Custer County Chronicle

Signs of the times, the new ‘normal’

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 8:47am
We all perceive that life has somehow changed since the pandemic. 
I personally have seen the effects of this change firsthand this last week when I did my monthly hike up to the Harney lookout on  Black Elk Peak. On my way down I saw a new sign. It was obvious. White in color. It stood out like a sore thumb, ruining the integrity of the wilderness. I knew immediately why it was there. It read “Leaving Custer State Park.”
First, the sign was incorrect. 

Assassination attempt should be cause for pause

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 9:23am

Many were watching on TV when a shooter perched on a building near where former President Donald Trump was holding a rally took several shots at Trump as he spoke, hitting him in the ear with one of the bullets while killing an innocent bystander and injuring a couple more. With the divisiveness of politics in this day and age, it’s not much of a surprise that someone attempted assassination of one of the presidential candidates. It was shocking, nonetheless, and something that cannot be condoned or tolerated.

Milk cow philosophizing

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 9:20am

The joke really was on me. I have dreamed of having a dairy animal for years, and to my credit I was up front with my now husband about this well before we got married. I knew he hated goats, for the two reasons (as near as I can tell) that his grandfather hated goats, and that they climb on cars.
“I promise,” I said solemnly, multiple times, actually, “I promise you will never – never – come home and find a goat. I make no such promise about a milk cow.” And I very faithfully kept my word, even though on multiple occasions I regretted ever making that promise.

Property Tax Update

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 8:53am
The drafting of property tax relief legislation has already begun in preparation for the 2025 legislative session.  Myself, Mary Fitzgerald, Dennis Krull and legislative candidates Tim Goodwin, and Amber Hulse met  July 1 to discuss options and begin drafting legislation to present in Pierre in January. Also in attendance was Robert Paul, Fall River County Commissioner Joe Allen, business owner Don Olsted, legislative representative for SMART, Keith Grieser, and lobbyists Matt Krogman and Lisa Gennaro.

Welcome, one and, all to Gold Discovery Days

Published by admin on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 12:30pm

It’s Gold Discovery Days time again here in Custer. Can you believe it? Where does the time go? It seems like we were just covering graduation, and now, here it is, the middle of July. From all of us here at the Custer County Chronicle, welcome to Gold Discovery Days! This is truly one of the most magical weekends of the year in Custer, if not the entire Black Hills.

Reflecting on gold discovery history

Published by admin on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 12:28pm

A couple weeks ago I made a trip up to Montana to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in the Crow Reservation. As you may know, it’s there that George A. Custer, hundreds of U.S. cavalrymen, and dozens of Native warriors lost their lives in one of many battles of the Black Hills War. As I walked by the hundreds of grave markers, I thought of how the battle came to be,  how much of that story has to do with my hometown Custer, and what was found there.

Decorum is important

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:52am

The ever-increasingly contentious political climate we see on the national level continues to trickle down into local politics, as more and more you can read stories about or see videos about people going to their local county, city or school board members and creating a scene while being downright nasty. It’s always disheartening to see such activity.

Weathering the storm—together

Published by admin on Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:50am

Nothing gives life quite like water. We rely on it every single day for nourishment, for cleanliness and so much more.
But that same simple liquid can also cause devastation in a very short period of time. Unfortunately, South Dakota experienced that firsthand in recent days. Historic flooding caused by heavy and sustained rainfall filled our rivers, some of them reaching crests at unprecedented levels. Families in about 30 counties are suffering in the aftermath.

Remembering America’s light

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:55am

A Gallup Poll conducted last year around this time showed that only four in 10 Americans reported they are “extremely proud” to be an American. This matched the previous year’s record low, and is down from seven in 10 as little as two decades ago.
What has changed over the past 20 years? Why are so many Americans reporting the pride in their country is on the decline? We may not see that type of declining patriotism in this neck of the woods, but it’s clear patriotism is on the decline in other parts of the country.

When the math isn’t mathing

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:37am

It wasn’t but a few hours after last week’s issue of the Custer County Chronicle came out that a reader dropped by the office to tell me about a mistake I had made in last week’s issue.
The error was in the story regarding the proposed Custer Fire Protection District, in the paragraph where I attempted to break down how much a person could expect to pay in taxes should the fire district pass. Therein lied the first thing I did wrong—I attempted math.