News

Guns in courthouse shot down

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

Custer County Commissioner Mark Hartman made a motion to reinstate a previously rescinded county resolution to allow firearms to be carried by the general public into the Custer County Courthouse outside of areas in use by the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.
He knew his motion’s fate before he made it, however.
“I’m not expecting a second on my motion,” he said.
The motion, made at the commission’s July 28 meeting, did in fact receive a second, from commissioner Travis Bies. Bies said he would second the motion for the purpose of discussion only.

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.

Bountiful blossoms burgeon show

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:45am
The Hill City Evergreen Garden Club flower show blossomed with entries this year. The bountiful blossoms with a country fair theme featured annuals, perennials, container gardens, wildflowers and even beautiful place setting entries.
And while the garden club consists of over 40 adult members it’s the younger generation that truly brings smiles to all who attend the show. Eleven-year-old Grace Daiss created an intricate container garden with a camping theme.

Vacation rental moratorium, registry move to council

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:39am
A temporary moratorium on conditional use permits for nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods was recommended by the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission at its July 19 meeting. That recommendation now makes its way to the Hill City Common Council.
The temporary moratorium, if approved, would not exceed 120 days. This would allow the planning and zoning commission to continue its work in tackling the influx of nightly vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods Hill City has seen.

City has second round of budget talk

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:37am
Highways and streets were discussed at length at the July 21 Hill City budget hearing. Alderman Jason Gillaspie questioned why the city had not yet developed a prioritized road plan. 
“I don't see any other street repairs or anything listed on here,” He said. “I know there’s the start of a plan but no mention of anything else.”
And while the city is carrying over $30,000 to a street improvement fund, Gillaspie wanted to know how the fund was going to be used.

‘Children’s Blizzard’ storms South Dakota readers

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 10:32am
The South Dakota One Book is making its way across the state.
The book, entitled, “The Children’s Blizzard,” is a historical novel based on the 1888 blizzard that hit the Western plains of South Dakota and Nebraska. The blizzard killed 235 people, many of whom were children or teachers, as the storm hit suddenly and at the time that many  teachers in one room schoolhouses were letting students out for the day.

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.