Custer County Chronicle

More businesses set to open

Published by admin on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 9:13am
The Custer City Council loosened its reins on Custer businesses a little more at Monday evening’s regular meeting of the council, allowing recreational facilities, public pools, health clubs and athletic facilities to open as long as they provided a request in writing.

State plans ‘Back to Normal’

Published by admin on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 9:13am
State health officials said Saturday that a customer at a Hermosa business may have exposed employees and customers to COVID-19. According to a release from the S.D. Department of Health, a patron of Corner Pantry Casino in Hermosa has tested positive for the coronavirus. The individual patronized the business while able to transmit the virus to others on Friday, April 24.
Customers who visited the business April 24 should monitor their symptoms for 14 days, the Department of Health said.

Egg case is cracked

Published by admin on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 9:12am
Even as the hard-boiled investigators at the Custer County Sheriff’s Office were scrambling for clues in a house-egging incident that was reported in last week’s Chronicle, they received a major break in the case. 
In the April 29 story about a surge in crimes seemingly related to the COVID-19 quarantines and the strange timing of those incidents, the Chronicle reported on the egging of a house in Custer that had taken place during the noon hour on a Thursday. 

Sidney Park Road project gets green light from county

Published by admin on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 9:04am
 
Barring any unforeseen difficulties, work will begin around July 1 on a project that will see a portion of Sidney Park road rehabilitated, including full depth reclamation and chip and fog seal on a portion of the road.
At the April 22 meeting of the Custer County Commission, the commission approved the project after coming out of an executive session that was designated for contract negotiations.

Two vie for Fairburn Town Board

Published by admin on Thu, 05/07/2020 - 9:02am
When voters in the town of Fairburn head to the polls June 2, they will have a choice of two contenders for a three-year term on the Fairburn Town Board.
The election for the seat was initially supposed to take place April 14, but legislation passed by the S.D. Legislature during a special session brought about by COVID-19 pushed all elections scheduled for April 14-May 25 back to the June 2 date.
That means come June 2, Sally Nordstrom and Bradley Mikkelson will square off for the three-year seat being vacated by Larry Livingston.

City loosens COVID-19 restrictions

Published by admin on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:23am
Effective noon today (and likely by the time you read this), a resolution passed by the City of Custer at a special meeting yesterday (Tuesday) morning will loosen some of the restrictions set forth when the city’s ordinance that declared a public health emergency relating to COVID-19 took effect April 9.

Daring daylight burglary foiled

Published by admin on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:22am
An unusual midday burglary was foiled earlier this month when a watchful neighbor called the Custer County Sheriff’s Office to report a suspicious vehicle at an unoccupied house. The tipoff resulted in Sgt. Derrick Reifenrath catching the culprits in the act, which led to nine arrests of both adults and juveniles. 

Coping with COVID crimes

Published by admin on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:19am
“It’s Thursday at 2 p.m. and we just got dispatched to a house that got egged,” said Custer County sheriff’s deputy Derrick Reifenrath. The call came as the sergeant sat in Sheriff Marty Mechaley’s office discussing the uptick in certain types of crime since the coronavirus lockdowns began over a month ago. 
“That’s odd,” observed Reifenrath. “That’s not a typical call that you get in the middle of the day.”

County expects COVID-19 here

Published by admin on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:17am
Custer County emergency management director Mike Carter, along with the recently-formed Emergency Operations Center (EOC) members believe it’s only a matter of time before there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Custer County. Therefore, the group continues to prepare and plan while first responders do the same.

VRBO owner lays into neighbors

Published by admin on Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:17am
The people of the Boot Hill Ranch Townhouse Association love to complain.
At least, that’s the opinion of Kevin Houtwed.