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County employees vented for an hour about ongoing payroll problems: Pictured from left is Vince Logue, Edie Jenniges, Carol Boche, Veronica Quintana (at the podium) and Cherelle Hughes. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

County employees vented for an hour about ongoing payroll problems: Pictured from left is Vince Logue, Edie Jenniges, Carol Boche, Veronica Quintana (at the podium) and Cherelle Hughes. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

County employees urge commissioners to get forensic auditor, new payroll service

Beth Bogart
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS — During public comment at the close of the Fall River County Commission meeting of September 4, a score of county employees voiced their frustration with ongoing mistakes in their paychecks after eight months of complaints about problems.
A large crane sits on a floating barge below Angostura Dam as workers come down on a scaffolding system (lower right) as part of a $10.4 million U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project currently underway south of Hot Springs. The main purpose of the project is address freeze-thaw deterioration by removing and replacing damaged concrete on the face of the dam. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

A large crane sits on a floating barge below Angostura Dam as workers come down on a scaffolding system (lower right) as part of a $10.4 million U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project currently underway south of Hot Springs. The main purpose of the project is address freeze-thaw deterioration by removing and replacing damaged concrete on the face of the dam. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Work on Angostura Dam in full swing

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Contrary to some generallyheld beliefs this summer, the large-scale construction project currently underway at the Angostura Dam is not impacting water levels in the reservoir. Despite elevation levels at Angostura being the lowest since April 2008, the U.S.
Dustin Twiss stands beside his artwork “Dragonfly Sunset” on N. River Street. A vinyl wrap was applied to the utility box as part of collaboration with Keeping Hot Springs Beautiful. Photo by Katie Merdanian/FRCHerald-Star

Dustin Twiss stands beside his artwork “Dragonfly Sunset” on N. River Street. A vinyl wrap was applied to the utility box as part of collaboration with Keeping Hot Springs Beautiful. Photo by Katie Merdanian/FRCHerald-Star

Oelrichs native Dustin Twiss showcased at artist’s reception

Katie Merdanian
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – The Art House, in collaboration with Keeping Hot Springs Beautiful, hosted an artist’s reception at their gallery on Friday afternoon, September 5, to celebrate the installation of Dustin Twiss’ art on two utility boxes in town.
Hot Springs’ Curt Lout with Image360 of Rapid City works alongside an employee last month near the downtown stop light as they apply a vinyl wrap to an electrical box featuring the artwork of local artist Dustin Twiss, who is an alumnus of Oelrichs High School. This wrap is one of two such projects funded by Keep Hot Springs Beautiful. Courtesy photo

Hot Springs’ Curt Lout with Image360 of Rapid City works alongside an employee last month near the downtown stop light as they apply a vinyl wrap to an electrical box featuring the artwork of local artist Dustin Twiss, who is an alumnus of Oelrichs High School. This wrap is one of two such projects funded by Keep Hot Springs Beautiful. Courtesy photo

KHSB completes downtown beautification art project

News Staff
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Parts of downtown Hot Springs recently got cloaked in bright colors following a collaborative effort led by Keep Hot Springs Beautiful (KHSB) which put vinyl wraps around a pair of Black Hills Energy transformer boxes.
The local chapter of Westerners International will host the organization’s annual national convention this September (open to the public). Pictured here are members of the local chapter at its August meeting held at the Pioneer Museum. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

The local chapter of Westerners International will host the organization’s annual national convention this September (open to the public). Pictured here are members of the local chapter at its August meeting held at the Pioneer Museum. Photo by Beth Bogart/Fall River County Herald-Star

Westerners are coming to Hot Springs for its 2025 National Convention, Sept. 17-20

Beth Bogart
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS — Westerners International, an organization of Western history buffs, is holding their 2025 convention in Hot Springs later this month on Sept.
THEN AND NOW: Dick Dryden, above, is pictured at his desk in 1989 after being named the new manager of the Hot Springs branch of Black Hills Federal Credit. Below, Dryden is pictured at his desk last week, just a week prior to his planned final day at the credit union.

THEN AND NOW: Dick Dryden, above, is pictured at his desk in 1989 after being named the new manager of the Hot Springs branch of Black Hills Federal Credit. Below, Dryden is pictured at his desk last week, just a week prior to his planned final day at the credit union.

Dryden to retire after 40 years with credit union

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – One of the things Dick Dryden, age 68, said he is looking forward to most upon his retirement is being able to “ranch in the daylight instead of the dark,” because for the past 40 years, that’s what he’s been doing since first starting his “day job” with the Black...
Oral native Darren Russell takes on the new position of Fall River County Veteran Service Officer, a job he has dreamed of for years. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Oral native Darren Russell takes on the new position of Fall River County Veteran Service Officer, a job he has dreamed of for years. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Fall River County welcomes new Veteran Service Officer

Charity Maness
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Army Veteran Darren Russell officially took the position of Fall River County Veteran Service Officer (VSO) earlier this summer on July 28. “I had my eye on this job for a bit,” admits Russell.
Bernice Landers shows her collection of museum quality artifacts at the 140th ranch anniversary party. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Bernice Landers shows her collection of museum quality artifacts at the 140th ranch anniversary party. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Landers Ranch, Star Cattle Company celebrate 140 years

Charity Maness
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Body Home to six generations of cattle ranchers HOT SPRINGS – Truck after truck after truck made their way down the longgraveled driveway south of Hot Springs this past Saturday, Aug.
Sitting at a picnic shelter in Centennial Park, Sayer Lockhart, age 25, is currently planning a fundraiser at the park on Sept. 6 which will also serve as an opportunity for the community to come together for an evening of food, live music and fun competitions including a cornhole tournament, pie contest, pet contest and car show. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Sitting at a picnic shelter in Centennial Park, Sayer Lockhart, age 25, is currently planning a fundraiser at the park on Sept. 6 which will also serve as an opportunity for the community to come together for an evening of food, live music and fun competitions including a cornhole tournament, pie contest, pet contest and car show. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Unique community event planned to help save local woman’s lifelong home

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – Earlier this spring, when Sayer Lockhart of Hot Springs first began planning for her upcoming “Help Save My Childhood Home Fundraiser” slated for Centennial Park on Saturday, Sept.
Malisa Niles, SD Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) Urban Ag Liaison, holds raw wool used in the Wool as a Soil Additive project at the Hot Springs Community Garden. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Malisa Niles, SD Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) Urban Ag Liaison, holds raw wool used in the Wool as a Soil Additive project at the Hot Springs Community Garden. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Local project tests the viability of wool as a soil additive

Charity Maness
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – The South Dakota State University (SDSU) specialty producers held an open house field day on August 15 at the Hot Springs Community Garden, highlighting a Wool as a Soil Additive Project.
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