Next week (April 8-14) is American Indian Awareness Week at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Events include the Kevin Whirlwind Horse Memorial Walk/Run, a free buffalo feed, a roster of speakers and the week’s premiere event – the 30th annual Lakota Omniciye Wacipi (pow wow). It’s all open to the public and offers many [...]

A few weeks ago, I visited Dave Geisler out in Murdo, whose Pioneer Auto Show I consider a phenomenon particularly attune to the South Dakota way of life. There’s something about living under our vast prairie skies that brings out the exceptional side of human nature. Dave’s roadside attraction of 42 buildings filled with remarkable [...]

They came. They saw. The Black Hills conquered. Okay, maybe conquered is a little too strong, but the Washington Nationals’ Racing Presidents were absolutely thrilled with their three-day tour of our beautiful region. Of course, since it was Presidents Day weekend, the go-to spot was Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where the five Racing Presidents (George [...]

Flowers are romantic, and so is candlelight. Love notes, dancing, long walks together, snuggling in front of the fire, eyes meeting across a crowded room, weak knees and racing pulses. Oh, forget it. Not saying I won’t probably receive some flowers from my sweetie, but staring into each other’s eyes and heaving soulful sighs? Not [...]

It’s February in the Black Hills. The glow of the Christmas holidays has faded, and we still have a solid two – maybe three and, Lord help us, let it not be more – months of winter ahead. Of course, snowmobilers are just getting revved up, but what about the rest of us? If you [...]

What do you do with 80 loads of dirt and 160 tons of woodchips? Hold the annual Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo®, of course! Before competitors can face off in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center’s Barnett Arena, a team of twenty men will dedicate an entire week to the event’s setup. Together they work to [...]

  Eating 12 grapes; a feast of boiled cod, stewed kale and cured saddle of pork; fortune telling by tossing melted tin or lead into cold water; neighborhood bonfires; red underwear and lentil stew; gifts of whiskey, lumps of coal or bread and cheese; men dressing as women; fireworks and singing Auld Lang Syne. Such [...]

I’m ready – finally ready for Christmas. And it’s not because my shopping is pretty much done. Or the family get-together is settled. Or that I found the courage to purchase the prime rib roast at a price that usually covers an entire week of groceries. I’m ready because, somewhere in the still of a [...]

On the first day of Christmas, my gift list sent me to a Market at Main Street Square.   On the second day of Christmas, my wine glass sent me to tastes at Fezziwig; and a Market at a Main Street Square.   On the third day of Christmas,  my tin ear sent me to [...]

I’m standing in a crowd of perhaps 40 people in the commons area of Sturgis Brown High School, and it’s a rather industrial scene. It’s the official kick-off for the 2013 Student Build Challenge “an innovative high school program designed to empower students and promote technical education in the state of South Dakota,” according to [...]