Joy Center, the nonprofit destination marketing agency hosted an anniversary celebration to celebrate.

“Our beginning was much different,” Executive Director Mistie Caldwell said, recalling that at its start, Visit Spearfish had one employee – Caldwell – with a single office in the engineering department at city hall.” We did not yet have a visitor center to call home, or any additional employees, for that matter. In the beginning, the city was trying to redefine its tourism

industry after decades of the Black Hills Passion Play – a staple in the tourism community of Spearfish – held its final performance the summer prior. The Spearfish Rec and Aquatics Center opened for the first season in 2009. Everything was new and different.”

Caldwell said that relationship-building with the city, chamber of commerce, economic development corporation, and downtown business association was a major focus.

“Prior to the inception of Visit Spearfish in 2009, tourism promotion, advertising and visitor services were performed by the Spearfish Convention and Visitors’ Bureau (that co-existed in the same building as the chamber and SEDC

currently house),” she said. “There were many growing pains, but overall, it was an exciting time to become the recognized destination marketing organization for the city.”

Today, Visit Spearfish is in its ninth year in the historic building at 603 N. Main St., open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and five days per week the remainder of the year. The staff includes a part-time office and visitor center manager, director of special events, director of marketing and public relations, and executive director.

“Our original budget included $410,000 in city allocations and S.D. Tourism cooperative monies,” Caldwell said. “The 2019 budget

includes $455,000 in total allocated monies between the two organizations. In the simplest of terms, that means Visit Spearfish has realized an inflationary increase of 11 percent to support the total operations of the organization over 10 years.

We are proud to share that over the same time period, the revenue earned through the hospitality tax has increased 44 percent!”

Caldwell remembered that in 2009, the bulk of the calls she received had to do with the Black Hills Passion Play and wondering what there was to do without it.

“In 2019, we still receive the occasional Passion Play call, and we celebrate the importance of that VISIT SPEARFISH Pg 11

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 5

Community Partners Young Life began with a few simple ideas about sharing the truth of God’s love with adolescents. Those simple ideas have become time-tested methods for reaching out to middle school, high school and college students in friendship and hope.

Our mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow their faith.

We accomplish our mission by ...

• Praying for young people.

• Going where kids are and building personal relationships with them.

• Earning the right to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

• Providing fun, adventurous, life-changing and skill-building experiences.

• Inviting kids to personally respond to the Good News and walking in friendship with them regardless of their response.

• Preparing kids for a life-long relationship with Christ and a love for His word, His mission and the local church.

• Working in community alongside like-minded adults (volunteer leaders, committee members, donors and staff).

We believe that life is found in Jesus and that every student deserves to know what life can hold for them.

From club and camp to Campaigners and other activities, teenagers will have a blast laughing, trying new things and being with their friends.

605-645-9589

www.spearfish.younglife.org

Lead – deadwood Kiwanis CLub A local service club dedicated to providing assistance to our local youth and community.

Chartered in 1925, the Lead Deadwood Kiwanis Club has been actively supporting the Lead and Deadwood communities for over 90 years.

Other than our main club, we have three clubs in the area to help with service projects and fundraising activities: the Lead-Deadwood High School Key Club for high school students, the Builders Club for middle school students and the Noon Kiwanis Club, a satellite club that meets at the Sled Haus at noon on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Some of the projects we support include:

The Prospector Bowl & The Community Birthday Calendar

$1,000 Scholarships for 2 graduating Seniors • Teen Court American Legion Boys & Girls State • Jr Class Post-prom • Meals on Wheels • School Signs • Handley Rec Center Preschool • HOBY • Library Audio Books • Lead-Dwd HS Art Club • Lead-Dwd HS Speech & Debate • Lead-Dwd HS Athletics • Community Christmas Meal • Rob Lester: Halloween Bags NeighborWorks Kidwierd • The Lord’s Cupboard • Junior Achievement • Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders Lead-Deadwood Elementary Triathlon • Cloth-A-Kid • Optimist Club Dental Bus • Sing at Golden Ridge Assisted Living Facility

Main Club Meetings every Monday night at 5:30 p.m. at the All-in-One in Lead. The public is welcome.

Anyone interested in learning more, please contact a Kiwanian or call 920-8635.

825 Heritage Dr. • Spearfish, South Dakota

642-WEST (9378) | www.westernheritagecenter.com High Plains Western Heritage Center contains a five-state regional museum founded to honor the old west pioneers and the Native Americans of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska.

The museum features a wide range of western artifacts including displays honoring the cattle and sheep industry, the Native American, blacksmithing, saddle making, natural history, mining, forestry, and, of course, the cowboy and rodeo.

Cowboy Supper & Spirit of the American Cowboy Comedy/Music Show July 9, 11, 16, 18. 23. 25. 30, & Aug. 1 Starting at 5:30 pm Adults: $30 • 6-12: $15 Under 6: Free Show Only: $15

Contributions in recent years have allowed for a spacious theatre complete with sound system, a Transportation Room that includes a stagecoach, chuck wagon, a “Tally-Ho” wagon, buggies and sleighs. Outside displays include a oneroom schoolhouse, log homestead cabin and antique farm equipment.

The Heritage Center thrives due to the many individuals and businesses from the area that contribute time, labor, materials and finances. Grain and hay are donated to feed live longhorn steers, which are displayed in the front pasture from May through October.

The Heritage Center, as an important regional community center, is available for rent to individuals, groups and organizations looking for a beautiful and unique venue for their event.

Page 6, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Community Partners The meticulously restored 1892 Victorian mansion with original contents chronicles Deadwood’s transition from a raucous mining camp into a prosperous and technologically rich city. The home recounts the triumphs and tragedies of two of Deadwood’s founding families.

The Queen Anne-style home was built by pioneer businessman Harris Franklin, complete with stained glass windows, thoroughly modern 19th century plumbing and electricity, hand-painted canvas wall coverings, and telephone service. W.E. Adams purchased the home in 1920, and after his death in 1934, Adams’ second wife, Mary, closed the doors.

The home sat silent for almost 60 years. In 1998, under the direction of the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Adams Museum, historic preservation experts painstakingly

restored the mansion to its former glory.

The home is open daily in the summer when the beautiful gardens are in full bloom. During the fall and winter, the historic home serves as a stage for special and private tours. The Adams House Gift Shop features a diverse selection of unique merchandise and specialty gifts. The Historic Adams House is wheelchair-accessible on the first floor.

April hours are, Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Summer hours are May through September, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 – 12, and free to children 5 and under. The museum is free to Deadwood History members. Call 605-7224800 for information on group tours.

22 Van Buren Street Deadwood, SD 57732 605-578-3724 DeadwoodHistory.com

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D.C. Booth is America’s gathering place for all things fisheries - preserving our fisheries history to inspire present & future conservations.

Visitors can stroll the hatchery grounds from dawn to dusk any day of the week, 365 days a year. Spend the day getting up close and personal with brown and rainbow trout, or take a hike on one of the beautiful nature trails located on the 10-acre grounds.

The Pond Gift Shop, Von Bayer Museum, Railcar, and Booth House are open during the summer season from mid-May through September.

You can support the hatchery by becoming a member of the Booth Society at www.dcboothfishhatchery.org

Admission to the Hatchery grounds is always free.

See you at the hatchery!

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 7

Community Partners Trinity United Methodist Church

Sunday Worship Service 9:00 a.m.

Fellowship following Worship • Christian Education for all ages Lord's Cupboard • Christian Ministry Center

111 S. Main Street, Lead - 605-584-1328 - www.leadtumc.com

Free Live Music Thursday Nights June & July • 6-9 PM Downtown Belle Fourche Since 2013, Hometown Thursdays, a non-profit organization, has been bringing free live concerts comprised of local talent, and multiple genres to Belle Fourche with the help of community sponsors. This family friendly event is held every Thursday night from 6-9pm in June and July. The committee volunteers; Craig & Tara Knapp, Jim Kallas, Chip and Dallas Conner, Hollie Stalder, Todd and Michelle Watson and JD Young; were just recently recognized by the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce as Volunteer Group of the Year. They are committed to bringing this event to Belle Fourche and promoting the importance of community. Find more information online at www.hometownthursdays.com or check Facebook for weekly posts of 2019 Bands and Sponsors. They hope to • Concert Schedule • see you there!

2018 Belle Fourche Chamber Volunteer Group of the Year www.hometownthursdays.com

JUNE 6...................October Road JUNE 13..................Dustin Evans & The Good Times Band JUNE 20......................Judd Hoos JUNE 27........................Sondogs JULY 11....................Common Law JULY 18................ Brandon Jones JULY 25.........Church of Cash Music

Page 8, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Community Partners Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Black Hills Post #5969 Deadwood

Post 5969 became reality in February 1946, when Jim Shea and Toby Dahl acquired a charter from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (referred to as the VFW). Toby Dahl was the first Commander in the old City Building. When it burned down, the club was moved to Main Street.

The current location on Pine Street was moved into in 1964. Remodeling was done, to a building that had been a car dealership and home to several grocery stores, to accommodate Post functions. In 1994 the facade was restored to original appearance with assistance from post members and Deadwood Historical Preservation.

One of the earliest community services provided by the VFW was serving as Honor Guard for fallen comrades. Many may recall the Lighting of Bikes for area children. As a nonprofit organization we are continually enlarging our outreach in service to the community supporting youth programs and providing assistance to our Veterans.

The present Post Commander is John Datka. Veterans who have fought on foreign soil are encouraged to apply for membership. Any surviving wife, husband, son, mother, grandmother, daughter or sister is eligible to apply for the Auxiliary. More information is available by calling our Post at 722-9914.

Any time you see an American flag being marched up Main Street or hear the Star Spangled Banner being played please place that right hand over your heart in remembrance of those who fought to preserve our way of life. It is a matter of respect. They deserve no less.

The Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) serves as a destination appealing to historians, genealogists, authors, scholars, and the general public. It is a research center with a reputation for thoroughness assisting in multidisciplined fields of study. The facility is designed to host a variety of public programs, workshops, concerts, and lectures that appeal to a diverse and multi-generational audience.

The main purpose of the HARCC is to preserve and make accessible hundreds of thousands of original records documenting the history of Deadwood, the Black

Hills, and the Homestake Gold Mine. The archival collections include over 15,000 photographs; original diaries, correspondence, and scrapbooks; blueprints and architectural drawings; business records; and legal documents detailing civil and criminal litigation, water rights actions, and railroad concerns.

Open year round to the public, the HARCC is wheelchair accessible.

Document and photograph reproduction rates are available.

Business hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

150 Sherman Street Deadwood, SD 605-722-4800 DeadwoodHistory.com

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 9

Community Partners Celebrating the 130th Anniversary of Meade County In celebration of the formation of Meade County in 1889, this year’s Sturgis and Meade County Historical Society’s 5th annual History Day on Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, will celebrate the 130th anniversary of Meade County. Events held at the Sturgis City Auditorium on Main Street.

The Adams Museum is the Black Hills’ oldest history museum. In 1930 pioneer businessman W.E. Adams founded the Adams Museum in downtown Deadwood with the purpose of preserving and displaying the history of the Black Hills. He donated the building to the City of Deadwood.

Travel through three floors of dynamic exhibits that shine a light on Deadwood’s legends and outlaws, chronicle the city’s progress and its notorious businesses, detail the advancement of frontier trans-

portation, discover Potato Creek Johnny’s original gold nugget, and explore the beautiful and unique natural history of the Black Hills.

In addition to exhibits on all three levels, the Adams General Store is located on the main floor.

Open year round, the Adams Museum is wheelchair accessible.

A suggested donation of $5 per adult, $2 per child is appreciated.

The museum is free to members.

Call 605-722-4800 for information on group tours.

54 Sherman Street Deadwood, SD 57732 605-578-1714 DeadwoodHistory.com

Friday, June 14

4:30-7 p.m. – Community social 4:30-7 p.m. – Historical displays of former and current communities and families of Meade County

Saturday, June 15

8 a.m. – Historical displays of former and current communities and families of Meade County 10 a.m. – Parade down Main Street 11 a.m. - "Remember the Titans: Cold War on the Plains" by Tim Velder Noon – Lunch at local restaurants 1 p.m. – “Abandoned Towns of Eastern Butte and Central Meade Counties” by Tim Velder To display information about Meade County, family history, current or former county communities, contact Janice Lundgren at 605-347-3233 or lundgren1@wildblue.net or janicelundgren1@gmail.com.

To participate in the parade, contact Leona Schroeder at 605-939-9979 or leonags@aol.com.

This event is possible due to the following Historical Society sponsors: Arby's, City of Sturgis, Da Bus, Davenport Family Real Estate, Elk Creek Steakhouse, First Interstate Bank, First National Bank, Grocery Mart, Jambonz Grill & Pub, KBHB Radio, La Risa Mexican Cuisine, Loud American Roadhouse, Papa John's, Sidehack Saloon, Sturgis Photo & Gifts, The HomeSlice Group, The Knuckle Saloon, The Oasis Bar, Wanda's Kitchen and Weimer's Diner & Donuts.

Deadwood Elks Lodge #508 PO Box 584, Deadwood 578-1333 Club 722-5224 Secretary

If you’ve been around the Hills for a while, there is a good chance that your children, or even you, have directly benefited from the Elks. We sponsor numerous programs including: • One of the largest privately funded scholarship programs in the country • Hoop Shoot • Supports the D.A.R.E. in schools • Activities and needs specifically for Armed Services Veterans at Ft. Meade.

• The annual Easter Egg Hunt in Deadwood • Lead-Deadwood Middle School Student of the Month • Youth Appreciation Banquet honors the achievements of over 300 students and their families from around the region • Contributes to the Post Prom events in all of the area high schools • Sends a high school student representative to Boys and Girls State each year • Additionally, we answer many individual funding requests for those in need and food drives for local families The Deadwood Elks Lodge lounge, located on the second floor of the Elks building on upper Main St. in Deadwood, sports a full bar. Renovations have restored its magnificent view overlooking Deadwood’s Main Street and members enjoy one of the best vantage points for taking in Deadwood’s many busy events.

The Lodge is available for private rentals as well.

Lounge Open at 5 pm Thursday Saturday

Live re-creations of the town’s rich history started in 1924 through the Days of ‘76 celebration and award-winning rodeo. The celebration began as a way to honor Deadwood’s pioneers – the prospectors, miners, muleskinners, and madams who poured into the Black Hills in 1876 to settle the gold-filled gulches of Dakota Territory.

A remarkable collection of pioneer, cowboy, and American Indian artifacts are displayed in two unique galleries. A firearms exhibit presents nearly 100 rifles and includes numerous examples of rare guns. The connection between Buffalo Bill Cody, his Wild West Show, and Deadwood

are highlighted as Cody’s show was the inspiration for the first Days of ‘76 Celebration. Over 50 wagons, buggies, carriages, and stagecoaches on display highlight the important role early frontier transportation played in the settling of Deadwood.

The Days of ‘76 Museum is wheelchair accessible. The gift shop is located on the first floor. Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 – 12, and free to children 5 and under. The museum is free to Deadwood History members.

