News

City takes care of business quickly

Published by admin on Thu, 03/05/2020 - 9:16am
In a meeting that came in just under half an hour, the Custer City Council approved a list of business items in short order Monday night. The meeting was noticeably short on members who were physically present as well. Alderwomen Nina Nielsen and Jeannie Fischer were absent and alderwoman Kris Blom was present only by telephone. 
Business items considered by the council included:

Hermosa land buy approved

Published by admin on Thu, 03/05/2020 - 9:16am
By Ron Burtz 
 
By the time the Custer School District board of education gets together for its March meeting on Monday the deal should be closed on the district’s purchase of nearly five acres of land adjacent to the site of the new Hermosa Elementary School. 
Three school board members and superintendent Mark Naugle packed around a table in Naugle’s office on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 25, for a special meeting to approve the purchase. Three more board members were present by phone.  

Vice-principal arrested

Published by admin on Thu, 03/05/2020 - 9:15am
Custer Jr./Sr. High School vice-principal and activities director Jordan Likness was arrested Feb. 17 at his Custer home on a charge of  simple assault - domestic violence. Likness is charged with simple assault - domestic violence that did not result in serious bodily injury, or in the alternative a count of simple assault - domestic violence that did recklessly cause bodily harm to another. Both are Class 1 Misdemeanors.

School staff simulates poverty

Published by admin on Thu, 03/05/2020 - 9:14am
The South Dakota Education Association (SDEA) partnered with Custer School District (CSD) to produce a poverty simulation for CSD staff to expose them to trials and tribulations of what kids and families go through when in poverty.
The SDEA group came to Custer school district on Feb. 28 in which they provided instructions to a small group of table workers and district employees who participated in the simulation. Throughout the morning, the district employees were given a specific task at each table that related to poverty and assistance.

Rushmore fireworks info session March 10

Published by admin on Thu, 03/05/2020 - 9:08am
The National Park Service (NPS) announced next steps in advancing the return of fireworks to Mount Rushmore National Memorial after an 11-year absence. The draft environmental assessment (EA) available for review explores the return of fireworks in a way that protects the memorial, the environment and park visitors. Public comments for the proposed fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore are being accepted on the NPS project website from Feb. 28 through March 30.

Election law discussed at length

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:23am

Discussion over who is legally allowed to run for a seat on the Keystone Town Board took place at the most recent town board meeting Feb. 19.

The discussion was brought up by trustee Kwinn Neff and was on the agenda as “reminder of election law.” Trustee Neff brought up the discussion.

“I have on the agenda a complaint from a citizen on election laws,” Neff said. 

Council wants to get city project priorities straight

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:23am

At Monday’s Hill City Common Council meeting, the council discussed project priorities moving forward.

Priorities were discussed in the past; however, the council had not looked at its priority list for several months.

Of chief concern for both the council and the public was water and sewer. There is a water infiltration that is costing the city tens of thousands of dollars a year, it was reported.

Attainable housing plot, PUD approved

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:22am

The attainable housing development in Hill City took another step forward recently as the Hill City Planning and Zoning Commission and the Hill City Common Council both approved plat designs and planned use development (PUD) applications at both of their latest meetings.

The plat for the attainable housing development (to be called Bull Run Subdivision) was to create lots one through 20 of block one, lots one through 20 of block two and a dedicated public right of way.

Keystone to split bridge project bids

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:22am

Keystone will split the Roy Street bridge project into two separate bids, according to the most recent town board meeting.

The request is due to the design change to the bridge behind the c-store from a box culvert to a double “t.”

Town engineer Alan Drews said, “We’ve got the design of the bridges done on Roy Street. We ran into a snag, The state is requesting additional scour stuff.” 

Film Festival draws film fans to Hill City

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:22am

The 11th annual Black Hills Film Festival was in Hill City last weekend.

The two-day stop in the Heart of the Hills featured five sessions and over 15 films.

The closing session, held Sunday afternoon had short films about two local artists. Director Riley Thelen, from Pierre, debuted his first film entitled, “When Life Gives You Lemmon.” The nine-minute piece focuses on the small town of Lemmon and its most famous resident, sculptor and welder John Lopez.