Custer County Chronicle

Assisting with the escape - Part IV

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:45am

This is the fourth and final story in a series about Marty and Jen Mechaley and their involvement in assisting several of Warren Jeffs’ daughters to leave the FLDS.
If you attended a Custer High School football game in the fall of 2021, chances are you saw—or maybe even briefly interacted with—one of the ten daughters of self-proclaimed Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) prophet Warren Jeffs who Marty and Jen Mechaley helped leave the FLDS.

Preparing for ‘What if?’

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:42am

For four days last week, a group of around 15 people took part in a Civilian Rescuer and Austere Environment Medical Training. Such training is just one of the many types of trainings undertaken by members of a local group called “American Contingency (AMCON),” a local branch that is part of a nationwide assembly of small, local groups organized and training in the name of being prepared for the unexpected.

No foul play in hunter’s death

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:38am

A man who was found deceased near his hunting campsite in the Custer Highlands  last week is suspected to have died of a heart attack or similar medical issue.
David R. Cooley, 72, of Rapid City, was located by Custer County and state first responders after being reported missing around 1:09 p.m. last Wednesday.

Dog attacks, kills another dog south of city limits

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:38am

After a $5,000 dog was killed due to an attack by another dog neighborhood residents claimed has terrorized the neighborhood unabated, residents of that same neighborhood were before the Custer County Commission at the commission’s Sept. 14 meeting demanding answers as to why the owner of the aggressive dog was never punished for its dog running at large.

Sylvan Lake to get new general store

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:35am
 
 
Late summer visitors to the Sylvan Lake area in Custer State Park (CSP) have noticed lots of activity around the Sylvan Lake General Store. In fact, the decades-old structure is being demolished to make way for a brand new building that will be ready to welcome guests next spring.
 

County road plan discussed

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:33am

Chip seal and pavement markings, graveling, road base stabilization and engineering for planning of an east county bridge replacement are all a part of the 2023 plans for Custer County roads that were presented by Custer County Highway Department superintendent Jess Doyle at the Sept. 14 meeting of the Custer County Commission.

School board meets faculty, plans year

Published by admin on Thu, 09/22/2022 - 9:16am

Custer School District’s 917 enrolled students are back to class and at the Sept. 12 Custer School District Board of Education the board discussed the district’s finances, curriculum, bus plan and more. Several topics were discussed which affect all of the district’s schools.
New-to-the-district staff gave reports to the board of how their school years are “off to a good start” and several of the new educators thanked the board and district curriculum developer Nora Smolnisky’s preparation in readying them for the school year.

Assisting with the escape - Part III

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 11:55am

This is the third in a series about Marty and Jen Mechaley and their involvement with assisting several of Warren Jeffs’ daughters in leaving the FLDS.

First responders honored

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 11:53am

This past Sunday, Custer Lutheran Fellowship offered a recognition luncheon for the county’s first responders/healthcare workers.
Brad McKinney described the event as a “meal served to heroes” and this sentiment proved true as members of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Custer County Search and Rescue, Custer Ambulance Service and volunteer fire crews arrived to the church’s friendly welcome for a plateful of barbecue.
Not forgetting the first responders actively working abroad, church members also sat at a table and wrote letters of thanks to those in the military.

City sets budget at $12.6 million

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 11:52am

The Custer City Council passed the first reading of a $12,613,465 budget for 2023 at its Sept. 6 meeting, a figure that is around $2 million higher than last year’s budget.
Proposed general fund expenditures are set at $3.3 million, which is down around $1.7 million from a year ago, when the city had budgeted funding for improvements to Harbach Park.
There is $699,570 budgeted for general government, and another $708,450 for public safety, which includes law enforcement. Highways and streets has $959,000 budgeted for 2023.