Custer County Chronicle

Primary election set for Tuesday

Published by admin on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:59am

Don’t forget to vote next week. The primary election is Tuesday, June 2, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sample ballots were published in the May 20 issue of the Custer County Chronicle.  
The City of Custer will not hold an election this year since the candidates for the three two-year council seats were uncontested. Dixie Whitaker ran for Ward I, Julie Jenniges ran for Ward II and Monica McGowan ran for Ward III.

City, county may reopen LEO talks

Published by admin on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:51am

Negotiations for a new law enforcement contract between Custer County and the City of Custer are likely to resume in some form or fashion in the near future. Exactly how they will unfold is not set in stone, however.
At the May 13 meeting of the Custer County Commission the commission discussed its push to have a joint, public meeting with the Custer City Council to discuss the issue and bring the public into the fold as to how the negotiations have transpired and how they did or did not come together.

Uranium drilling hearings open in Hot Springs

Published by admin on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:50am

By Meghan O’Brien
South Dakota Searchlight

School budget decreased by 12.48 percent

Published by admin on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:49am

At the budget hearing May 11 in the Custer board room, the Custer School District Board of Education reviewed a total proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 27, seeing an overall decrease of 12.48 percent in comparison to FY 26. Excluding the Career and Technical Education (CTE) building expenses, FY 26 budget was $19,068,856, and the preliminary budget for FY 27 is $16,688,702.
The CTE building numbers were excluded because “we want to compare real numbers from real spending, not building spending year-to-year,” said business manager Sarah Wedge. 

City continues sidewalks research

Published by admin on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:40am

Two weeks after sending the issue to a pair of committees, the Custer City Council sent a sidewalk issue to another of its committees, seeking more time and research before making a decision that will impact when and where sidewalks will need to be installed in new developments.

Clock ticking on HVAC

Published by admin on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:51am

It could be tomorrow. It could be in a month. A year. Maybe five years.
One thing is certain—the heating and cooling system at the Custer County Courthouse is nearing the end of its useful life.
That was the message once again given by county maintenance director Joe Panza at the May 13 meeting of the Custer County Commission.

Woman dead after CSP buffalo attack

Published by admin on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:48am

A 70-year-old Canadian woman has died after being charged and thrown by a buffalo in Custer State Park.
Custer County dispatch received a 911 call Monday, May 18 at 1:44 p.m. from a male reporting his wife had been rammed by a buffalo and was seriously injured.
According to Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley and Lt. Derrick Reifenrath, the woman and her husband were walking south on Grace Coolidge Trail near Center Lake when they encountered around five bulls an estimated 1,500 feet ahead of them. The bulls continued down the trail ahead of the couple and out of sight.

Eight Republicans in crowded commission field

Published by admin on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:47am

A crowded field of Republicans will head into the June 2 election looking to take a seat as a Custer County Commissioner, with three seats available. The Primary Election will determine which candidates take their seats as commissioners next January, as there are no Democrats or Independents entered in the race.
Mike Linde
Among the candidates is Mike Linde, an incumbent who has served eight years on the commission and seeks a third and final term.

Three seek a pair of Hermosa seats

Published by admin on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:40am

Three candidates are vying for a pair of three-year terms on the Hermosa Town Board in the June 2 election.
Kel Koontz currently serves as the chair of the Hermosa Board of Trustees, and has served on the Board for two and a half years. He has lived in Hermosa for five years, and got involved in Hermosa’s politics out of interest in the town’s infrastructure.
“I wanted to find out what was the actual state of the town infrastructure,” he said.

Hermosa to vote on two resolutions

Published by admin on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:38am

Two resolutions passed by the Hermosa Board of Trustees were put to a vote during the June 2 election through a petition process by the citizens.
Resolution 2026-01 is in regards to creating the Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) No. 2 on the west side of Hwy. 79, and Resolution 2026-05 is in regards to the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan and revenue bond that would fund the drilling of a new Madison well and other improvements to the drinking water system, including treatment for Hermosa’s existing wells.