Custer County Chronicle

City to participate in FloodWise program

Published by admin on Wed, 08/16/2023 - 12:01pm

The Custer City Council me Aug. 7 and approved joining into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headwaters Economics to participate in the FloodWise Community Assistance Program. Headwaters Economics is based in Bozeman, Montana is “very reputable,” said alderman Todd Pechota.
Participating comes at no cost to the city, and the purpose of the MoU is to “clarify roles, responsiblities and expectations” associated with participating in the program. Headwaters Economics became interested in working with the city because of its new hazard mitigation plan.

Custer County Fair starts Thursday

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:26am

Hermosa is the place to be this weekend, as the Custer County Fair returns for four days of fun Aug. 10-13.
The action begins Thursday, Aug. 10, at 8 a.m. with small animal registration beginning at the same time.

Convicted Custer murderer dies

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:23am

The last man to be convicted for murder in Custer County has died, it was announced early last week.
Samuel Boston, 60, died July 29 in a Sioux Falls Hospital. The cause of death was not listed.
Boston was sentenced at the Custer County Courthouse to life in prison in 2001 for the 2000 murder of Richard Gitter at Valley Hi Apartments in Custer.
Gitter was found naked and unresponsive in Boston’s bathtub in March of 2000. Boston had placed the call to 911 and claimed that Gitter was inebriated and had passed out on Boston’s couch before he placed him in the tub.

Committee works to improve childcare access

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:15am

The Custer Early Learner Collaborative met July 31 to continue tackling the issues relating to childcare and early childhood education in the area.

Judgment issued in water dispute

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:15am

A U.S. District Court judge has issued an Order on Motion for Summary Judgment in a lawsuit filed by Southern Black Hills Water System, Inc. (SBHWS) against the Town of Hermosa. The unsettled aspects of the lawsuit will now move to a jury trial, although the date for any trial has not been set.
The lawsuit was initially filed in October 2021, with SBHWS claiming the Town of Hermosa is poaching its customers and putting it in danger of not being able to repay federal loans used to make the water system happen.

Rally wrecks claim a pair of lives

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:07am

With the influx of bikers to the Black Hills for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally comes motorcycle accidents. The following is a list of accidents that are local, involve local people or were fatal.
One person died Thursday, Aug. 3 in the hospital after a July 31 one vehicle crash 14 miles southeast of Custer.
The name of the person has not been released pending notification of family members.

SDHSAA sets fan ejection policy

Published by admin on Wed, 08/09/2023 - 11:03am

The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) board of directors has approved a new rule governing fan ejections and set a $500 fine for schools that employ coaches who have not taken their required courses.
SDHSAA executive director Dan Swartos said member schools have been asking for a fan ejection policy that could serve as a baseline for the actions taken when an adult is ejected from a contest. Swartos said schools are free to set a stricter policy.

Custer Cruisin’ starts Friday

Published by admin on Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:56am

Thousands of two-wheelers are making their way toward the Black Hills today in advance of the 83rd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which starts on Friday and runs through Aug. 13. When they arrive, the town of Custer will be ready for them with special Custer Cruisin’ events planned, bike-themed street vendors and of course restaurants and hotels ready to feed and board the riders.

County pauses backing housing project

Published by admin on Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:55am

The planned new housing project on land just east of Monument Health Custer Hospital hit a snag at the July 26 meeting of the Custer County Commission when the commission declined to approve signing a letter endorsing the planned projects. Instead the letter was tabled to gather more information regarding possibilities within the project.

County approves airport improvement grant

Published by admin on Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:55am

At its July 26 meeting the Custer County Commission approved a pair of grant applications regarding the Custer County Airport, as  Brenden Hendrickson, county airport manager, addressed the commission along with Travis Hirschey of Mead & Hunt, the engineering firm hired by the county to help give guidance to upgrades at the Custer County Airport. The two discussed the grant application known as the Airport Improvement Grant program that would see 275 feet of taxiway constructed at the airport, which would provide more space for hangars.