Custer County Chronicle

Joining the picket line

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:33pm

Custer can hardly seem further removed from the bright lights and intricate sets of Hollywood entertainment, but as small towns tend to reveal, it is a small world.  In fact, Custer native, Anne Cofell Saunders is right in the middle of the latest Hollywood hubbub as she is actively involved in the Writers Guild of America strike and has been on the picket lines often in hopes that the strike will end soon so she and other professionals in the industry can get back to work—with fair wages and protections from controversial technology like Artifical Intelligence, for example.

CTE wing yet to have any wings

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:29pm

At the Sept. 11 meeting of the Custer School District Board of Education, Jeremy Altman of Architecture Inc. presented on a new design for the CTE (Career and Technical Education) expansion project.
“At this point, we’re looking for direction on whether or not this is feasible,” said Altman.
At a total project cost of $39,219,670, it’s looking like the answer is “no”—at least in the iteration presented at the meeting.

Judge denies writ of mandamus

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:28pm

Preserve French Creek, Inc., was dealt a blow in its quest to prevent the City of Custer from redirecting its effluent discharge into French Creek. Its request for a writ of mandamus that would stop that portion of the project was denied again in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.
In a ruling issued Sept. 15, Seventh Circuit Court  judge Stacy Wickre wrote the ordinance voted on by Custer County voters that deems discharge of the city’s effluent into French Creek or its tributaries as a nuisance is preempted by state law that prohibits the county’s enforcement of the ordinance.

Crazy Horse to end laser light show Sept. 30

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 10:26am

Sept. 30 will mark the end of an era as the Legends in Light laser show shines for the last time against the Mountain at Crazy Horse Memorial.  What began as a dream and a generous one million dollar donation from Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s mogul Ray Kroc, went on to amaze and entertain Crazy Horse Memorial visitors from all over the world for nearly 20 years.

Businesses asked to pitch in to ‘Freedom Works Here’ campaign

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:14am
Gov. Kristi Noem’s administration reached out to economic development groups and major employers across South Dakota last month, asking them to help extend a run of national TV commercials touting her “Freedom Works Here” workforce recruitment campaign.
By contributing $10,000, they were told, they would receive perks such as callouts on the “Freedom Works Here” website and social media channels, detailed market research data and two invitations to the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt.

Mostly strong tourism season reported

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 3:26pm

Memorial Day, Independence Day, Gold Discovery Days, the Rally and Labor Day and almost  all of the other golden days of summer have all come and gone. Gone with them are many of the millions of annual tourists who come to visit the area, but not without leaving their mark on local businesses, parks and attractions.
This year seems to be a bit hit or miss. Some business report lessened visitation, while others are just as busy as ever—even on par with record years.

Victims of fatal crash identified

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 3:12pm

A man and woman from Wisconsin have been identified as the people who died Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Custer.
Preliminary crash information indicates a 2017 Subaru Outback was stopped at the stop sign on Washington Street at its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 16A. At the same time, a 2022 Genuine Scooter Company Buddy moped was traveling eastbound on Hwy. 16A toward Washington St.

French Creek discharge heads to court

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 3:11pm

An ordinance declaring the dumping of effluent into French Creek does not contradict state law and therefore should go into effect immediately, a lawyer for Preserve French Creek argued in Seventh Judicial Circuit court last Thursday afternoon.

City budget to be just over $17 million

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 3:10pm

The Custer City Council passed the first reading of a $17,151,465 budget for 2024 at its Sept. 5 meeting, a figure that is around $5 million higher than last year’s budget.
Proposed general fund expenditures are set at $3.9 million, which is up about $600,000 from a year ago.
There is $808,125 budgeted for general government, and another $835,800 for public safety, which includes law enforcement. Highways and streets has $1,292,430 budgeted for 2024.

County property may still be under market value

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 3:10pm

Custer County property is currently assessed at 78 percent of market value, although it’s too early to tell whether or not the county will once again need to raise values to reach the goal of valuing property at 85 percent to market value.
That was the message delivered by county Department of Equalization director Leah Vissia at the Sept. 6 meeting of the Custer County Commission, as Vissia gave an update on county sales through July.