Coronavirus chaos

Cancellations and postponements too numerous to name have become the norm. The state has closed schools until early May at least, stores are struggling to keep cleaning supplies, toilet paper and certain foods and drinks in stock. Layoffs and downsizing have begun as the ripple effect of the virus continues to take a toll.

The virus has taken its toll on businesses around Custer, including at Buglin’ Bull, where Don Anderson, president of WR Hospitality, which owns the restaurant, said business is down so much that the restaurant will have to take an honest look at how many employees it can keep on and for how many hours a day. Anderson said WR is already reeling from mandated restaurant closings in other states.

Anderson said Buglin’ Bull will stay open as long as it is allowed.

“We do crisis meetings every day to monitor what’s going on and monitor what we have to comply with,” he said.

At Black Hills Burger and Bun, owner Christie Smith said the restaurant has not seen a drastic decrease in business yet, but there has been a shift in the number of people from out of town who are coming in. The restaurant, like many, has transitioned to offering curbside pickup and pushing carry-out to make things as easy as possible on customers.

Aleah Witt, manager  of Pizza Mill, said it has experienced a decrease in business after a remarkable winter. She said it was very disheartening when things took a downturn two weekends ago.

“We didn’t think we would be affected so quickly, but as soon as the announcement to ‘avoid restaurants and bars and practice social distancing,’ it was like a light switched off,” she said.

Witt said Pizza Mill has been trying to make a plan for it and the seasonal businesses.

“With all the uncertainty, it has been a lot, but we are just trying to remain positive and avoid all the ‘what-ifs,’” she said. “It doesn't seem like people are super concerned about the virus, but they are definitely talking about it. It is the talk of the town and so many people have questions about it.” 

Those in the tourism  industry are becoming increasingly nervous. Leah Scott, chief operating officer at Custer Hospitality, said that business is seeing a significant increase in cancellations and a significant decrease in bookings. The changes are reflected not only in April and May but even into June and July.  

“We are taking one day at a time,” she said.

Getting the foreign workers the tourism industry relies on into the country is proving to be more difficult, as Scott said the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is closed, so Custer Hospitality is unable to obtain its out-of-country workers.  

Custer Hospitality has  an additional 18 returning employees in the country working the winter season at ski resorts, which have been closed due to the pandemic. Scott said they are hopeful they will still be able to receive the returning employees mid-April before there is any chance of them having to return to Jamaica and not re-enter. 

“We are doing our best to continue to put our best foot forward and be optimistic, but realistically we are very much concerned for our 2020 season,” she said.

Monday a post from Custer Hospitality on Facebook said, given the rapidly changing environment surrounding COVID-19, the company was “making the difficult decision to temporarily close our Super 8 Custer/Crazy Horse Area immediately as a sign of solidarity and support of the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and, in doing so, protect the community and employees.

“This is a new kind of reality — one we never imagined possible. Travel bans, social distancing and government mandates have made our businesses unable to serve those on the road.”

The post said Custer Hospitality is suspending operations until early April at the earliest.

“While this will not affect guests currently on-site or arriving tomorrow, we will accept no new bookings for this time period and will cancel bookings between March 22 and April 12. We will continue to reevaluate operations as the weeks progress,” the post read.

“If you need to cancel your plans with us, we are waiving cancellation fees until further notice. Give us a call at 605-673-2200 and we’ll take care of you,” the post continued.

Last Thursday, representatives from the City of Custer, Custer County, law enforcement, the U.S. Forest Service, area national parks and other officials gathered to discuss a concerted effort to spread awarness about and attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, with county emergency management director Mike Carter saying there are too many people not paying attention to what is going on and mandated closing of non-essential businesses could be coming. Carter asked those gathered what could be done to fill in the gaps.

“If we would put a concious effort on the (quarantine and social distancing) recommendations, it would go a long way,” Carter said.

Susan Bawdon of Monument Health - Custer Hospital said both the senior care and assisted living centers in town are closed to visitation, and at the hospital only one visitor is allowed per person, and the visitors must be screened first to make sure there is no chance they are carrying the virus.

Bawdon said the hospital is doing a great deal of surge planning, and if the “curve” of the spread of the virus is not flattened, it will overrun medical facilities.

Those who believe they may have coronavirus should not show up at the hospital. Rather, they should call ahead to be screened and potentially scheduled for a test. The hospital offers drive-through testing behind the hospital for those who meet the criteria for potentially having the virus.

While the Custer County Courthouse is still operating, precautions are being taken for social distancing, from postponement of court dates to striping the floor in front of offices with red tape that tell the public how far they need to stay away to maintain a safe distance. The county is also staying away from large-scale meetings.

Carter said it is important to be open and honest with the public, as misinformation can be the worst enemy of the effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

Tim Hartmann, planning administrator for the City of Custer, said city hall is closed to the public, although business can still be conducted via phone, email and a dropbox outside city hall. He said the city’s wastewater plant is functioning fine, but reminded people their toilets “are not a trash can,” and that people should not flush paper towels, baby wipes, etc., down the toilet.

On the dispatch and law enforcement end of things, the 24/7 sobriety program has been suspended and minimal people are being allowed into the sheriff’s office or dispatch. If some deputies or dispatchers were to contract the virus, Fall River County stands ready to help Custer County with both law enforcement and dispatch, and vice-versa. Detox in Rapid City is closed, Sheriff Marty Mechaley said, and a rise in crime is possible, especially theft, as more people are put out of work.

“This thing is continually changing and we are doing anything we can to prepare,” he said.

Some concerns were raised about foreign workers coming to town carrying the virus, in particular a group recently in India that works for a janitorial service that cleans buildings in Custer. It was determined more information should be gathered on those workers, such as how many were potentially exposed as well as if they have been quarantined, etc.

Pam Power, pastor at Custer Lutheran Fellow-ship, said most of the churches in town have cancelled all services. She said Custer Ministerial Alliance is ready to help those who may lose their job due to the virus’ impact.

The county’s vulnerable elderly population was discussed and the county will offer manpower to help deliver meals to those who need it, Carter said.

“Those people all took care of us one time. It’s time we turn around and return that favor,” he said.

Monica Whiting of the Custer Senior Meals Program sent a letter last week that meals will be open Monday, with new protocols for meal delivery that include: