News

CSP concessions going to out-of-state operator

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 1:18pm

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission meets tomorrow and plans to finalize a contract between Custer State Park and Xanterra Travel Collection, a move that commissioners said will help the park keep up with growing visitor expectations.
Concessionaires are private companies that contract with the state to offer services that parks don’t provide, such as food, lodging and retail.

County has access concerns

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 1:16pm

Proposed access from planned multi-family housing on the property of the Bearded Buffalo Resort to Granite Heights Road has raised concerns from the Custer County Highway Department, Custer County Emergency Management and Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

Council breezes through light agenda

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 1:15pm

It was the quickest of meetings for the Custer City Council at its Oct. 5 meeting, as the council breezed through a short agenda in roughly 10 minutes.
Among the agenda items addressed by the council was approval of the Custer Cemetery caretaker contract for 2027 with J&M Lawn Care.
The terms of the contract call for the city to pay $49,500 for spring and fall clean up of pine needles, cones and branches, along with mowing and trimming the cemetery grounds. Noxious weed spraying as needed is also a part of the contract.

Meeting leads to senior board dismissal

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 1:15pm

In a 33-5 vote, members of the Custer Senior Center called for the dismissal of the current board of directors effective immediately at an unofficial emergency membership meeting Friday, Oct. 9.
There is no established protocol for such a meeting in the Custer Senior Center bylaws. Tim Swanson was asked to run the meeting as the former board president, having willingly resigned Aug. 31. 

Custer Chamber banquet Oct. 15

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 1:13pm

The Custer Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Annual Chamber Membership Banquet will be held this Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Custer State Park Event Barn. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and awards presentations. Several awards will be handed out to local businesses, citizens and organizations at the banquet. The awards to be handed out are: 
• Heart of Custer
•Community Team/Service 
• Individual of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement
• New Business of the Year
• Business of the Year
• Custer’s Rising Star

Council talks water, trails, sewer

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:06am
Recent rainfall has helped, but it hasn’t solved the persistent problem of the Tracy Park well putting out fewer gallons per minute than usual. Thus, the Hill City Common Council approved a resolution enacting temporary watering restrictions and violation fees at the Sept. 28 meeting. 
At the Sept. 14 meeting, it was reported that the Tracy Park well was only putting out 40-60 gallons per minute instead of 110. After the rain preceding the Sept. 28 meeting, public works director Justin Asher said it was putting out 89-92 gallons per minute. 

Council discusses TIF funding for infrastructure

Published by admin on Wed, 10/14/2026 - 9:59am
Could Tax Increment Financing (TIF) help the City of Hill City offset water and sewer operation and maintenance expenses? The council discussed looking into the possibility at the Sept. 28 meeting of the Hill City Common Council. 

Council designates funds to light up town

Published by admin on Wed, 10/07/2026 - 9:55am
In order to bring the North Pole to Hill City this Christmas, the light poles on Main Street need some maintenance. However, a proposal to designate Business Improvement District (BID) Board funds toward the project should light up Hill City in time for the holiday season. 
The light poles on Main Street have various wiring and power issues. Some have neutral while others don’t, and there is not enough amperage or voltage to plug in the Christmas lights and wreaths. 

Homecoming next week at CHS

Published by admin on Wed, 10/07/2026 - 9:49am

Grab your sunglasses, and roll out the red carpet. A Wildcat Hollywood is coming to town for homecoming Oct. 12-16.
“Homecoming, to the students means the opportunity to show their school spirit, participate in some friendly competitions and building camaraderie between classmates. Lip sync and class games can get very competitive, and it is fun to see the students getting involved who might otherwise not,” said Custer High School counselor and student council advisor Tiffany French.

Of mice and mayhem

Published by admin on Wed, 10/07/2026 - 9:46am

Every weekday morning, Custer County Chronicle general manager Jason Ferguson has a new chore.
After he arrives at work and puts down his lunch box and anything else he may have carried in that morning, he heads to the Chronicle kitchen, where he checks the various mouse traps strewn across the space to see if there were any fresh kills over night. Sometimes there are mice that have paid the ultimate price for their love of peanut butter. Sometimes there are no mice. Sometimes, in a particularly galling scene, the peanut butter is licked clean but there is no corpse.