Open year round, the Days of ‘76 Museum is wheelchair accessible.

Call 605-722-4800 for information on group tours.

18 Seventy Six Drive Deadwood, SD 605-578-1657 DeadwoodHistory.com

Page 10, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Community Partners PROGRAMS OFFERED Monday-Friday • 5:30am-6pm

Daycare Children 6 weeks and older We offer curriculum to all ages. Preschool is full days Monday-Friday or half days Tuesday & Thursday Pre-K full days Monday-Friday or half days Monday through Thursday.

Morning and Afternoon Care Children 5-12 years old We personally transport them to and from their public school.

After school we have fun activities planned.

Summer Programs Children 5-12 years old We will offer curriculum focused on fun in the sun.

We will leave the center for field trips, hiking, park, pool and swimming lessons.

Hours of Operation: 5:30am-6:00pm Owner: Kendra McGinnis Phone: 605-641-3367 kidspointchildcare@gmail.com North Point Church, 10959 Kellem Lane, Spearfish, SD

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The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 4

VISIT SPEARFISH iconic attraction putting Spearfish on the map as a tourism destination, but now, the bulk of the calls have to do with our outdoor recreation and adventure,” she said. “In 2011, we made the decision to go head-first into marketing Spearfish as the premier outdoor adventure destination in the Black Hills. It was definitely met with resistance, but now we see that the town is embracing this culture. It is not only the focus in the tourism industry but has advanced the community in its livability and has encouraged others to start businesses here. Everyone starts as a visitor; many come back, or move here, or start business here.”

Mayor Dana Boke described that 10 years ago, “Spearfish was having an identity crisis. The Passion Play had their final performance and, as a community, we were wondering, ‘What will come next?’” she said. “Many businesses and individuals relied on those visitors for their livelihood. The question was, ‘Who are we now?’”

Boke described that Visit Spearfish was able to recognize the community’s strengths and assets and develop a strategy to engage people and draw them in.

“Through excellent management of social media and marketing strategies, they have captured the heart of Spearfish – a community that not only enjoys our picturesque setting,

Our Towns 2019, Page 11 but takes full advantage of all the recreational, cultural, and historical activities it has to offer,” she said.

“This transition has not been easy. Misty Caldwell has put in her blood, sweat and tears to make this shift possible. Through building strong relationships with South Dakota Tourism, and Black Hills and Badlands, she has partnered to position Spearfish as the premier location in South Dakota for outdoor enthusiasts.”

“Tourism and visitor attraction are important components of Spearfish’s economy,” Kory Menken, SEDC executive director, said, adding, “SEDC looks forward to continuing to work closely with Visit Spearfish on achieving our common goals.”

Melissa Barth, executive director of the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce, congratulated the board and staff at Visit Spearfish on celebrating 10 years of operation.

“They have grown the organization over the years and have been instrumental in growing the economic impact of tourism in our community,” Barth said. “Our organizations may have separate mission statements, but we collaborate on a regular basis to make Spearfish a great place to live, work, and play. Congratulations again to Visit Spearfish on a successful 10 years!”

Caldwell explained that on the surface, Visit Spearfish’s mission, which states, “Visit Spearfish, Inc., promotes and markets Spearfish as a convention,

tourism and leisure destination to visitors from outside the Spearfish region for the economic benefit of the community,” may appear simple.

“While many people see our location and think we just run the visitor center on Main, in actuality, the visitor center represents only about 15 percent of the organization’s total operations,” she said. She described that other aspects of the Visit Spearfish operations include, but are not limited to: mailing thousands of visitor guides to potential visitors, sitting on local/state/regional boards currently, monetary and in-kind donations to large groups, attending local, regional, state governmental meetings, providing advocacy and industry-related information to our stakeholders through a monthly newsletter, researching/creating/placing advertisements to viable visitor audiences through print, digital, television, social media and more.

“We maintain an industry-leading website that showcases all businesses that collect the hospitality tax, as well as showcasing the natural beauty of the area,” Caldwell said. “Visit Spearfish does not collect membership fees, but rather utilizes a portion of the hospitality tax allocated to the organization on an annual basis to support who collect the tax.”

When asked what she is most proud of over 10 years of Visit Spearfish, Caldwell said, “Everything!

Everyone!”

She said she is proud of

the community for taking the chance and being an industry leader in becoming a destination marketing organization back in 2008; she is proud of the board and its commitment to moving tourism forward; she is proud of the staff of Visit Spearfish – past and present; she is proud of the community support of the efforts of the organization; she is proud that the agency is a good steward of the taxpayer’s money; “and I am proud of a community that is always looking to the future and how we can be better tomorrow than we are today – and increasing the hospitality tax by 44 percent in 10 years isn’t too bad, either.”

In the beginning, one of the goals the organization was tasked with was working with the city, chamber, SEDC, and downtown business association to create consistent messaging and development of a community brand, Caldwell said.

“While the focus on this goal has ebbed and flowed over 10 years, Visit Spearfish has stayed the course,” she said. “As we head into 2019, we are optimistic that we are moving in that direction with purpose. That is the big-picture goal.”

With respect to goals that would bring about a more direct financial impact to the community more immediately, Caldwell said, the board and other community stakeholders speak often of the need for more affordable and available largegroup/sporting

facilities, preferably of the multi-use variety, because the focus is events.

“We recognize that with an increase in facilities, comes the need for more employees,” she said. “We will be working with our other community partners to advocate for workforce recruitment and development and affordable housing options. For the time being, our focus is developing large group events that utilize the current available assets – primarily the outdoors, year-round. Look for exciting new events from Visit Spearfish and its partners in the near future!”

Boke described that Visit Spearfish has helped foster big ideas and assists to fund, support, and develop ideas into great events that continue to propel the community forward with a new energy and purpose.

“On this 10th anniversary, I want to say thank you to the staff and the members of the board, both past and present,” she said. “Through your grit, determination, and passion for the community, we are realizing the fullness of our future in tourism and ‘Finding Adventure in every Season.’”

Spearfish Canyon, shown here from the rim, is a very popular destination for visitors. Photo courtesy of Heidi Watson/Watson Photography

Page 12, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 13

Page 14, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

These women mean business

SD CEO Women’s Business Center celebrates a decade of putting women in business

& Naked Olive

The funkiest shop in the Black Hills

From left, Mela Cosme, marketing specialist; Andrea Bakeberg, assistant director; Michelle Kane, director of the SD CEO Women’s Business Center, are celebrating the program’s 10th anniversary helping women succeed in business this year.

Pioneer photo by Alex Portal

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

• Funky Furniture

• Infused Olive Oils & Balsalmic Vinegars

• Local Consignment Artwork

• One-of-a-kind Home Decor • Men & Women’s Apparel • Fun, Unique, Crazy Gifts

611 N. Main St. Spearfish SD, 57783 • 605-641-5766

SPEARFISH — For the past 10 years, the South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity (SD CEO) Women’s Business Center (WBC) has been operating out of an office at Black Hills State University.

“We help women launch businesses, grow their business, get leadership skills, and all kinds of things through training and conferences,” said Michelle Kane, director of the SD CEO. “We also do one-on-one counseling, too, so men and women.”

Before taking over as director for the Women’s Business Center in 2017, Kane ran her own marketing firm called Black Hills P.R. “So that’s really helped me to work with people who are interested in starting a business,” she said.

Although the SD CEO office is housed on the BHSU campus, it’s more geared towards women throughout the community looking to branch out in business. Kane said she’s been seeing an uptick in women who have been in a certain career

for a while, who are looking to expand their business acumen.

“We’re here to serve everyone, including students,” she said. “We are here to help people move their ideas forward.”

Kane also explained that the program doesn’t just cater to entrepreneurs, but also “intrapreneurs.”

“Think of it as someone who works for a great company,” she explained. “And they don’t necessarily want to go out and start a business, but they want to take the spirit of entrepreneurialism, which is innovation, and grit, and resilience, and all those things, and just apply it to their job.”

The SD CEO offers many opportunities for networking throughout the year through luncheons; live speaking engagements, and course programs. Their next event will be a Celebrating Women in Business luncheon and awards program on May 17.

For more information on the SD CEO Women’s Business Center, or to set up a free one-on-one counseling session, visit http://www.bhsu. edu/SDCEO or call Kane at 642-6311.

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 15

A gold mine of knowledge Sanford lab on cutting edge of science

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

LEAD — In 1965, Dr. Ray Davis installed a physics experiment 4,850 feet down inside the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead; cutting edge thinking by Davis at the time.

Today, over 50 years later, the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) continues the cutting edge legacy of Davis.

After 126 years and extracting 41 million ounces of gold, the Homestake mine closed its doors and devastated the town of Lead. Luckily for Lead, Davis’ experiment had literally planted the seed that would once again put the old mining town on the map.

The state fought hard to have Lead selected as the site of a deep underground lab by the National Science Foundation, helped significantly by a $70 million donation by T. Denny Sanford.

The combined support allowed the mine to be transformed into a state of the art research facility.

Today SURF has become a world-leading laboratory, making scientific breakthroughs in the fields of physics, biology, geology, and engineering.

“Ray Davis was a pioneer in going underground to look for these rare processes,” said Jaret Heise, science director at SURF. Heise is no stranger to deep, dark places. Originally from Canada he worked on the solar neutrino experiment called the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), which studied the properties of neutrinos and the core of our sun, before becoming SURF’s science director in 2008.

“Frankly, it was an excellent opportunity to get in on the ground floor of building a lab that

The Sanford Lab creates some of the world’s purest copper 4,850 feet below the surface. Courtesy photo would support underground science,” he said.

For more than a decade Heise and the team at SURF have been building a worldclass research laboratory, which has housed a cornucopia of experiments that has revolutionized mankind’s understanding of our planet and how the universe was formed. Many of those experiments have already yielded groundbreaking results and are currently being scaled up in order to probe even deeper into the inner workings of our universe.

Majorana Demonstrator

A “quiet” environment is a key factor when studying neutrinos. However, in the particle physics community, “quiet” doesn’t mean a lack of noise, it refers to limiting the amount of unwanted particles that could interfere with readings. Even the nuts and bolts used to build the housing of the experiment can produce relatively massive amounts of unwanted particles and confound the most sensitive detectors.

The Majorana Demonstrator sought to test the limits of how

“quiet” an experiment can be at SURF by using ultra pure components, many of which were manufactured underground so as to never expose the parts to cosmic rays, which would have contaminated the experiment. The researchers even perfected a proprietary method to grow their own copper to be used in the experiment, making it the purest, and therefore quietest, copper on the planet.

“There was a whole R&D project on the side just to measure how pure it is,” Heise said.

The demonstrator uses enriched and natural germanium to try to detect an ex-

tremely rare form of radioactivity called neutrinoless double-beta decay. So far, the Demonstrator hasn’t found that reaction; however, it did yield impressive results regarding the purity of the experiment.

“Their main goals were technical,” Heise explained of the scientists running the experiment. “They wanted to show that the techniques that they had developed were sufficient to inspire the federal funding agencies to invest in a ton-scale version of this experiment.”

Now, the Majorana team is taking the next step by joining forces with another neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment.

GOLD MINE Pg 16

Courtesy photos

Page 16, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD MOUNTAIN GRAND

from Pg 15

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“They’ll be testing some new hardware, some new cables and connectors that will help improve their results potentially for this experiment but more importantly, they will be used in the next generation; a detector called LEGEND-200.”

Heise explained that LEGEND-200 would bring together expertise and techniques from the Majorana Demonstrator as well as its European counterpart GERDA, housed in Italy.

“They both used germanium to look for neutrinoless double-beta decay,” he said. “(Scientists will) coalesce these competing technologies, take the best of each and build up a combined detector with those two collaborations converging.”

DAKOTA HOME AND RANCH REAL ESTATE, LLC

GOLD MINE

LUX-ZEPLIN Potential clients should choose Dakota Home and Ranch Real Estate, LLC if they are seeking a professional experience with integrity and care for the client. Our goal is to assist all of our clients no matter the property type, in their journey to purchase or sell their home, ranch, or business. It is of utmost importance to us that we help our clients discover the best property to meet their needs and circumstances and to educate both sellers and buyers about the entire process of listing and selling.

We are privileged to work with buyers and sellers in Wyoming and South Dakota with residential, ranch/ farm land, as well as commercial property. With the 40+ years of combined real estate experience we are able to draw on that experience to best suit the correct broker with the client's needs.

We can be found at 1411 5th Ave. Ste. B, Belle Fourche or www.dakotahomeandranch.com. We can also be reached by phone at 605-645-8938 (Gloriann Ruby); 605-645-1314 (Fred Wilson); or 605-347-1167 (Artie Gifford).

RING CONTAINER TECHNOLOGIES

Ring Container Technologies is a privately held, multinational corporation headquartered in Oakland, Tennessee. Established in 1968, we now have operations in 18 US locations, Canada, and England.

The Belle Fourche plant opened December 2005 and is located at 10887 US Hwy 212.

Instead of trying to be all things to all customers, Ring focuses on resources on specific end-use applications for industries including retail food, chemicals, and pet care. We begin with engaging our customers in design, then together develop the end product through advanced technology. We finish the strategy by geographically locating near our major customers. As a result, some of the world's most recognized companies entrust their brands to us and to our beautiful and functional jars, jugs, bottles, and wide-mouth cannisters.

Our goal is to continuously improve our products and services to meet our customer's needs, allowing us to prosper as a business. We achieve these goals by enabling our employees to be our leaders and innovators, offering superior customer service, and supplying innovative products at lower costs. For employment opportunities, contact us at 605-892-2300 or www.ringcontainer.com

One of the greatest mysteries of science today is the existence of dark matter.

“We have a lot of empirical evidence, or indirect evidence that dark matter exists,” Heise said. “Looking at the rotation speeds of galaxies; they’re spinning way too fast, they should be flinging themselves apart.”

Heise also described gravitational lensing, which is the observation of light bending around an object that we can’t see. It’s sort of like looking at a ball with a light shining behind it; in this case we can’t see the ball, but we can deduce that it must be there. Heise explained that scientists still don’t know if dark matter is made up of light particles or heavy particles, just that it is subject to the effects of gravity.

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter detector sought to detect the elusive particle in much the same manner as Ray Davis did in the mid1960s with his experiment to look for neutrinos from the Sun. Davis set up a tank filled with dry cleaning fluid on the 4,850-level of Homestake Mine and waited for neutrinos to careen into a target particle inside his tank. Over many decades, Davis and his collaborators counted neutrino collisions that ultimately led to new discoveries in physics. But key to his success was the underground

laboratory that created an environment quiet enough to make those measurements.

Heise said although LUX didn’t detect any dark matter, it was so good at creating an environment capable of detecting dark matter that even after it was switched off, it took a year for other experiments in the field of dark matter research to catch up.

“So LUX found nothing better than anyone else, and LZ (LUX-ZEPLIN) hopes to improve on that.”

