As a community, the Black Hills is proud to be the home of Ellsworth AFB and several South Dakota National Guard units. We are grateful for the selfless commitment our military members and families give in the defense of our national freedoms. That’s why each...
Mother’s Day is nearly here. This special Sunday is set aside each year to recognize and honor those special ladies in our lives who have given us everything. From changing our diapers to yelling at the assistant principal in middle school for us, if there’s one thing...
The Liberty Center just opened in November. What is it? Why should you care? Why should you work out there? Here’s a breakdown of this new facility and why you need to be in the loop about it. What is the Liberty Center? The Liberty Center is one of the first...
Driving in the snow and ice is just a part of living in the Black Hills. From steering into a skid to warming your car, we’ve got a list of some good things to remember about driving during a winter storm. So, here’s some pointers to keep you safe and warm until...
Tricare is the Department of Defense’s health insurance plan that is available to armed service members and their families. Like any health insurance plan, Tricare comes with its advantages and its limitations. And also like other health plans, Tricare changes —...
The Family Child Care Program offers childcare in a certified home setting by individuals living on or off base. These self-employed providers operate their homes independently in compliance with strict Air Force policies, which include frequent inspections...
Football season is upon us. There’s nothing quite like the camaraderie of being surrounded by a group of people clad in matching jerseys — cheering and whining in unison. Picture it: everyone is complaining about your team’s coaching staff. Or yelling stuff like, “You...
Permanent Change of Station. PCS. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. It’s both. You and, if you have them, your family members will be calling the Black Hills home for the next few years. So what’s the home of the 28th Bomb Wing like? What is there to do? What do you...
Do you want to make thousands of dollars in just one week? How about walking away from that week with a life-long supply of stories and memories? The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally happens every August. This event draws around half a million people to the Black Hills...
As a community, the Black Hills is proud to be the home of Ellsworth Air Force Base and several South Dakota National Guard units. We’re grateful for the selfless commitment our military members and families give in the defense of our freedoms. 36 years ago a casual...
Abraham Lincoln said “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” On this Independence Day, we say thank you. You are, to paraphrase our sixteenth president, living in a way...
For a lot of dads, sacrificing for their families is like breathing. Without hesitation, so many dads chose to put their needs last on a daily basis. How many diapers have been changed during a playoff game? How many final cookies have been given away to a wide-eyed...
Deadline for enteries is June 15, 2023 Military Friendly Business of the Year Name of Business Please tell us how this business is honoring military members and their families. 3 + 5 = Nominate Stay ConnectedSign up to receive the latest and greatest of everything...
Do you know your bluegills from your bass? How about which end of your kayak is the stern and which is the bow? The Black Hills offer a plethora of possibilities to enjoy the outdoors. But, taking the time to learn a skill or two can open up a whole new world of...
Download presentations from the Black Hills Defense and Industry Symposium Click link to download presentation: Advancing Innovative Remediation Technology for Air Force Site Cleanup Kent Glover PhD 2022 BH Defense and Industry Symposium USACE – OMAHA DISTRICT...
Resource Highlight: DAV It may not come for many years, or it may be just around the corner, but one thing is true: every service member will eventually leave the military and transition to civilian life. When that day comes, organizations like Disabled American...
Winter Fun: Snowshoeing The Black Hills are full of incredible outdoor recreation, even in the winter months. In fact, you’re less likely to run into crowded trails in the winter, which means you can fully immerse yourself in nature. One way to get out and about this...
Ski Season is Upon Us The Black Hills are beautiful year-round, but they take on a whole new look in the winter. Especially in the northern hills, where the average snowfall is higher. On average, Lead sees about 130 inches per year! That’s almost 100 inches more than...
Resource Highlight: VFW The Veterans of Foreign Wars, or VFW, is a name recognized by most Americans. What’s less known is the longevity of their contribution to veterans and their families. The VFW started in 1899, making them the oldest veterans’ organization in the...
