Custer County Chronicle

North Pole Road now wider, safer

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:13am

With Christmas and Santa’s annual journey just over two months away, the Custer County Highway Department is making sure North Pole Road west of Custer is ready. Road rehabilitation was also done on one of the routes connecting the town of Fairburn with Hwy. 79.
While the gravel road west of Custer doesn’t take you to the actual North Pole, it does provide access for dozens of people living in the Custer Limestone area and is heavily used by off-roaders as well.

School COVID plan to be reviewed

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:10am

Sparks continue to fly over the Custer School District COVID Operation Plan more than a year after it was put into place. A discussion arose at Monday’s October board of education meeting during an agenda item regarding the plan.
Item 6.1 was apparently meant to be merely an information item. A note in the agenda stated, “The current plan is attached. No changes have been made. Updates from the last meeting are included.”

Lights out at Rushmore Forest Products

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:05am

Rushmore Forest Products is preparing to officially shut down completely in Hill City after the announcement back in April of this year. The sawmill ownership attempted to keep the moulder running into 2022, but has since decided that the last day of operations will be Friday, Oct. 8.

Pfizer asks to OK shots for kids

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 9:23am

Pfizer and BioNTech asked federal regulators on Thursday to authorize emergency use of their coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, a move that could help protect more than 28 million people in the United States, according to the New York Times.
The companies say they are submitting data supporting the change to the Food and Drug Administration. The agency has promised to move quickly on the request and has tentatively scheduled a meeting on Oct. 26 to consider it. A  ruling is expected as early as Halloween.

Southern Hills newspapers sold

Published by admin on Wed, 10/13/2021 - 2:40pm

After nearly 22 years of ownership, Charley and Norma Najacht have sold the Custer County Chronicle and Hill City Prevailer News weekly newspapers to Jerry Lenander of Custer.
The sale was effective last Friday, Oct. 8, and included the 1890 historic downtown Garlock building in Custer which is home to the Chronicle.
“Since 1880 the Chronicle has been owned by local, private individuals and we are pleased that this will continue with Jerry,” the Najachts said.

City: No activity in community center

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:44am

The pickleball, karate and other activities that fell silent in the multipurpose room of what was to be Custer Community Center will remain that way.
At the Oct. 4 meeting of Custer City Council, the council put down any talk of resuming those activities in the center, saying it is too much of an insurance liability issue after the room was heavily damaged by an arson fire juveniles started in the building six months ago.

WEAVE Vigil is Thursday

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:42am

Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) will observe October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Thursday with its annual Walk Against Violence and Candlelight Vigil in downtown Custer.
The walk will begin at the intersection of 5th Street and Mt. Rushmore Road at 5:15 p.m. and will proceed to the 1881 Courthouse Museum. The walk will be followed by the vigil on the steps of the museum.
The purpose of the event is to bring attention to the problem of domestic violence.

Waste plant to be upgraded

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:42am

Work has begun on the first phase of the City of Custer’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade, with planning for the second half of the first phase well underway.
Phase IA of the project is repairing the force main that carries effluent to Rocky Knolls Golf Course. A year ago, phase IA was Phase III, but constant breaks in the main necessitated moving it to the front of the line. This phase of the project was bid last April and work is underway. The low bidder for the project was Mountain View Builders of Sheridan, Wyo., in the amount of $882,819.

Native American Day to be observed Oct. 11

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:40am

Crazy Horse Memorial will host its annual Native American Day celebration Monday, Oct. 11. The event will feature hands-on activities, a Native American Day program (including the announcement of this year's Educator of the Year award) as well as Native American performances.
South Dakota was the first state to officially celebrate Native American Day on the second Monday in October annually. Since 1990. South Dakota and Vermont (which celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day) are the only states to practice non-observance of the federal holiday of Columbus Day.

Fireworks return already in the air

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:34am

According to a Sept. 29 press release, Gov. Kristi Noem and the S.D.  Department of Tourism submitted an application for a special use permit for the 2022 Mount Rushmore fireworks celebration to the National Park Service (NPS).
“There truly is no better place to celebrate America’s birthday than Mount Rushmore, our nation’s enduring Shrine to Democracy,” said Gov. Noem. “Despite its arbitrary decision to cancel the 2021 fireworks celebration, the Biden Administration has an opportunity to work with us to celebrate next year and for the years to come.”