SPEARFISH

Rec Center observes first year

Local residents have been making regular use of the Spearfish Recreation & Aquatics Center, which celebrated its first anniversary Oct. 22.

Director Alicia Hoffman said the center aims to provide a safe gathering place for families. A gym, suspended walking track, cardio/dance room, cycling room and fitness area are among the facility's highlights. Family Skate Night, youth camps and fitness classes are just a few of the center's program offerings. Health fairs and other events are held here.

The number of people coming to the park this summer exceeded membership goals, Hoffman said. She said retired people are members, and the center is seeing more young families.

A dream of an outdoor pool and water park started more than a year ago. The city of Spearfish and partners purchased the Wal-Mart property near the post office.

Community input helped design and develop the center and park. Children, guided by the council, opened the design proposals.

"We hope to increase the number of people using the space," Hoffman said.

Center hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call (605) 722-1430 for more details.

BELLE FOURCHE

City approves church site

Emmanuel Baptist Church pastor Andy Anderson said he was pleased the Belle Fourche City Council approved a use permit for his congregation to build a new church building on National Street on the hill west of U.S. Highway 85.

Anderson said the church plans to close on the land at the beginning of November, but first needed the council approval to build there.

The congregation currently is housed in the former St. James Lutheran Church building - a white frame structure on the corner at 902 Lawrence.

The pastor said the church group plans to purchase the land in a cash transaction; then work to build up funds toward construction of a new church.

Butte County lifts burn ban

The Butte County Commission lifted its ban on outside burning, but the resolution does call for anyone planning a burn to give notice to fire officials.

Butte County Emergency Management Director Percy Bekken said rural residents planning scheduled burns should call the nonemergency number at the Butte County Emergency Dispatch Center, 605-892-2737 to let officials know that any smoke seen is not from a wildfire.

BUFFALO GAP

Benefit planned for Buffalo Gap man

What began as a viral infection for Jim Montgomery in 2003 morphed into something more, something that threatens his life every day.

"What I have is called cardiomyopathy," Montgomery, 30, told the Hot Springs Star. "It's a weakening of the heart muscle

Organizers in Buffalo Gap, where Montgomery moved with his father three years ago, are planning a benefit to help offset the large health care bills he has and will have.

Benefit organizer Luella Hicks said there will be a chili feed at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Buffalo Gap Area Community Center.

"We are also planning on other goodies, and the evening will wrap up with a dance that night," she said.

Montgomery is on the list for a heart transplant but is considering stem cell therapy and other treatments.

CHADRON, Neb.

Book prepared for Chadron's 125th

A souvenir booklet is being developed as part of Chadron's quasquicentennial celebration in 2010.

The book is expected to be about 100 pages and will be filled with historical information.

Included will be histories of Chadron-area organizations, lists of county and city officials through the years and items on hundreds of noteworthy events that have occurred in northwest Nebraska during the past 125 years. Many photos also will be included.

Space also will be available in the book for businesses, clubs, nonprofit organizations, schools and families to place messages and/or advertisements.

DEADWOOD

Tickets on sale for anniversary gala

Tickets are now on sale for the culmination event of the 20th Anniversary of Gaming and Historic Preservation week in Deadwood.

A banquet and gala will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Lodge at Deadwood. Tickets cost $25. For more information or to reserve a table of eight, call Central Reservations at 578-7702.

Class teaches buffalo cooking

Doug Hanson will teach a class on cooking buffalo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Deadwood Social Club. The class is part of the Community Education of the Black Hills: Live and Learn program. Studentswill learn to cook different cuts of buffalo and artisan recipes will be provided.

Visit www.clccommed.org or call 394-5120 to register.

HERMOSA

Representative to hold forum

South Dakota District 30 Rep. Mike Verchio, R-Hill City, will host a forum for the public Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Hermosa American Legion, according to the Hill City Prevailer-News.

Among the topics to be discussed are proposed tax and fee increases that came out of the summer studies and any issues or concerns the voters may have.

HOT SPRINGS

Residents enjoy Halloween display

A miniature Halloween village, donated by Jeanne Biever of Hot Springs, is now on display in the dining room of Pine Hills Retirement Community. The display features several hundred pieces and took Biever and Pine Hills staff member Emily Gillies more than two hours to set up.

The Hot Springs community is also invited to come up to Pine Hills and view the display.

KEYSTONE

Town OKs receiving Sept. 11 artifact

At a recent town board meeting, Keystone officials unanimously approved a request from Howard Shaff, former curator and manager of the Borglum Story museum, to allow a portion of the World Trade Center building, which collapsed Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, to be the central focus of a future memorial honoring those who lost their lives to terrorist activity that day, according to the Hill City Prevailer-News.

