Dr. Katie Whittaker
Dr. Katie grew up in Papillion, Nebraska – just southwest of Omaha – and graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. She loves the beautiful Black Hills, which is why she made this her home following dental school. Dr. Katie’s area of focus is general dentistry for patients of all ages, and she’s excited to provide the latest advancements and best treatment available.
If you’re looking for a new dentist, call Dr. Whittaker today!
ON THE COVER
By Tanya Manus; Photography by M Photography
JESS SKINNER
SAYING “YES” TO ICE CREAM AND NEW ADVENTURES
FROM BACKYARD TRADITION TO COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
I’M NOT FANATICAL.
I’M RIGHT
DOROTHY ROSBY
WHERE CAR BUYING IS STILL FUN PRIVATE STOCK
$3,570,000
#84699 2 HOMES, 30 ACRES
Every month Black Hills Lifestyle showcases local human interest stories along with beauty, fashion, family, home, career, health and nutrition information all with beautiful photography. Black Hills Lifestyle also feature businesses, men and women in the Black Hills region. Want to subscribe to Black Hills Lifestyle and receive a copy in your mailbox every month? One year subscription is only $40.
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P.O. Box 91606 Sioux Falls, SD 57109 | 605-332-0421
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Patty Stover 605-390-2617 | patty@michelscom.com
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TEAM OF WRITERS
Dorothy Rosby, Kristina Roth, Lauren Johnson, Maggie Lepa-Wence, Natalie Frazier, Tanya Manus
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
M Photography
EDITOR
Margi Culhane 605-940-4724 | margi@michelscom.com
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BACKYARD CELEBRATION From Tradition to Community
By Lauren Johnson
Come join the 39th annual McBride Military Appreciation Barbecue at the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City on Friday, July 11th, 5-7ish, to help raise funds to support local veterans and active military. The barbeque includes a kid’s zone, live music, delicious food, and an awards ceremony for the Ellsworth base and the South Dakota National Guard, where service members are honored for exemplary service in their units and the community. Everything is free and open to the public.
“Our main goal is just to say thank you to people who have served or who are serving now,” says Shonna McBride. Shonna is married to Kyle, and is the daughter-in-law of Bret McBride. Bret has been roasting the pig and continuing the tradition of the military barbeque since Bret’s father, Ed McBride, started the event in his backyard some 40 years ago. Kyle and his brother, Jeremy are also involved with the annual event. It is hosted by the non-profit McBride Military Advisory Coalition, and hundreds of community members volunteer and sponsor this event every year to make it happen. Grandma Kathy, now in her 90s, still attends every year.
“When my husband’s grandfather Ed started the event, he was involved with the base and became an honorary commander,” Shonna says. “He thought it would be nice to have a dual purpose for the
barbeque, where he could incorporate people from the base into the community and get those service members off the base to have an afternoon away to socialize and meet people. It was a casual backyard barbeque where they always roasted a pig and had a potluck. But then it kept getting bigger and bigger.”
Eventually the McBrides partnered with the Chamber to bring it into town. “It’s been hosted in a variety of places, but it kept outgrowing each one,” Shonna says. “Now it’s morphed into an even bigger event, with bounce houses, yard games, pickleball, display vehicles from our first responders, live music, and even a fly-in from the LifeFlight helicopter. It’s all made possible through donations and volunteers from our community who make the event so special and fun for everyone. We’re expecting about 700 attendees this year.”
Leah Braun is the chair of the Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition (BH MAC), made up of dedicated individuals working to strengthen the connection between the military and the community in the Black Hills region. “We focus on our three pillars—Defense Economy, Community Outreach, and Quality of Life—in our aim to improve the quality of life for our service members and their families, increase community outreach and support, and continue to build on our thriving defense economy,” Leah says.
It became apparent early on that, while many amazing organizations focused on military support, the critical missing piece was a way for those organizations to collaborate to streamline information and wisely use resources. As a result, the BH MAC was formed in 2021 by consolidating the efforts of several key community military support organizations.