Heise explained that in order to catch a glimpse of some of the most elusive pieces of cosmic flotsam and jetsam in the universe, it’s better to cast a wide net. LZ will be using many of the same techniques as LUX, just on a much larger scale. Whereas LUX held 350 kilograms of liquid xenon as its target, LZ will hold 10 tons and be 100 times more sensitive than LUX when it comes online in 2020.

“In addition to having more xenon, (…) they will also have an outer detector with a liquid scintillator and that’s a technique that LUX did not use,” Heise said.

LBNF/DUNE

SURF has teamed up with Fermilab located outside of Batavia Ill., to build what will be the largest neutrino study in the world. The Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) will be constructed at Fermilab and Sanford Lab. Using a particle accelerator, Fermilab will shoot a concentrated beam of neutrinos 800 miles through the earth to massive detectors deep underground at Sanford Lab in Lead.

“They are going to be shooting protons into a graphite target (in Batavia) and what comes out are particles called pions, which decay to muons,” Heise said. “The muons will (themselves) decay, giving off muon neutrinos.”

As the muon neutrinos travel from Fermilab to SURF, they can change from one type into another.

There are three flavors of neutrino – muon, electron, and tau – and what starts off as a muon neutrino may end up being detected as an electron neutrino or a tau neutrino.

At SURF, the other half of

the experiment is currently in the beginning stages of construction, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Four DUNE detectors will be installed 4,850 feet underground, consisting of huge cryostats (63 feet wide, 60 feet tall, and over 200 feet long) filled with a total of 70,000 tons of liquid argon and an array of detection wires.

The argon in the cryostats will “catch” neutrinos from the neutrino beam.

Neutrinos interacting with particles of liquid argon will produce other particles that will ionize the argon atoms and release electrons, and those electrons will be caught by the detection wires. From that signal, researchers will be able to deduce what type of neutrino arrived after the long journey.

“If it’s a muon neutrino interacting, it will produce certain charged particles, and if it’s a electron (neutrino) it will (create) slightly different particles,” he explained.

The LBNF/DUNE study of neutrinos could lead to a better understanding of

how matter and antimatter interact in the universe.

Heise explained that at the moment of the Big Bang, an equal amount of matter and anti matter was released out into the universe. This should have meant that the two particles cancelled each other out.

“If you remember your ‘Star Trek’ physics,” Heise said. “Matter and antimatter, when they collide, will annihilate into energy.”

Had the amounts of matter and antimatter remained equal throughout the universe, it would have resulted in a universe comprised entirely of energy, or light. Since we can observe that matter exits, scientists have concluded that at some point after the Big Bang, matter gained a foothold over antimatter as the most abundant form of matter in the universe.

“LBNF/DUNE will shoot a beam of muon neutrinos and then they’ll shoot a beam of muon anti neutrinos, so we’ll be able to study the matter process and the anti matter process,” Heise said.

GOLD MINE Pg 18

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 17

Work progresses at Lead opera house

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

LEAD — In 1984 a fire swept through Lead’s Historic Homestake Opera House theatre, causing extensive damage.

It sat unused and untouched for 11 years until reconstruction and restoration projects began. Those projects have been ongoing ever since.

In 2008 the theater had been functionally restored and the community theatre group, the Gold Camp Players put on the first production in 25 years.

Restoration continues as the opulence and grandeur of the theater returns piece by piece.

Most of the original bronze sconce light fixtures and their stain glass lampshades that lined the walls of the auditorium were lost in the fire, fortunately at least one sconce and one lampshade survived the blaze to be used in the creation of replicas.

“In the early 2000s they (the past Historic Homestake Opera House

board of directors) replicated a few,” said Sarah Carlson, development director for the Historic Homestake Opera House.

“And we (the current board of directors) took one of the replicas and made more replicas.”

Deb Vallette, of Touch of Glass in Rapid City, replicated the stained glass lampshades while BronzeAge Art Casting in Sioux Falls handled the sconces. The level of detail laid into the sconces is so great, Carlson was hard pressed to determine which of them was the original.

“It is exact,” she said. “It is bronze with the same patina as the one that was left.”

The installation of the sconces marked the completion of the north and south wall reconstruction project, and brings the opera house one step closer to being restored to its former glory.

Restoration work progresses as the Historic Homestake Opera House continues to regrow and reinvent itself under the stewardship of its two directors,

Carlson and Kate Schlenker.

“We’ve gotten to the point now were all of our efforts fundraising and programing operations make it necessary to hire additional staff,” Carlson said. “To continue that momentum, the board split the role of executive director up into two full-time positions.”

Carlson explained that she took on the role of development director, which focuses on raising the funds needed for operations, restoration, and programing, while Schlenker was hired to fill the role of operations director, which manages the day-to-day functions of the opera house.

The opera house has also added a part-time grant writer and education and outreach employee to the staff.

“She helps Sarah apply (for) grants,” Schlenker said. “Then on my side, we take those funds from the grants and we are going to provide education and outreach for the community.”

Schlenker said the opera house would be offering

Pictured above is one of 12 light fixtures replicated from a surviving sconce and lampshade that were damaged in the fire, which devastated the Historic Homestake Opera House in 1984.

Pioneer photo by Alex Portal workshops throughout the year, as well as special programing and classes for all ages.

“We have plays and concerts and special things

in the theatre but we also want to provide for the community; during the week, activities more so like the recreation that they used to have here,” she said.

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Page 18, Our Towns 2019

SPEARFISH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As a membership based organization, the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce serves their members as the leading voice of business by providing advocacy, leadership, and resources. They offer marketing, recognition, growth, and networking opportunities for their members. The Chamber serves Spearfish as an information portal for relocation information and local businesses, an educational platform for governmental and civic events, and a mentor for workforce development.

The Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce has a dynamic range of members and services. They offer a 9-month Leadership Spearfish program, host an active young professionals group, provide marketing opportunities, and arrange recognition and community events.

Stop by at 106 W. Kansas Street in Spearfish, call 605-642-2626, or visit www.spearfishchamber.org to find out how you can get involved.

STURGIS ACE HARDWARE

The Sturgis hardware store became an Ace Hardware in November of 2018. It is one of 5,000+ Ace stores that is locally owned and operated across the globe. We are committed to being “the Helpful Place” by offering our customers personal service, quality products and a convenient shopping experience from the local experts who know you best. As the helpful hardware folks in your neighborhood, we carry everything you need to help maintain your home, including hardware, lawn & garden products, paint, tools, home goods, plumbing, electrical, heating & cooling and outdoor living items.

605-347-4031 • 2222 Junction Ave., Sturgis, SD

BLACK HILLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 16

GOLD MINE The research that will be done by LBNF/DUNE may help bring scientists one step closer to understanding one of the most fundamental questions held by mankind; how the universe we see today was formed.

“If neutrino interactions choose matter one part in a billion over the antimatter versions that would give you the universe that we see today,” he said. “If there’s no asymmetry built into that interaction then we’ll have to go look somewhere else.”

The world will have to wait just a little while longer before researchers at SURF start probing the greatest mystery of the physical universe, however. Before any cryostats can be filled, or antimatter beams can be fired, the caverns at SURF will need to be excavated to make room for the gigantic experiment.

“The big news recently was that the LBNF contractor, Kiewit/Alberici Joint Venture, has started – they’ve hit the ground running,” Heise said.

Pre-excavation of the cavern has begun as Kiewit/Alberici prepares to move 875,000 tons of rock up from the 4,850-foot level of the old mine.

Included in the pre-excavation plan in the construction of a 4,000-foot conveyer system that will transport crushed rock from the excavation across Highway 85 and dump the bits and pieces into the Open Cut. Longtime residents of Lead may remember a time when a similar conveyer hauled chunks of rock from the Open Cut to the milling factories back in the mining days.

Heise said excavation of the cavern is scheduled to begin in early 2021 and the first detector should be ready to be turned on sometime around 2024 and 2025.

Deep Observatory

Life exists in some extreme places on this planet, including inside solid rock.

Since 2015, collaboration has been doing research in the field of exobiology that has also had broad reaching applications, including to NASA’s Mars Rover missions.

“Exobiology in general, but Mars would certainly be something closer on the horizon,” Heise said.

The research has always centered on studying microorganisms and how they can survive and thrive in conditions too extreme for any other life forms.

“They had quite a large collaboration of different national labs but also a mixture of biologists and geologists, as well as some physicists looking for processes that cross (normal) boundaries (between disciplines),” he said. “It was a really interesting collaboration, it still is an interesting collaboration.”

Some of the tests they conducted involved running water across different mediums in order to see what conditions promote microorganism growth. Another test ran electricity into water flowing through rock to observe how the microorganisms process energy.

“They also tested some of the tools and monitoring equipment that will be on the next mission to Mars,” Heise said. “What better place to test your quasi-robotic biologists and geologists than here?”

Practical Implications With all the high concept science taking place at SURF, it can be easy to lose sight of how the work being done can relate to the everyday lives of the general population of South Dakota.

Heise said the opportunity for ed-

Black Hills Federal Credit Union is a memberowned, not-for-profit, financial cooperative with a passion for service and mission to improve lives.

With 15 locations across South Dakota, BHFCU has the convenient products and services you need to achieve your financial goals, including mortgage options, youth savings accounts and VISA Rewards credit cards. Take advantage of their Online and Mobile Banking options, or visit with their friendly, knowledgeable staff at their location on 835 Main Street in Spearfish today! Call 605-718-1818 or visit bhfcu.com for more information.

WOLFF'S PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

Owned by Greg Hartman, Scott Hartman and Jef Mattern, Wolff’s Plumbing & Heating has been in business for 73 years. Wolff’s covers all aspects of plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Whether you have a new construction project, a remodel or need service, with 38 employees, they can get the job done.

Wolff’s Plumbing & Heating won the CIC Master Craftsmanship Award for Davis Campus (the underground lab at Homestake Mine) as well as the CIC Craftsmanship Award for the BHSU Central Plant upgrades. They are located at 614 S. 32nd Street in Spearfish. For your residential, commercial or industrial job, contact Wolff’s at 605-642-5755.

Pictured is the Majorana Demostrator. Courtesy photo

ucation is probably the largest real world application SURF has to offer in the short term.

“Training South Dakota students, whether they be in biology or physics, geology, engineering, I think that’s a really tangible benefit.”

Heise went on to say that there are even medical applications that can be derived through the kind of basic research being done at SURF. “(A) good example would be using particle accelerators to treat cancer,” he said.

Heise explained that using particle accelerators not unlike the CASPAR low-energy particle accelerator being used at SURF can also be used in proton therapy research, which utilizes highly concentrated beams of energy to impact cancer cells in the human body without effecting the healthy cells.

The learning opportunities that come out of SURF’s research aren’t exclusive to institutes of higher education, however. Heise spoke about the Education & Outreach Team at SURF, which focuses on bringing the advanced research being done underground to the kindergarten through 12th-grade level. He said the team reaches 80 percent of South Dakota counties.

“We develop curriculum units that draw on the latest teaching standards and develop modules for different grade levels. In some cases they bring the teachers in during the summer and say, ‘this is what we’re doing, this is how you can teach this material.’”

Whether it’s unraveling the mysteries of the Big Bang, understanding the unknown composition of dark matter, or teaching 3rd–graders how magnets work, the research being done deep underground at SURF is “Miles Above Ordinary.”

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 19 Pool Walking track Gymnasium Weight & Cardio Rooms

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Page 20, Our Towns 2019

BELLE FOURCHE AREA COMMUNITY CENTER

Belle Fourche Area Community Center has been promoting a healthy community for 27 years! It is our goal to provide a healthy atmosphere and to promote Belle Fourche and the surrounding area.

Our facilities offer a pool, walking track, gymnasium, weight and cardio rooms, racquetball courts, theatre, group fitness classes, youth and adult sports programs, and swimming lessons. Day passes or membership are available.

Stop by 1111 National Street for a tour and to learn more. Check out our website at www.bellefourche.org or call 605-892-2467.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

The best in service, the best in business and personal banking...in the best communities!

First National Bank has a history and commitment to customers that goes back to 1934. Since commencing operations in Pierre, S.D., we've been proud of our tradition as a family-owned business and the connections to the communities we serve.

Over the years we've grown, adding more locations and banking products, but always continuing to offer our customers personalized service. We take great pride in treating each and every one of our customers with the attention and care they deserve. First National Bank will always be your community bank, committed to doing what's right for our customers in this generation — and the next.

955 Main St., Sturgis, SD • 605-347-4416 197 Glendale Ave., Lead, SD • 605-584-2622

THE REAL ESTATE CENTER OF SPEARFISH

LORI CALDWELL-DEVRIES

Lori is an owner at the Real Estate Center of Spearfish and sells both residential and commercial properties.

She has over 10 years of real estate experience in the Black Hills, and over 25 years of insurance experience. She has found that selling real estate and insurance have been a good fit for her, as well as her customers.

She came to college in Spearfish in 1982 and fell in love with the area. After graduation, she moved to the Denver area for five years. Lori was able to relocate back to Spearfish in 1992, and has never left. She enjoys hiking all over the Black Hills, skiing, kayaking, and many other outdoor experiences as well as sporting and cultural events in the area. She looks forward to serving your real estate needs, whether you're ready to buy and sell right now or sometime in the future. It's never too early to start planning.

Lori can be reached at 641-7529 (cell), 642-2525 (office), www.LoriCaldwellRealEstate.com, or 140 W. Jackson Blvd.

SPEARFISH FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

In business for over 80 years, the Neiman Family has owned and operated sawmills in the Black Hills since the 1930’s. They are one of the largest producers of Ponderosa Pine products in the United States. Their products include Heartland Wood Pellets, pine shavings, boards and more.

Nieman Enterprises is a certified member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. This commitment insures the long-term stability of their company and guarantees future resources through a cycle of renewability.

Spearfish Forest Products employs over 200 people plus 170 contractors, loggers and truck drivers. They are located at 1510 W. Oliver in Spearfish and can be reached at 605642-7741.

The Black Hills Pioneer

$4M Outlaw Square to open this fall Deadwood Jam kick-off event

By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD — Located at the corner of Deadwood and Main streets, there’s a new outdoor space in which to mix and mingle under construction in Deadwood.

“Outlaw Square is a new public gathering space in the former location of the Franklin Motor Lodge and the vacant parcel of land, where city hall used to sit in 1952,” said Deadwood Historic Preservation Officer Kevin Kuchenbecker. “This area will be transformed into a public gathering space and opens to the public in September.”

The space will feature a multipurpose gazebo, event stage, turf, and in the winter season, fire pit and ice skates. Ice skating is slated to begin in late November.

As part of the project, Deadwood Street will be realigned to meet Shine Street and the Franklin Motor Lodge was demolished to make way for such features as an ice-skating rink, water component, and event stage, as well as public restrooms, storage, turf, and historic features.

Closure of Deadwood Street continues to June 15.

During phase two, general construction slated to last until June 2, sidewalks along Highway 14A and Main Street will be closed to the public, while a fourfoot section of sidewalk will remain open along Hickok’s. Deadwood Street will be fully closed.

