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Hey Black Hills, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A 50-year-old time capsule, a record sales tax haul, and a foraging workshop + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Master plan moves forward: Rapid Valley Elementary in Rapid City will add 10 classrooms, an admin area, and upgrades, with construction to begin this summer after the last day of school on May 18 — get all the details.

Warm weather, construction drive gains: Rapid City capped 2025 with a record December, pushing annual sales tax near $92 million. December hit more than $10 million, surpassing June’s high and reflecting a stronger fourth quarter — learn what drove the gains.

Glimpse into local heritage: Rapid City opened a 50-year-old time capsule for its 150th anniversary, finding waterlogged mementos from another era. A new capsule will be buried at Founders Park on May 29 — see what was inside.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Shop the Spearfish Senior Center rummage sale
• Discover Sturgis’s first city council
• Sip and shop with local vendors

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich energy: The Bashful Bison Deli and Market keeps lunch legit with house-baked bread, scratch condiments, and local fillings that taste like Rapid City. It’s linked to Hay Camp Brewing, so pint-plus-sandwich pairings come easy when the afternoon slump hits.

Creekside reset, secured: Need a quick breather? At Spearfish City Park, find shady lawns, a castle-y playground, six pickleball courts, and Spearfish Creek for easy wading. It’s also steps from D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery, so a leg stretch can turn into a mellow, local mini-adventure.

A win for playtime: Who’s Toy House is Rapid City’s independent, family-owned toy shop stocked with puzzles, arts & crafts, games, and more. Headed to a birthday or chasing a little whimsy? Complimentary gift wrapping means you look impressively prepared with almost no effort.

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 →

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 →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🍄 Foraging in the Black Hills @ Henry’s Books (Spearfish) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Learn to forage the Black Hills without poisoning yourself, courtesy of Joe and Ashley from Sage and Cedar Herbal Teas, in a beginner-friendly workshop. It ties into the Spearfish Mini Read’s nod to In the Distance, and it is free, donations welcome.

🐝 Guest Speaker: Bob Reiner, SD State Apiarist @ Outdoor Campus West (Rapid City) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Whether you keep a backyard hive or just panic when a bee eyes your soda, the regular meeting now shifts to March with guest speaker Bob Reiner, South Dakota’s state apiarist. Free, local, and likely to upgrade your garden gossip to actual pollinator wisdom.

🎎 Japanese Culture Workshop @ Matthews Opera House & Arts Center (Spearfish) | Thursday (3/12) at 3:00 PM – Every second Thursday at 3 pm is now your culture hour, thanks to BHSU’s JOI crew offering free, hands-on workshops for the first 12 in the door, materials included. Think kintsugi, tea ceremony, origami, and more. Low stress, high charm, bragging rights included.

📝 Poetry on the Road @ Spearfish Senior Center | Friday (3/13) at 2:00 PM – Trade your bar chatter for better lines. Poetry on the Road rolls into Spearfish with South Dakota State Poetry Society member readings, plus a free, all-welcome open mic. Share a poem, clap politely, then brag you supported the arts between the grocery run and mowing.

🌱 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.

👪 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.

🛍 Women & Wellness Marketplace Pop Up @ The Monument (Rapid City) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Women and Wellness pop-up, free to enter, brings together dozens of local, women-focused vendors, interactive demos, and feel-good finds. If your self-care routine is mainly caffeine and good intentions, come browse beauty, skincare, fashion, home decor, support local, then leave happily lighter, and calmer.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Black Hills report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 44°F – Low: 23°F – Precip: 60%

Snow likely before 1pm, then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 44, with temperatures falling to around 39 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Wind chill values as low as 16. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 46°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 5%

Sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values as low as 16. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Later: Partly cloudy. Low around 26, with temperatures rising to around 31 overnight. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across South Dakota but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This 5-bed, 4.5-bath retreat sits in the heart of the Black Hills, minutes from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. A warm, open living area encourages gatherings. The modern kitchen and adjacent dining space handle crowd-pleasing spreads. Outside, an expansive deck frames serene forest views, perfect for alfresco meals, relaxation, and epic stargazing.

Take a peek inside →