News

Bus concerns addressed at school board meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 9:38am
Several people attended the Hill City School District Board of Education meeting Monday night to discuss safety concerns involving Harlow’s School Bus Service and the resignation of several drivers in the previous weeks. 
During the audience with individuals portion of the meeting, Kelli Werlinger, the new location manager for Harlow’s, addressed the board. 
“I’m sure you’ve noticed there’s been quite a few changes with services the last few weeks,” she began, going on to discuss the driver walk-out that affected both Hill City and Custer services. 

Emergency closure order issued for Qury Fire

Published by admin on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:23pm

Qury fire now over 7,200 acres

Published by admin on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 11:48am

The Qury Fire, which is now listed at 7,200a cres, has claimed structures on 10 properties, it was reported last evening during a special community forum regarding the fire held at the Custer Jr./Sr. High School Theater.
Custer County Sheriff's Office Lt. Derrick Reifenrath told the assembled crowd that structures lost varied from outbuildings and garages to homes. He did not say how many homes were lost.

Ongoing tap talk transpires in Keystone

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:18am
More clarification about tapping into the water and sewer lines in Keystone was addressed at the March 4 Keystone Town Board meeting. 
Tracy and Matt Harrison and Tim Forgey were once again in front of trustees with questions about whether they are required to hook into the new town water and sewer lines. Keystone ordinances require that if a new water or sewer line is constructed in town a property within 200 feet for water or 100 feet for sewer must hook into it. 

French Creek lawsuit dismissed

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:15am

A federal judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the City of Custer from discharging effluent into French Creek, seemingly clearing the path for the City of Custer to begin the discharge nearly a year after reconstruction and renovation work was complete on its wastewater treatment facility.

You can be a child’s new TeamMate

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:13am

By dedicating 30 minutes a week, you could change the life of a student in the Custer School District (CSD) through the TeamMates Mentoring Program. 
The mission of TeamMates is “To positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring.” 
TeamMates is a mentorship program designed to occur during a school day. Meetings are held at the school, usually during lunch, so the mentee’s academic schedule is not interrupted. 
In 2018, CSD was the first school in South Dakota to implement the TeamMates program. 

County sales tax heads to Rhoden’s desk

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:12am

Two bills that would allow local governments to impose new sales taxes for specific purposes cleared their last legislative hurdles on Thursday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre and are headed to the governor for his consideration.

Food truck presence questioned

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:11am

The presence of a food truck in Custer—even if for only one day—during Custer Restaurant Week had some restaurant owners fit to be tied.
At its March 2 meeting the Custer City Council hard from Custer Area Chamber of Commerce director Dawn Murray came before the council to say she had been contacted by restaurant owners to voice displeasure over the presence of the food truck, which spent a day at Custer Ace Hardware during Restaurant Week.
Murray asked how the situation could be rectified for the future.

Trading property tax for sales tax

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:10am
Two pieces of a property tax reduction package prepared by South Dakota’s legislative leadership and the executive branch are moving forward, but one bill failed during votes on Monday as lawmakers began the final week of the annual legislative session.

USDA approves emergency forest restoration assistance

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:09am

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Custer/Fall River Counties is accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from the severe windstorm that occurred Dec. 18. EFRP provides financial cost-share and technical assistance to restore nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) damaged by a qualifying natural disaster. EFRP signup began Jan. 26 and ends March 27.