During phase three, June 15 to Sept. 15, sidewalks will be open to the public along Main Street, while the sidewalk along Highway 14A will be closed. There will be no access to Highway 14A, but half of Deadwood Street will be open during this phase.

“Reminiscent of city hall and the Deadwood Theater that once stood in that location, a possible gazebo and water feature,” Kuchenbecker said. “Of course, being in a National

Dignitaries break ground on Deadwood’s Outlaw Square. Pioneer file photo Historic Landmark District, it will be compatible with the historic district’s wood and masonry brick construction.”

A groundbreaking on the project was held Jan. 7.

Both a culminating and crowning moment for an ongoing four-year commitment to bring a Main Street square to town, involving members of the Main Street Initiative, formerly the Deadwood Revitalization Committee, a sub-committee of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Pearson, chairman of the Main Street Initiative and Deadwood Jam chairman, said this has been a persistent effort to reach this goal of providing Deadwood residents and tourists a place to gather and interact with the history of Deadwood.

“It was a concerted effort and a never-give-up-attitude that got the job done and this should spark the revitalization of Deadwood’s Main Street though retail development and increased traffic, which is the mission of the Deadwood Revitalization Committee,” Pearson said.

“The initial event at the Outlaw Square will be the 2019 Deadwood Jam, so we really want to give

something back to the community, so we are going to be putting on the first-ever free Deadwood Jam on Sept. 13 and 14, featuring nine bands representing various genres, such as blues, bluegrass, classic rock, funk, and Americana.”

Other key partners include Deadwood Historic Preservation, the state of South Dakota, city of Deadwood, Deadwood Lead Economic Development, and others, Mayor David Ruth, Jr. said the new chapter marked by the ground breaking for Outlaw Square is exciting for him for several reasons.

“First and foremost because this groundbreaking signifies the culmination of tremendous amounts of vision, planning, hard work, and persistence by many,” Ruth said, thanking the entities involved, including the Main Street Initiative for their “seemingly unwavering determination” and the people of Deadwood for “coming out and saying, ‘We need this for our better future.’

“This Outlaw Square gives us the opportunity to really improve the quality of life for our residents.

It brings us to a place to gather as a community

and it has the potential to increase the stay of our visitors. Improving on what I already believe to be the greatest destination in our great land, a place that I am proud to call home.”

Thus far, $4 million dollars has been budgeted for the construction of Outlaw Square.

“This project is paid for through Deadwood Historic Preservation and state of South Dakota future funds,” Kuchenbecker said. “This is a monumental project of the Main Street Initiative, a citywide revitalization effort for Deadwood, which is a public/private partnership.”

A $2 million original commitment was made by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission in the fall of 2017, contingent upon the Main Street Initiative Committee securing matching funds to get the project off the ground.

The project was greenlighted in October 2018, as then-Gov. Dennis Daugaard committed the full $2 million required to match the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission’s $2 million commitment and combined, the $4 million in funding finally brings the project to fruition.

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 21

West River Agronomy Research Station to perform grazing, cover crop, and variety trials 111-acre site located northwest of Sturgis

THE REAL ESTATE CENTER OF SPEARFISH

The Real Estate Center of Spearfish has been helping people buy and sell real estate since 1992. Eight Owner/ Broker Associates, four Broker Associates, two Broker Assistants and three Office Coordinators are ready to assist you. With a combined experience of over 150 years in real estate, they know their business and can help you through the process!

Their dedicated support staff helps with every step of the transaction. This provides their realtors with more time to focus on sales, networking and excellent customer service to both current and potential clients. They invite you to join their satisfied clients. Let one of their brokers work with you on your next real estate transaction!

Visit spearfishrealestatecenter.com for the most up to date property listings and like them on Facebook at SpearfishRealEstateCenter.

DEADWOOD RECREATION & AQUATICS CENTER

Deadwood Recreation & Aquatics Center has everything you need for fitness and fun! Our facility features a water slide, zero entry pool, lap pool, indoor walking/running track, racquetball/ squash court, cardiovascular equipment, weights, basketball court, sauna, and a new hot tub.

We offer affordable memberships ranging from daily to six months, with special pricing for families, single adults, children, seniors, and high school students.

Deadwood Recreational Center is located at 105 Sherman Street. For more information, visit our page on the City of Deadwood site at www.cityofdeadwood.com, or call 605-578-3729.

VERSATILE CARPETS & INTERIORS As a land-grant institution, South Dakota State University, home to the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, has research stations strategically located across the state, with the newest being the West River Agronomy Research Station, comprised of 111 acres located northwest of Sturgis along Alkali Road. Courtesy image

By Kaija Swisher Black Hills Pioneer

STURGIS — The newest of South Dakota State University’s research stations is located on 111 acres northwest of Sturgis, which were acquired in 2018 to become the West River Agronomy Research Station.

The station focuses on agronomic and livestock research for conditions similar to those in western South Dakota, and the site will allow for the combination of crops and livestock to allow researchers to perform grazing, cover crop, and variety trials.

SDSU’s website states, “As a land-grant institution, South Dakota State University, home to the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, has an enduring mission of practical, responsive research to help improve the

farms and ranches, businesses and lives of South Dakotans. Research often starts on the SDSU campus, but for the science to ultimately reach out to real-life needs, researchers also work on SDSU research stations strategically located across the state.

Christopher Graham, SDSU assistant professor/ agronomist, explained that most of the research stations are concentrated in the eastern and central part of the state, so the newest station allows a site in the western portion of South Dakota, a relatively different climate and agricultural system.

The station also allows researchers to have a site for research over a longer time period than is often possible with research grants, which typically last three years.

“When we have this permanent land, that kind of gives us the opportunity to look at more longterm projects,” Graham said, explaining that for research related to crop rotation, for example, it is important to have data beyond a three-, six-, or nineyear timeframe.

He said from a researcher’s standpoint, having the ability to do long-term research is critical, because things change so much, especially in farming. So much of it is based on the weather, Graham said, so research needs to encompass a multiyear cycle.

The fact that the research station can do such longterm trials, and take more risks than a working farm might be able to take and manipulate things in different ways to determine what crops work well and which don’t over the long

term, provides better information and aid for producers, educators, etc.

The station has been in the works for a few years.

Graham said serious talks began about a West River site around 2015, with potential sites examined in Meade and Pennington counties.

“We wanted to get a parcel of land that was very uniform and had a soil type that represented the largest amount of Western South Dakota as we could get, which is pretty difficult, so we spent a lot of time looking at sites, sampling sites and various things, and finally came upon this one in Sturgis,” he said.

In 2018, Senate Bill 48, passed by the state Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Dennis WEST RIVER Pg 22

Tim and Lois Verhulst moved to Spearfish in the spring of 1991 with four young kids and everything they owned in a truck. They were broke, in debt, and Tim had $1,200 cash in his pocket. They moved into the apartment above Versatile Carpets and never moved out. Within the first month, Lois suffered a deep vein thrombosis blood clot in her leg. She spent 10 days in the hospital. They had no insurance and accumulated another $25,000 in debt. Tim can still remember writing checks to the hospital each month for $15.00.

Things turned around and by the spring of 1992, they were able to purchase the business from Mr. Vern Lecy.

Vern Lecy was the most kind and understanding person they had ever met. As he took Tim & Lois around and introduced them to other citizens, they were greeted repeatedly with the phrase, “Welcome to Spearfish! You are going to love it here!” To this day, that phrase is printed on the back of Tim’s business card and on a sign on the north side of their building.

Today they offer all types of flooring, along with Hunter Douglas and other brands of window fashions. They are exclusive distributors of “Step Warm Floor” in floor radiant heat. Warm floor is a unique, low voltage floor heat system that can be installed safely under any flooring, including WOOD! It self regulates, so it can be installed anywhere, even under fixed furniture, without the danger of overheating and damaging the finished floor.

Tim and Lois have enjoyed their 27 years here and look forward to many more!

Page 22, Our Towns 2019 from Pg 21

WEST RIVER Daugaard, authorized the South Dakota Board of Regents, on behalf of SDSU, to purchase the land. The purchase included a large building to be constructed on the site that will include equipment storage, shop and working space, office space, classroom, and more. The total cost, $902,461, reflects the cost of building, approximately $400,000, and the land.

Graham said that dirt work has started for the construction of the building, and he hoped that the building would be ready by the spring. Research related to crops is already taking place on the land, with more to occur in the spring, he added.

“We really like the fact that it

The Black Hills Pioneer (the research station site) was right next to the (Black Hills Steam and Gas) threshing bee (grounds) there, and so we’re hoping to kind of piggy-back on some of the work that they do and collaborate with them on some of the stuff to have … a very high visibility, and we have a lot of people interested in the farm,” Graham said, explaining that the goal is to work together in the future to promote similar interests and continue to engage the surrounding communities. “It’s not just esoteric research, but really applicable stuff that we’re doing that people can apply immediately. That’s the goal, anyway.”

Graham said that the goal is go have a lot of community buy-in.

“We’re really hoping that it’s very applied work that we’re doing and hopefully applicable and stuff that people can come and see,” he

said. “I think that’s the best way for people to learn.”

Graham said that there are already partnerships with agencies like National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which hosts events through the year, and he hopes that the research station’s classroom will be used for a variety of educational events and demonstrations with 4-H clubs, Future Farmers of America (FFA) groups, and others.

Graham currently has one graduate student working on a project related to the station, and there would continue to be graduate students on site as projects become available. The station would also host a full-time research manager and a full-time research technician position, in addition to Graham, and every summer, there would

interns assisting with various projects, as well.

In addition, SDSU’s statewide network of weather stations, called the Mesonet at SDState, is working to get a weather station located on the West River Agronomy Research Station to provides weather information to the surrounding community.

Graham said that as the building construction progresses, his hope is to host an open house eventually to get people in the space and allow them to tour the building and see the site.

“Having the ability to plan longterm is really the thing that’s most exciting for me,” he said.

For more information or to contact Graham, visit sdstate. edu/south-dakota-agricultural-experiment-station-sdsu/west-river-agronomy-research-station.

South Dakota State University’s West River Agronomy Research Station, comprised of 111 acres located northwest of Sturgis along Alkali Road, focuses on agronomic and livestock research for conditions similar to those in western South Dakota. Courtesy photo

The Black Hills Pioneer

1845 5TH AVENUE, BELLE FOURCHE

605.892.4125 HOURS

MON.–THURS. 9AM–9PM FRI.–SAT. 9AM–10PM SUNDAY 10AM–7PM

Our Towns 2019, Page 23

BELLE PACKAGE LIQUOR

Welcome!

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BIGGEST BEER CAVE IN BELLE FOURCHE

Stop in and enjoy our everyday low prices, volume discounts, and great in-store specials! We have a large variety of wines and a vast selection of craft beers to choose from, including local favorites like Crow Peak and Prairie Berry.

We also offer nonalcoholic treats such as old fashioned 1919 Keg Root Beer, snacks, and Dimock Cheese!

Wine Lovers Wednesday

10% OFF ALL WINE PURCHASES

CRAFTBEER Sample a single bottle, or create your own craft beer sampler!

We also have a

LARGE VARIETY of

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If we do not have your favorite wine, beer or spirit in stock, let us know and we will be happy to place a special order.

1845 5TH AVE., BELLE FOURCHE • 605.892.4125

HOURS: MONDAY–THURSDAY 9AM-9PM; FRIDAY–SATURDAY 9AM-10PM; SUNDAY 10AM-7PM

Page 24, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

OVER

CELEBRATING YEARS! 50 MAKING BOTTLES SINCE 1968

Established in 1968, Ring Container Technologies is a privately held, multinational corporation headquartered in Oakland, Tennessee. Focused on finding sustainable solutions for the consumer packaging industry, our company has grown to be one of the largest plastic container manufacturers in North America with operations in 18 US locations, Canada and England. Our local Belle Fourche plant has been operating since 2006 and employs over 20 people from our Northern Hills area.

Ring Container Technologies started out with a machinist having the vision to satisfy customers with varying shapes and sizes of bottles at competitive pricing. Machinery was made and designed for more efficient bottle designs, and to locate various plants at strategic places throughout the US, Canada and United Kingdom to accommodate customers.

Instead of trying to be all things to all customers, Ring focuses resources on specific end-use applications, including retail food, chemicals, and pet care. We begin with engaging our customers in design, then together develop the end product through advanced technology. We finish the strategy by geographically locating near our major customers. As a result, some of the world’s most recognized companies entrust their brands to us and to our beautiful and functional jars, jugs, bottles and wide-mouth canisters.

Ring Container Technologies is a leading manufacturer of plastic containers for food and other packaged products. Our goal is to continuously improve our products and services to meet our customers’ needs, allowing us to prosper as a business.

We achieve these goals by enabling our employees to be leaders and innovators; focusing on our customers’ needs by providing quality products and services that exceed our customers’ expectations; using and being a leader in techonology allowing us to offer innovative products at lower costs.

One of the Largest Plastic Container Manufacturers in North America Producer of some of the world’s most recognized brand’s bottles: Skippy Peanut Butter, McCormick Spices, Utz Pretzels, Dukes Mayonnaise, Marie’s Salad Dressing, and of course kitty litter bottles for our local customer to name a few.

10887 US Hwy 212 | Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-892-2300 - www.ringcontainer.com

OUR TOWNS

Section

3

2018 Northern Hills business overview

SECTION 3

OF

4

The Black Hills has seen a boom in the local economy in the past year, with new businesses opening throughout the communities and already established businesses expanding and remodeling. Other established businesses moved, received new owners, or saw major renovations.

2019 • BLACK HILLS PIONEER

El Jefe’s Fresh-Mex Cantina, Located at 161 W. Main St., Suite. B in Lead opened in August. The restaurant offers quality, healthy Mexican cuisine.

“This is a nice mix for us because he’s the chef and I kind of run the front end and the accounting and it’s working good,” said Karen Kean of owning the business with her husband Tom. Gold Mine Pizzeria, located at 312 N. Main St., in Lead opened in July. Owned and operated by Jordon Sewell, this pizza restaurant offers daily specials and specialty pizzas, which pay homage to the mining history of Lead and well as the scientific future of the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

Java Joint, opened in July at 145 Glendale Dr. Suite 1, in a tiny corner pocket above Bedrock Lanes bowling alley and below ACE Hardware, in Lead.

Owner Tyke Mohr looks to bring the “good vibes” of Seattle coffee shops to his

Ashley Kurtenbach and Kelly Gould opened 2 Broke Girls in November. Top, El Jefe’s in Lead opened in August. Pioneer file photos home town.

2 Broke Girls opened in the lower level of 109 E. Hudson St., in Spearfish in November. Owners Ashley Kurtenbach and Kelly Gould spent seven months offering men’s and women’s apparel online and at various pop up events before opening their storefront.

The Newman Center relocated to a newly constructed building on the corner of King and University streets in Spearfish in August.

“Obviously, this is an effort by the Catholic church

and St. Joseph’s parish especially, but all the students on campus are welcome and invited to come if they can draw life from what it is we offer,” said Monsignor Michael Woster, pastor of St. Joseph, St. Paul, and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic churches in Spearfish.

