December 2015

Volume 15- Issue 12 - Holiday

The Road Map

Sturgis Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

Shop Local. Shop Small.

Give Local.

elderly - there is an opportunity to enrich the lives of those we live among.

Harley Davidson Rally Point - Sturgis

Shop Local

This holiday season, please remember to shop close to home and in the wonderful small businesses of our community.

Shopping small keeps your dollars close to home working in and around Sturgis.

Those effects reach far beyond the holidays.

It may seem like a small thing, but it has a big impact on our retailers and town.

Effectively, any gift purchased here is also a gift you give our community.

Give Local

There are more opportunities to give close to home than can possibly be listed here. As you consider making a charitable contribution this holiday season, please look to the needs and causes close to home. From the arts to youth causes, the crisis shelter, the hungry, and

Visit the non-profit section of our Sturgis Directory and Visitors Guide or our website for a listing and contact information of those non-profits belonging to the Chamber.

Have a wonderful season and please remember those in need here in Sturgis.

Thanks

Finally, a note of thanks. This Chamber has over 300 members. We wish we could spend more time saying thanks. Whether you’re new to the Chamber or a long time member - you’re contributions to this community are noticed and appreciated.

Have a happy and prosperous new year!

The Chamber welcomes Charlie Wheeler of Wheeler Farms Candy and Davenport Cottage to the Chamber Board for a three year term.

Wheeler will replace JD Williams of First Interstate Bank. Williams has fulfilled two terms.

Heidi Richter of Richter Tires and Exhaust and Chad Legner of Wells Fargo Bank were each re-elected for their second three-year term.

Thanks JD for your service to the Board and the community of Sturgis. Congratulations to those elected and reelected!

IRS Scams Return to SD

Scammers have again been targeting South Dakota. Remember if you or your customer or client gets a call or email:

The IRS will NEVER call you before sending a letter.

The IRS will NEVER call you to demand immediate tax payment.

The IRS will NEVER call you to demand that you pay a tax without an option to question the amount you owe.

The IRS will NEVER demand that you to pay tax a certain way, like with a prepaid credit card.

The new terms begin in January 2016.

The IRS will NEVER ask for your credit/ debit card number over the phone.

New Members

Renewing Members

Thank you to all who voted and ran for office! We’re excited to get to work in 2016.

Econocountertops USA Sturgis - 605.651.1363 ecocountertopsusa.com

1-Stop Pest Control Sturgis - 605.430.0455 1-stoppestcontrol.com

The IRS will NEVER threaten to have you arrested or deported, nor will it revoke your driver’s license.

Dogwood Lodge Pet Resort & Grooming Salon Jambonz Northern Hills Sod Farm Paint Lizard Prairie Emporium Robert Sharp & Associates Taco John’s of Sturgis Versatile Carpets & Interiors

Contact the Chamber for application.

Board Election Results

2016 Community Event Grants now available.

Membership News

Page 2

Thank you.

You make what we do possible.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SD Tourism Update

PIERRE, S.D. – Recently compiled statistics show that the South Dakota visitor industry is continuing its positive momentum from the successful peak season through the fall months.

“All of our indicators are showing strong growth through September,” said Jim Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “We couldn’t be happier with how things are looking, and we’re proud of our industry and all of the hard work they put in to attract and welcome visitors.”

2016 Calendar Year-to-Date Statistics*: Inquiries – 6.8 percent increase BBB Taxable Sales – 8.8 percent increase Tourism Taxable Sales – 16.3 percent increase Lodging Taxable Sales – 10.7 percent increase Promotion Tax Revenue – 23.1 percent increase Gaming Revenue – 0.6 percent increase

Despite strong results, the Department of Tourism remains aware of the need for innovative thinking.

“Our competitors are always innovating, always growing their budgets, always trying new things,” continued Hagen. “The competition is no longer just our neighboring states; it is truly the world. As such, we can’t rest on our laurels.”

The Department’s shoulder season marketing plans include both tried-and-true methods for reaching potential visitors as well as some new elements that are reaching new people in new places.

For example, the Department partnered with the Pedal-Powered Talk Show out of Portland, Ore., to test some research that was showing a rise in inquiries from the Pacific Northwest. This partnership will showcase South Dakota to the area in six online television episodes beginning Nov. 12.

Additionally, the Department is putting a focus on national parks this fall by placing ads in National Parks Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, South Dakota Magazine and Nature Conservancy Magazine. This comes in advance of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in 2016.

The Department will also have a presence in the 127th Rose Parade® in January 2016. The theme of the parade, “Find Your Adventure,” grew out of a partnership between the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and the U.S. National Park Service and will help shine a light on the centennial celebration of our country’s national park system.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary Jim Hagen. *These statistics reflect Jan.-Sept., 2015 over Jan.-Sept. 2014.

