News

School Board approves 148-day 2026-27 calendar

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – After rejecting a proposed 202627 school calendar with 155 student days at its regular meeting last month, the Hot Springs School Board unanimously approved a new proposed calendar featuring 148 student days at its regular May meeting last week on Monday, May 11.
Despite being about four months behind in some of the anticipated progress milestones, officials with the City of Hot Springs and Brosz Engineering still expect the Minnekahta Avenue bridge replacement project to be completed by the contracted deadline of Nov. 27, 2026. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Despite being about four months behind in some of the anticipated progress milestones, officials with the City of Hot Springs and Brosz Engineering still expect the Minnekahta Avenue bridge replacement project to be completed by the contracted deadline of Nov. 27, 2026. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Minnekahta Avenue bridge project progressing, slowly but surely

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – Work on the $1.4 million Minnekahta Avenue Bridge replacement project in downtown Hot Springs is progressing, but not as quickly as local residents and city officials would probably like to see.
Dustin Twiss details the history of his ancestor, William Twiss, who worked with Harry Oelrichs to provide beef to American Indian families living on the Pine Ridge Agency in the late 1800s.

Dustin Twiss details the history of his ancestor, William Twiss, who worked with Harry Oelrichs to provide beef to American Indian families living on the Pine Ridge Agency in the late 1800s.

Knowledgeable speakers entertain attendees at Oelrichs Historical Society conference

Katie Merdanian
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Body OELRICHS – On Sunday, April 19, a crowd of 65 people gathered at the Oelrichs High School gym to learn about thehistoryoftheOelrichsarea.Attendees of the annual history conference, hosted by the Oelrichs Historical Society, enjoyed knowledgeable speakers on a wide range of topics.
A dump truck hauls away furniture, mattresses and other refuse during the city clean up on Saturday, April 25. Photo by Savanna Simmons

A dump truck hauls away furniture, mattresses and other refuse during the city clean up on Saturday, April 25. Photo by Savanna Simmons

Edgemont shows up to clean up

Samantha Miller
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Body EDGEMONT – The Edgemont Community Foundation held a community-wide clean up event on Saturday, April 25. During a recent city council meeting, Kerry Barker and Shane Miller, foundation board members, asked the city to offset some of the costs.
Carol Boche

Carol Boche

Republican Fall River County Auditor candidates profiled

News Staff
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – The primary election is slated to take place on Tuesday, June 2, which is when area registered voters will decide a number of races, including who will replace Sue Ganje as the next Fall River County Auditor, as she looks forward to retirement when her term expires...
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and his wife Sandy, center, pose with members of the Haskvitz family during a dedication and ribbon cutting held of the new S.D. Wildland Fire building located on the campus of the State Veterans Home. Also pictured from left are John and Laree Haskvitz and their two daughters; Don and Lujean Haskvitz; Ben Haskvitz and his son; Betsy Haskvitz and her children Cash and Ella. Below is the exterior of the building. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and his wife Sandy, center, pose with members of the Haskvitz family during a dedication and ribbon cutting held of the new S.D. Wildland Fire building located on the campus of the State Veterans Home. Also pictured from left are John and Laree Haskvitz and their two daughters; Don and Lujean Haskvitz; Ben Haskvitz and his son; Betsy Haskvitz and her children Cash and Ella. Below is the exterior of the building. Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

New SD Wildland Fire building honors Trampus Haskvitz

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – A large crowd, including South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, gathered in Hot Springs on Monday morning, April 20, to officially dedicate and cut the ribbon on a new South Dakota Wildland Fire building located on 23rd Street, near the State Veterans Home.
More than a dozen UFO enthusiasts, with rolls of aluminum foil in hand, attended the first UFO group meeting at World fossil Finder Museum earlier this month. For fun, participants donned their own tin foil hat designs, adding a light-hearted feel to the event. Photos by Charity Maness / Fall River County Herald Star

More than a dozen UFO enthusiasts, with rolls of aluminum foil in hand, attended the first UFO group meeting at World fossil Finder Museum earlier this month. For fun, participants donned their own tin foil hat designs, adding a light-hearted feel to the event. Photos by Charity Maness / Fall River County Herald Star

New Hot Springs group piques interest of UFO enthusiasts

Charity Maness
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – Earlier this month, more than a dozen UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) enthusiasts and extra-terrestrial knowledge-seekers gathered at the World Fossil Finder Museum in Hot Springs in an effort to learn more about what might be in our night skies and our massive...
Despite being awarded a $9.166 million loan through the S.D. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it is still up to the Hot Springs City Council on whether or not the city will accept the offer, which will result in a surcharge being added to all users water bills for the 30 year term of the loan. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Despite being awarded a $9.166 million loan through the S.D. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it is still up to the Hot Springs City Council on whether or not the city will accept the offer, which will result in a surcharge being added to all users water bills for the 30 year term of the loan. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

City awarded loan, but not loan forgiveness for Phase 1 of upgrades at wastewater treatment plant

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Body PIERRE – The City of Hot Springs was approved by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) for funding of Phase 1 to replace its aging wastewater treatment facility, but the award fell short of what was hoped for when Mayor Bob Nelson traveled to...

Races announced for June 2 election

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS – With all of Fall River County’s school districts and municipalities agreeing to conduct elections together on June 2, 2026, voters everywhere will be coming to the polls – however not all races will need elections.
Hot Springs Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kyley Cumbow poses with Hot Springs High School student Victoria Davis who recently attended the Educators Rising SD State Conference in Spearfish. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kyley Cumbow poses with Hot Springs High School student Victoria Davis who recently attended the Educators Rising SD State Conference in Spearfish. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs students engage with program to solve teacher shortage

Beth Bogart
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Body HOT SPRINGS — A statewide program to encourage students to consider teaching as a career, Educators Rising SD, now has a chapter at the Hot Springs school. Three seniors who have been active in the program initiated by Superintendent Dr.
Subscribe to