News

County raises RX cannabis costs

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:37am

If the $50,000 price tag to apply for a license to operate a medical cannabis facility in Custer County scared off potential suitors, they may have been scared off for good after the Feb. 8 meeting of the Custer County Commission.

Three escape major injury in ice-caused accident

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:37am

Three people escaped major injury after a truck they were riding in ended up on its side in a Feb. 9 accident.
At 9:43 a.m. that morning dispatch received a call about the wreck, which happened when a husband, wife and friend were traveling on Ghost Canyon Road when the truck they were traveling in slid on ice on the road, said Custer County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Derrick Reifenrath.
The truck fishtailed and hit the canyon wall, which threw the vehicle onto its passenger side before it rotated back to facing northbound.

Crackerbarrel set for Feb. 25 at senior center

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:36am

A crackerbarrel featuring all three South Dakota State Legislature District 30 representatives will take place next Saturday, Feb. 25, at 3:30 p.m. at Custer Senior Center. The event is sponsored by the Custer County Chronicle.
Reps. Dennis Krull and Trish Ladner, along with Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, will be on hand to discuss what is happening with this year’s legislature as well as to answer questions.

Thompson sentenced to two years probation

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:35am

Former Custer resident Darla Thompson has been sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to one count of an 11- count federal indictment leveled against her in 2021.

Exploring South Dakota history: Family fun night takes families back in time

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:34am
Elementary school families were invited to step back in time for the Parent Involvement Parent Teacher Organization (PIPTO) Explore South Dakota History Family Fun Night Feb. 10. 
In the past PIPTO has held science, literacy and math Family Fun Nights, but this was the first history event it has done. Between parents, students and siblings, 152 people attended. 

Council discusses food truck rules

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:27am
During the Hill City Common Council meeting Feb. 13, the council conducted its first reading of “An Ordinance to Establish Regulations for Mobile Food & Beverage Vending” as presented by the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&ZC). 
In her report, development services coordinator Dani Schade discussed the history of food trucks and how they developed from chuck wagons, to ice cream trucks, to roach coaches, to modern day food trucks. 

New leadership at Keystone Senior Center

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:20am
The Keystone Senior Center has new leadership after voting in a permanent board at its January meeting. Kristy Nemetz is the new president of the board, while Susan Alumbaugh will be the new board treasurer. Lynda Skogen will stay on as vice president and Karen Boland will be the board secretary.

School supports Masons at chili cook off

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:17am
Feb. 11 turned out to be the perfect day for The Polar Bear Chili Cook Off with what many said was the best weather in the history of the event. 
According to Janet Wetovick-Bily, executive director of the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce, “This year the weather was exceptional, and the chili cook off participants were excited about the line-up prior to the start of the tasting and the steady crowd thereafter.” 
Mason John Knapp agreed, saying, “We had a good turnout.” Around 150 people came to taste and many were lined up by 10:30 a.m.

Part-time minister sought at First Congregational

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:12am
The First Congregational Church of Keystone is looking for a part-time minister. The position is rather unique, due to several factors including the nature of Keystone itself and the rich history of the congregation.
The core congregation is described as a “diverse set of personalities who come together for a common cause,” says Steve Dalton, who sits on the search committee. 
“We have people of vastly different political, economic differences and we all seem to love each other,” he said. Cindy Esposti, one of the congregation’s longest members, agrees. 

Tax break likely for South Dakota residents in 2023 — but who benefits?

Published by admin on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 9:06am 
A bipartisan consensus has emerged in the South Dakota Legislature that the time is right for some form of tax relief to be passed as part of budget negotiations in Pierre.
But questions about which tax is reduced, and who will benefit, are still in debate and will be resolved largely on political inclinations and differing perceptions of whether the recent surplus of state revenues is temporary or a trend of continuous growth.