July Events Promise Black Hills Fun

Summer is full of activities in and around the Black Hills region and the month of July is no exception. The fun begins with a weeklong celebration around Independence Day with the Black Hills Roundup and continues into the following weekend with the Heart of the Hills Parade & Logging Show.

July 3-6 is the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche where thousands of local residents, as well as people from across the country and abroad, come to help celebrate the 4^th of July. This oldest continuously-held outdoor rodeo in America is one of the great local pastimes and is great entertainment for the entire family.

This event features top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls competing in barrel races, bareback riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, team roping and more. This year’s world-class livestock will again be provided by Hank and Lori Franzen of Powder River Rodeo and D&H Cattle Company.

The festivities don’t end there. The whole family can also enjoy a week-long carnival, a mile-long parade, BBQ, the Miss Rodeo South Dakota contest and a huge Independence Day fireworks display!

On Saturday July 12, 2014 you can help Hill City celebrate with the Heart of the Hills Parade & Logging Show. Don’t miss the parade that starts at 9am on historic Main Street Then stick around for the logging show at Noon at the Chute Rooster Amphitheater grounds. The logging show is an annual must-see with an exciting axe throw, Choker race, pole tosses, tree falling, logging truck events and more.

Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blanket and umbrella’s to enjoy the show. Bring water to stay hydrated in the heat but enjoy the plethora of local food vendors that will be at the event. Keep the kids busy looking for coins in the sawdust pile.

Summer also means the housing market is red hot. Home prices are rising month over month and inventory is gaining. Whether you are looking for a year-around home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact Jim Peterson at (605) 574-4444 or June Johnson at (605) 786-7356, or email us to discuss how we can help you with all your real estate needs. Our office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – ours are always open for your convenience!

Protect Your Black Hills Home from Severe Summer Weather

South Dakota is no stranger to severe weather in all seasons. However, our summer weather can rapidly produce powerful storms at a moment’s notice and cause damage to your home. Because of this, it’s important to have your Black Hills home as ready as possible.

Although, you cannot ever be fully prepared to face tennis size hail balls or tornados or flooding rains, you can take some necessary precautions to protect your property and perhaps help to minimize or limit damage.

Routinely clean your gutters. Clogged gutters can back up the water and cause damage to your siding and foundation.

Keep those tree branches under control. Tree limbs can be very dangerous to the area around them especially in high winds. Make sure to routinely trim off tree limbs that could cause damage such as dead branches or diseased limbs that can easily be ripped off and come through your windows or roof.

Sump pumps come to life during storms. That’s not when you want to realize yours isn’t working properly. You should check it at least once a year, and ideally perform several checks during heavy storm seasons.

Be prepared to board up your home if necessary. It’s a good idea to have extra materials on hand in case you ever need to quickly board up your windows and weak points in your home. Materials to keep together include wooden boards, tools and screws, and filled & stacked sand bags. Keeping these handy can help you to secure your home and avoid major damage.

Secure your outdoor structures. If you have a shed or doghouse on your property, tie them down with the help of two or three tie-down cables moored to the ground. You need only a few cables and stakes to secure them and the expense versus the effectiveness is well worth it!

Designate a protected place to store outdoor furniture. Tree branches and outdoor furniture can become airborne in the event of high winds. It’s imperative to have a place where you can store all your potted plants and outdoor furniture such as a garage or tied-down shed.

In between storms, periodically check and repair leaks. Check for dark spots under pipes inside cabinets, stains on ceilings, toilets that rock and any type of drips at faucets. Also inspect your roof and repair any missing, loose or damaged shingles.

Review your homeowner’s insurance policy annually to make sure there’s sufficient coverage to protect the investment you’ve made in your home. Make temporary repairs after the storm but report any major property damage to your insurance agent or company immediately.

If you are looking to downsize your Rapid City home, upsize to accommodate your growing family or are ready to buy a Custer vacation property, I’d love to talk with you. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

South Dakota – Parent to New State Park?

South Dakota and the Black Hills are known for their wide open spaces, state parks, and beautiful backdrops everywhere you look. Now, South Dakota may become a proud parent to another state park with Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills.

Homestake Mining Co. officials are in negotiations to sell two large parcels of their land located in Spearfish Canyon. These both would be placed into public ownership.

In a briefing last week by two top officials from the state Game, Fish and Park Department, the Spearfish Canyon Foundation would purchase a 73-acre tract, that includes Spearfish Falls, and donate it the department. This is according to Doug Hofer, director for the state Division of Parks and Recreation and likely largest builder of South Dakota’s system of state parks and recreation areas.

The property was appraised at $1,225,000 but foundation officials are attempting to secure it for a smaller amount, Hofer said.

This part of the canyon covers more than a mile and would connect two tracts that were previously purchased in 2004 by GF&P from Homestake at Roughlock Falls and Savoy. The combined totals would be 128 acres surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands.

The department would also directly purchase a second pacel of 33 acres from Homestake including 3,200 feet of Spearfish Creek at the old Hydro 2 power-plant work in the Canyon. The appraisal currently is $430,000.

If you are ready to buy your new home in the Black Hills Area, I’d love to talk with you. Whether you are interested in homes in Hill City, Custer homes for sale, or Rapid City new homes, we can give you the most comprehensive listings that meet your criteria. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Cruise Over to Belle Fourche for Annual Car Rally

It’s that time of year again! For all of us that live in the Black Hills region, it’s an annual event that gives us the opportunity to rev up our engines, polish that chrome and show off our rides. That’s right! The 27^th Annual Center of the Nation All Car Rally will cruise into Belle Fourche – June 13-14.

Get out those vintage vehicles, muscle cars, street rods, sports cars, low riders and even your modified trucks or off-road vehicles. Pre-registration show & shine event and street dance will kick off Friday night at Scott Peterson Motors. The fun begins at 6pm.

Both participants and spectators will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award to be presented later that evening. Enjoy live music with local band, Twenty-One 20, and top off the night at 8pm with the burnout demonstration that has become a crowd favorite.

The fun continues into Saturday when the action moves to Hermann Park for the all-day car show. Organizers are expecting a wide array of vehicles and over 150 entries. “We will have a little bit of everything,” said Dan Durfee, one of the car show’s committee volunteers. It’s always a lot of fun to see the variety.” For those that love to peruse the vendor booths, they will feature everything from food to auto parts to outdoor living displays.

Whether you prefer getting thrown back in time with the oldies or staying on top of the latest trends in performance vehicles, you won’t be disappointed! For more information, you can check out their Facebook page or read the Black Hills Pioneer’s All Car Rally Edition.

While you are out enjoying all the Black Hills has to offer, be sure to stop by Integrity Realty and let us show you some of our great properties. Whether you are looking for a year-round home, land, investment or vacation home, our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email meto discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!