Custer County Chronicle

Bike trails discussed

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 11:24am
There was both enthusiastic support and concern expressed during a public meeting regarding a proposed series of mountain bike trails at Big Rock Park.

City charges for cleaning up

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 11:22am
The Custer City Council moved to collect over $3,400 from owners of four properties which had mowing and snow removal done by the city under the city’s nuisance ordinance. At its meeting Monday, Sept. 21, the council passed a resolution certifying a delinquent assessment against properties owned by Jan Gray, Robert L. Johnson and First Bank of South Dakota. 

It’s Buffalo Roundup weekend

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 11:19am
The 55th annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is set to take place this Friday, and with it comes the annual Arts Festival and Craft Show, replete with plenty of entertainment and crafts to purchase during the three-day extravaganza.
Friday morning, dozens of cowboys and cowgirls on horseback and park crews in pickups will  round up around 1,450 buffalo to drive them into the corrals where they will be sorted, branded and vaccinated in preparation for the fall sale in November. 

Drug bust incurs federal charges

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 11:11am
Three Rapid City residents face federal drug charges following a Custer County stop of their vehicle that culminated with large quantities of various drugs being seized.
Sydney Lynn Knigge, 22, Tanner Alex Thoresen, 25, and Aidan Raye Hein, 22, all initially faced a variety of state charges for alleged drug offenses, but Custer County state’s attorney Tracy Kelley dismissed those charges once the trio was indicted federally. Her office can still file state charges later if deemed appropriate, Kelley said.

Community-school garden plan grows

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 10:58am
Damaged by high water several times over the years, Custer Community Garden located along Wazi Lane on the west side of town suffered its last blow in 2019. After being covered by several feet of raging waters on Aug. 2 last year, the garden plot was so devastated that only volunteer plants and weeds grow there this summer. However, a plan put together by a community group will most likely bring about a whole new garden in a brand new location that is expected to be ready for planting by next spring. 

Kidnapping suspect nabbed

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 10:55am
Thanks to some creative investigative methods employed by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office and the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the woman suspected in a July 5 kidnapping and carjacking has been arrested in Nebraska. Katrina Valazquez, 24, of Pine Ridge was arrested Monday, Sept. 14, by Gordon, Neb., law enforcement on a warrant issued in late July in Custer County. 

Third time isn’t a charm

Published by admin on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 10:50am
The vast majority of the former State Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR) Academy campus is still in possession of the state of South Dakota after the most recent attempt to auction the sprawling property last Wednesday failed to receive a bid.
The state held the auction at the Custer County Courthouse and, despite five individuals signing up for bid numbers and seemingly plenty of interest, nobody bid on the bulk of the property, although two chances to do so were offered.

Real estate market booming

Published by admin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 9:38am
If the COVID-19 pandemic was supposed to cause the complete collapse of the U.S. economy, somebody forgot to tell the Black Hills real estate market.
While it is true the pandemic has sent the U.S. into the worst recession since the Great Depression and costs thousands their jobs and homes, there are those who are buying new homes as the pandemic unfolds, and many of those are buying those homes in Custer County, and throughout the Black Hills and entire region, for that matter.

Tourism season varied

Published by admin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 9:37am
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tourism season, which is now winding down, appears to have been a mixed bag. Some businesses and attractions, such as motels and caves, saw a downturn, but others experienced a banner year precisely because of virus-related lockdowns in other states. 

School studies adding staff

Published by admin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 9:36am
The Custer School District Board of Education and school administrators plan to fast track a proposal to increase staffing to meet the needs of a growing distance learning program in the wake of coronavirus. 
During discussion at Monday night’s regular meeting on a line item related to in-district versus “distance learning by choice” numbers, several staff members said the burden of trying to keep track of students who have chosen to do courses online is putting added stress on the staff who are trying to administer the program.