Veterans Honor Banner Project Rapid City is the City of Presidents, but it’s also a military town through-and-through. That’s why a program like the Veterans Honor Banner Project is the perfect fit. Bill Casper, the project’s director, is an Air Force veteran who has...
November is Military Family Appreciation Month November is Military Family Month; a time to stop and reflect on the service of the families who support our service members. This year, we’ve rounded up a few family-specific benefits that can help military families...
Halloween in the Hills Fall is in full swing, which means festivals and family fun are as ripe for the picking as, well, pumpkins! Whether you have young kids trick-or-treating for the first time, or old kids who still want to have some Halloween fun, the Black Hills...
Security First Bank: A relationship you can count on Security First Bank started out as Stockmen’s National Bank back in 1898, but their basic tenants of service haven’t changed. They’ve grown from a small bank founded in Rushville, Nebraska, to a large banking family...
Banner & Associates: More than services, part of the communities they serve Banner Associates Inc. started as a small engineering, architectural, and consulting firm in Wyoming in 1947. Today they have over 80 employees in ten specialities throughout the state of...
35th Military Appreciation Event As a community, the Black Hills is proud to be the home of Ellsworth Air Force Base and several South Dakota National Guard units. We’re grateful for the selfless commitment our military members and families give in the defense...
Celebrate Labor Day Labor Day marks the beginning of the end of summer, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. Whether you stay near base and just enjoy some time off or want to get out and about, the Black Hills are perfect for exploring. Individual states had...
Welcoming Another School Year Just like that, school is back in session! To help you and your family get ready, we’ve rounded up important dates and information for the school districts nearest to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Schools in the area are planning to resume...
Black Hills Energy: Improving Lives Throughout the Midwest Since the first lights lit up downtown Deadwood in the 1880s, Black Hills Energy has been a leading provider throughout the region. Their tireless dedication to serving their customers through both good and...
Scull Construction: Bringing Your Vision to Life Scull Construction Service is a regional construction company that specializes in the construction of buildings and structures throughout North and South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming. As a full-service general...
Celebrate Independence Day in the Black Hills Every year when America celebrates our independence, communities come together with parades, festivals, and of course, fireworks. The Black Hills are no different, but what would you expect from a region known for our...
Spend the Day With Dad Summer is when the Black Hills come alive with music, festivals, and events every day of the week. Father’s Day is no exception, and you’ll find there are endless ways to celebrate the dad in your life all weekend. For the gearhead dad, head to...
Midco: Connecting Homes and Businesses Since 1931 Midcontinent Communications — or Midco for short — has been connecting homes and businesses since 1931. They are the premier provider of internet, TV, phone, advertising and data center services in the Midwest. Over...
Memorial Day: A Day to Honor and Remember Memorial Day is a holiday to honor service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. The holiday started out in communities around the country, and eventually grew into a nationally observed day of...
Mother’s Day: Pamper the Special Women in Your Life This year, pamper the mother in your life here in the Black Hills — she’s earned it! If you need some ideas, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals and don’t-miss-it experiences in the local area. Flowers are...
Liberty Superstores: 60 Years of Experience Liberty Superstores has almost 60 years of experience in the car dealership business and has been owned and operated by the same family for four generations. Their dealerships include Liberty Chrysler, Jeep, and Fiat;...
Cuisine in the Hills While the Midwest may not seem like a place you move to explore new flavors, the Black Hills have quite a bit to offer in the realm of culinary adventures. From unique takes on tacos and burgers to a range of European and Asian cuisines, read on...
Liv Hospitality: A Leader in the Hospitality Industry Liv Hospitality is an independently owned hospitality management company that features award-winning properties in Rapid City and Deadwood, South Dakota. From the largest indoor water park in the Dakotas to...
April is Month of the Military Child Children of military members have always had a unique lifestyle: they move frequently, they have to learn to adapt to new schools and make new friends, and they grow up spending extended periods of time separated from one or both...
