Community News · Rapid City, SD
Downtown Rapid City hit 32 degrees and the Regional Airport reached 28 degrees before 7 a.m. Friday, marking the city's first freeze more than two weeks after its historical average of Sept. 29 at the airport. NWS meteorologist Dave Hintz described the event as a brief dip rather than a prolonged hard freeze, estimating covered gardens could gain about another week of growing time. State Climatologist Laura Edwards noted an unusual growing season in which July heat aborted some tomato flowers while September moisture triggered a late resurgence, leaving many gardeners with green tomatoes when frost finally arrived. Edwards also warned livestock producers about prussic acid in freeze-affected standing sorghum and cautioned that drought conditions at Angostura Reservoir and across western South Dakota could persist into January.
Social Events · Rapid City, SD
South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State University are holding the annual Black Hills Blitz, a fundraising challenge to support student-athletes at both schools, during Blitz Week Oct. 11-18. The rivalry culminates in the Black Hills Brawl football game scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at O'Hara Stadium in Rapid City. Donations help fund scholarships, equipment, uniforms, team meals and other program expenses; each gift counts as one donor regardless of amount. South Dakota Mines reports more than 300 student-athletes across 13 varsity sports with a collective 3.38 GPA.
Community News · Rapid City, SD
Many Rapid City homeowners will receive letters this month from Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA), a HomeServe subsidiary, offering optional protection plans for exterior water, sewer, and septic lines. City officials confirmed the mailings are legitimate and endorsed by the City under a partnership dating to 2018. Coverage options include Exterior Water at $6.88/month ($12,000 claim limit), Exterior Sewer/Septic at $7.90/month ($8,500 limit), and combined exterior coverage at $13.30/month. The City incurs no cost, participation is voluntary, and SLWA uses local licensed contractors. The program was presented at Tuesday's Public Works Committee meeting.
Community News · Rapid City, SD
With November elections weeks away, Rapid City Code Enforcement officials are reminding residents that placing campaign or other temporary signs in public rights-of-way—including medians, boulevard areas, railroad corridors, city parks, and sight-blocking zones—is prohibited under City Ordinance 17.50.080. Temporary political signs are permitted on private property only if they do not block traffic sight triangles, impede traffic, or occupy required parking stalls, and must not exceed 32 square feet or eight feet in height. The area from sidewalk to curb is considered public right-of-way where no signs are allowed. The South Dakota Department of Transportation separately prohibits political signage on state highway rights-of-way.
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Social Events · Rapid City, SD
Missouri Breaks Industries Research held its second annual Halloween Open House and Costume Giveaway on Thursday at its Rapid City location at 150 Knollwood Drive, offering free costumes for children from babies through age 17. Organizers said turnout was significantly larger than the first year, with lines forming outside the building. Families who missed the event can still visit the costume store, which remains open through Nov. 1 during regular office hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). The organization also accepts costume donations at the location for future giveaways.
Community News · Rapid City, SD
Journey On and the Rapid City Police Department's Community Engagement Team are collecting candy and costume donations through Wednesday, October 21 to support youth in need during community Halloween events. Drop-off locations include the City Hall lobby at 300 Sixth Street, Journey On Offices at 124 Quincy Street, and the Rapid City Police Department Substation outside the Spirit of Halloween Store at the Uptown Mall. Halloween Costume Boo-tiques will serve youth in the Knollwood, Star Village, and Sagebrush Flats neighborhoods. In prior years, the drive collected more than 26,000 pieces of candy and hundreds of costumes.
Social Events · Rapid City, SD
The Rapid City chapter of the American Association of University Women is holding its annual used book sale Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18, at the Fine Arts Building at the Central States Fairgrounds. The sale features fiction, nonfiction, children's books and other genres, with proceeds supporting scholarships for women pursuing two-year, four-year and graduate degrees. Friday hours are 4 to 7 p.m. with a $10 early-bird admission; Saturday runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. free, and Sunday is 10 a.m. to noon free. The organization is also seeking volunteers at AAUWRapidCity@gmail.com.
Social Events · Rapid City, SD
A free public exhibit profiling underrepresented Revolutionary War Patriots is open through next Monday in the lobby of Rapid City's City Hall. Hosted by the Black Hills Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as part of the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative, the display features informational panels on African American and Native American patriots, women such as Mercy Otis Warren, foreign allies including Marquis de Lafayette, and the Oneida Indian Nation. The exhibit also includes South Dakota's America 250 commemorative quilt, which won first place for the state in the national DAR American Heritage contest's Top Quilt category.
