Custer County Chronicle

How we are keeping South Dakota safe

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 9:58am

I’ve now been Governor of South Dakota for about two weeks. We finally have bills reaching my desk. I just signed my first bill as governor, Senate Bill 7, which bans Sanctuary Cities in South Dakota.
This bill is a strong piece of legislation. It’s a show of support for President Trump’s work to make America safe again. This bill reiterates South Dakota’s respect for the rule of law.

Property tax bills are coming to the fore

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 9:51am

Greetings! Week five down. We got a four-day weekend which was great. I got back to God’s country.
I spent Saturday, Feb. 15, at crackerbarrels in Rapid City and then in Hot Springs. I really enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new ones at these events. Attendance at both events was great with a full house at both locations.
The next crackerbarrel, combining Custer and Hill City, is at the Hill City Center (I thought it was called the senior center). It’s from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 22, and all are welcome.

Five bills have passed through the Senate

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 9:50am

I promised I would give the Black Hills its voice back and let me share with you how that is going. So far this year, I have successfully passed five bills through the Senate.
• SB 75 – Requiring citizenship on drivers licenses and ID cards
• SB 72 – Allows counties to save money by recovering autopsy costs
• SB 91 – Updating the petition format to be more transparent (consent calendar)
• SB 92 – Requiring the Initiated measure process to undergo single subject review just like constitutional amendments (passed the Senate floor unanimously).

The Chronicle that almost wasn’t

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:09pm

Man, what a difference a week makes.
Last week was one of the most difficult weeks in the recent history of the Custer County Chronicle. That’s because a week ago there almost wasn’t a Custer County Chronicle.

Violent Jan. 6 rioter pardons an outrage

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:07pm

When I first wrote this column, it started out as our weekly editorial found to your left titled “Our Viewpoint.” But, I decided not to do that, because I wanted this to have my face and my name on it. It’s something I feel very strongly about. Very strongly about.

Fighting for South Dakota’s military, veterans

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 4:58pm

This week in the legislature we made significant progress for South Dakota’s military, veterans and families. From protecting our National Guard to supporting veterans and tackling rising property taxes, here’s what we’ve been working on for you.
SB 82: Protecting the National Guard

Against cuts to libraries and SDPB

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 4:21pm

Greetings! Week fourdown! It might sound wimpy, but we had a five-day week, which is too long to effectively do your job as a legislator.
The governor’s inauguration is over. Gov. Rhoden and his lovely wife, our First Lady, Sandy, are officially installed with all the pomp and circumstance that they deserve.
So, where are we at? First off, I’m 100 percent against cutting anything from our libraries or South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB). Most legislators feel the same way.

Criminal deportation isn’t such a bad thing

Published by admin on Wed, 02/05/2025 - 9:44am

Say this for President Donald Trump—he is doing exactly what he said he was going to do during his campaign leading up to last November’s General Election.
Some of those things we agree with. Some not so much. One thing we are wholeheartedly on board with, however, is deporting known illegal immigrant criminals out of the United States and back to the country from whence they came.

Escaping through the silver screen

Published by admin on Wed, 02/05/2025 - 9:43am

You have to slow down, take a breath, and give yourself a moment of rest every now and then. Wait too long, and your body will decide it’s time to take a break for you—that’s what happened to me this week as everything pulled to a stop, and I was immobilized with a 103-degree fever for a couple days. After a three-day camping trip flanked by full work weeks and an unusual amount of extra work and errands, my body told me this week that it’s had enough and needs to take a break.

Getting ready to drop property tax bill

Published by admin on Wed, 02/05/2025 - 9:36am

Greetings again! Week three of the 100th legislative session is over. This past week Lt. Gov. Rhoden became the 34th governor. Gov. Rhoden then selected Rep. Tony VenHuizen as his lieutenant governor and both chambers approved his selection. On Thursday Tony took the oath of office becoming our Lt. Governor.