Easter Celebrations are a Great Way to Welcome Spring! Easter celebrations are a great way to welcome spring, whether your family loves to hunt for Easter eggs or simply spend time outside, the Black Hills have plenty of events planned! Hill City is hosting their...
St. Patty’s Day Celebrations Saint Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with hearty food and lively celebrations, and the Black Hills certainly know how to host with the best. While this year’s celebrations are toned down a little, there are still ample...
Looking Ahead to Summer Summer is a great time to get out and explore the Black Hills. There are festivals, rallies and concerts to suit every taste — but what about kids? Luckily, we also have a great selection of summer camps and activities for kids. From outdoor...
Presidents’ Day Presidents Day is celebrated the third Monday in February each year, but the holiday began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. His birthday, February 22, was unofficially observed for most of the 1800s, becoming a federal holiday in...
Hello February The shortest month of the year can sometimes feel the longest when temperatures drop and daylight seems scarce. Let us help you break out of the winter blues with fun events around the Black Hills community. Start out the month at the Black Hills Stock...
Let Those You Love Know You Care This Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is a special day to let those you love know you care. This year we rounded up some of the best discounts in the area to help you plan the perfect day! Flowers are the golden standard when it...
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King, Jr., hardly needs an introduction. His role as a civil rights activist is firmly cemented in the fabric of our nation’s history. The history behind celebrating his birthday, however, is a little less well-known to most...
Mark Your Calendar All communities have annual events that are worth catching — and the Black Hills has some of the best. From nationally recognized to locals-only affairs, we always have something new to discover. We know our Airmen and Soldiers move often and see a...
New Year, New Career? Every year an estimated 200,000 military members rejoin the civilian workforce, either by retiring or separating from uniformed service. The Department of Defense estimates there were over 500 members who separated from just Ellsworth Air Force...
Operation Christmas Drop What do Chuck Norris, Morgan Freeman, Johnny Cash and Santa Claus have in common? They’ve all faithfully served our nation as members of the United States Air Force! Perhaps Santa’s not a full-time member, but he has been flying under the...
Life After the COVID-19 Pandemic While we are all weary of this pandemic and the associated restrictions on our day-to-day lives, we can’t relax quite yet. There are only limited quantities of the vaccine available at present, and until it becomes widely available we...
From World War II to Present Day Ellsworth: The Doolittle Raiders December 7th is Pearl Harbor Day—a day that saw one of the largest American death tolls in the history of our nation. We had not yet entered World War II, which made the attack by the Japanese all the...
Operation Raider Holiday Cheer Operation Raider Holiday Cheer is in full swing! We’ve partnered up with the 28th Bomb Wing to give over 700 Airmen in the dorms a little gift of joy and holiday spirit this year. Our mission is to spread holiday cheer to our young...
Ellsworth Task Force; Defending and Promoting the Future of Ellsworth Formed in 2005, the Ellsworth Task Force’s mission is to maintain a state of community readiness regarding the retention of Ellsworth Air Force Base, while seeking new missions to ensure the base is...
Ellsworth Air Force Base Marriage Support Military service and marriage have many parallels: both are challenging, rewarding, and take a team approach to succeed. Combining the two, however, creates a new challenge; juggling a relationship with your significant other...
West River Electric: Powering You for a Brighter Future West River Electric has been serving the community for 80 years now—a feat that has come with hard work and dedication from both their employees and their cooperative owners. They have a coverage area of 4,500...
Veterans Day 2020 Veterans Day is observed on November 11 every year—an homage to the original intent of celebrating the end of the first World War, which is generally considered to have ended in armistice on that day. Or to be historically accurate: the eleventh hour...
November is Military Family Month Serving our nation is an honorable calling, but the weight of service falls on the shoulders of more than just those in uniform. Behind every servicemember is a family supporting them; their spouse, children, parents—even aunts,...