High Mountain Outfitters moved to a larger location at 313 W. Jackson Blvd., in Spearfish.

“Having all of our offerings in one large, undivided space allows us to grow all of our departments,” Owner

Justin Stephens said. The store offers out door clothing and sporting equipment from cross-country skis to climbing gear. Also located within the store is Spearfish Creek Fly Shop which offers guided fly-fishing trips throughout the Black Hills.

Knecht Home Center moved to a new larger location at 2905 4th Ave., in Spearfish in October.

“We’re a home center. We offer just about everything you need in your house, from lumber, bath fixture, BUSINESS Pg 2

Page 2, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

from Pg 1

BUSINESS cabinetry, (and) basic hardware,” said Brian Dodge, manager.

Dakota Seafood opened its doors at 741 N. Main St., Suite 110, in Spearfish in September. The vendor offers fresh seafood, meats, and more. “ … it’s the freshest seafood that you can get in the state, guaranteed,” said Manager Taylor Nielsen.

The Real Estate Center at 140 Jackson Blvd. in Spearfish received a Spearfish Economic Revolving Fund Business Façade Rehabilitation loan in August to complete exterior improvements and update signage.

MJ Plumbing Inc. began serving the Black Hills in the fall. Anthony Medina owns and operates the plumbing business, which offers plumbing service, new/old construction, sewer rod, sewer camera, sewer location, and much more for both residential and commercial properties.

High Mountain Climbing Gym opened in May at 1930

Pictured is Dakota Seafood. The business offers “the freshest seafood in the state.” Pioneer file photos North Ave., in Spearfish.

Justin Stephens, owner said the state-of-the-art indoor rock climbing gym fills a need in the community.

“The climbing community is

quickly growing. But as we all know, winters are long, and summer weather can be unpredictable. Our facility allows for people to climb year-round,” he said. The

gym caters to climbers of all ages, from young children to experts.

Butte Electric Cooperative, Inc. opened

its doors in a new location at 1940 North Ave. Suite #1, in Spearfish in August. The center gives members in the Spearfish area a place to pay their bill and speak face-toface with customer service personnel.

Antunez, located at 117 Illinois St., in Spearfish opened in July. Owner Jared DeGraaf opened the brick and mortar restaurant after making a name for himself and his cooking, operating out of a food truck.

Spearfish Brewing opened in February at the corner of Main Street and Jackson Boulevard. The brewery offers between 11 and14 hand-crafted beers on tap at any given time as well as a number of non alcoholic beverages. “We’re exited to become part of that (local) brewing community and really share our passion for it with Spearfish,” said Jon Marek, general manager.

Sturgis NAPA Auto Parts moved to its new location at 2324 Junction Ave., in Sturgis in June. In addition to NAPA certified auto parts and accessories, owners Jim and Larry Heil also opened Sturgis Tire Pros, a full service tire store.

Antunez opened in July in Spearfish.

Good Day Café Opened in December, offering locally sourced food and beverages. Owned and operated by

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 3

SPEARFISH SASQUATCH

SPEARFISH The Spearfish Sasquatch are a summer wood bat collegiate baseball team of the ten team Expedition League. 2019 will be their second summer of providing top notch baseball and exciting family friendly entertainment at a very affordable price.

With 32 home games from May 24th - Aug. 1st, you will have plenty of opportunities to catch a game and experience one of their fun-filled promotional nights ranging from Fireworks Night to Bark in the Park Night to 80s Night. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 605-559-0214 or visit www. spearfishsasquatch.com.

DANA DENTAL ARTS

Pictured is Good Day Café. Friends Kristen Bella and Ava Sauter opened their café featuring locally sourced food and drink.

Kristen Bell and Ava Sauter, the café in located at 541 W. Jackson Blvd., in Spearfish.

Sawyer Brewing Co. opened its doors at 2537 Yukon Place in Spearfish in December. Lee Eddy and his wife Ali own the brewery, which offers seven hand-crafted beers and a wood fire pizza oven.

FRONTIER GLASS OF BELLE FOURCHE

Allison Real Estate located at 1010 Ballpark Road, Suite 1, in Sturgis opened in June. Jim Allison, owner, has been working in real estate for 14 years. The company handles all types of real estate sales from residential, to agricultural, to commercial.

Roger & Diane McNary relocated to a new location South of Belle Fourche in August 2015. This has given them more room for service work in their new state of the art facility. Roger has been doing glasswork since 1984 and in 2008 the couple purchased Frontier Glass of Belle Fourche.

Servicing customers all over the Northern Hills from Rapid City to Buffalo, SD the small team provides friendly quality service to their loyal customers. While auto glass repair is their main focus, they are also able to provide home glass needs, including custom glass table tops, fireplace glass, screens, glass shelving and more. Frontier Glass is insurance approved and they welcome you to stop by and see them.

Northern Hills Cinema underwent a series of major renovations throughout the year. Nicole Valentine, general manager of the movie theater, said a new marquee, reclining seats, and state of the art closed captioning technology are among the updates.

BELLE FOURCHE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort located at 360 Main St., in Deadwood, added a slew of new restaurants and hotel renovations to its campus in 2018. Included are: Marco’s Pizza, Flyt Steakhouse, True by Hilton, Double Tree by Hilton, Earl of Sandwich, Guadalajara’s Mexican restaurant, and Starbucks.

The Roosevelt School Event Center opened in the old Roosevelt School located at 1010 State St., in Belle Fourche in January. James and Provatia Pietila purchased the BUSINESS Pg 6

"Family Dentistry" takes on a new meaning at Dana Dental Arts. Proudly serving the Spearfish Area since 1974, Dr. Michael Dana has been joined in the practice by his children Dr. Brad, Dr. Nicole and Dr. Monique.

Dr.'s Brad, Nicole and Monique have each received Fellowship and Masters in Implantology from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, allowing them to add this expertise to the many comprehensive dental services offered at Dana Dental Arts. Family friendly care and scheduling complement the latest technology and patient centered approach which the entire Dana Dental Arts staff are pleased to provide.

Sawyer Brewing Co. opened in December and features hand crafted beer and woodfire pizza.

Belle Fourche is a community with strong leadership and alliances to help make the development process seamless. Belle Fourche Development Corporation, the city, the county, the school and business leaders within, help lead the way and tie it all together.

Our leadership is focused on aligning with companies to build community with workforce development and housing while helping with new business development, and business expansion, in and around Belle Fourche and our State Certified Ready Industrial & Rail Park.

The Belle Fourche transportation network drives you from ports to plains and coast to coast with Highway 85, 34, and 212 intersecting at the heart of the community. Only 10 miles from Interstate 90, our central location has extensive connection points complimented by the Rapid City Pierre & Eastern railroad, which sides at the Belle Fourche Industrial and Rail Park.

Contact Hollie Stalder, executive director, today for more information at 605-892-5065 or www.bfdcsd.com.

Page 4, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

SHOP WHITEWOOD

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wood products for the local and surrounding areas.

The Whitewood location is home to a state-of-the-art computer managed wood preservation plant.

605-347-9606 Toll Free: 888-760-3131

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 5

SHOP WHITEWOOD

The Hub of the Hills!

AFTER 51 YEARS IN BUSINESS, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW.

Dr. Will John Johnson Dr. Kylee Johnson (605) 717-2428 1001 Meade St. Whitewood, SD Open weekdays with evening hours on Tues. and Thurs.

Open Saturdays by Appointment.

Come in and check out our uniquely designed clinic!

Celebrating 41 years in the Whitewood Community.

A & J Supply carries a large selection of hardware, welding and building supplies.

Also have iron, steel and treated posts.

A & J Clothing has a complete line of work, western, and casual clothing for men, women, and children by Levi, Wranler, Cinch, and Ethel. Boots, shoes, and moccasins by brands such as Redwing, Justin, Muck, Ariat, Hush Puppy, and Minnetonka.

GREAT FOOD - GREAT SERVICE WE SERVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER ALL DAY LONG

Full Bar with Live Music, Pool Tables, and Darts BIG SCREEN TVs AND A PATIO OUTSIDE!

Every bar has a story, but ours is pretty unique...

Bullwacker’s Saloon and Steakhouse has been a continuously operating saloon in this building since 1888. Originally built as a bar, it had two fronts: one faced the railroad and the other faced Meade Street, which was Whitewood’s main street.

Operated for many years as the Whitewood Bar, it has been, and still is, a favorite watering hole for locals and travelers alike. Please take time to look around at the many old-time Whitewood photos, view the original tin ceiling (complete with original bullet holes) and the back bar that has been here since the early days of Whitewood.

We offer a wide variety of menu options to please even the pickiest of eaters!

Family owned & operated since 1968

HOURS: Mon - Fri 7:30am - 5:30pm • Sat - 8:00am - 4:00pm

605-269-2434 • 1-800-564-0224 1020 Laurel Street • Whitewood, SD 57793

Page 6, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD LEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Deadwood-Lead Economic Development Corporation serves the communities of Deadwood, Lead, and Central City. Their mission is to promote the growth and development of existing businesses, attract and pursue quality new businesses, and create quality jobs in the immediate vicinity of the communities of Deadwood, Lead, and Central City.

The change in the Executive Director has elevated the presence of the organization in all three communities which the Development Corporation serves. Through these efforts they have been successful in accomplishing many of the strategic initiatives for the growth and development of these communities.

As a local non-profit since their inception, they have helped to create and expand the jobs market by 93 and have invested over $3.2M in our communities.

LEVERINGTON FUNERAL HOME OF THE NORTHERN HILLS

It’s a funeral home owned by a husband and wife who help people say goodbye – and to them, this is much more than a business. It is a calling and a way of life. They serve the western South Dakota region and they love to help people. People often say to them, “We see something different about the way you care for people. We can see it’s not just a job to you.” They would be honored to help you.

They work hard at serving the community in many ways.

Mark has served almost 10 years on the Black Hills Roundup Board of Directors, and he’s been Chairman of the Parade for seven. Deb volunteers on the board of directors for the Belle Fourche Chamber. They financially support many great organizations as well. You see them involved because they think its important to give something back to this great community.

You can trust them because the reason they do what they do is they really care about people.

STERLING MOTORS

Sterling Motors has been a successful business in Watertown for 9 years, so owner Mike Alama recently added a Spearfish location to accommodate the other side of the state! They are founded on trust, integrity, and respect, and are proud to bring these values to their new location.

Sterling Motors provides nice, reliable, and affordable vehicles to fit your needs. They offer upfront pricing with no credit check, and financing is available for those who need it. Their vehicles also come with a 30 day warranty, so you can be confident in your purchase.

Stop by their location at 3151 Colorado Blvd., view their inventory at sterlingmotorsusa.com, or call them at 605-490-1742.

WEST TIRE & ALIGNMENT

West Tire & Alignment is a family owned business that has been active in the community for over 50 years. They were honored as Ag Business of the Year in 2011, and owners Don & Delores West served as Black Hills Roundup Parade Marshalls in 2015. They are long time supporters of community events and organizations.

West Tire & Alignment offers tires for your ATV, garden, farm, car, pickup, or industrial use. They also carry interstate batteries and can perform alignments for your vehicle.

Stop in their location at 601 Butte St., Belle Fourche, or call 605-892-2001.

Pictured is La Risa Mexican Cuisine. The restaurant opened in Sturgis. Pioneer file photos from Pg 3

BUSINESS building and have been renovation it into a community space throughout the year. To date the event center has hosted campgrounds, small businesses, vendor fares, private parties, and community education events.

La Risa Mexican Cuisine, located at 748 Lazelle St., in Sturgis opened in September. The owner, Lisa Cress, descirbes the restaurant as a taco truck with no wheels.

Lookout Games opened at 1940 North Ave., Suite 9, in Spearfish in the spring.

Tyler Tillman opened the specialty game store as a space for people in the community with an interest in tabletop games.

“There’s a lot of people out there that don’t really feel comfortable in bars and stuff like that; this is more their speed,” he said.

Deadwood Custom Cycle opened its doors at 10 Lee St., in Deadwood in May. The motorcycle shop specializes in custom builds and fabrication, but also focuses on the “meat and potatoes” of the motorcycle maintenance.

“I’ll never be too proud to change oil,” said Owner Jason Mook.

Ace Hardware in Sturgis moved to a larger location.

McDonalds at 131 Ryan Rd., in Spearfish was completely demolished and rebuilt between April and July. The new and improved Mcee-D’s boasts a duel drive through, touchscreen ordering kiosks, and updated kitchen facilities. “That store was built in 1981,” Calvin Dardis, owner, said. “We’re just setting it up for the next 40 years.”

The Boondocks Boutique opened at 544 N. Main St., in Spearfish in September. Owners Calvin Olson and Nicole Nemmers opened the

men’s and women’s clothing and accessory store just days after relocating to Spearfish from Sioux Falls.

O’Reilly’s Auto Parts opened a new location at 11930 Sturgis Rd., in Summerset in November.

Manager Eddy Jackson said the store offers a wide variety of regular and heavy-duty auto parts as well as marine and agricultural equipment.

Ace Hardware moved into the former NAPA Auto Parts store at 2222 Junction Ave., in Sturgis.

Store Manager Kyle

Dunfee said the new larger location has allowed them to widen the stores selection.

“There are things here you don’t think a hardware store would have. We have a huge fishing section, camping equipment, toys, and anything and everything for lawn and garden,” he said.

Jacobs Auto Repair, located at 1412 Junction Ave., in Sturgis received a $215,000 renovation in August courtesy of Discovery Channel’s “Garage Rehab”. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, new state-of-

The Black Hills Pioneer the-art equipment, and the garage rehabbed; we can’t pass this up,” said Owner Rick Jacobs.

H&R Block in Spearfish moved to a new office located at 1041 N. Main St. Dick Tschetter said the tax branch was combined with Black Hills Bookkeeping to form DST Properties, which he owns and operates with his wife and daughter.

Our Towns 2019, Page 7 Hidden Willow Boutique opened for business in July at 132 W. Hudson St., in Spearfish. Owner Christina Norton said the woman’s boutique strives to provide a warm and inviting shopping experience at reasonable prices.

Fuji San a restaurant specializing in sushi, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine, opened in February in Spearfish at 126 W Hudson St., in

Spearfish in February. The restaurant’s specialty sushi rolls are crafted with Scottish salmon, and other popular menu items include coconut shrimp, and orange chicken.

Norlin Marine opened in July at 10992 South Dakota Highway 34 in Belle Fourche. Owners Joy and Ben Norlin specialize in sales and service of Warrior brand fishing boats.

Nails by Brandie, owned by Brandie Leatherman, opened its doors in May, and was joined by Hair by Chazere, owned by Chazere Schmautz, in October. The hair and nail salons share a space at the Historic Roosevelt Events Center at 1010 State St., in Belle Fourche.

Pictured is Norlin Marine

Page 8, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Nagging pain that won’t go away?

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Experience. It’s the difference.

