Adangerousvoidgrowsas South Dakotanewspapersclose

Published in Business and Finance on Friday, August 15th 2025 at 18:37 GMT by South Dakota Searchlight
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It made me want to weep. The grinding decline of the traditional newspaper business continued in an incredibly sad way last week with news that the Brookings Register, Huron Plainsman, Moody County Enterprise and Redfield Press have closed. The papers are/were owned by News Media Corp., based in Illinois. I know very little about that [ ]

The Dangerous Void Growing Beneath a South Dakota Neighborhood

In the quiet subdivision of Hideaway Hills, nestled on the outskirts of Black Hawk, South Dakota, a hidden peril is steadily expanding underground, threatening the homes and lives of hundreds of residents. What began as subtle cracks in driveways and sinking foundations has evolved into a massive, unstable void—a relic of the area's mining past—that now endangers an entire community. This growing chasm, formed from the collapse of an abandoned gypsum mine, has sparked lawsuits, evacuations, and a desperate scramble for solutions as the ground literally gives way beneath people's feet.

The story traces back to the early 20th century when gypsum mining was a booming industry in the Black Hills region. Gypsum, a mineral used in products like drywall and cement, was extracted from vast underground networks. One such mine, operated by the Dakota Plaster Company until its closure in the 1930s or 1940s, left behind a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms directly beneath what would later become Hideaway Hills. For decades, these voids remained dormant, forgotten beneath layers of earth. But in April 2020, the first major signs of trouble emerged when a massive sinkhole suddenly opened up, swallowing parts of the landscape and exposing the unstable mine below.

Residents like Janet Rhoden, who has lived in Hideaway Hills for over a decade, describe the initial shock. "It started with small fissures in the road, then our basements began flooding inexplicably," she recalls. As investigations unfolded, geologists confirmed the worst: the mine's pillars, designed to support the overhead rock, had weakened over time due to water infiltration and natural erosion. This led to progressive collapses, creating a void that experts estimate could span hundreds of feet wide and deep. Aerial surveys and ground-penetrating radar have revealed that the instability extends far beyond the visible sinkhole, potentially affecting up to 150 homes in the development.

The human toll is profound. Families have been forced to abandon their properties, with some homes declared uninhabitable by local authorities. Property values have plummeted, leaving homeowners trapped in mortgages for worthless land. "We bought our dream home here, thinking it was safe," says Mark Johnson, another resident. "Now, we're facing financial ruin and the constant fear that the ground could open up at any moment." Emergency response teams have installed monitoring equipment, including sensors to detect ground movement, but the void continues to grow, exacerbated by heavy rains that accelerate erosion.

Legal battles have intensified as residents seek accountability. A class-action lawsuit targets Meade County officials, the developers of Hideaway Hills, and even the state of South Dakota, alleging negligence in allowing construction over known mine sites without proper disclosures or reinforcements. Court documents reveal that historical mining maps were available, yet building permits were issued in the early 2000s without mandatory geotechnical surveys. "This was a preventable disaster," argues attorney Sarah Thompson, representing the plaintiffs. "The signs were there, but greed and oversight failures put lives at risk."

State geologists, including experts from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, have been studying the site. Their reports indicate that the gypsum mine was extracted using the room-and-pillar method, where large sections of rock were removed, leaving supportive columns. Over time, these pillars have dissolved or crumbled, leading to what's known as a "progressive roof fall." The void's expansion is unpredictable; minor seismic activity or seasonal weather changes could trigger further collapses. In one alarming incident last year, a new fissure appeared overnight, forcing the evacuation of several streets.

Efforts to stabilize the area have been hampered by cost and complexity. Filling the void with grout or other materials has been proposed, but estimates run into the tens of millions of dollars—funds that neither the county nor the state has readily available. Federal assistance has been sought through agencies like FEMA, but bureaucratic hurdles persist. Meanwhile, some residents have taken matters into their own hands, installing personal monitoring systems or even relocating at great personal expense.

The crisis in Hideaway Hills underscores broader issues in regions with mining legacies. Across the U.S., thousands of abandoned mines pose similar risks, from subsidence in Pennsylvania's coal country to sinkholes in Florida's phosphate belts. In South Dakota alone, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has identified over 100 inactive mine sites that could potentially destabilize overlying land. Climate change adds another layer of urgency, as increased precipitation in the Midwest could worsen water-induced erosion in these underground voids.

Community resilience shines through the adversity. Local support groups have formed, organizing fundraisers and awareness campaigns to pressure officials for action. "We're not just fighting for our homes; we're fighting for accountability so this doesn't happen elsewhere," says Rhoden. Town hall meetings have drawn crowds, with experts debating long-term solutions like relocating the entire subdivision—a drastic but potentially necessary step.

As the void grows, so does the uncertainty. Engineers warn that without intervention, the sinkhole could expand to engulf roads, utilities, and more homes. For now, residents live in a state of vigilant unease, their once-idyllic neighborhood a stark reminder of how the echoes of industrial history can resurface with devastating force. The situation in Hideaway Hills serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the need for stricter regulations on development over mined lands and better mapping of subsurface hazards. Until a resolution is found, the ground beneath this South Dakota community remains treacherously alive, inching ever closer to catastrophe.

This unfolding drama not only affects the immediate victims but also raises questions about environmental stewardship and urban planning in America's heartland. As investigations continue and lawsuits progress, the hope is that lessons learned here will prevent future voids from swallowing unsuspecting communities. For the people of Hideaway Hills, however, the fight is far from over—their battle against the underground menace is a daily reality, one crack and collapse at a time.

Read the Full South Dakota Searchlight Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/dangerous-void-grows-south-dakota-213444336.html ]

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Adangerousvoidgrowsas South Dakotanewspapersclose

The Dangerous Void Growing Beneath a South Dakota Neighborhood