Day of the Deployed Since 9/11, our military members have been on the road more than any generation before them. Some families will serve a few deployments, others will have tours numbering in the double digits. This aspect of service is unique—and is something that...
Understanding the Communities Around Ellsworth Now that you’ve arrived at Ellsworth and your household goods are ready to be delivered, the next looming decision is where to live. While many appreciate the convenience of living on base, there is a lot to explore and...
The Liberty Center: A facility that unites the mission of EAFB with a community vision South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA) is excited to announce the construction of a large-scale facility in Box Elder. As you know, Ellsworth Air Force Base will be...
Sentinel Federal Credit Union: Your Financial Guardian Sentinel Federal Credit Union got their start as Ellsworth Air Force Base Federal Credit Union in 1955, changing to their new name in 1994. Why did the name change? They wanted to reflect their role acting as the...
The Recent Environmental Impact Statement Release The Air Force recently release the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the impact of B-21 placement at Ellsworth AFB and Dyess AFB and is now hosting public hearings on the findings. Both locations...
Voting No Matter Where You Are Voting is a civic duty for all Americans, but sometimes it can be tough for military members to cast their ballot. Being away from your home state can make the process seem daunting, but luckily there are agencies in place to help. In...
SD National Guard Family Support Services Serving in the military is a family affair; a trial which Service Member and Family Support is trying to make easier on our service members and their families. Their main focus is on South Dakota National Guard members, but...
Ellsworth AFB Family Support Services Military families often contend with challenges civilians never have to face. Deployments, frequent moves, and remote tours of duty all make it difficult to establish a regular routine. Add intangibles such as an unfamiliar...
Boeing: A Strategic Partner for the U.S. Air Force Boeing is a familiar name for anybody who has ever flown on an airplane. They are the world’s largest aerospace company, manufacturing airliners and defense, space, and security systems. Their products and...
34th Annual Military Appreciation Event Honors Black Hills’ Finest As a community, the Black Hills is proud to be the home of Ellsworth AFB and numerous South Dakota National Guard members. We are grateful for the selfless commitment our military members and...
Area School District Calendars There’s a new school year upon us, and while it won’t look anything like we’re used to—at least not initially—there are still important dates to keep track of and activities to pencil onto your calendar. Due to the...
Remembering 9/11 September 11, 2001, is a day Americans will never forget. That morning, our peaceful innocence was shattered when 19 al-Qaeda operatives hijacked American airplanes and carried out four coordinated terrorist attacks. The results were sobering: 2,977...
Child Care Options in the Black Hills Working parents in the Black Hills often struggle with finding childcare, especially those whose children are too young for school. Summer breaks and holidays present their own challenges. Military families face even more...
The Steps to Creating a Business Listing Simply watch the quick video below or continue to the written steps. Step One Open your preferred web browser on your desktop, tablet or mobile device and type in blackhillswire.com into your URL bar or search space. Once you...
Monument Health: Dedicated to Making a Difference, Every Day Monument Health has been a fixture in the Black Hills since 1878, when Sisters of the Holy Cross opened a hospital in Deadwood to serve the prospectors and businessmen who arrived during the Black Hills Gold...
Virtual Schooling Grant Information The Air Force Aid Society recognizes many Air Force families have faced extra expenses resulting from school closings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are an Air Force family experiencing financial hardship and facing difficulty...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2020 RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Army National Guard graduated 11 new warrant officers in a ceremony held on Camp Rapid in Rapid City, August 1. The Warrant Officer Candidate School recruits soldiers to become warrant...
Clarence “Pappy” Hoel, a Sturgis motorcycle shop owner, founded the Jackpine Gypsy Motorcycle Club, one of the first motorcycle clubs sanctioned in America. Today the Jackpine Gypsies have members throughout the United States and have sponsored motocross, dirt track...