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Jens Matson, DPT, OCS, CMPT • Maria Matson, PT, DPT 520 N. Canyon St., Spearfish 605-642-7996 • www.bhphysicaltherapy.com

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 9

Community Paramedicine Program coming to Lead-Deadwood

A new Community Paramedicine Program will allow Lead-Deadwood paramedics to assess health risks in the homes of discharged patients in order to reduce recurring injuries. Pioneer photo by Alex Portal

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD — A new community aid program will help expand the role of LeadDeadwood paramedics to allow them to assess potential health risks in the homes of discharged patients.

“Whether it’s in the ER or at the clinic, (or) they get a patient in with repeated falls, (the hospital) can send the community paramedics out into the home to do a home safety assessment and try to mitigate some of those fall factors” said Roy Goben, operation manager for LeadDeadwood Hospital Ambulance Service.

Goben said the program will focus mainly on fall hazards in patients homes, however as the program grows, he said more in depth assessments would likely be coming in phases.

“Right now we’re just looking at the fall factors, the home safety assessments. There’s a few other repeated medical problems that come in, but they’re so far and few in between. … We just kinda dialed it down to something that’s pretty basic and we can easily do.”

In addition to fall hazards, Goben said that the community paramedics will conduct medication inspections

to make sure patients aren’t in danger of mixing expired, or unneeded medications with current prescriptions.

“We can go into the home and reconcile with what’s on the patients medication chart versus what they have in their possession,” he said.

When a patient is discharged, the discharging attendant will consult with the patient in order to determine if community paramedicine intervention would be warranted. If it is determined to be needed, the service would be scheduled and provided at no additional cost to patient and will be at the patients discretion whether to participate.

“Community paramedicine is not reimbursable by Medicare/ Medicaid standards,” Goben explained. “This is just an extension of the hospital using employees that are already on duty.”

Goben explained that although the paramedics participating in the community paramedicine program will be authorized by the state to do so, they would not be authorized to offer up any medical advice or diagnoses.

Instead, if a fall hazard or medication inconsistency exists, the patient will be recommended to outside home

care facilities such as NeighborWorks and Home+Home Health.

“Community paramedicine isn’t allowed by the state of South Dakota without an extension of scope of practice authorized by the state,” Goben said.

“Being hospital based (meaning ambulance service is housed in the same facility as the hospital) it really gives us leverage to expand our scope.”

There currently are three full-time paramedics and one part-time paramedic authorized to participate in the program.

Authorization takes place through an internal education course designed by the LeadDeadwood Hospital Ambulance Service and approved by the state.

At this time Rapid City Fire Department in Rapid City is the only other entity in the state that is authorized to have a Community Paramedicine Program, thought Goben is confident that more programs will catch on in the future.

“Ours truly is just a public service for the community to help them out,” he said. “I truly see a lot of hospitals within the state hiring paramedics on and adopting some form of community paramedicine.”

Page 10, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Whitewood society works to preserve history

By Jason Gross Black Hills Pioneer

WHITEWOOD — The brand-new Whitewood Historical Society serves to support the historical collection at the Whitewood Public Library.

That society is connected to a local group called Friends of the Library.

Society secretary Mary Livingston said the library has no budget line to support the historical collection it houses.

“It’s to provide funds and support for that Whitewood collection,” Livingston said in describing the society’s aim. Membership dues are a one-time payment of $5.

The society boasts about 25 members. Its major activity consisted of filing the proper paperwork with the state to be a corporation, since the society began in February.

Livingston said general library needs and historical collection needs were very closely related. That meant only one organization was required to accommodate those needs.

“We have just filed the paperwork with the IRS

(Internal Revenue Service) so that we are a nonprofit organization,” Livingston said. She added the group is awaiting a response letter, and that could take months.

That status would open up many avenues for nonprofit grant applications. It would also allow the society to say any donations to the library or society are tax-deductible.

Several projects are being planned, but Livingston advises one to exercise caution.

“These are all exploratory projects because we don’t know what’s within our realm, money-wise,” Livingston said.

Livingston said the society would like to see parts of the historical collection be digitized. The collection includes old Whitewood newspapers.

A desire to preserve of the historical collection persuaded Livingston to join.

She recalled all library items were in vertical files about six years ago.

Those vertical files were later inserted into decade files. They were placed on the shelves so patrons could access them; the library lat-

The Whitewood Public Library houses a number of items relative to the community’s history. An organization called the Whitewood Historical Society was created to support that collection. Pioneer file photo er published a book.

Photographic memories and Whitewood narratives continued to come in. The collection size increased threefold in six years.

Livingston said committee chair Kylee Johnson is

creating a list of events for member consideration.

“I’m looking at grants, so as soon as we get the letter back from the IRS, we can apply for some of those grants that we’ve never been able to qualify for,”

Livingston said. She added that was because the group was not a nonprofit entity.

Other society officers are Tony Westberg, president; Eric Hoffman, vice president; and Doris Adams, treasurer.

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The Black Hills Pioneer

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Our Towns 2019, Page 11

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Page 12, Our Towns 2019

TACO JOHNS OF DEADWOOD

At Taco John’s®, they serve traditional Mexican food—with a twist. By fusing bold American flavors with south-of-the-border spice, they have defined their signature menu. From their trademark Potato Olés® and freshly prepared tacos, to their infamous breakfast burritos and made-in-house tortilla chips, you’ll always find something to crush your craving. Come see why their customers become life-long fans.

They have been locally owned and operated for 22 years. Visit them at 86 Charles St., Deadwood.

SMOKES N' THINGS

Terry, Kim, Cameron, and Dustin Popkes recently opened Smokes N' Things, located at 348 E. Colorado Blvd.

They offer an extensive selection of tobacco products and accessories, from premium cigars to electronic cigarette supplies and more. They also have a wide variety of apparel, knives, and novelty products. Smokes N' Things' mission is to provide a clean, friendly atmosphere and extensive knowledge of all of their products.

They believe in the communities they serve and support them by donating 1% of net sales to local charities, as well as support brands that give back to humanity and the planet.

As a family operated business, they believe in fair prices and providing friendly service.

Stop in their store, visit their Facebook page @smokesnthingsllc, or call 605-717-5818 for more information.

TRI-STATE REALTY, INC.

Since 2002 Tri-State Realty has stayed on top of the latest in the real estate market of this region. The agents provide expertise in all aspects of real estate including residential, farms and ranches, agriculture lands, building lots and commercial.

Owner/Broker Robert Gerkin is licensed and serving clients in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. Robert is joined by agents Alan Kindsfater, Skyler Massie, and Tom Steele. These local agents have in-depth knowledge of the area. Enlist their help and you'll be glad you did! Stop by their office at 1828 5th Avenue in Belle Fourche or call 605-892-2113.

Twin-City Hardware has been a locally owned and operated full-service hardware store for over 25 years.

With great product selection and unmatched customer service they offer a full-service shopping experience.

Twin-City Hardware offers a great paint department, fully stocked power tool department, lumber department, expanded office supply department, outdoor power equipment, housewares, hand tools, and much more.

If they don’t have it, they can get it thanks to the 67,000-item warehouse backed by Do it Best. Twin-City Hardware strives to be the best hardware store for customers in Deadwood, Lead, Central City, and all of Lawrence County.

Twin-City Hardware is located at 399 Cliff Street in Deadwood. For more information, call 605-578-3782.

The Black Hills Pioneer

Butte County ABC awarded $625K over 5 years to combat youth substance use 2 hired for new positions funded by grant

By Lacey Peterson Black Hills Pioneer

BELLE FOURCHE –– The Action for the Betterment of the Community (ABC) Coalition of Butte County was one of 50 organizations selected nationwide to receive federal grant monies for its substance abuse prevention and treatment services in Butte County.

“We’re going to make a difference, and I’m so excited to see what that looks like,” said Cassie Wendt, Butte County state’s attorney and ABC of Belle Fourche board president.

The coalition works to improve the quality of life for the community by collaborating to reduce drug and alcohol use among youth, and to address other social issues that may threaten the health and safety of local communities and families.

The coalition was recently awarded a Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The coalition was granted $125,000 per year for the next five years.

Currently the coalition provides drug and alcohol evaluations and treatment for youth under the age of 18 but with the assistance of the additional funding, Wendt said that the coalition’s focus will be on alcohol and marijuana use among youth up to age 25.

The grant was written to serve all of Butte County.

“So we’re hopeful to start pulling more people from the Newell, Nisland, and Vale areas in and figuring out how we can benefit those areas,” she said.

ABC has partnered with the Belle Fourche School District to extend the services directly to the students in their daily environment.

“The school has been amazing,” Wendt said.

The school district offers an office space within the Belle Fourche High School, which allows the counselors to have direct contact with students on a weekly basis.

“It’s been great,” she said. “That’s something that we definitely want to continue.”

Wendt said the coalition board plans to meet with various arms of the community to draw information that will allow it to hone in on the needs of the community.

“What are those other areas that revolve around the alcohol and mar-

ijuana that we can really hone in on now that we have access to funds and access to bring us all together to deal with that?” she added.

“I’m super excited,” she said.

Wendt said the coalition has teamed up with business people, parents, law enforcement, members of the ministerial association, members of the school, court service officers, counselors, and more.

“It really is this huge group of our community coming together and working together,” she said Wendt hopes to make town hall style educational opportunities that they’ve offered in the past a more regular occurrence.

“And we can start providing more information to the parents who are going to start seeing the effects of some of this stuff,” she said.

Wendt said another benefit to this type of grant is that there is a second five-year option after the first fiveyear period expires.

“So after the first five years if we’re successful and we have the numbers to show we’re successful, then we have the opportunity to apply for another five years,” she said.

“What we’re trying to do (related to treatment) is to help these kids get sober and stay sober,” Wendt said.

In 2015, when Wendt and others were interested in starting a Belle Fourche ABC coalition, the already established Sturgis ABC coalition, with the assistance of Kara Graveman, executive director of Sturgis ABC, helped the group lay the foundation to serve the Belle Fourche community.

“And from there it just took off,” Wendt said. “Without ABC of Sturgis, I don’t know what we would have done. Kara (Graveman) and counselors that we have have always been there, no matter how many times the kids come through or no matter what their needs are. Without them and their support and their willingness to work hard, we wouldn’t be here.”

Little by little, from offering educational resources to the community to inpatient treatment facilities and drug and alcohol treatment for youth in need, Wendt said, the coalition is making progress.

“So I think when you look at the funding it really goes back to ‘this is what we’ve done with no funding, now look what we can do when we have this kind of funding,’” she said.

This is third year the coalition has applied, but the first it’s been awarded the grant. It was one of 50 organi-

zations selected of 782 that applied nationwide this year.

Wendt looks forward to witnessing the boost the grant will give the coalition to be able to offer resources to the community’s youth.

“That’s my very favorite part of my job,” Wendt said. “To be able to watch something that you do actually make a change. I’ve been so blessed to get to work with some of the greatest kids and to see just a little bit of change and then watch them be successful. It’s the greatest honor I have.”

In December, the group hired two people in new positions utilizing its federal grant money.

“We’ve been working on this for three years and it’s something that I believe in whole-heartedly so to see it come through … it was really a blessing for our community,” Wendt said.

Franke Gonzales, who has worked as a counselor with ABC for three years, was hired to fill the program coordinator position. Gonzales performs largely administrative and coordination tasks, including the planning and organizing of meetings and coordination of town hall type events, in addition to other tasks.

These responsibilities formerly fell on the shoulders of Wendt and other ABC board members.

“Now that we have a coordinator, that person’s responsibilities will be to make those arrangements on our (the board’s) behalf …” Wendt said.

“Really the purpose of the coordinator is to keep everything in ABC streamlined and to make sure that we’re all together when we need to be together.”

Jayna Frederickson filled the second position as a school prevention officer. She had previously worked for juvenile probation system in Wyoming from 1999-2004 and has worked with the 4th Circuit Judicial Service as a court services officer since 2004.

Little by little, from offering educational resources to the community to inpatient treatment facilities and drug and alcohol treatment for youth in need, Wendt said, the coalition is making progress.

“We got the same amount of funds as Minnehaha County would have, or Pennington County would have … or other states and cities throughout our nation would have,” Wendt said.

“So to think about that kind of funds and resources to apply to our community is really a big thing. So we’re excited to get started.”

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 13

Dollar General store opens in Newell

By Deb Holland Black Hills Pioneer

NEWELL — Ben Parrow and a couple of his classmates browsed the snack aisle at the new Dollar General in Newell seeking something for lunch.

The Newell High School senior said he believes having the new store in this town of 580 is “pretty neat.”

“Some people think it’s going to run down the grocery store and the hardware store, but I don’t think so,” Parrow said.

The new store, at 410 S. Dartmouth Ave. in Newell, opened in late January. They have tentatively planned a grand opening celebration for Feb. 16.

A steady stream of customers came through the doors including Hazel Brink who found the layout very inviting.

“It’s set up just like the one in Sturgis, and I love

the one in Sturgis,” she said. “There’s a lot of variety and its homey.”

Brink believes that the new store may take away business from other retailers in Newell.

“I hate to think that maybe the grocery store would go to hurting. I would hate to see that in a small town,” she said.

Lisa Nelson, director of Equalization/ Planning Director for Butte County, said Dollar General developers were issued a building permit on Sept. 12, 2018, for the property just south of Newell on SD Highway 79.

The land on which the new retail store sits had been owned by Joe Schreiner. At the time of the sale, it abutted the city limits of Newell.

In an effort to benefit from sales tax dollars collected by the new business, the Newell City Commission voted by resolution to annex the 1.44 acres at its Nov. 13 meeting.

The resolution

states that the commissioners believe the annexation would be in the best interest of the town of Newell, including economic development and expansion of the tax base.

Angela Petkovic, a spokesperson for Dollar General, said the store will employ between six and 10 employees, depending on the individual needs of the store.

She said that when choosing store locations, meeting customers’ needs is Dollar General’s top priority.

“The company looks for places where we can offer customers an easy and convenient shopping choice,” she said.

“We know convenience is a major factor in our customers’ shopping decisions as we generally serve customers within a three- to five-mile radius, or 10-minute drive. We also take demographic trends, competitive factors, traffic patterns and community concerns into consideration.”

The number of Dollar Generals in South Dakota has tripled in recent years and will likely continue to climb as the publicly traded

corporation follows its aggressive growth plan, Patrick Anderson of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported in August 2018.

It’s all part of the Tennessee-based corporation’s aggressive growth plan targeting rural America, hoping to reach more customers who earn less than the median income.

Dollar General is no longer a dollar store.

Most of its products, while affordable, cost more than $1. The company’s rural South Dakota locations feel more like mini-department stores.

They sell nonperishable food items — including candy, soda and canned goods — and dairy products next to aisles filled with clothes, cleaning supplies, DVDs and CDs, lawn care products and hardware.

The corporation added more than 1,000 locations nationally in 2017. Included were locations in Howard, Wessington Springs, Custer, Garretson, Colton, Wagner, Lake Norden, Sisseton, Eureka and Summerset in South Dakota. The new Sturgis Dollar General opened in 2018.

