BHC Form 8-K Smith Resignation

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 16, 2004

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BLACK HILLS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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South Dakota
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-31303
(Commission File Number)

625 Ninth Street, PO Box 1400
Rapid City, South Dakota
(Address of principal executive offices) 		46-0458824
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

57709-1400
(Zip Code)

605.721.1700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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        Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

On December 16, 2004, David S. Smith, Vice President–Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of the Registrant resigned. On December 16, 2004, the Board of Directors of the Registrant named Mark T. Thies as the Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Thies will assume the position of Chief Accounting Officer in addition to his current position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer which he has served since March 2000. The additional information required by Item 5.02(c) of this Form in regards to Mr. Thies is incorporated herein by reference from Item 4a of the Registrant’s Form 10–K for 2003.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  Exhibits

      99      Press Release dated December 17, 2004.

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  BLACK HILLS CORPORATION

  By: /s/ David R. Emery
       David R. Emery
       President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: December 17, 2004

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