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The roof of the original Oelrichs town water well building is restored. This historic round rock well house was completed by the WPA in 1940. Photos by Katie Merdanian/Fall River County Herald-Star

The roof of the original Oelrichs town water well building is restored. This historic round rock well house was completed by the WPA in 1940. Photos by Katie Merdanian/Fall River County Herald-Star

Historic Oelrichs well house restored

Katie Merdanian
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Body OELRICHS – Many have heard of the Work Projects Administration (WPA) of the 1930s. The WPA provided jobs and income to unemployed people during the Great Depression. Those projects had a lasting impact on the lives of the residents of Fall River County.
Gerald Collogan of Hot Springs, left, a self-proclaimed hobbyist, chats with Tommy Ghost Dog before the New Years Powwow at Case Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Collogan created his entire ensemble by hand – beading, sewing, all of it. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Gerald Collogan of Hot Springs, left, a self-proclaimed hobbyist, chats with Tommy Ghost Dog before the New Years Powwow at Case Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Collogan created his entire ensemble by hand – beading, sewing, all of it. Photo by Charity Maness/Fall River County Herald Star

Powwow held in Hot Springs

Charity Maness
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – A Powwow hosted by the MinneKa’ta Oyate – Hot Springs Family – was held New Years Day 2025 at Hot Springs High School’s Case Auditorium with dancers, drummers, singers, vendors and more.
Alt Text for Image

Alt Text for Image

Remembering those who died in 2024

News Staff
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Body HOT SPRINGS – As one year ends and another begins, the Fall River County Herald-Star felt it fitting to take a look back and remember those who died this past year. Following is a listing of the obituaries that were published in the newspaper for those who passed on in 2024.
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.
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