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Hello Black Hills! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Reptile Gardens reopens with baby tortoises, horses helping heal trauma, and a neutrino Q&A + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around the Black Hills protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Industry learning and connections: R-CALF USA will hold its National Convention and Trade Show in Rapid City June 16 to 18, with registration open, rates may rise, and producers will debate policy — get all the event details.

Therapy with deep roots: Rapid Valley counselor Bridget Williams uses horses to help people facing trauma and anxiety as equine therapy grows in the Black Hills, and she is expanding with a facility in Piedmont — learn who it helps and why.

Iconic attraction rebounds after loss: Reptile Gardens has reopened after a November fire in a detached shelter caused by electrical issues. Baby tortoises are hatching, and the alligator show returns by Memorial Day weekend — see what’s returning and when.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Craft a spring gnome in Spearfish
• Discover Custer expedition cook turned prospector
• Play Gun Bingo to support youth
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Make room for pie: Colonial House Restaurant & Bar keeps it local with cream, fruit, and specialty pies that taste like family recipes perfected. Since 1981, this neighborhood hang has served slices worth remembering, from silky custards to bright berries, ideal for sudden sweet-tooth moments.

Quick bloom boost: Flowers By LeRoy has served Rapid City since 1968 with custom arrangements and same-day local delivery, handy for near-forgotten birthdays, quick pick-me-ups, and thoughtful sympathy pieces. Keep them in your back pocket for those just-because moments when a touch of color turns the week around.

Your weekly send sesh: Black Hills Basecamp is Rapid City’s dedicated bouldering spot, with fresh problems across about 90 set routes, Moon and Tension boards, campus and hang boards, plus a Treadwall and free weights for when the pump wins. Kid-ready climbs and a welcoming community will keep you chasing one more try.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🔬 Ask a Scientist @ Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center (Lead) | Thursday (3/12) at 1:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to ask what the heck neutrinos are, this is it. Pull up a chair with SURF scientist Julia Delgaudio to talk dark matter, extremophiles, and mile-deep mysteries at the country’s deepest lab, under our feet. Curiosity, meet closure.

🏒 Rapid City Rush vs Wichita Thunder @ The Monument Ice Arena | Friday (3/13) at 7:05 PM – Whether you’ve yelled for the Rush since the Civic Center days or just need hotter checks, it’s round two with the Thunder. It’s Freedom Friday, so active-duty and vets snag $16 tickets at The Monument box office, military ID in hand.

🌱 Garden to Table @ Career & Tech Education Center (Spearfish) | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 AM – Grab your garden gloves and drop in for a free afternoon of real-deal know-how with SDSU Extension’s Nick Volesky on A Walk Through the Garden Season, plus Northern Hills Master Gardeners on pruning fruit trees and shrubs, composting, and canning. Fewer gimmicks, more tomatoes.

☘ St. Patty’s Day: Catch a Leprechaun @ Jitter Joint Play Cafe (Spearfish) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Let the kids chase St. Patrick’s Day magic, catch a leprechaun, decorate a cauldron, craft a rainbow, and hunt a gold coin, then leave with an official certificate. They take home the toy, you take home peace and quiet. Figure 10 to 20 bucks.

👪 Southern Hills Family Resource Fair @ Custer Elementary School | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Custer County’s one-stop Family Resource Fair is back, bigger, and free. Expect youth programs, health services, and neighbors who actually know stuff, all under one roof. Skip the wild goose chase, bring the kids, the questions, and maybe a tote for the swag.

🥷 West River Ninja UNAA Competition @ West River Ninja (Rapid City) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Ready to test your inner monkey bar legend? West River Ninja hosts a UNAA competition for ages 6+, three falls before scoring stops, finish the course anyway, and the top three or top 50 percent per division qualify for regionals. Registration’s open, ice packs optional.

🐾 Spay & Neuter Bingo Fundraiser @ American Legion Riders Post 71 Hot Springs, S.D. | Saturday (3/14) at 5:00 PM – Do some good and shout bingo without leaving the neighborhood. This spay and neuter fundraiser has a proper $7 pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a cookie, no fuss, no kale. Eat well, chuckle with your neighbors, and help fewer surprise litters.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Black Hills report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 45°F – Low: 25°F – Precip: 4%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values as low as 13. West wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Later: Partly cloudy. Low around 25, with temperatures rising to around 30 overnight. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 65°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 27%

A chance of rain after noon. Partly sunny. High near 65, with temperatures falling to around 59 in the afternoon. West wind 10 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Rain likely before 9pm, then snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 5 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

This house is wild

Set on fairway 9 in Elkhorn Ridge Golf Estates, this turn-key 5-bed, 3-bath ranch spans 3,406 sq ft with open living and an expansive deck. The kitchen shines with a leathered quartzite island. A primary suite, a walk-out basement with chic wet bar, pristine landscaping, and a heated 3-car garage impress. Minutes to Deadwood and Spearfish Canyon, with pool access.

Take a peek inside →