Custer County Chronicle

Questions posed on Battle Creek opt out

Published by admin on Wed, 04/23/2025 - 12:23pm

Representatives from the Battle Creek Fire Protection District board recently held outreach meetings in Hermosa and Keystone. These informal meetings were to listen to concerns from constituents about a proposed $225,000 opt out for a five-year time frame beginning this year for taxes payable in 2026.
While not very well attended, the discussions did offer some insight about the district and the three stations it mans, as well as its budget and a petition asking the opt out be moved to a taxpayer vote.

Community center marks more progress

Published by admin on Wed, 04/23/2025 - 12:04pm

For decades, Custerites have dreamed of indoor swimming pools, an established place to gather for community events and meetings and all the other benefits of having a dedicated community center.
With the city of Custer having acquired the campus of the old Custer Elementary school many years ago, those dreams are in the process of becoming a reality. But the process is a long one—Custer has a modest but growing need for such a facility, and of course, only so much capability to fund it.

TIF sought for Hermosa housing

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 9:42am

The highlight of Hermosa’s Board of Trustees meeting on April 1 was the honoring of citizens Linda Hasselstrom and Leo and Deb Van Sambeek as Volunteers of the Year for their years of service to the community in and around Hermosa. Linda Kramer thanked everyone for the nominations and the time taken to write the heartfelt letters of recommendation, which she read before giving the awards.

Battle Creek Fire Protection District asking for opt out

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 8:39am
The Battle Creek Fire Protection District is asking for a $225,000 opt out from taxpayers for a five-year timeframe beginning this year for taxes payable in 2026. 
According to the Battle Creek Fire Protection District Board president John Esposti, the district has never asked for an opt out despite ongoing and increasing expenses and an increase in population and structures to the area it serves.

County sales tax proposed

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:50am

South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden has unveiled a proposal that would give counties the option to implement a half-percent sales tax to fund property tax reductions for homeowners.
Rhoden said the plan could save hundreds of dollars annually for typical homeowners in some areas. Counties that opt-in to the plan would shift some of their residential property tax burden to consumers, he said, including tourists from elsewhere making purchases while they pass through.
“Realistically, it’s a tax decrease for the citizens of the state,” Rhoden said.

Chamber pauses annual Tesla rally

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:47am

There will be no Sound of Silence Tesla Rally this May in Custer, but accusations that the event was cancelled due to the current political climate are false, Custer Area Chamber of Commerce officials say.
The decision to put the rally on a hiatus was actually made nearly a year ago—long before the presidential election or the creation of the Department of Government Efficieny (DOGE)—at the chamber board’s July 17 meeting. The reasons, Custer Area Chamber of Commerce director Dawn Murray said, are several.

County likely won’t change road name

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:45am

A road named deemed offensive by some was a topic of discussion at the April 2 meeting of the Custer County Commission, as a pair of residents on the road, Richard and Susan Crabtree, told the commission they didn’t want to see the name changed.

Manage your forest, protect your home

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:45am

Have you ever wondered how to manage your property, protect your home from wildfires, care for the trees on your property and detect beetle damage?
The Custer County Conversation District (CCCD) partnered with the South Dakota Family Forests Association to teach just that through a landowner workshop titled Forestry Management in Action. The workshop was hosted at the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department at the fire hall March 28.

Buffalo Gap Post Office closed due to mold

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:44am

For those unaware, Buffalo Gap Post Office is temporarily closed while the building is redone to correct the occurrence of black mold.
Buffalo Gap post master Stacie Harter said the original building was built in the late 1880s and had no foundation.
“We had a water leak underneath it last February  2024, and we got like 36,000 gallons underneath the building,” said Harter.
At first, it just smelled like potting soil in the post office, but then Harter said she started to smell the mold.
“It was bad,” said Harter.

Spring Fling Thursday

Published by admin on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 11:39am

The Custer Area Chamber of Commerce annual spring fling will be tomorrow, Thursday, April 10. The highlight of the event will be the announcement of the Gold Discovery Days Parade Marshals. The royalty candidates will also be announced.
The event will take place at Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial with a social hour beginning at 5 p.m. and heavy hors d’oeuvres served at 6 p.m.