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District 30 members of the South Dakota House of Representatives Tim Goodwin and Trish Ladner answer questions from the audience at a legislative crackerbarrel held at the American Legion in Hot Springs on Saturday, Feb. 15. A number of issues were discussed, with rising property taxes taking up the majority of the discussion. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

District 30 members of the South Dakota House of Representatives Tim Goodwin and Trish Ladner answer questions from the audience at a legislative crackerbarrel held at the American Legion in Hot Springs on Saturday, Feb. 15. A number of issues were discussed, with rising property taxes taking up the majority of the discussion. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

District 30 Legislative Crackerbarrel held in Hot Springs

Marcus Heerdt
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – A District 30 Legislative Crackerbarrel was held on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 15, in Hot Springs at the American Legion from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Hot Springs’ Rachel Nilles, who is a school teacher in Oelrichs, poses for a selfie with her children, Leon and Mira Palyan, atop the Crazy Horse Memorial during a recent Volksmarch. In April 2024, while helping coach a youth soccer practice, Nilles suffered a form or an aneurysm in her chest within the walls of her aorta. Courtesy photo

Hot Springs’ Rachel Nilles, who is a school teacher in Oelrichs, poses for a selfie with her children, Leon and Mira Palyan, atop the Crazy Horse Memorial during a recent Volksmarch. In April 2024, while helping coach a youth soccer practice, Nilles suffered a form or an aneurysm in her chest within the walls of her aorta. Courtesy photo

School teacher’s survival of heart condition celebrated

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – While helping a pair of U8 youth soccer coaches run a practice at Butler Park in April 2024, Rachel Nilles of Hot Springs suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest.
Edgemont Fire Department members look over the remains of the ruined home on 6th Avenue in Edgemont Photo by Linda Baird/FRC Herald Star

Edgemont Fire Department members look over the remains of the ruined home on 6th Avenue in Edgemont Photo by Linda Baird/FRC Herald Star

Explosion, fire injures one; home is a total loss

Linda Baird
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Body EDGEMONT – The peace of a Winter evening was shattered on Wednesday, February 5, when a 6th Avenue home explosion and fire completely destroyed the home and severely injured the resident.
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Hot Springs’ castle upon a hill bustling with activity

Marcus Heerdt
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – There aren’t any flaming arrows, battering rams, or catapults currently being used at the stone citadel locally known as Castle Manor overlooking Hot Springs, but there is a flurry of activity as John and Michelle Felde have brought new life to one of the city’s...
The top three were in last week’s Hot Springs Spelling Bee were middle schoolers, from left: 6th grader Coy Bringewatt (2nd place); 8th grader Cassidy McClure (1st place) and 3rd 7th grader Dalton Hunter (3rd place). Courtesy photo

The top three were in last week’s Hot Springs Spelling Bee were middle schoolers, from left: 6th grader Coy Bringewatt (2nd place); 8th grader Cassidy McClure (1st place) and 3rd 7th grader Dalton Hunter (3rd place). Courtesy photo

McClure wins HSMS Spelling Bee

News Staff
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Body VanDewater advances from elementary school HOT SPRINGS – A total of 21 spellers from the Hot Springs Middle School competed in front of more than 40 people in attendance at Case Auditorium last Monday, Feb. 3, as part of the district’s second annual Spelling Bee.
Judith “Garland” Wright lived with her husband R.J. and sons Morgan and Weston behind the Angostura Dam and would commute daily during the school year to Edgemont where she taught high school English and K-12 Spanish. She was also a writer for the Fall River County Herald-Star, specializing in articles about the Edgemont school.

Judith “Garland” Wright lived with her husband R.J. and sons Morgan and Weston behind the Angostura Dam and would commute daily during the school year to Edgemont where she taught high school English and K-12 Spanish. She was also a writer for the Fall River County Herald-Star, specializing in articles about the Edgemont school.

Crash claims life of Edgemont school teacher, mother of two

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – In a personal post on Facebook this past weekend, R.J.
Buff Tewahade, woodshop teacher at the Oelrichs School, and four of his students meet with Connie Geiser from the Battle Mountain Humane Society to donate two dog houses built by the class. Photo by Katie Merdanian/Fall River County Herald-Star

Buff Tewahade, woodshop teacher at the Oelrichs School, and four of his students meet with Connie Geiser from the Battle Mountain Humane Society to donate two dog houses built by the class. Photo by Katie Merdanian/Fall River County Herald-Star

Oelrichs woodshop class donates dog houses

Katie Merdanian
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Body OELRICHS – Students at Oelrichs School have generously donated two dog houses to the Battle Mountain Humane Society in Hot Springs. The kids were excited to see their creations go to a good home.
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