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Upcoming Events

(for full list see the enclosed insert)

2 - Sturgis Laundry Ribbon Cutting - 2014 Main St - 1pm 4-5 Winter Frostival (details on flyer)

Parade of Lights Holiday Expo Community Christmas Tree Lighting How the Grinch Stole Christmas Showing Cookie and Candy Contest Santa Visits

10 - Sturgis Wine Company Mixer - 1117 Main Street - 5-7pm 13 - Belle Joli Holiday Open House - 2-5pm 17 - Scrooge Night (details on flyer)

25 - Chamber Closed for Christmas

Page 4

SEDC Update

Pat Kurtenbach, President SEDC

Dolan Creek Estates, Sturgis 106-unit single family homes - West end of Dolan Creek Road

The SEDC annual board retreat provided a timely opportunity to review progress made in 2015. While we determined that one word cannot sum up the growth experienced by Sturgis and Meade County in 2015, a few starters would be: “Astonishing.”

“Incredible.” “Unbelievable.”

“Amazing.”

The progress made in residential, commercial, and industrial development appears to be breaking all previous records. Although the City’s 2015 sales tax revenue and new construction permit numbers are not yet final, both of these indicators point to a healthy economic growth that in some cases is leading not only the region, but also the state. The County’s discretionary formula numbers that capture new commercial construction information will be available in March.

Below are a few examples of the growth Sturgis and

Meade County have experienced in 2015.

Residential Growth

SIERRA VISTA STURGIS apartment homes on Ball Park Road opened November 1 and have been filling quickly.

Only five of the 16 apartments remain available for lease. These spacious 2-bed/1 -bath units are $780 per month, including water, sewer and garbage. They feature all major appliances, a private deck/patio and are pet friendly. Spearfish developer Baron Properties, LLC expects to begin construction on the next 16 units in Spring 2016.

Sierra Vista will have 48 market rate rental units when the project is complete. For more info, contact the Sturgis HelpU-Rent office at 722-7368 or sturgisapartments.homesandland.com.

DOLAN CREEK ESTATES, located at the west end of Dolan Creek Road in Sturgis, is a 106-unit single family development that broke ground in

June. The infrastructure for Phase 1 is in place. It already has 23 lots under construction, which far outpaces the developer’s initial expectations. Lots start at $35,250.

The developer encourages local realtors and contractors to participate in marketing and constructing this project.

The City of Sturgis provided TIF financing for the project to Rapid City developer Dolan Creek Estates, LLC. For more information, contact managing member Brad Hammerbeck at 605-381-4577 or bradhammerbeck@gmail.com.

CANYON VIEW ESTATES, located on Pine View Drive in Sturgis, is a 5-acre, 19-unit residential development that broke ground in October. Site work began immediately in order to have utilities in place this fall for paving and construction to begin in the spring. The development consists of a cul-de-sac with five single family homes at the rear and seven twin homes

Page 5 flanking the sides. Prices will start at $175,000. It adjoins the Black Hills National Forest and will have a public access recreational trail leading directly from it to forest service land. The City of Sturgis provided TIF financing for the project to Rapid City developer Sharaf 2 Properties, LLC. For more info, contact Project Manager Kyle Treloar at 605348-0538 or kylet@dreamdesigninc.com.

Business Growth

· 10 Businesses – 128 total · · · · · ·

jobs 66 retained/expanded 62 new jobs $5,403,181 est. annual payroll Diversity – Food/retail services, Manufacturing, Automotive, Motorcycle Locations – Main Street, Junction, Lazelle, Exit 32, Industrial Park

Industrial Park Growth

Landsport expansion and Industrial incubator built. The Meade School District’s new machinist training program started there in September with 15 students. Three units still available for lease through SEDC. Lockwood Engineering, CO purchased a 1-acre lot.

Only 5 acres remain in the Sturgis Industrial Park.

SEDC is proud to be a part of this growth explosion, and appreciates the relationships

Canyon View Estates - Pine View Drive, Sturgis

Sierra Vista - Ball Park Road, Sturgis

Industrial Incubator - Industrial Park Sturgis with our development partners and public and private contributors that help make this happen. Through cooperation and a mutual desire to

enhance our community, everyone benefits. Thank you for your partnership.

Community News

Page 6

Lakes Discovered as Jewel Cave Surpasses the 180-Mile Mark

Caver Chris Pelczarski sits near Hourglass Lake, the first lake discovered in Jewel Cave on October 10, 2015.

Custer, SD – Recent cave exploration trips into Jewel Cave in October and November have extended the known length of Jewel Cave to 180.07 miles. In addition to surveying new passages, the volunteer cavers discovered two small lakes – the first ever encountered in the cave.

valuable focus for future hydrological and microbiological studies. Based on passage morphology and evidence from nearby Wind Cave, additional lakes might also be found in as-yet unexplored passages near Hourglass Lake and Piso Mojado.”

pating longer day-trips from camp to the “end” of the cave, the team turned in early that night, with no survey on the first day.