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THE JUNK DRAWER

Lindsey Gillette put her love of painting, woodworking and her entrepreneurial spirit to work when she opened The Junk Drawer and Naked Olive in May 2013. She quickly realized she needed more space than her Jackson Boulevard location would allow, and relocated the store to its current location at 611 N. Main St., Spearfish.

The Junk Drawer and Naked Olive carries funky furniture, infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars, local consignment art, one-of-a-kind home décor, men and women’s apparel, and fun, unique gifts. They also offer custom items including apparel, coffee mugs and other gifts.

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HOWDY'S NEWMART

The new Dollar General store in Newell opened in early February. Pioneer photo by Deb Holland

This hometown grocery store is located in a 1915 brick building downtown and has been in business for 37 years.

There is a great selection of grocery items along with produce, dairy, meat department and deli with fresh made sandwiches. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will do our best to get the item in for you. All 18 employees pride themselves on taking care of the customers 110%, because service to the customer always comes first.

We are located at 219 Girard Ave., Newell, SD, and can be reached at 605-456-1660.

Page 14, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 15

Kiewit Alberici bringing dozens of jobs to Lead

By Alex Portal Black Hills Pioneer

LEAD — The buildup to and subsequent science experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is expected to lead to the hiring of dozens of locals.

Representatives from Fermilab and Kiewit Alberici Joint Venture (KAJV) discussed with Lead residents about the ongoing pre excavation work taking place at the SURF in preparation for the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/ Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE) project, and what that means for the local workforce.

“I had to leave this area to get a job, and that’s a pretty common theme,” said Josh Willhite, LBNF far site project manager for Fermilab.

“Now we’re able to bring jobs here so we’re pretty happy with that.”

Willhite explained that

the current work being done at SURF is what he called building conventional facilities.

“Building the house inside of which the experiment will live,” he said.

The “house” being built for LBNF/DUNE will be a series of three caverns located underneath the Ross Shaft complex. Two of these caverns will be 65 feet wide, 92 feet tall, and 475 feet long.

The third cavern will be 65 feet wide, 37 feet tall, and 625 feet long. It’s estimated that 875,000 tons of rock will need to be excavated from the site to make room for the four, 63 feet wide, 60 feet tall, and 200 feet long cryostats that will hold 70,000 tons of liquid argon used for the experiment.

KAJV was awarded the contract in August 2017 to begin laying the groundwork for the excavation for LBNF/ DUNE project, and has been in the solicitation process since May 2018 looking to

parcel out portions of the pre excavation work to local and area subcontractors. In December 2018, KAJV signed a long-term lease for office space at the newly renovated Gold Rush Plaza in downtown Lead. Scott Lundgren, project manager for KAJV was on hand Wednesday to discuss the company’s future in Lead.

“We were very happy with the local participation that we were able to generate locally for those kinds of scopes of work,” Lundgren said of the subcontracts awarded to local contractors.

Lundgren explained that there’s a lot of structural work that will need to be done to and around the Ross Shaft complex before the excavation work can begin, including a conveyor being built which will haul the excavated rock from the Ross Shaft complex over Highway 85 to be deposited in the Open Cut. He estimated the

excavation to begin sometime in November 2020, and would last around two years.

“We’ll do our best to make our impact positive,” he said, sighting that the company has already made an impression on the city of Lead with its 14 bright yellow work trucks that can be seen emblazoned with the name Kiewit. “They do stand out, maybe we should have gone with something more like white.”

Lundgren said that over the next six months KAJV will likely be hiring 25 to 30 locals to fill positions, and that number could climb as high as more than 100 in the five year scope of the company’s involvement with LBNF/DUNE. “Folks that we’ll be looking to hire locally to fill a number of positions … As I mentioned laborers, miners, carpenters, (and) electricians,” he said. “That’s kind of a six-month snapshot. It

probably (will continue) to grow from there.”

Lundgren said that the jobs KAJV will be looking to locally fill would start to be posted within the next few weeks at kiewit.com.

“This is extremely exciting for the future of Lead and it’s very exciting for the state of South Dakota,” Lead Mayor Ron Everett said. “Most of the residents that have been around for a while have been waiting since 2001 to see things happening. A lot of us have known that there are things going on underground but now it kind of shows it’s spilling over from the underground to Main Street. I love to see businesses and employees on Main Street.”

Everett also quipped about the influx of yellow trucks seen throughout the town.

“Lead now has a rush hour. It lasts about two minutes, but we do claim now we have a rush hour,” he said with a laugh.

Page 16, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

OUR TOWNS 4 OF

SECTION 4

2019 • BLACK HILLS PIONEER

Section

4

Mountain bikers compete in the Dakota Five-O along the Tinton Trail. The popular trail near Spearfish has been proposed to become an officially recognized trail by the Black Hills National Forest. Pioneer file photo by Jason Gross

Tinton Trail closer to official Forest Service inclusion

By Mark Watson Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — A popular trail just outside of Spearfish is one step closer to becoming officially included in the Black Hills National Forest trails system after the Forest Service released a scoping notice Feb. 4.

The notice and subsequent 30-day public comment period is required by regulations.

The Tinton Trail starts

at the first cattle guard on Tinton Road just south of Spearfish. The trail, which includes the Big Hill, Rimrock, Old Baldy, and Crow Peak trail systems, is a “lollipop” loop about 46 miles in length.

It is a well used and widely popular trail among mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, and horse riders in some sections.

Perry Jewett, a member of the Ridge Riders mountain bike group that helped develop trails around the

Black Hills, was one of the early riders who established the trail. In 1995, Jewett worked for the Forest Service and was looking for trails leading into the forest close to town.

“I heard about a proposal for a trail that followed the western rim of (Spearfish) Canyon,” Jewett said. “I found documents they never pursued. It was basically a line of the map. That encouraged me to look for a trail.”

So he started poking around in the woods, riding

game trails and cattle trails, “throwing sticks out of the way,” trying to find a reasonable route to the Big Hill Trail system.

“Back in those days, you could drive your car through the forest. It was an open forest,” he said. “I was just on my bike following game trails.”

He said with the help of the Ridge Riders and friends, they finally found a link.

TINTON TRAIL Pg 2

Page 2, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

from Pg 1

TINTON TRAIL “From there it snowballed taking it up to the rim of the Canyon, linking up to different Forest Service systems,” Jewett said.

Throughout the late 90s, the group slowly put together the trail. By 1998, the trail extended to the Old Baldy trail system.

That year, Jewett said, he attended the Laramie Enduro, a mountain bike race that started and ended in downtown Laramie, Wyo. That sparked his desire to create a similar race in Spearfish.

The group began looking for a way to link their trail into other systems to form a loop leading back to Spearfish.

In 2000, that loop was extended, and Jewett applied for and was granted an event permit by the Forest Service. That next year, the first Dakota Five-O race was held, attracting 89 riders. The next year there were 91 riders, then 110 riders the year following. The race has been capped at 700 riders for several years now, and thanks to the popularity of the trail, registration fills to capacity quickly.

The proposed Tinton Trail is essentially the Dakota Five-O trail with some changes.

The network would consist of the main Tinton Trail stem and loop, the branch trail that connects to the Crow Peak trail, and a short loop trail that originates at the Work Center trailhead and provides a scenic overlook of Johnston Gulch. In its entirety, the Tinton Trail network

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The Black Hills Pioneer includes approximately 46 miles of trail. However, approximately 11 miles of the Tinton Trail overlap existing system trails at Big Hill, Rimrock, and Old Baldy.

Now Ridge Riders are able to maintain the trail more than they would have without the official racecourse designation approved by the Forest Service.

Jewett said the Tinton Trail was “pretty primitive” in the early days, but following the racecourse approval, approximately 400 volunteer hours are spent annually making trail improvements, pruning back brush, and clearing downed trees from the trail – a task that was extensive in 2018 after a tornado upended countless trees along the trail.

According to the Forest Service scoping study, the trail would require minimal maintenance since it is already well established. Several reroutes would be required to address resource or safety concerns.

And the trail crosses private property in one location west of Iron Creek Lake, and while the landowner allows use of the trail across the private property, a reroute would be constructed to move the trail onto Forest Service land to avoid potential future conflicts. This reroute would result in the entirety of the trail system being located on NFS land.

A branch trail connecting the

Our Towns 2019, Page 3 Tinton and Crow Peak trails exists on the ground, and minimal construction or reconstruction would be required, according to the report.

The second branch trail from the Work Center trailhead to Johnston Gulch exists on the ground, but currently dead-ends. This section of trail would be developed into a scenic lollipop loop, requiring approximately one mile of new trail construction to complete the loop portion on the ridge above Johnston Gulch.

Jewett was encouraged by the Forest Service’s action.

He said Spearfish has been a prime destination for mountain bikers. It and its surrounding trails have been featured in national mountain biking magazines and draw people from around the country.

“It’s because of the Ridge Riders and all the trail work from the 2000s and all the work we did,” Jewett said.

Jewett said the trail has a great mixture in riding experiences, from flowing ups and downs, technical sections, canyon walls and beautiful vistas.

People who have questions about the proposal may call Bonnie Jones, recreation specialist with the Northern Hills Ranger District, at 642-4622 during normal business hours or via email bonnie.jones@ usda.gov.

Courtesy graphic

Black Hills Trails works to connect communities

By Deb Holland Black Hills Pioneer

STURGIS — “If you build it, he will come.”

The oft-quoted line from the 1989 Kevin Costner movie “Field of Dreams” holds true for building trails in the Black Hills.

In a grant application for funds for a new trail, the Black Hills Trails organization called upon Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie who shared a story about his new neighbors who had relocated to the Black Hills.

“They had chosen Sturgis because of the trail access,” said Kevin Forrester, founder of Black Hills Trails.

Forrester has his own story of the lure of the trails. He recently met a couple who live in Sioux Falls, but bought a second home in Sturgis.

“They come here every weekend. They love the trail access,” he said. “Far be it from me to say that a trail system is ever going to be the silver bullet that can replace an economic event like the Rally, but to me, a strong economy is diversified and has lots of different pieces.”

Maintaining and enhancing the trail experience in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming is the mission of Black Hills Trails.

The ultimate goal is to design, construct and maintain trails that connect towns throughout the Black Hills.

Forrester said the Sturgis portion of the trail build has been going on for seven years.

“Black Hills Trails has invested substantially in our community,” Forrester said.

The cash investment totals just over $100,000, Forrester said. But when the in-kind donations are factored in, that total goes up.

Examples of in-kind donations include Black Hills Energy staff drilling holes for trail-head signage to Sacrison Paving giving a discount on the paving of parking lot adjacent a trail head.

Another investment in the trails comes from volunteer labor – factored at $23 an hour.

“When you take in the thousands of hours that our group has put forward, this is going to be about a half million-dollar contribution to our community when all is said and done,” Forrester said.

Forrester promises that the trails will get finished, but of BLACK HILLS TRAILS Pg 9

NATIONAL MUTUAL BENEFIT DAKOTAS AGENCY

National Mutual Benefit Dakotas Agency has been offering life insurance and annuities for 46 years and is currently led by district manager, Becky Helmberger, FICF. In the last year, National Mutual Benefit Dakotas Agency has expanded their team to include two additional agents, Michael Johnson and Justus Reid, and an office administrator, Michelle Erlandson. To accommodate the needs of their growing company, the business moved to a larger office.

Their team has also won many awards recently. District representative Renee' Jenkins received the Vision Award, district representative Rebecca Lureen was awarded 2018 Agent of the Year, and their entire team was honored with the 2018 Agency of the Year award.

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THE REAL ESTATE CENTER OF SPEARFISH KARI ENGEN

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Kari graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in business, and then moved to the Black Hills area in 1998. She is involved in various community organizations such as Zonta Club of Spearfish, RFK, Spearfish Foundation for Public Education and Spearfish Community Foundation.

She is a customer driven Realtor dedicated to achieving results and providing exceptional service. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, she will put her 19 years of real estate expertise to work for you!

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Page 4, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Spearfish Sasquatch readying for 2nd season

By Jason Gross Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — Expedition League baseball returns to Black Hills Energy Stadium this summer, when the Spearfish Sasquatch will host 32 games during a season spanning from May through August. All teams have 64 games scheduled.

Spearfish was one of eight teams helping the Expedition League make its 2018 debut. The Sasquatch finished 24-38, which was good for third place in the Clark Division.

The Expedition League is a collegiate wood-bat circuit now featuring 10 teams in the Great Plains Region. Players have the opportunity to optimize their development and potential to play professionally.

“That first year was successful in the eyes of myself, the president (Steve Wagner), and the other owners within the league,” Sasquatch co-owner Kevin Bybee said. “As a league, all eight teams pulled in about 160,000 fans.”

Most fans attending Sasquatch games came from the Spearfish area. Bybee said fans also arrived from areas like Belle Fourche, Lead, Deadwood, Sundance, Wyo., and Rapid City.

Bybee recalled last season, which

he described as a learning period, and expressed hope the community impact was good.

“We were bringing something to town that had never been in town as far as entertainment is concerned,” Bybee said. Games featured different themes and on-field activities, with the aim of attracting people of all ages.

Bybee said the entertainment schedule for 2019 is in the works, but one thing has been finalized.

Fireworks are scheduled on four dates during the season: • May 24: opening day against Hub City; • July 3: against defending champion Western Nebraska; • July 4: against Western Nebraska; and • Aug 1: Fan Appreciation Night against Wheat City. This is Spearfish’s final home game of the regular season.

All four games will begin at 7:05 p.m.

Bybee recalled the sense of community that was displayed last year.

“I honestly just enjoyed seeing smiles on people’s faces, and being able to see them enjoying themselves,” he said.

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Spearfish hosted one of eight Expedition League baseball teams during the circuit’s 2018 debut season. The league is a collegiate wood-bat circuit giving players the chance to maximize their development and potential to play professionally. Pioneer file photo

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season. Bybee said the team looks to be very competitive and pursue a championship.

Bybee said the team is seeking Spearfish-area host families, who give players a place to stay during the season. The commitment is for about two months, with players on the road about half the time.

“Without host families and their support, there’s no way that we would be able to pull this off,” Bybee said. He considers these families to be the program’s backbone.

Families hosting one player receive two free season tickets. Those hosting two players receive up to five season tickets.

Interested individuals may visit the Spearfish Sasquatch website and click on the “Host Family Program” tab. An online application must be filled out, and the organization will be in contact.

Expedition League teams follow: Clark Division: Casper (Wyo.) Horseheads, Fremont (Neb.) Moo, Hastings (Neb.) Sodbusters, Spearfish Sasquatch, Western Nebraska (Gering) Pioneers.

Lewis Division: Badlands Big Sticks (Dickinson, N.D.), Hub City (Aberdeen) Hotshots, Pierre Trappers, Souris Valley (Minot, N.D.), Wheat City (Brandon, Manitoba) Whiskey Jacks.

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The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 5

Spearfish Canyon Golf Club construction progressing

By Jason Gross Black Hills Pioneer

SPEARFISH — Spearfish Canyon Golf Club continues work on a master plan construction project that will include a driving range on the grounds.