Included in the permanent memorial will be a tribute to the firefighters whose search and rescue efforts saved many lives.

The next step is sending a letter of approval to authorities on the East Coast, which will allow the selection process of suitable materials to move forward.

LEAD

HDLAC sponsors holiday gallery

To help local artists sell their artwork during the Christmas season, the Historic Deadwood-Lead Arts Council is sponsoring Santa's Gallery in November and December.

HDLAC will set up as a gift shop and try to sell pieces by local artists during the busy holiday season. The artwork must be handmade and show creativity, according to a news release. HDLAC hopes to have artwork at all price ranges, from smaller $5 items to high end art.

Anyone who makes jewelry, pottery, quilts, needlework, woodworking, stained glass, photography or any other handmade items, is encouraged to display their work in Santa's Gallery. Call 584-1461.

Lead woman takes second in contest

Koko Tufton of Montana won the Historic Deadwood-Lead Arts Council's Children's Book Contest for her book, "The Magical Cardboard Box."

Another book written by Tufton, "My Own Special Place," took top honors in all three of the people's choice awards including best illustrations, best storyline and best overall, according to a news release.

Sarah Williams of Lead took second for her book, "Poke, the Rainbow Turtle." Williams also won second place in the people's choice category for best overall and best storyline.

Kat Thompson of Whitewood and her book, "My Best Friend," took third place and also won second in the people's choice for best illustrations.

HDLAC sponsored the contest during the South Dakota Humanities Council's "Festival of Books" that was held in Deadwood earlier this month.

City has new electronic marquee

Wharf Resources donated funds for a new community electronic marquee, according to a news release.

The sign is located in the Lead Area Chamber of Commerce/Homestake Visitors Center parking lot. The marquee can be used by all local non-profits to advertise their events.

"It's a great way to promote the local happenings," according to HDLAC director Karen Everett. "Even through the snow, this new sign is a great addition to the community and a real marketing tool for local non-profits."

When completed, the sign will have a peaked top and metal silhouette of the Lead area.

PIEDMONT

Piedmont surveying complete

Pink-colored stakes represent three weeks of work recently ending in Piedmont.

Baseline surveyor Brandon Jones said Oct. 20 he and his crew found about 35 markers in Piedmont's 16-block area. The stakes and pink flags signal the markers, which consist of rebar with a cap.

The survey helped Piedmont Board of Trustees members and others determine city blocks' true boundaries and rights of way.

STURGIS

Sturgis mural now a memory

The "Mirage" mural is no longer visible on the north side of the Sturgis business Olde Worlde Café and Bookery.

Building owner McCluskey Inc. hired a painting contractor to give the former Sooper Dooper building at 923 Junction Ave., a face-lift. McCluskey is based in Seattle, Wash., but the owners are from Rapid City.

The building will feature an off-white color with brown trim when the painting is done.

Julie Olson owns and manages Olde Wordle Café and Bookery. Dan Heinzerling is the partner and manages the property for McCluskey.

Olson and Heinzerling said Oct. 20 they have received positive and negative comments about painting over the mural. The work was dedicated on June 9, 1980.

Art for Lunch Bunch continues

The November Art for Lunch Bunch program will continue the "Country Stores," theme at noon Friday, Nov. 20 in the Sturgis Public Library Program Room.

Guest speakers are Bev Patterson, who will present a program on the Union Center Store, and Carl and Neoma Richter, who will present a program on the Enning Store.

New service to inform residents

The city of Sturgis now has a Community Information Service designed to deliver important and timely information. The Nixle service is available to residents and visitors and uses the latest technology to alert the public to safety threats and community events through the Web, e-mail and text messages.

Interested individuals may sign up on the Sturgis city Web site, www.Sturgis-sd.gov.

UNION CENTER

SDSU hosting ag workshop

The South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service will offer a Technology in Agriculture Workshop at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Central Meade County Community Center Meeting Room in Union Center.

Morning sessions will begin with "Quicken Basics and More." Later sessions will start at 1 p.m. with "Livestock Record Keeping Programs," followed by "Beef Ration Balancing Software for Your Operation" at 3 p.m.

Each session will be hands on, with computers provided for participants.

The workshops are free and open to the public. Lunch will not be provided.

Call the Meade County Extension Office at 347-2436 to register.

WHITEWOOD

Historic building to receive grant

Whitewood's historic Jones Building on Meade Street will be getting some assistance. The crumbling building, now under the ownership of Preserve South Dakota, has been a catalyst for those dedicated to historic preservation to take part.

Deadwood Historic Preservation gave $10,000 in emergency grant money to help with the building's renovation. A second grant will be $13,200. Both grants are through the Outside of Deadwood Grants program.