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Williamsons return to hometown of Custer

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 10:16am
It will be 50 years ago this fall that Dale Williamson’s college golf career got off to a fantastic start.
 The Chadron State Eagles were going to open the season in a tournament hosted by South Dakota Mines in Rapid City. Four of the five lettermen from the previous year had returned, but no one was available to fill the fifth slot. 

Sheriff's Log June 12-19

Published by admin on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 10:14am
Friday, June 12
The 911 Misdial of the Day: Some “rattling in the background” was all that could be heard over the emergency line when a 911 call came in. The rattler was never found. 
2:23 a.m.: Mountain lions were reportedly slinking between tents at a campground near Sylvan Lake. A deputy and a park ranger checked the area, but the big kitties had made their escape. 
5:57 a.m.: Two horses were lost and then found again  on Chandler Drive. 

Small towns in facing big challenges amid pandemic, historic declines

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 10:04am
The COVID-19 pandemic could not have come at a worse time for many of South Dakota’s small towns.
The deadly virus has further complicated the already herculean task of keeping cherished rural communities vibrant and reversing a historic downturn in population and economic stability.
Though mostly spared from major outbreaks, small towns that once served as the backbone of rural South Dakota have been stung by the indirect economic and emotional outcomes of the pandemic.

Crisis in the making

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 9:39am
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it!” 
That’s the assessment of Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley of the current anti-law enforcement climate in America. Having started in law enforcement at the age of 21, the now 49-year-old knows whereof he speaks. 
“I never would have dreamed in my whole law enforcement career that it would get to the point that it is today,” said Mechaley. 

Down memory lane - June 24, 2020

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 9:32am
­­10 years ago, 2010 — Custer artist Arthur Amiotte received the Enduring Vision Award and the $100,000 prize that goes with it from the Archibald Bush Foundation ... A groundbreaking was held for the renovation and expansion of the Custer County Courthouse ... Even after the Custer liquor store was voted to close, debate on the Custer City Council continued on whether the store should be closed immediately.   

Eight days in Custer County

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 9:30am
Thursday, June 25
Lions Club, 5:30 p.m., Pizza Works
Life Struggles Suicide Prevention Group, 6 p.m., Custer VFW
Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., Custer County Airport
 
Saturday, June 27
Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Way Park
Custer High School Graduation, 2 p.m., Wildcat Field
 
Monday, June 29
Mile High Garden Club, 7 p.m., Call 673-2344 or 673-4598 for information
 

Saving Custer’s ambulance service

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 9:22am
Less than six months after Merle Holden went to work for Black Hills Electric Cooperative (BHEC) as office manager, he was out on the line helping with a major early spring snowstorm.
“It was a bad storm, we had lots of snow and outages,” he said. “I was working with Jim Newberg (BHEC’s engineer at that time) in waist deep snow.”
Holden served as office manager from November 1975 until 1979, having been the staff assistant at West River Electric Association in Wall, S.D., before coming to Black Hills Electric.

Sheriff's Log June 7-11

Published by admin on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 8:53am
Sunday, June 7
5:23 p.m.: Deputies responded to a rollover utility vehicle accident on Hazelrodt Cutoff. Once there, a deputy gave first aid to an occupant with a severe arm injury, including applying a tourniquet. The person was taken to the hospital by ambulance. 
5:48 p.m.: A lost teenager with severe autism was reported on 9th Street in Custer. The teen was found yelling and knocking things over at a downtown retail store. With the help of a parent, the teen was briefly detained, calmed down and then taken home. 

Sculpture show to come back bigger in 2021

Published by admin on Thu, 06/18/2020 - 10:52am

Canceling Sculpture in the Hills (which was supposed to be held in late June) earlier in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t an easy decision for the Hill City Arts Council.

The decision to cancel it was unanimous, said Mackenzie Swanson, executive director of the arts council, but the five-member board was obviously disappointed.

“It stunk,” she said.

Sculpture in the Hills is the arts council’s largest event of the year, Swanson said, and it brings in many people from all over the Midwest and western United Sates.

Duprey pens book

Published by admin on Thu, 06/18/2020 - 10:52am

Jamie Duprey of Hill City knew in her heart she always wanted to write a book.

A high school basketball standout in Chester, Mont., Duprey decided to tell the tale of her high school basketball career. She chronicles her experience in her book “The Yellow Sports Bra,” which is due to be published later this month.

“I always wanted to write a book,” she said. “When I decided to do it, it didn’t take long to realize that I had all the research ready at my fingertips.”