Bunker Labs – a 501(c)(3) non-profit – is a national network of veteran and milspouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military connected community start their own business. They are committed to seeing that every entrepreneur in the military connected community...
Creating Your Profile Step One Once you are on our home page, click the top right text that says “Sign In.” If you have not yet created a profile, you will want to click “Sign Up” on the bottom lefthand corner of the pop up box. This will then...
Black Hills Energy holds a large footprint in western South Dakota, headquartered in Rapid City. They serve over 1.2 million customers across eight states, placing a large emphasis on those communities they are located. We are ready to support, inspire, and drive your...
July 13, 2020 – Black Hills Wire To Businesses in and around the Black Hills area, Per the memorandum signed into immediate effect by United States Air Force Commander Colonel Doss, Air Force personnel must wear face coverings in restaurants, retail locations,...
STEP ONE Open your preferred web browser on your desktop, tablet or mobile device and type in blackhillswire.com into your URL bar or search space. This will lead you to our website’s home page. Here you will find a robust search bar in the middle of the page enabling...
National Security Innovation Network Assists South Dakota Mines in Forging New Partnerships with Department of Defense RAPID CITY, SD (June 23, 2020) — South Dakota Mines will further develop collaboration with the Department of Defense (DOD) thanks to the...
U.S. DOD/UNIFORMED SERVICES ID CARD IDENTIFICATION CHART RESERVE RECIPIENTS: Members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard RETIRED ACTIVE DUTY RECIPIENTS: Retired active duty members RESERVE RETIRED RECIPIENTS: Retired members of the Reserves...
The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority is critical for the growth and expansion of missions at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The organization strives to work with local partners including military organizations, installations, senior leadership, elected...
In 1776, the 13 colonies in North America claimed their independence from England, which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Today, we celebrate Independence Day as a historic event of freedom. Many families will celebrate with grill outs and family...
BHSU joins national program to help Air Force members earn an associate’s degree ( JUNE 15, 2020) SPEARFISH, S.D. – Black Hills State University is now part of the General Education Mobile (GEM) program designed to assist U.S. Air Force members in completing...
We get it. You’re probably thinking, “Where has the military sent me?” If you are like me when I was stationed here in 2002, I had only a vague idea of where South Dakota was, and it only brought to mind images of frozen tundra and isolation. My...
Beginning Life as a Military Wife Copy courtesy of Black Hills Bride You’re married – congratulations! This is one of the most exciting times in your life, but the role of military wife is challenging (and often thankless). First, we want to welcome you to an...
See the Sights There are countless scenic routes throughout the Black Hills. But first, be sure to cross off the major four sights found here: Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, Crazy Horse Memorial and Jewel Cave National Park near Custer, and Wind Cave...
Media Advisory FOR RELEASE: May 21, 2020 CONTACT: Lynn Kendall, Military Community Relations Director at South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, (605) 484-7754 ——— The Black Hills Wire aids military connection in western South Dakota to civilian businesses...
Each year, on the last Monday in May, we take a moment to remember those who have sacrificed so much for us. Where it began Shortly after the Civil War ended, Decoration Day was created to observe fallen soldiers by decorating their gravesites with flowers. As...
As COVID-19 entered the Midwest region, area economic development and growth organization Elevate Rapid City saw an opportunity to help the business community in the Rapid City area stay alive. Giving restaurants and retailers the space to communicate their...
Recently, the Federal government released the Fiscal Year 2021 defense budget, which reconfirmed their commitment to the modernization of the Air Force bomber fleet. The budget includes the requested level of funding for the continued development of the B-21 Raider...
By SCOTT LANDGUTH, Executive Director South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority Military families relocate frequently. Facilitating military spouses in continuing their work in a new place of residence without delays or extra expenses is very important. Spouses in...
By Scott Landguth, Executive Director of SD Ellsworth Development Authority South Dakota and the Black Hills have always been very welcoming to those who serve in the military. Whether stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, the South Dakota National Guard at...
