Custer County Chronicle

‘I was probably legally drunk for five years’

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:40am

The names of those featured in this article have been changed to protect their identity.

Miller, Whitmore take Honor Flight

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:39am

Two more veterans have joined the list of Custer County residents who have taken the Midwest Honor Flight, as both Darrell Whitmore and Paul Miller flew out of Sioux Falls May 6, with Whitmore calling it “probably the most outstanding day of my life.”
Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization comprised of independent hubs working together to achieve the Honor Flight mission, which is to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at the nation’s memorials in Washington, D.C.

Habitat enhancement project at Meeker Ranch

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:38am

Around 6,000 sandbar willows were planted at Meeker Ranch over the last week as part of the ongoing Meeker Creek Habitat Conservation Project.
Meeker Ranch is a 278-acre parcel managed by the U.S. Forest Service. In 2004, the property was purchased by a number of organizations and gifted to the National Forest Service under certain conditions, according to Kris Cudmore, aquatic habitat and access biologist with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) out of the Rapid City office.

City tables county variance request

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:37am

A variance request presented by Custer County to the City of Custer for a steel building it would like to move onto the Montgomery Street property of Custer County Search and Rescue (SAR) has been tabled until the county submits documentation that the building will align with the city’s technical requirements.

Abolish Property Taxes South Dakota gives Custer presentation

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 8:41am
A petition will be circulated in the near future that, if the 35,000 required signatures are gathered, will be voted on by state residents in 2026.
The petition’s goal? Abolish property taxes.

Power shutdown program imminent

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:51am

A program that will see Black Hills Energy (BHE) shut off power to high-risk fire areas during “extreme weather conditions” will be in place by the middle of the summer, a Black Hills Energy official says.
Lynn Kendall, regional public affairs manager for BHE, said if the power is shut off through a program called Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in those areas it will remain off until conditions improve.

Council receives golf course update

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:49am

Income is up and growth continues at Rocky Knolls Golf Course it was revealed at the May 19 meeting of the Custer City Council, as Rocky Knolls board member John Carson delivered the golf course’s annual update to the council.
Carson said gross income was up around 15 percent from 2023 to 2024, while the mix of members to greens fees stayed about the same and clubhouse revenue stayed about the same in terms of percentage. Expenses were also the same.

Tarap, Virtue on top of school board race

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:41am

Brandy Tarap and Corey Virtue are set to serve on the Custer School District Board of Education after unofficially emerging victorious from yesterday’s election. The results are unofficial until they are officially canvassed.
Tarap received 485 votes, while Virtue received 268. Just behind Virtue was Mark Perrenoud with 258 votes. It was unclear as of press time if Perrenoud was within the margin for a recount.
Rounding out the voting was Jesse Sorenson, who received 181 votes.

Man hits leg artery in accidental shooting

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:36am

A 43-year-old Minnesota man had his life saved by family after an accidental shooting left him bleeding profusely from an artery in his leg recently.
According to Custer County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Derrick Reifenrath, around 6:33 a.m. at the Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort, a 911 call was placed to Custer County Dispatch with the caller screaming her dad had been shot in the leg.

Testy topics at Hermosa meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 05/28/2025 - 12:13pm

The Hermosa Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting May 20, chaired by Trustee Kel Koontz in President Linda Kramer’s absence, though she attended via phone.
Engineer Anthony Theodorou is pursuing a Federal Railway Association grant for the railroad pedestrian bridge on Vilas Street, through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. These projects are high on the priority list and he is optimistic that a grant would be given to the town of Hermosa.
“What they’re trying to do,” Theodorou said, “throughout the country is to eliminate at-grade crossings.”