Custer County Chronicle

Committee seeks three Habitat builds

Published by admin on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:42pm

When Gene Fennell discussed being on the new steering committee for Habitat for Humanity in Custer with local realtor  Andrea Ronning, she knew she wanted to help.
However, she also wanted to make sure something got done.
“I didn’t want to (just) be on another housing board. We’ve all sat on these boards, we’ve all had these conversations in town,” she said. “There’s not one thing that has been built. That’s why I’m so grateful for this steering committee. We all jumped in, working our tails off to get something done.”

Man arrested for fighting deputy

Published by admin on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:41pm

A 40-year-old Fort Morgan, Colo., man is facing a felony charge of Simple Assault against a Law Enforcement Officer, as well as four misdemeanor charges in relation to an incident with a Custer County Sheriff’s Office deputy Aug. 13.

More fire ban talk at county meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:40pm

More county fire ban exemptions were granted at the Aug. 26 meeting of the Custer County Commission, while a question was raised as to whether or not incinerators are permitted under the ban as well.

Nonprofit strives to be PALS to veterans

Published by admin on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:40pm

A local nonprofit organization is endeavoring to be PALS to veterans at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center and the Michael J. Fitzmaurice South Dakota State Veterans Home. 
PALS’, or the Patriotic Alliance of Loyal Service’s, mission is to make a better community for veterans and their families by working to assist other veteran organizations in filling the gap for needs. 

BHE now seeks both rate increase, surcharge

Published by admin on Wed, 09/02/2026 - 9:35am
The average Black Hills Energy residential electric customer in South Dakota faces a monthly bill that will be $45 higher if state regulators approve a pending rate increase and surcharge.

District welcomes new teachers

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:44am

School is back in session, and three new teachers are at the helm, along with a paraprofessional who achieved her teacher certification. 
Nora Smolnisky is the seventh and eighth grade English Language Arts teacher at Custer Jr./Sr. High School (CHS). 
“What I enjoy most is helping students learn how clear and effective communication and strong thinking relate to their lives both now and after formal schooling,” said Smolnisky.
Originally from Worthington, Minn., Smolnisky lived in Sioux Falls and Izmir, Turkey before settling in Custer almost 10 years ago. 

County fire ban still in effect

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:43am

Yes, Custer County has received some rain recently. No, that doesn’t mean the county fire ban has been lifted.
At the Aug. 12 meeting of the Custer County Commission county emergency management director Steve Esser said he had received inquiries as to the removal of the fire ban after the recent rains, but reminded those in attendance the fire ban is still very much in place and that he was “not seeing it (removing the ban) anywhere in the near future.”

County balks at road agreement

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:42am

As of now, Custer County does not have an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain roughly 168 miles of the over 400 miles of roadway in the county.
Those 168 miles—U.S. Forest Service roads that the county has long maintained under what is known as a Schedule A agreement—are not going to be abandoned by the county, however; there just won’t be existing obligations put on the county that were required under the Schedule A agreement.

Done just in time

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:41am

It’s been clear for some time that the Quonset, which was moved to the Custer County Fairgrounds from Rapid City in 1967, needed to be replaced. However, the process was sped up due to hail damage received a few years ago. 
“The cash value wasn’t very high on the building, so they (the insurance company) would give us double the amount of what they were going to give us if we replaced the building. So that was what sprung it into motion a lot faster than we had planned,” said president of the Custer County Fair Board Greg Neugebauer. 

City OKs LEO contract

Published by admin on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:13pm

Thirteen months after negotiations began, the City of Custer and Custer County have agreed on a new contract and will see the Custer County Sheriff’s Office resume providing law enforcement services to the city.