News

Firefighters respond to a fire call at 665 S. 11th Street, which ended up being a semi tractor ablaze inside the structure, known as the old Armory building. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

Firefighters respond to a fire call at 665 S. 11th Street, which ended up being a semi tractor ablaze inside the structure, known as the old Armory building. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

Firefighters respond to semi tractor fire inside old Armory building

News Staff
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – A possible electrical fire inside a semi tractor parked inside the former Armory building east of Butler Park prompted first responders to be dispatched to the area at 2:52 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23.
The supports for the North River Street Suspended Sidewalk started to go up in March 2024 as the three-year reconstruction project eventually wrapped up this past December. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

The supports for the North River Street Suspended Sidewalk started to go up in March 2024 as the three-year reconstruction project eventually wrapped up this past December. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

A look back at the Herald-Star headlines from the past year

News Staff
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – With the passing of another year, the Fall River County Herald-Star this week offers a glimpse back at the headlines of 2024. Over the past year, the potential construction of new jail/justice center was making headlines from nearly every month.
Chris Yellow Thunder, left, with David Streeter on Oct. 4, 2024, outside Streeter’s former bunker inside the Vivos xPoint residential complex. Photo by Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Chris Yellow Thunder, left, with David Streeter on Oct. 4, 2024, outside Streeter’s former bunker inside the Vivos xPoint residential complex. Photo by Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Move into SD bunker backfires on family seeking a new life

Bart Pfankuch
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Body IGLOO – David Streeter thought abandoning his traditional life to relocate into a survival bunker in South Dakota would allow his family to retreat from the stresses, expenses and restrictions of the modern world.
Wesley Foss, left, poses with current Development Coordinator Scott Sogge for the City of Hot Springs. Foss began part-time last week as the new Building/Code Inspector/Ordinance Enforcement Official and will soon take over full-time when Sogge’s retirement will become official after the first of the year. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Wesley Foss, left, poses with current Development Coordinator Scott Sogge for the City of Hot Springs. Foss began part-time last week as the new Building/Code Inspector/Ordinance Enforcement Official and will soon take over full-time when Sogge’s retirement will become official after the first of the year. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

City of Hot Springs hires new Inspector/ Ordinance Officer

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Body HOT SPRINGS – Two weeks after hiring a new City Administrator, the Hot Springs City Council last week also approved the hiring of a new Building/ Code Inspector/Ordinance Enforcement Official at its Dec. 16 regular meeting.
More than 500 above-ground concrete bunkers and 100 miles of unpaved roads are part of the Vivos xPoint residential complex, shown on Oct. 4, 2024, near Igloo, S.D. Photos by Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch

More than 500 above-ground concrete bunkers and 100 miles of unpaved roads are part of the Vivos xPoint residential complex, shown on Oct. 4, 2024, near Igloo, S.D. Photos by Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch

Trouble in ‘prepper’ paradise:

Bart Pfankuch
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Body IGLOO – A former military munitions site with concrete bunkers now used as residences has become the source of numerous lawsuits, several complaints to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, a nearfatal shooting and now an FBI inquiry, a News Watch investigation has found.
During Wind Cave National Park’s 28th annual Christmas Bird Count, a total of 68 red-breasted nuthatches were recorded by bird count volunteers. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

During Wind Cave National Park’s 28th annual Christmas Bird Count, a total of 68 red-breasted nuthatches were recorded by bird count volunteers. Photo by Marcus Heerdt/Fall River County Herald-Star

Wind Cave National Park hosts 28th annual Christmas Bird Count

Marcus Heerdt
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Body HOT SPRINGS – Wind Cave National Park held its annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, Dec. 15.
New Hot Springs School Board member Colleen Venner, left, takes the oath of office from Business Manager Wendy Bilbruck during last Monday night’s regular board meeting. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

New Hot Springs School Board member Colleen Venner, left, takes the oath of office from Business Manager Wendy Bilbruck during last Monday night’s regular board meeting. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

New Hot Springs school board member sworn in to office

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Body HOT SPRINGS – New Hot Springs School Board member Colleen Venner took the oath of office during the district’s regular board meeting last week on Monday, Dec. 9.
A group of turkeys stand alert in the front yard of a home on Lincoln Avenue in Hot Springs. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

A group of turkeys stand alert in the front yard of a home on Lincoln Avenue in Hot Springs. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Hot Springs City Council: Stop Feeding the Turkeys!

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Body GFP to conduct turkey trapping; urge need for residents to stop feeding HOT SPRINGS – Many people in Hot Springs love seeing wildlife like deer or turkeys when they look out the windows of their home, but at what point are there just too many?
Workers with Complete Concrete last week began replacing the sloped sidewalk boulevard with a new ‘double curb’ design to help with the transitionally safety from the storefronts to the lower roadway. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Workers with Complete Concrete last week began replacing the sloped sidewalk boulevard with a new ‘double curb’ design to help with the transitionally safety from the storefronts to the lower roadway. Photo by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star

Crews correcting sloped portions of sidewalk boulevard on North River

Brett Nachtigall
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Body HOT SPRINGS – Concerns about the sloped concrete boulevard on the new sidewalk along the business side of North River Street got addressed last week, as crews with Complete Concrete began putting in a “double curb” in several locations.
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