Custer County Chronicle

Coronavirus and the courtroom

Published by admin on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 9:19am
Precautionary measures being used to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus in South Dakota seem to be affecting every aspect of life, including the way the court system operates. 

City council passes COVID-19 action plan

Published by admin on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 9:18am
A “public service announcement” to address the COVID-19 pandemic passed by the Custer City Council at a special Monday meeting admittedly has no enforcement teeth, said city attorney Chris Beesley. However, the city plans to fast track an ordinance regarding the limiting or outright closure of “non-essential” businesses during the pandemic, mirroring similar rules being voted in around the country, including in Rapid City and Huron.

Coronavirus scams are popping up

Published by admin on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 9:17am
Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg reminds South Dakotans to be on the lookout for scam artists taking advantage of the current coronavirus emergency to find new victims.
The Division of Consumer Protection warns that other states have already seen scams using the coronavirus, including a report of a scam involving a supposed automatic credit or bank charge for a coronavirus test kit which can only be cancelled and refunded if the unsuspecting victim will “verify” their account information and mailing address.

Legislators reflect on this year’s session

Published by admin on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 9:08am
The 2020 session of the South Dakota Legislature is in the books, and District 30 legislators have mixed feelings on how the session went, the bills that will become law and the bills that were not passed.
“It generally went OK,” District 30 Sen. Lance Russell said. “I was pleasantly surprised. The governor’s office came up with the money to satisfy the 2 percent (increase) for education. That was a step in the right direction and ended on a positive note.”

Larger open container area sought

Published by admin on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 9:08am
Alcohol could be even more free-flowing during Gold Discovery Days if a proposal by the Gold Discovery Days (GDD) Committee is approved by the Custer City Council.

Coronavirus prep hits Custer

Published by admin on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 10:12am
“I just want to buy some for me and my boyfriends’ new apartment,” lamented a shopper at Lynn’s Dakotamart last Friday afternoon, as she looked at the barren shelves that once were  home to a wall of toilet paper. “What the heck?”
The scene at Lynn’s Dakotamart Friday was the same as the scene at Dollar General, as toilet paper had disappeared from the store. Family Dollar still had smaller rolls, but even it had been hit hard by the crush of toilet-paper seekers who bought toilet paper in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some want to quench Rushmore fireworks

Published by admin on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 10:11am
About 40 members of the public turned out Tuesday evening in Custer for an informational meeting about the proposal to bring fireworks back to Mt. Rushmore July 3. While the open-house-style gathering was not intended to take comments on the proposal, the mood of many attendees appeared to be against reigniting the pyrotechnics at the Shrine of Democracy. 

Overcorrecting on opioids?

Published by admin on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 10:04am
Part 3 of a series
 
You are driving down a country road on a sunny day. Enjoying the drive and the scenery, you become distracted by something on the side of the road and suddenly realize your right tires have slipped onto the soft shoulder. You crank the steering wheel sharply to the left to get the car back onto the road, but it’s too much and now you find yourself careening toward the ditch on the other side. You can imagine what happens next. Perhaps you’ve even had it happen to you. 

Rise in property values discussed

Published by admin on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 10:04am
The Custer County Commission feels your pain. There’s just nothing they can do about it.
A brief discussion at the commission’s March 11 meeting centered around the continuing rise of property values in Custer County, spurred by what is perceived as continual overpaying for property, which in turn drives up neighboring property values.

State’s first coronavirus cases suspected

Published by admin on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:25am
The state’s Public Health Laboratory in Pierre has confirmed the first presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in South Dakota.