Hello Black Hills! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A circus under the big striped tent, a family hike for raptor spotting, and spooky summer-ween camping + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Support for foster families: Abbott House opened two new foster homes in Rapid City, underscoring a 5-to-1 foster care deficit. Executive Director Eric Klooz highlighted pay, housing, and transportation for families supporting program graduates -- meet the foster homes.
Park improvements underway: A $10 million campaign is fueling upgrades in South Dakota parks, from a Custer State Park amphitheater to an accessibility upgrade at the Pete Lien shooting complex near Rapid City -- see the park upgrades.
First project in line: Spearfish’s $9.3 million, 32-unit Peak View II will be the first to tap new federal affordable housing fund, using a low-interest loan, with tenants expected by summer 2027 -- see the housing plans.
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.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Year-round greens: How To Grow is Rapid City’s spot for hydroponic and organic gardening supplies, plus friendly expertise to keep things thriving through our short seasons. They’ve got the gear and know-how to turn a spare corner into fresh herbs, greens, and bragging rights all year.
Reset the chaos: Playground is your midweek sanity saver here in Rapid City, a quick locals' pit stop where fresh air, green space, and easy kid joy reset the vibes fast. Pop by between errands, sip your coffee, breathe a little, then call it great parenting.
Level up your week: Feeling overdue for some pure, uncomplicated fun this week? Press Start stacks two floors of arcade nostalgia and new-school chaos, still powered by quarters, plus a full bar and coal-fired pizzas so you can actually make a night of it with your crew.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎭 Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical Jr. @ Historic Homestake Opera House (Lead) | Wednesday (6/24) at 7:00 PM – Homestake Opera House’s Summer Children’s Theatre stages Roald Dahl’s Matilda Jr., where local kids sing, scheme, and outwit tyrants with books, brains, and choreography. Big-hearted, high-energy, and proudly local, consider it wholesome rebellion you can clap for, then discuss on the drive home.
🥾 Unearth a story: Family Hike @ Sturgis City Park | Thursday (6/25) at 10:00 AM – Whether you can ID a hawk at 50 yards or you're just here to wrangle the grandkids and say bird, this easy family hike at Sturgis City Park hunts for raptors, the feathered kind, and swaps screens for trees. Bring water, sunscreen, and all-ages-and-abilities energy.
🎪 Circus Golden Star @ Uptown Rapid (Rapid City) | Thursday (6/25) at 7:00 PM – That big striped tent by Uptown Rapid? It is, in fact, a circus, and a pretty classy one. Circus Golden Star rolls in with European elegance, American circus charm, and a Finnish director’s flair, delivering acrobats, magic, and kid-happy chaos you’ll secretly enjoy too.
🎃 Summer-Ween @ Angostura Recreation Area (Hot Springs) | Friday (6/26) at 12:00 AM – If you like your s’mores with a side of spooky, Summer-Ween at Angostura Recreation Area turns the campground into Halloween-lite. Decorate your site, wear a costume, trick-or-treat with the kids, then trade ghost stories after the bat hike, no leaf raking required.
🐶 Marta's Deadwood Dog-show! @ Marta's Deadwood Doghouse (Sturgis) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Whether your pup is all fluff, senior swagger, or pure wiggle, this not-so-serious dog show at Marta’s DEADWOOD Doghouse is peak small-town joy. Expect categories like wiggliest butt and best underbite, vendors, and adoptable all-stars, so you might accidentally leave with a new best friend.
🎭 Black Hills Renaissance Festival @ Kickstands Sturgis | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Whether you still quote Monty Python or just want a sanctioned excuse for a giant turkey leg, the Black Hills Renaissance Festival brings jousting, sword fights, costumed characters, and crafty vendors. Sip mead, cheer loudly, and let the kids think you came for them.
🧪 Monumental Chemical Reactions @ The Journey Museum Theater (Rapid City) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:30 AM – This hands-on STEAM session at the Journey Museum turns food coloring and fizz into a mini Fourth of July, minus the burned lawn. Mix, swirl, and build your own faux fireworks, then feel smug about learning something. It is free, no RSVP, just curiosity.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Black Hills report Weather forecastToday — High: 71°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 22%
A slight chance of rain showers before noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 69 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 2 to 6 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 69°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 60%
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 2 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. This house is wildThis 2024 Black Hills executive home offers nearly 4,000 sq. ft. on 4.5 private acres, just minutes from Deadwood and Spearfish. Five bedrooms, three baths, two gas fireplaces, and an open-concept layout make it both grand and practical. The chef’s kitchen shines with knotty alder cabinets, leathered marble countertops, RV parking, and stargazing skies.
Take a peek inside → |
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