“I would say that we’re definitely ahead of schedule,” Spearfish Canyon Golf Club General Manager Rob Kortan said in describing the progress that has been made on this project.

Work on realigning the holes and the creation of a new driving range started right after Thanksgiving 2018, and Tri State Construction, LLC, crews were able to complete all major earthwork.

Favorable weather in December 2018 and January’s first two weeks played a significant role, Kortan said.

“We are extremely happy about our progress so far,” Work is underway at the Spearfish Canyon golf club to realign holes and bring a driving range to the course. Pioneer file photo

GOLF CLUB Pg 6

Page 6, Our Towns 2019

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE ROBERT BURNETT AGENCY

The Robert Burnett Agency of American Family Insurance has been awarded the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification. Bob’s agency has earned the highest praise from customers for consistently providing outstanding service. “Outstanding service is what our customers expect” said Bob. “We want to empower our customers toward the future they dream of by protecting what matters most to them. My team wants to help people get the most out their insurance by assuring they have the coverages they need and eliminating the ones they don’t.”

The Robert Burnett Agency is fully staffed with six licensed professionals who offer a full line of products, including home, auto, life, business, and farm/ranch protection. The office is located at 204 Main St., Spearfish.

The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 5

GOLF CLUB he said.

Completed items include erosion control, soil stripping, earthwork, bunker rough in, and cart path subgrade. Approximately 90 percent of tee leveling work is finished, along with 85 percent of shaping, 85 percent of soil replacement, and 50 percent of cart path removal.

Remaining work is largely golf contractor-specific, Kortan said.

This means a specialty contractor will perform duties like irrigation installation, constructing new greens and bunkers, cart path installation, tree planting-relocating, grass sodding and seeding, tilling for seed bed preparation, cart path

installation, and finish work.

“Those are items that are just out of the scope of what we can do locally,” Kortan said.

Tri State Construction, LLC, is based in Belle Fourche.

He does not anticipate those remaining items really being labor-intensive. “It’s just kind of a tedious process to make sure that we get it done right,” he said.

Kortan said the window is roughly five or six weeks on site.

“As soon as we can get back out there and stay out there, we’re ready to rock and roll and knock this thing out,” Kortan said. The desired completion date is midJune but could be sooner, depending on the spring weather.

All of the course’s 18 holes will be open during the season even among

construction, Kortan said. He added there may be one or two days when a tee complex or green needs shutting down to work around those places.

“One of the boxes that we had to check along the way, as far as getting this thing approved, was to make sure we didn’t affect what we considered regular play,” Kortan said.

Tri State Construction, LLC, president-owner Mike Watson’s efforts have gone above and beyond the call, according to Kortan.

“He’s committed to our facility and our staff,” Kortan said. “His enthusiasm for our place and the master plan itself is hard to measure.

“He deserves a lot of credit for where we are.”

The Music Room is a local business dedicated to supporting creativity through the arts in the greater Black Hills. They strive to unify Spearfish and the surrounding communities through various outlets and opportunities within the music field. Their vision is to spread the love of music to future generations by making music education accessible to everyone.

The Music Room offers a variety of lesson packages for guitar, drums, piano, bass, and ukelele, and they also have a professional recording studio on location.

Give them a call at 605-717-7529 or stop in and check them out at 931 E. Colorado Blvd. in Spearfish. More information is available on their website at themusicroomspearfish.com.

CHIP SHOT GOLF

Golf your way around the globe as you play the largest selection of world class golf courses in simulation. Improve and challenge your skills inside the official On-air simulator of the Golf Channel.

Fun for all ages and skill levels!

In addition to the world's only simulator endorsed by the PGA, their cold beer, mouth watering food, and customer service will make you a repeat customer. Take advantage of their stay-and-play packages, which include a complimentary limousine ride fro your hotel to and from Chip Shot Golf and hassle-free club delivery.

Stop by at 306 Cliff Street in Deadwood, call 605321-2613, or visit their website at chipshotgolf.net.

DEADWOOD EYECARE & MOUNTAIN VALLEY VISION CENTER

With two locations to serve you, Deadwood Eyecare and Mountain Valley Vision Center have all the technology needed to manage everything from emergency red eye visits to more serious conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetes. This year Deadwood Eyecare is leading the way with early macular degeneration detection becoming the first office in South Dakota to acquire AdaptDx technology, which studies indicate can help detect changes up to 7 years before other methods.

If you are looking for trendy new eyeglass or sunglass styles, they are also the place to be with many one-of-akind frames unique to the Black Hills.

Keep an eye out for their Hello Sunshine promotion this summer for awesome style tips and fashion giveaways as they get you fitted in fashion forward sunglasses for the long awaited summer!

Deadwood Eyecare is located at 88 Charles St. in Deadwood. 605-578-1761. eyecareblackhills.com.

Mountain Valley Vision Center is located in Spearfish at 1236 North Ave. 605-642-2645. mountainvalleyvision.com.

Construction is underway at the Spearfish Canyon golf course. Pioneer file photos

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 7

1020 N 10th Street • Spearfish, South Dakota 605-642-2716

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DIETARY • Three nutritious meals daily • Dietitian available

ACTIVITIES • Religious activities • Crafts • Music • Outings • Bingo • Special performances

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Join us for an open house during National Nursing Home Week - May 12th-18th

Page 8, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer

Sturgis Brewing building taking shape

The architect’s drawing of the new Sturgis Brewing Company building. Courtesy image

By Deb Holland Black Hills Pioneer

STURGIS — Building a new brewery can be exciting and stressful.

Just ask Bryan Carter, one of the owners of the new Sturgis Brewing Company taking shape just off Interstate 90 Exit 32 in Sturgis.

The project is running

above initial cost estimates and the timeline for opening has been extended from summer to early fall.

“It’s a very expensive deal,” Carter said. “It’s a gamble. Small business is not easy.”

Sturgis Brewing grew out of the ever-expanding Knuckle Brewing Company in downtown Sturgis.

Carter said the Knuckle

couldn’t keep up with demand for their beer.

They have several of their craft beers on tap at the Knuckle in downtown Sturgis, and in a can at more than 60 locations throughout the Black Hills and western South Dakota.

The Knuckle Brewing Company opened in 2014.

Carter said a 2016 addition to the Lazelle Street loca-

tion doubled the brewery’s fermentation capacity but even that expansion didn’t last long, he said.

To produce more product, the owners looked for a property that could accommodate the new facility.

They found it in southwest Sturgis owned by Glover Properties LLC. The picturesque property is skirted by towering old-

growth trees on the east, Anna Street on the north and a paved parcel to the west owned by the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation.

Initially, the Glover property was one large parcel with 24 acres. The owners of the Knuckle were able to buy just one small tract of BREWING Pg 10

The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 3

BLACK HILLS TRAILS bigger concern is how to maintain them.

“The beauty of all this is that we are going to have 50 miles of recreational trails that are accessible from multiple points throughout our community. At no point are you more than 5 miles, as the crow flies, from downtown Sturgis,” Forrester said.

Trailheads around Sturgis include trailheads at the Fort Meade Cemetery, Lion’s Club Park, Pine View Drive near Flex, Old Stone Road, Vanocker Canyon MM11, Vanocker Canyon MM13, and Vanocker Canyon MM15.

“All of this segues into the Seventh Cavalry Trails and the Centennial Trail,” Forrester said.

Forrester directs people to an App that provides people with directions to local trails called Trailforks.

“It’s the latest generation of online mapping pieces,” he said of the App. He said in the past the problem has been that once hikers or bikers lose cell coverage in the Hills, they lose access to the trail maps.

“The map fails to re-render as you move, so you can’t use it for navigation,” Forrester said.

But, the most recent versions of these Apps puts the map right on your phone so you can continue to navigate even if you don’t have

Our Towns 2019, Page 9 cell coverage.

“The GPS continues to work and the map is there,” he said.

He said the stacked-loop system of trails provides those seeking recreation the opportunity to spend a short time, or all day on the trails.

Black Hills Trails doesn’t exist just to build and maintain trails, but also to connect communities with each other.

“Connecting communities means connecting people, and forming long-lasting relationships,” Forrester said.

The group has been deepening its relationship with the Black Hills National Forest and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Those two organizations manage the majority of recreational trails in the Black Hills area.

Black Hills Trails plans to meet with forest leadership to discuss and make plans for forest-wide recreation priorities, including maintenance and development annually.

The plans made under this new agreement will help Black Hills Trails and the Black Hills National Forest help each other to better meet the recreation needs of local communities than at any time in the past, Forrester said.

Spearfish The Spearfish Zone of Black Hills Trails has continued to progress with a number of on-going projects. Representatives are continuing to collaborate with the city of

Spearfish on the Lookout Mountain Trail System to ensure it is able to meet diverse needs and is a valuable asset to the community, Forrester said. The other is the Tinton Trail (also known as the Dakota Five-O Loop). Last year, Black Hills Trails and the Ridge Riders of the Black Hills applied to have the trail included in the forest’s official non-motorized trail network, and Forest Service officials agreed to consider it. The Spearfish Zone group also have been busy cleaning up debris from the tornado last year in Spearfish Canyon. “That zone is very active and growing,” Forrester said.

start tying this together here in western South Dakota, we would offer an experience that’s not available anywhere else in our nation, and would be more like something you could do in Europe.”

Forrester said the Black Hills Trails’ mission was always meant to improve more than a small area of the Black Hills. In the beginning, the focus was primarily on Sturgis, but in the past two years they have expanded to zones including Spearfish and Rapid City.

“We can see that our vision of connected communities is starting to gain some traction,” Forrester said.

Rapid City The Black Hills Trails Rapid City zone has been working on Shanks Quarry, an area near Johnson Siding outside Rapid City along Highway 44. Improvement of this trail could connect it with a Victoria Lake trail as well as Storm Mountain. They have partnered heavily with the Black Hills Runners Club who donated $10,000 for the improvement of Shanks Quarry. They also have been working on the Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park on Cowboy Hill in Rapid City.

“All of these are pretty critical for the Black Hills Trails mission of connecting communities. Our vision is that we can have this very appealing trail system that connects the communities of the Black Hills,” Forrester said. “If we are able to

and Pet Supplies Owned by Dave, Roxey, and daughter Lisa, Changing Spaces & Pet Supplies is a unique 3-in-1 store with a consignment shop, receiving and selling used furniture and household items; pet supplies; and Young Living Essential Oils. To accommodate the additions of pet supplies and essential oils, they moved to a larger location.

Stop in at 830 N. 3rd Street in Spearfish to check out their unique inventory, or call 605717-2897 for more information.

SPEARFISH PHYSICAL THERAPY

Opened in December 2017 by Dr. Brandie Rainboth, DPT, OCS, Spearfish Physical Therapy is a welcoming space for patients of all diagnoses to recover and heal. They specialize in the treatment of muscle and joint pain, and recovery from injury or surgery, with a special interest in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and running injuries.

Spearfish Physical Therapy is the only physical therapy clinic in the Northern Black Hills that is owned and operated by a physical therapist who has both a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and is Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

Visit spearfishpt.com or call 605-559-0381.

STURDEVANT'S AUTO PARTS

Courtesy photo

Sturdevant's Auto Parts has been a regional leader in parts, accessories, and equipment for over 90 years with 49 locations throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, including local stores in Central City and Belle Fourche. Sturdevant's has been locally owned since 1922, and its history has spanned nearly a century as it moves into its fourth generation.

The Sturdevant Company is a proud employer of veterans, which make up 16% of its total employee base. As it nears the milestone of 100 years, Sturdevant's has seen many changes as it has evolved and grown to meet customer needs; however, one thing that remains steadfast for this locally owned family business is its core values of integrity, quality products, and commitments to the needs of the customer.

Belle Fourche: 1413 5th Ave., 605-892-2658 Central City: 101 US Hwy. 14A, 605-578-3552

Page 10, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer from Pg 8

BREWING

A worker moves steel on the site of the new on the new Sturgis Brewing Company building near Exit 32 in Sturgis.

that for the new brewery.

Last year, The Knuckle Brewing Company produced a little over 1,000 barrels, each 31 gallons of beer.

Once the new brewery is up and running it will be able to produce 7,000 barrels a year – that’s seven times bigger than the current production.

With more product will come wider distribution.

The Knuckle already sells their beer in South Dakota and Wyoming, but would like to take it to the whole region.

Additional distribution areas could include eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, western North Dakota and Montana.

“Our distributors in Rapid have Omaha, Lincoln and North Platte,” Carter said.

Before buying into the Knuckle property, Carter worked in sales.

He hopes to draw on that experience to expand the

Trust. Integrity. Respect.

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We are proud to offer these values in our sales and businesses practices so our customers keep coming back.

The vehicles on our lot have the best prices and quality in the area, so come by and see us today!

3151 E. Colorado Boulevard, Spearfish, SD 605-490-1742 • sterlingmotorsusa.com

A crane is being used to place girders on the new Sturgis Brewing Company building near Exit 32 in Sturgis. Pioneer photos by Deb Holland

The Black Hills Pioneer

Our Towns 2019, Page 11

reach of the new Sturgis brew.

The Knuckle’s most popular variety is its Knuckle Head Red Ale. Other beer choices from The Knuckle include Pipe Welder Porter, Va’Knockers Blonde Ale, Runkle Road IPA and 2nd Street Wheat Ale. They will need to rebrand those varieties under the new Sturgis Brewing Company label, Carter said.

“We think that will be better for us when we get to places like Bismarck, North Dakota.

Everybody in Bismarck will have heard of Sturgis, but not everybody in Bismarck will have heard of the Knuckle Brewing Company,” he said.

Owners of the Knuckle announced the new venture in July. Carter said the building continued to get bigger during the planning phase of the project and is now at about 18,000 square feet.

The facility was designed by TSP Architects.

The contractor, RCS construction, has been putting up girders in the last few weeks.

The building will be powered by steam, which Carter said is much more efficient for what

they are doing.

“That’s what the big breweries are – steam fired. They have big boilers,” he said.

The facility will have two separate glycol chillers, one for the beer coolers and fermenting process and the other for the air conditioning system. If the one for the beer goes down, they would be able to flip a switch and use the air conditioner chiller in a pinch.

“Our staff and customers may get a little hot, but we’ll be saving our beer,” he said.

The main entrance will be on the north facing Anna Street. There will be a large patio off the east side of the building facing a row of old-growth trees on the property in south Sturgis.

About two-thirds of the building will be for beer production with the other sections split between a bar/restaurant and retail gift shop.

The new Sturgis Brewing Company will only sell beer and wine, no liquor.

The current business and brewery which are up for sale, will remain in its current location while the new $2 million facility is being built.

Pioneer photo by Deb Holland

comfort is our priority

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Enhance the comfort of your home or business and reduce energy costs with our efficient HVAC and plumbing systems.

Our licensed technicians provide expert installation & service at a great price.

After Hours Service (Weekends and evenings) Online Bill Pay & Service Scheduling available at www.wolffph.com

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Page 12, Our Towns 2019

The Black Hills Pioneer