Custer County Chronicle

Let’s all support a fire district

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 12:36pm

The wheels are in motion for the creation of a Custer Fire Protection District, something that frankly should have happened a long time ago. But, as the saying goes, better late than never, and the Custer County Commission, with the help of some local volunteers, have begun the work in earnest that will guarantee someone answers the call when a fire breaks out within the confines of the district.

When the irons cool

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 12:33pm

It is an exhilarating feeling, riding out in the cool of the morning with husband and family and neighbors, hearing a chorus of familiar voices sing out gently in friendly conversation, the soft plodding of the horses’ hooves on soft earth, the occasional metallic ringing as a shod hoof strikes stone, watching the rolling hills fall away, the row of pickups and trailers get smaller behind us, seeing the cow herd stretched out over the entirety of a pasture.

Stephen Kincade

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 12:29pm

Stephen Henry Kincade was born to William H. and Myrtle Kincade Oct. 31, 1934, in San Francisco, Calif.
Stephen was raised with the help of his loving grandmother in the Central Valley of California, where he learned to love hunting, fishing, cars and of course, his family.
Stephen and Sylvia had many adventures and went to places Sylvia never thought of going to.
Stephen passed away peacefully at home in Custer, S.D., May 19, 2024. He was 89.
He was preceded in death by his parents; half-brother; eldest son, Randy; and his daughter, Deon.

Some advice to our graduates

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 9:41am

The school year is winding down (the last official day is tomorrow), and Custer High School has already said goodbye to another 64 students, as the annual commencement ceremony was held last Saturday afternoon at the Armory. The Custer High School Class of 2024 has its diplomas in hand, and is officially off into the real world. Now is when the work really begins.

Congratulations graduates

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 9:40am

In this week’s issue, you’ll notice a special graduation section inserted into the paper. It represents a lot of hard work on our end putting it together, but more so, it represents the years of hard work and learning on the part of the graduates. I also graduated from Custer High School, so it makes me happy to see another class advance to the next exciting stage of their lives.

Where have all the volunteers gone?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/15/2024 - 12:41pm

Whether it’s the local fire department, service group or even a booster club, organizations throughout the country are struggling to find enough volunteers to stay alive. It’s no different in Custer, where you will frequently hear that certain events or organizations are in danger of going away due to a lack of volunteers. Perhaps exhibit A of that is that there will be no arts and crafts fair this year during the Old Time Country Fourth, and our 1881 Courthouse Museum has scaled back hours as it relies entirely upon volunteers.

We appreciate our teachers

Published by admin on Wed, 05/15/2024 - 12:40pm

May 6–10 was Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to celebrate our educators and thank them for everything they do for our students.
But there’s an ongoing problem in South Dakota – teacher salaries have not kept up with increased funding to education. In fact, teacher pay lags far behind the 26.3 percent increase in funding to K-12 education since I have been governor. Our teachers deserve better—so we’re giving them better.

Chronicle catches strays on sewer flap

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 2:46pm

If you read last week’s issue of the Chronicle, you saw the story across the top of the front page written by John Hult of South Dakota Searchlight that told of how the Preserve French Creek group took its opposition to the City of Custer’s plan to discharge city effluent into French Creek to the South Dakota Supreme Court.

What does your algorithm say?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 2:43pm

I am always appalled when my iPhone tells me how much time I spent on my phone per day during any given week, and I vow that I’m not going to just mindlessly pick up my phone and scroll and scroll anymore.

Can’t sweep border issue under the rug

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2024 - 11:06am

For the 22nd time in American history, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached a federal official: U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House put forward serious charges regarding the secretary’s actions as a chief architect of the Biden administration’s lax border security regime. The case deserved to be heard and decided on the merits, but the Senate was not given a chance to do so. Instead, Senate Democrats chose to rush to dismiss the charges without a trial.