Custer County Chronicle

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.

City council scraps community center plan

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 9:31am
Eight years after it took possession of the former Custer Elementary School, the city of Custer’s plan to renovate the school to become the home of city offices and Custer YMCA is dead. At least, dead in its current form.
The death knell was struck at the Feb. 18 meeting of the Custer City Council, when it unanimously rejected a revised Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the renovation project presented by Ainsworth Benning, construction manager at risk for the now-defunct project.

Police: White robbed before

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 9:30am
Rapid City Police say they believe armed robbery suspect Christopher White — the man who held law enforcement officers at bay in Custer for several hours before fatally shooting himself Feb. 11 — is the same person who committed two previous drug store robberies in Rapid City starting in December.  

Trade show Saturday

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 9:29am
The public is invited to attend the annual Custer Trade Show Saturday, Feb. 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Custer Elementary. The show hosts a wide variety of exhibitors ranging from financial services and building materials to jewelry and artwork.
Concessions will be available throughout the day. Admission is a free will monetary donation to the Civil Air Patrol.
For more information, contact the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce at 673-2244 or visit custersd.com/Custer-Trade-Show.

City, county seats open up

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 9:28am
With the spring election season just around the corner, now is the time for those interested in running for office to pull petitions for those offices.
There are seats available on virtually every board, town or otherwise in Custer County. That’s true for the City of Custer, where three two-year terms on the city council could be contested, as well as the mayor.
In Ward I, Dixie Whittaker’s seat will expire, as will Kris Blom’s seat in Ward II and Carrie Moore’s in Ward III.

Restaurant Week set

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:52am
The third annual Custer Restaurant Week —Wednesday, Feb. 26, to Saturday, Feb. 29 — brings Custer’s vibrant food scene to life for several days of dining. The event will showcase the freshest ingredients, most flavorful dishes and tastiest culinary gems that Custer has to offer.
Participating restaurants will offer their regular menus in addition to the Restaurant Week featured menu.

Commercial property values to rise

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:50am
As Custer County continues to struggle with properties selling at prices that are in many cases wildly more than what they are assessed at, new county director of equalization Leah Vissia is planning a multi-pronged attack to tackle the issue.
At the Feb. 5 meeting of the Custer County Commission, Vissia told the commissioner she plans to combat the problem by raising the values on commercial property countywide for the 2020 taxes payable in 2021. And although that move will only scratch the surface of the issue, it’s a starting point, she said.

Coronavirus risk low for South Dakotans

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:50am
While the novel coronavirus has killed more than 1,870 people globally and experts have warned the epidemic could create havoc in less prepared countries, South Dakota public officials said the risk for South Dakotans remains low, although public health officials continue to monitor the situation.
“We have no persons under investigation [in South Dakota], which would be someone we suspect of having the novel coronavirus,” said Dr. Josh Clayton, state epidemiologist. “The risk to the general public and South Dakota is low.”

Solar project gets green light

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:49am
Lookout Solar Project, whose transmission line will run through a portion of eastern Custer County, was given the go-ahead by the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC).