Fall River County Herald-Star

06/03/2026

Results from yesterday's election...

Statewide Voter Turnout: 34.55% (171,729 of 497,046)
Fall River County Voter Turnout: 36.13% (2,100 of 5,811)

South Dakota Governor (685 of 686 precincts)
* Toby Doeden – 31% (41,791 votes)
Fall River results: 49% (886)
* Larry Rhoden – 25% (34,379)
Fall River results: 24% (432)
Dusty Johnson – 23% (31,925)
Fall River results: 16% (286)
Jon Hansen – 21% (28,390)
Fall River results: 12% (212)

U.S. Senator (685 of 686 precincts)
* Mike Rounds – 76% (101,471 votes)
Fall River results: 71% (1,249)
Justin McNeal – 24% (32,412)
Fall River results: 29% (518)

U.S. Representative (685 of 686 precincts)
* Marty Jackley – 79% (103,290 votes)
Fall River results: 68% (1,144)
James Bialota – 21% (27,140)
Fall River results: 32% (544)

District 30 Representative
* Tim Goodwin – 39% (3,708 votes)
Fall River results: 36% (973)
* Trish Ladner – 36% (3,450)
Fall River results: 40% (1,067)
Stephen Saint – 24% (2,313)
Fall River results: 24% (634)

District 30 Senator
* Amber Hulse – 67% (4,139 votes)
Fall River results: 67% (1,185 votes)
Julie Frye-Mueller – 33% (2,084)
Fall River results: 33% (586)

County Auditor
* Bobbie Janis – 48% (731 votes)
Everett Dossey – 22% (336)
Cindy Burns – 18% (271)
Carol Boche – 13% (195)

Sheriff
* Lyle Norton – 61% (1,044 votes)
Scott Davis – 39% (672)

County Commissioner
* Vince Logue – 36% (911 votes)
* Deborah Russell – 32% (831)
Joe Falkenburg – 32% (817)

Hot Springs School Board
* Sharon Romey – 35% (776 votes)
* Holly Schultes – 28% (628)
Michael Selzler – 20% (458)
Jason Mazzocchio – 17% (374)

Ward 1 Hot Springs City Council
* Larry Pratt – 53% (113 votes)
Randy Graham – 47% (99)

Ward 2 Hot Springs City Council
* David Burris – 58% (109 votes)
Bob Sprentall – 42% (80

Ward 4 Hot Springs City Council
* Gary Telkamp – 61% (100 votes)
Ryan Wermager – 39% (65)

Precinct Committeeman for Cascade
* Hans Shaffer – 66% (55 votes)
Bobby Ladner – 34% (28)

Precinct Committeewoman for Cascade
* Tammie McKenzie – 67% (54 votes)
Trish Ladner – 33% (27)

Precinct Committeeman for Jackson
* Tim Hammel – 52% (206 votes)
Mike Ortner – 48% (191)

Precinct Committeeman for Hot Springs Ward 1
* Perry Holmes – 78% (123 votes)
Chris Pannill – 22% (35)

05/30/2026

Update: Depending on what happens in the next few minutes, the band is planning to start at 7:30.

The Lonely Rangers Band is set up and still planning to entertain tonight from 7pm-9pm in Centennial Park for the Summer Concert Series!

We know the weather looks gloomy at the moment but we’re still hoping to have the concert in a couple hours. Please stay tuned for updates.

There is also food and beverages available with Two Cows Creamery (burgers and ice cream) and the Hot Springs Rotary (beer and pulled pork).

05/28/2026

HOT SPRINGS – This Saturday, May 30, the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce will kick-off it’s second annual Rockin’ Riverside Summer concert series with the Lonely Rangers, featuring Hot Springs native Ross Johnson.

05/22/2026

Come on down to downtown Hot Springs tonight!

05/21/2026

The status of a hearing on an exploratory uranium drilling permit was left uncertain after a state board adjourned until further notice.

05/07/2026

Burn Ban Passed – Thursday, May 7th 2026

The Fall River County Commissioners passed a county burn ban on Thursday, May 7th 2026 to go into effect immediately.

First, the county burn ban is for areas outside the municipalities and outside the Black Hills Fire Protection District. Those areas have their own bans and regulations. So, if you are SOUTH of the Cheyenne River or EAST of SD Highway 79 open fires and fireworks are banned when the Grassland Fire Danger Index is HIGH, VERY HIGH, or EXTREME.

See the National Weather Service for the SD Grassland Fire Danger Index: https://www.weather.gov/unr/rfd

Full burn ban document will be posted to the county website.

04/10/2026

The 7-11 road in southern Custer County will be closed on Monday, April 13th, from 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM. The Custer County Highway Department will be doing a road realignment project.

03/13/2026

03/13/2026

Wildfire in Hot Brook Canyon

The Hot Brook Fire was last reported at 20 acres, according to the website www.wildwebe.net/incidents?dc_Name=SDGPC

Located along the cliff rim of Hot Brook Canyon, the public is urged to avoid the area. The county road in Hot Brook Canyon is open for local traffic only due to fire traffic and smoky conditions. Hot Brook Canyon Road has few shoulders or places to pull off. Unnecessary or parked traffic can create considerable issues.

According to information released by the Fall River County Public Information Officer, the wildfire was reported to the Fall River County dispatch at 15:39 on March 12, 2026. Original report of fire to dispatch was made by on-duty highway patrol officer, Zach Bader.

There are no evacuations currently. However, people in the canyon should be in ‘Ready’ status. This means having a plan in place for where to go and how to communicate with family. Also having a ‘go bag’ prepared and a list of items you need to take with you so that nothing important is left during an evacuation.

There have been no reports of structures lost at this time. One home was threatened early in the fire. A backburn behind that structure has provided some protection.

(Photo courtesy Andrew Kerr)

02/18/2026

UPDATE: Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning canceled for majority of customers in Southern Hills impact areas; south of Edgemont to Provo and Ardmore remain under PSPS Warning

RAPID CITY, SD, Feb. 17, 2026, 5 p.m. – Forecasted weather conditions have improved to the point that Black Hills Energy has cancelled today’s Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Warning for the majority of customers in areas of the Southern Hills experiencing high fire risk. Customers south of Edgemont to Provo and Ardmore will remain under a PSPS Warning due to ongoing hazardous fire conditions.

For more information about the areas impacted by today’s PSPS, visit blackhillsenergy.com/outages.

Report an outage or emergencyIf you smell a gas odor, immediately evacuate from the building or area. Once you're away from the building, call 911.Or, if you see damaged lines, leave the area immediately and call 911.In either case, call us at 888-890-5554 to report the problem.