Custer County Chronicle

Lawsuit over valuation is threatened

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:20am

The definition of obsolescence, a disputed motion, claims of harassment and the threat of a lawsuit all intersected at the Custer County Commission meeting June 9 when Wally and Pat Steele came before the commission to protest what they felt was an inaccurate assessment of their property as well as what they felt was impropriety by both the commission (acting as the board of adjustments) and county director of equalization Leah Vissia.

Ag qualifications may tighten

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:19am

When is ag land not really ag land? In Custer County, that’s for the county commission to decide.
At its June 9 meeting, the commission, at the behest of county director of equalization Leah Vissia, set a special session date to work on curtailing what some believe is an abuse of agriculture land classification/taxation rate.

Lumber prices are through the roof

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:19am

Part 3 of a series of articles examining the numerous economic and lifestyle impacts of the current in-migration to Custer County.
 

Baby elk rescued

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:17am

A baby elk was unable to escape some fencing north of Custer last Tuesday, June 8. The elk was on the east side of Hwy. 16, while its mother was on the west side.
Law enforcement was not able to reunite the two and hoped they would work it out between themselves. However, the next morning the animals were still separated by the fence and the highway.
Two conservation officers with the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks along with a deputy sheriff from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office hiked out into the field and were able to catch the baby elk by hand.  

Record numbers for Custer Off-Road Rally

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:16am

Last weekend’s Custer Off-Road Rally was a success, as there were 85 machines/vehicles registered for the event, which brought in 169 people, according to Dolsee Davenport, Custer Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.
“We couldn’t have asked for better weather,” she said. “We definitely had a great weekend.”
The poker run held over the weekend sold 200 poker hands. Davenport said all the numbers are records for the event and more than the chamber originally expected for this year’s rally.

 

COVID-19 origin probed

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:11am

Once dismissed by most public health experts and government officials, the idea that COVID-19 leaked accidentally from a Chinese lab is now receiving scrutiny under a new U.S. investigation, according to an Associated Press article.
Former State Department officials under President Donald Trump have pushed for further investigation into virus origins, as have scientists and the World Health Organization.
Many scientists, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, still believe the virus most likely occurred in nature and jumped from animals to humans.

Custer County has lead feet on gravel roads

Published by admin on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:11am

Who is speeding in the county? A lot of people. In some places, everyone.
At the June 9 meeting of the Custer County Commis-sion, county highway superintendent Jess Doyle detailed data collected from the middle to the end of May from a new traffic counter. Included was the number of people speeding as they drove by it.
The average daily traffic count on America Center Road was 164 vehicles. An average of 40 drove over the speed limit. On Little Italy Road, the average was 66 vehicles a day—not a single one of which was obeying the speed limit.

City narrowly passes medical pot changes

Published by admin on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 9:27am

The Custer City Council at its June 7 meeting narrowly approved a modification to an ordinance for which it had already passed a first reading on placing a moratorium on applications for medicinal marijuana establishments until groundwork for the rules for such establishments are clarified by the state.
The modified ordinance passed by a 3-2 vote, with alderwomen Dixie Whittaker, Peg Ryan and Nina Nielsen voting in favor, while aldermen Bob Schilling and Todd Pechota voted against.

Rental cars in demand

Published by admin on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 9:26am

Part 2 of a series of articles examining the numerous economic and lifestyle impacts of the current in-migration to Custer County.
Not all shortages and other impacts felt by local residents are solely the result of people traveling to or relocating to Custer County. Some, such as the scarcity of vehicles for rent, are being felt nationwide due to a number of factors, not the least of which is a serious shortage of new and low-mileage used vehicles

Fischer, Jenniges, Ryan win city council seats

Published by admin on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 9:24am

The Custer City Council will welcome back two incumbents in July following last night’s elections.
In Ward I,  incumbent Jeannie Fischer had 49 votes to challenger Corey Virtue’s 46, putting her in position for another two-year term. The city did caution all city results were unofficial, as provisional ballots are not included in the tally. The votes will be canvassed by the city Monday.
In Ward II, Julie Jenniges will serve a one-year term after defeating current council member Bob Schilling. Jenniges received 28 votes, compared to 15 for Schilling.