Benchmark Forest Management

03/30/2024

03/29/2024

*** This post is outdated, see https://www.facebook.com/NWSRapidCity for the latest ***
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A large storm system is expected to cross the region this weekend, bringing rain and snow to the area. The precipitation will start Saturday morning and continue through Sunday into Monday morning. Snow is likely during the cooler nighttime hours. However, there is much uncertainty as to whether snow will change to rain during the daytime hours Saturday and Sunday. A difference of a few degrees is all it takes for snow to change to rain, and this can have large effects on snow totals. Stay tuned...

03/29/2024

CITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS AND TEAMS FOR COMMUNITY CLEANUP WEEK APRIL 22-27
**Fees relaxed for Landfill disposal of many items April 22-26
**Annual community clean-up day set for April 27

RAPID CITY, SD—The City’s Solid Waste Division is organizing volunteers and teams to help clean up public spaces as part of next month’s City-Wide Cleanup Week.
This year’s 53rd annual City-Wide Cleanup Week is scheduled for April 22-27. Highlights of the week include fees waived for disposal of many items at the Rapid City Landfill Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the annual community cleanup set for Saturday of cleanup week. There will be no admittance to the Landfill for cleanup items on Saturday. Regular paid access from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Community Cleanup Week activities last year included nearly 2,000 volunteers armed with plastic bags combing through parks, along ditches, drainage areas, fence lines and neighborhoods in the community picking up tons of trash. The City will provide trash bags and interested groups are encouraged to email [email protected] to determine available spaces.
“It’s a great community service project for groups, especially youth groups and teams,” said City Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator Ria Hannon. “It’s also a great opportunity for getting groups and teams from businesses together to spend a few hours during the week or on a Saturday morning cleaning up an area of town. It’s a great way to help clean up our community.”
Volunteers and teams can collect trash anytime during Cleanup Week with the main focus set for Saturday, April 27 when teams fan out across the community to collect trash and items and leave them curbside at their respective cleanup areas for collection
Hannon said the week-long event is a great way for homeowners to spruce up around the home.
“Cleanup Week is always a great way to get rid of a lot of items that have piled up around the home, in the yard and in the garage.”
The relaxing of fees will be available for private pickups, cars and small trailers Monday to Friday of Cleanup Week but not commercial vehicles. All loads must be secured. The Landfill will not accept Freon-based appliances or hazardous waste items or paint and there will be a fee for disposal of tires.
For more information about Cleanup Week, contact the Rapid City Solid Waste Division at 355-3496.

(Photo: A volunteer team from the Rapid City Public Library cleans up the area around Cliffside Park during the 2023 Community Cleanup Week/City Photo)

07/06/2023

Congratulations to our very own Battalion Chief Calen Maningas! The Commission on Professional Credentialing® voted to award him the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO).

Following an extensive peer review process, this designation recognizes demonstrated excellence in seven measured components: experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence.

In receiving this designation, he becomes 1 of 1,800 CFO’s worldwide.

Chief Maningas is a wonderful leader of our department, and we are very proud of him!

07/04/2023

MAYOR ALLENDER ISSUES PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S PLANNED DOWNTOWN MARCH

Mayor Steve Allender earlier today issued the following public safety message ahead of a protest march scheduled for downtown Rapid City on the July 4th Independence Day holiday:

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As America celebrates its Independence Day, local communities like ours are often overburdened with police, fire, and ambulance calls for service.

Public safety is a major responsibility of government, and to that end, certain precautions are in order for this Independence Day holiday.

A local activist group, NDN Collective, is organizing a protest march to begin at 4:00 pm on July 4th. The march is reported to begin near the intersection of East Boulevard and Kansas City St., near downtown.

The City has a permitting system that allows entities to work with the City to find solutions for marching routes, blocking of traffic when necessary and securing other resources when appropriate. NDN Collective has not applied for a permit, and has resisted cooperating with the City in the past. Likewise, NDN is not cooperating on the upcoming march.

We anticipate the marchers will proceed onto busy public roadways and unlawfully block traffic. This in itself creates a public safety hazard.

NDN has recently been holding training seminars to teach others how to protest through the use of “blockades, tactical media” and “climbing.”

NDN has previously been associated with criminal activity, such as blocking public roads and highways, disorderly conduct and trespassing on and seizing private property.

The City of Rapid City supports and defends the US Constitution, including the First Amendment right to free speech, expression and right to assemble. It is important to note, however, that one person’s free speech cannot create a public safety hazard for other citizens. A major public demonstration such as this can cause a public safety hazard and cause the taxpayers to incur expenses of tens of thousands of dollars or more.

In addition to the expense, it will also result in the depletion of law enforcement resources and potential obstruction of fire and ambulance service. This can create a hazardous situation during the Independence Day holiday.

The City is asking the community to exercise good judgment and obey all laws. We also need the public’s help deterring criminal behavior by paying particular attention to your own building, and the buildings in your immediate vicinity, especially buildings that would provide ease of access for climbers.

The City is also asking NDN Collective to observe all laws and refrain from endangering the safety and lives of innocent citizens.

Please report any suspicious behavior by calling:

Emergencies: 911
Non-emergency: 605-394–4131
Send an anonymous tip by texting ‘RCPD’ to 847411

(City File Photo)

02/23/2021

On Feb. 22, 1897, President Grover Cleveland established the Black Hills Forest Reserve. In 1905, the Black Hills Forest Reserve was transferred to the Department of Agriculture & designated as a National Forest 2 years later. (photo by Gary Haag, Black Hills NF)

01/14/2021

Our last Run For Ruhl 5K is on May 8, 2021. We hope to see you there and to make this the biggest one yet!

01/05/2021