Custer County Chronicle

Cruisin’ to start Friday

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 9:41am

It’s time for motorcycles to invade the Black Hills once again, as Custer Cruisin’ begins Aug. 6 in conjunction with the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
As always, Mt. Rushmore Road will be barricaded for center lane parking for motorcycles, with one lane of traffic heading both east and west from 5th Street to 8th Street. In addition, city crews will block off south 6th Street so Cruisin’ vendors can set up  their tents. Vendors will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day of the event.

Quick council meeting

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 9:37am

It was a sparse agenda at the Aug. 2 meeting of the Custer City Council, as the council breezed through the meeting in 23 minutes, with no major issues to take up.
The topic receiving the most discussion was the department head report by public works director Brian Raber, who said the public works crew has been working late nights and early mornings to locate a water line leak that was eventually found on Sherman Street between 10th and 11th streets. The leak was losing 50 gallons a minute, Raber said, and the water never came to the surface, making the leak hard to locate.

American Rescue Act funds researched

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 9:33am

If Custer County wants to apply for and receive money from the American Rescue Act, it would be wise to do so soon.
That was the message delivered to the county commission by county emergency management director Steve Esser and county veteran service officer Todd Fish, both of whom were appointed to a committee to investigate the money and any strings attached.
“I think we agreed we aren’t looking for any decisions today,” Fish said. “We just want to update you. You need time to read through it, especially the treasury guidance, because it’s a treasury program.”

Body found in flaming car

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 9:09am

On July 29 at 9:41 p.m. a fire was reported in a remote area off Foster Gulch Road between Keystone  and Rockerville. A Pennington County Facebook post explains “after fire fighters arrived and contained a small wildfire estimated at a quarter acre, they found a destroyed vehicle with a body inside.” The post adds that a caller reported hearing a loud popping sound, then seeing fire.
According to Capt. Tony Harrison, an investigator with the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, it is unclear where the caller was located when they called in the fire.

Bridge scheduled to go to Watson Park

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:31am
The Keystone Board of Trustees approved the no rise analysis and floodplain application proposal from AE2S at its July 21 meeting. This is another step  to place the “Bridge to Nowhere” at Watson Park.  

Planning for rapid growth

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:19am

Part 9 of a series examining the economic and lifestyle impacts of the in-migration to Custer County.
Custer County’s growing pains are being felt perhaps nowhere more keenly than in county and city planning departments where revenues from building permits and other fees have soared and planners are regularly taking on new challenges from the increasing numbers of new residents.
County planning director Terri Kester said permits for road approaches (needed for getting a 911 address for new construction) and septic systems are the leaders among fees collected.

‘Cat’ thefts on the rise

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:15am

The term “cat burglar” has recently taken on a whole new meaning for law enforcement officials. That’s because “cat” is short for catalytic converter and thefts of the pricey automotive pollution control devices are on rise, both nationally and here in Custer County.
Lt. Jeff McGraw of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a felony theft of a catalytic converter from the garage of a local home and said the cases have been increasing in frequency for a couple of years now.

Park project to be rebid

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:14am

After receiving a single bid 40 percent over the engineer’s estimate for the project, the Custer City Council has decided to send construction of the first two phases of Harbach Park back out to bid.
The decision at the council’s July 19 meeting came after discussion with Dana Foreman of KLJ Engineering, which has helped with the design and bidding process for the renovation. Foreman said after the lone bid from RCS Construction came in so high he and city staff looked for places savings could be gained through changes, but found minimal ($20,000-$30,000) ones.

First responders gear up for rally

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:10am

Although it will be the 81st edition of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally come August, crowds that invade the Black Hills may resemble more of an anniversary rally—think 75th rally—than a normal rally, thanks to pent-up demand due to COVID-19.
That was the message delivered to first responders gathered at the Custer County Search and Rescue building last Thursday morning, as the responders shared planning procedures for the upcoming rally scheduled for Aug. 6-15.

More Gold Discovery Days winners listed

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 8:59am

Whether it was flowers, cars or gold nuggets, everyone brought out their best colors for Gold Discovery Days (GDD) 2021 and several came away winners in various competitions during the three-day annual event.