Custer County Chronicle

Yabba Dabba Do-over

Published by admin on Wed, 08/07/2024 - 10:00am

Just because you’re millions of years old doesn’t mean you can’t still look good.
To that end, the Dino statue located just outside Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort on the west side of Custer is getting a makeover, thanks to property owner Custer Hospitality and Mike Dewsbury, the man doing the work to make Dino ready for primetime once more.
And while technically Dino is only multiple decades old and not millions of years old, he had still fallen into rough shape over the years as Flintstones Bedrock City morphed into Buffalo Ridge.

84th rally stuck in low gear

Published by admin on Wed, 08/07/2024 - 9:59am

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has rolled back into the Black Hills, but what’s usually a booming thunder of revving bikes is sounding a little more like just a distant rumbling this year.  According to folks around Custer and to rally stats from the South Dakota Department of Transportation, attendance is down from previous years and the five-year average.
Giovanni Escobar works at one of the temporary  rally merchandise tents on Mount Rushmore Road, and didn’t hesitate to answer: “This year has been way down.”

Rapid City man dies in Hwy. 385 crash

Published by admin on Wed, 08/07/2024 - 9:56am

A 24-year-old Rapid City man, Seamis Eliason, died and another was seriously injured last Wednesday morning, July 31 in a two-vehicle crash at Carroll Creek Road and US Hwy. 385 south of  Custer.

Court rules in favor of city in French Creek flap

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:24pm

Because the City of Custer’s action in constructing, establishing, operating and maintaining its upgraded wastewater treatment facility was done in a matter that follows state law, its actions cannot constitute a nuisance.
That was the opinion of the South Dakota Supreme Court as it handed down an opinion regarding the lawsuit filed by Preserve French Creek in an attempt to stop the city from discharging its effluent into French Creek just below Glen Erin Schoolhouse.

Custer Cruisin’ starts Friday

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:21pm

It’s early August in the Black Hills, which means thousands of two-wheelers are making their way here to participate in the 84th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which starts on Friday and runs through Aug. 11. When they arrive, the town of Custer will be ready for them with special Custer Cruisin’ events planned, bike-themed street vendors and of course restaurants and hotels ready to feed and board the riders.

High fire danger ignites Southern Hills

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:21pm

With record-pushing heat, worsening drought conditions across Custer County and dwindling moisture that often comes with lightning, fire season is beginning to take a turn for the worse. This week saw several fires across the area, all of which are now contained.
A wildfire at Bismarck Lake broke out and was reported at 11:55 p.m. Thursday, leading to evacuation of over 150 people at Camp Bob Marshall, many of them children attending a summer camp. Campers at Camp Bob Marshall were transported to Custer High School about 1 a.m.

CSP road project pushed back a year

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:19pm

A proposed project for milling, overlay, pipe replacement and a box culvert in Custer State Park on Hwy. 36 just inside the park from the east gate that was scheduled for this October will no longer take place this year. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) has decided to reschedule the project for next October. This is a state project, not a county project.

Headwaters Economics floats flood strategies

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:19pm

Propane tanks floated down flooded streets, unmoored boats were caught under bridges and cars were lifted off the ground in flash flooding that occurred five years ago Aug. 2, 2019. To help prevent such things from happening again, Headwaters Economics is helping the City of Custer and Custer County implement infrastructure projects with the aim of flood mitigation, which was discussed at a meeting at the Custer County Courthouse Annex Pine Room July 23.

Buffalo Gap house fire claims life

Published by admin on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 12:18pm

One person is dead after an early-morning fire Sunday in Buffalo Gap.
Custer County Dispatch received a call regarding a structure fire at 3:04 a.m. from a neighbor of the home that was burning. When firefighters arrived on scene, part of the home, located at 410 N. 3rd St., was fully involved.
Randy Schroth, Buffalo Gap fire chief, said his son lives next to the home that was on fire and was the first to respond along with another son, and he was five minutes behind. A couple more firefighters were on scene around 10 minutes later.

West Dam could be full once more by end of 2025

Published by admin on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 9:40am

Could West Dam have water in it by the end of next year?
According to Steve Bareis of RESPEC Engineering, the firm, along with Banner Engineering, that is working with the city on reviving the dam once more, while the timeline is aggressive, it’s possible the dam could be full of water again for the first time in over a decade by the end of 2025.