On Saturday, the cavers explored passages near the southwest end of the cave—nearly four hours On Friday, October 9, 2015, a from camp. They discovered over Chief of Resource Management team of volunteer explorers en- 4,700 feet of passages south of Mike Wiles states: “The lakes are tered Jewel Cave to find and map the Limestone Lunchroom, ina significant discovery for Jewel new passages in the western cluding The Lost Subway and Cave. They might be the intersec- branch of the cave. The cavers Slime Ball Hall. The most imtion of the cave with the Maditravelled four hours from the portant discovery was Hourglass son Aquifer. Remote and priselevator to West Camp, arriving Lake, a deep blue, crystal clear tine, they could also become a shortly before 7:30 pm. Anticilake measuring 15 feet long, 10 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Page 7 feet wide, and 20 feet deep. Although water is occasionally found in shallow pools throughout the cave, this is the first discovery of an actual “lake.” The name comes from the Hourglass Sea on Mars, the first named feature on another planet. The finding of the lake nearly coincides with the discovery of liquid water on Mars, another exploration frontier. Hourglass Lake was the deepest point in Jewel Cave at 722 feet, breaking the old record by 42 feet.

The team returned to camp late Saturday evening, and arose Sunday to focus on leads closer to camp. They searched for continuations in the Outta Time / Outta Sight passage, to the East, and in a place called High Country, to the north. They mapped about 3,300 feet of new passages, and left many unexplored passages for another day.

One of the new passages near High Country contains thousands of tiny filaments clinging to the calcite popcorn that covers the walls. They have an organic appearance, and are like nothing else found in the cave. The team collected samples of these fila-

ments for further analysis.

Lake. They discovered another similar-sized lake, just 100 feet A second team entered Jewel away. They called it “Piso MojaCave on Sunday, November 8, for do,” or “Wet Floor” in Spanish. a four-day exploration trip. After Another nearby passage trends five hours of travel, they left northeast as a large fissure, but most of their supplies at the eventually ended at some intercamp site and traveled another esting unclimbable pits. hour, south to an area near the Southwest Splinter. Half of the Tuesday morning, each team reteam checked passages going turned to the passages they had west from Dimension Z, and sur- discovered on Sunday – west of veyed into an upper Loft level the Southwest Splinter. One before descending steeply again. team began surveying in the They made good progress, but large space they’d discovered on ran out of time just as the pasthe first day, a huge passage sage was beginning to open up measuring 60 feet wide, 40 feet into a very large space. Meantall, and 350 feet long. They while, the other team members called it the “New Frontier.” Besurveyed passages east of Seyond is a tight fissure that they quence Hall. didn’t have time to fully map, called the “Final Frontier.” The On Monday, everyone traveled other team surveyed south from about four hours to the southern the New Frontier into a deep pit extent of the cave, near Hourthey called “The Well of Souls.” glass Lake. Splitting again, two team members surveyed a pas- A total of 6,158 feet was sursage south of the lake. It trended veyed, so Jewel Cave is now east before ending. Then they 180.07 miles long. Piso Mojado is traveled to the Lost Subway to a new deep point in the cave, at check a pit that hadn’t previously 724 feet. Since March 2014, over been explored, but it quickly eight miles of new passages have came to an end. been discovered beyond the Southwest Splinter, and over 300 The other half of the team surunchecked leads remain for fuveyed passages near Hourglass ture exploration.

Mt Rushmore float in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

New York City, NY - A few of our more notable neighbors spent the recent Thanksgiving holiday in the Big Apple.

The float titled “American Pride: featured Contemporary Christian band Mercy Me. This was the 89th annual parade and the sixth year of a South Dakotasponsored float appeared in the parade.

2040 Junction Avenue - Sturgis, SD 57785 Phone - 605.347.2556 Web - SturgisAreaChamber.com

Return Service Requested

U.S. POSTAGE PRESORTED STandARD RATE PERMIT NO. 10 STURGIS, SD 57785

Staff Executive Director, Heidi Kruse Membership Services Manager, Rainee Lisko Board of Directors President, Jerrid Goebel, Sturgis Chiropractic Past Pres, Ken Meirose, Black Hills Power Vice Pres, Brice Rock, Pioneer Bank and Trust Treasurer, Heidi Richter, Richters Tire and Exhaust Kelly Keffeler, Farm Credit Services of America Jeremy Vliem, First Western Insurance Chad Legner, Wells Fargo Bank J.D. Williams, First Interstate Bank Mark Schulte, Sturgis Regional Hospital

Peace Be Happy Hope

Ex-Officio Board Members Don Kirkegaard: Meade School 46-1 Representative Bob Bertolotto: Meade Co Commissioner Pat Kurtenbach: SEDC Daniel Ainslie, City of Sturgis Rick Bush: City of Sturgis Tacy Snyder: Ag Representative David Hersrud: City Council Liaison

Thank you to our 2015 Platinum and Premium Sponsors. Your support is essential to our work in the Sturgis Community.

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Making a List. Checking it Twice.