“The annual McBride Military Appreciation BBQ is hosted by the Black Hills MAC and is our largest community-led military appreciation event of the year,” Leah Braun says. “Each year we honor 14 personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base and the SD National Guard, plus one Military Friendly Business of the Year. The general public nominates a “military Friendly Business through a link on the Black Hills Wire Facebook page.”
The BBQ team is trying a new ticketing system in order to get an expected headcount. “Our website is mcbridemilitarybbq.com, and we’re promoting the event on Facebook, where you can get a free ticket in advance and be entered to win door prizes,” Shonna says.
“There are two sponsorship levels as well as a volunteer sign-up sheet. We’d love your help.” Call Shonna at 605-593-7532.
Scan the QR code to get your free tickets!
“We can never say thank you to our military often enough,” Leah says. “This free BBQ is an opportunity to remind our service members, past and current, and their families that we care about them and are thankful for their service.”
By BHL Staff
You’re cruising through the Needles highway and notice your car is feeling warmer than it should - even though your A/C is turned on high. It could be that your air conditioning unit is in need of a “recharge.”
If you suspect it is just not cooling like it was when it was new, have it checked by a professional before all the refrigerant and oil leak out completely. Tyrrell Tires, Rapid City is here to help.
Your car’s air conditioning unit system is cooled by a refrigerant that circulates through a closed system to create cold air. So if it’s a closed system, that means it should never leak out or be in need of service.
Then your A/C system is refilled completely with fresh refrigerant. Since an A/C recharge is often necessary due to low refrigerant from a leak, a professional technician will also do specialized leak diagnostics using dyes and specialized equipment to find the source of the leak. If you do indeed have a leak, the repair is often relatively inexpensive to repair.
It is best to have any recharging and problem diagnosis done by a professional You can rest assured, no matter what type of A/C service your car needs, you can trust the mechanics at Tyrrell Tires to help. With training in all types of cars and systems, their mechanics are equipped to diagnose any necessary repairs and carry out any maintenance service. Schedule your appointment today.
For any service-related questions or to make an appointment, stop in or call (605) 791-2922. You can also send a message on Facebook or Instagram. Or visit www.tyrrelltires.com to learn more.
Scott Tyrell & Autumn Garcia (owners)
The Art of
Slowing Down
By Maggie Lepa-Wince Rapid City Arts Council Staff
In a world built for speed—endless scrolling, quick reactions, constant communication—art invites us to pause. Whether it’s standing still in front of a painting, tracing the shape of a sculpture with your eyes, or getting lost in the rhythm of brushstrokes on your own canvas, art demands something rare: our attention.
At the Dahl Arts Center this summer, you can feel this invitation in the quiet of the galleries. The newly installed Permanent Collection is a reflection of decades of regional creativity, offering viewers a chance to step away from the noise and into something slower, more deliberate. In fact, studies show that just 15–30 minutes of intentional viewing in a gallery or museum can reduce stress and improve mood. Coincidentally, the average visit to the Dahl is just
Slowness Means Presence
30 minutes—enough time to take a breather, recharge, and see something beautiful.
Slowness doesn’t mean stagnation—it means presence. Taking time with art lets us connect more deeply not just with the work, but with our own thoughts, emotions, and community. It’s a reminder that not everything needs to
be rushed. That reflection, wonder, and even boredom can be nourishing.
And since the Dahl is an art gallery, if you fall in love with a piece, you don’t have to leave it behind. Much of the artwork on display at the Dahl is available for purchase, supporting local artists while adding something meaningful to your own home.
But you don’t need to visit our gallery or museum to practice this kind of attention. Keep a sketchbook, take a walk downtown, or just look more closely at the birds through your kitchen window.
In art, and in life, slowing down can be a revolutionary act.
YOUR GARAGE IN GEAR.
