News

Elementary school adds 11 students

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 10:38am

The elementary school is growing, according to elementary school principal Samantha Weaver. Eleven students have entered the school in the last month. The school is working on increasing attendance overall with various initiatives.

A Homeland Security Grant, which was submitted for an intercom system to be installed throughout the elementary school building, has passed the first two steps. It is unclear how many steps are in the process.

Meter delaying project

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 10:37am

A faulty inflow meter installed by AE2S is still holding up the completion of the Keystone sewer treatment plant.

The Keystone Town Board had planned to sign off on the plant but has delayed its decision until AE2S remedies the situation.

2-2 tie lawsuit dismissed

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 10:37am

Plaintiffs Jim Peterson and John Johnson have dropped their appeal seeking a declaratory judgment in the 2-2 tie case.

The dismissal was filed in court Feb. 3.

“Appellant having served and filed a motion to dismiss the appeal…and the court having considered the motion, therefore, it is ordered that the appeal be and it is hereby dismissed,” the order for dismissal, signed by David Gilbertson, chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court, says.

Keystone chamber AUP in investigators’ hands

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 10:37am

The Keystone Chamber of Commerce agreed upon procedures (AUP) is in the hands of investigators.

Rick Brandfas, Keystone Town Board president submitted the findings of the AUP to Pennington County Sheriff’s Office deputy Chris Plawman at  the beginning of February. 

Restaurant Week set

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:52am
The third annual Custer Restaurant Week —Wednesday, Feb. 26, to Saturday, Feb. 29 — brings Custer’s vibrant food scene to life for several days of dining. The event will showcase the freshest ingredients, most flavorful dishes and tastiest culinary gems that Custer has to offer.
Participating restaurants will offer their regular menus in addition to the Restaurant Week featured menu.

Commercial property values to rise

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:50am
As Custer County continues to struggle with properties selling at prices that are in many cases wildly more than what they are assessed at, new county director of equalization Leah Vissia is planning a multi-pronged attack to tackle the issue.
At the Feb. 5 meeting of the Custer County Commission, Vissia told the commissioner she plans to combat the problem by raising the values on commercial property countywide for the 2020 taxes payable in 2021. And although that move will only scratch the surface of the issue, it’s a starting point, she said.

Coronavirus risk low for South Dakotans

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:50am
While the novel coronavirus has killed more than 1,870 people globally and experts have warned the epidemic could create havoc in less prepared countries, South Dakota public officials said the risk for South Dakotans remains low, although public health officials continue to monitor the situation.
“We have no persons under investigation [in South Dakota], which would be someone we suspect of having the novel coronavirus,” said Dr. Josh Clayton, state epidemiologist. “The risk to the general public and South Dakota is low.”

Solar project gets green light

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:49am
Lookout Solar Project, whose transmission line will run through a portion of eastern Custer County, was given the go-ahead by the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Kremer elected to NBA board

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 9:45am
Longtime Custer State Park (CSP) bison herd manager Chad Kremer has been appointed National Bison Association (NBA) director at large at the NBA’s annual winter conference held in late January each year in Denver, Colo. He was elected to the position and had served as regional director for the NBA in the early 2000s while living in Colorado before moving to South Dakota.

Second to react, hours to wait

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2020 - 2:07pm
By Ron Burtz 
 
Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley had only seconds in which to decide how to end a brief police chase through Custer on Tuesday, Feb. 11. But then, when the suspect vehicle had been spun around and stalled in the middle of Mt. Rushmore Road, a standoff would begin that involved more than a dozen law enforcement officers from multiple agencies and ended tragically over three hours later with the suspect taking his own life.