Custer County Chronicle

West Dam project moving ahead

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 1:00pm

Twelve years after it sprang a leak and drained, West Dam is on the fast track to being full.
The Custer City Council at its Nov. 18 meeting unanimously approved a bid from RESPEC Engineering for a that will see the dam breached, creek diverted and a storm water pollution prevention plan formed. This work, known as Task Order No. 5, is among the first steps to the complete reconstruction of West Dam, something the city has been trying to do for over a decade.

People of Custer give thanks

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:58pm

It’s just about Thanksgiving, and people across the country and in Custer have been ruminating on all the things they have to be thankful for.
Here in Custer, people found plenty of gratitude within themselves and shared with us at the Custer County Chronicle what exactly they are giving thanks for this year. Whether they were celebrating a clean bill of health or recovering from illness and injury, many gave thanks for their health. Friends, family, community and other good company were also a source of gratitude for many.  

County considers tax exemptions

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:58pm

The Custer County Commission is considering exempting certain structures from property tax in a move commission members say would be an attempt to lessen the property tax burden on county property owners.
At the Nov. 20 meeting of the Custer County Commission, county veterans service officer Todd Fish presented a potential resolution that would exempt portable livestock shelters, some carports, some detached accessory structures, driveways and some greenhouses from being assessed for tax purposes.

City denies VRBO-related zoning request

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:57pm

A local property owner saw the first reading of his request to have property he owns rezoned for the purposes of operating a vacation rental denied at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Custer City Council.

Hermosa in line for various upgrades

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:57pm

After a series of contentious meetings, the Hermosa town meeting on Nov. 19 was lightly attended with straightforward agenda topics up for discussion, including upgrading the town GIS mapping capabilities, which is a developing project, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, and the new wastewater treatment system.

Sen. John Thune elected as next majority leader

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:56pm

Republicans on Wednesday elected their leadership teams for the next Congress, opting for a new slate in the Senate while reelecting many of the same lawmakers in the House.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune will become that chamber’s next majority leader, marking the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell hasn’t held the top GOP slot after choosing to retire from leadership.
Thune defeated Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott during the closed-door, secret ballot.

Nearly 65,000 work visas to be added

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:46pm

Biden Administration has announced that it is adding 64,716 temporary, non-agricultural work visas for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security made the announcement in conjunction with the Department of Labor at a time when many worry that there won’t be enough workers to fill American jobs if mass deportations of migrants are carried out, which President-Elect Donald Trump has promised.
These supplemental worker visas are in addition to the 66,000 H-2B visas available this fiscal year, as mandated by Congress.

Noem to join Trump’s cabinet

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2024 - 9:44am

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the federal Department oAfter CNN and other news outlets reported the news citing sources familiar with the situation, Trump and Noem confirmed the reports Tuesday evening.
Trump issued a statement saying Noem would “guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries.”
“I have known Kristi for years, and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects,” Trump said. “She will be a great part of our mission to Make American Safe Again.”

Sheriff's office still struggling to hire

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2024 - 9:41am

The Custer County Board of Commissioners meeting Nov. 7 started with the certification of the General Election results, which brought a high turnout across Custer County with a rate of 76 percent.
In the meeting, the commission approved the sheriff’s office contract with the City of Custer for law enforcement services.

Development a key topic in Hermosa

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2024 - 9:40am

There was a full house in attendance at the Nov. 5 Hermosa Town Board meeting, and a range of matters was up for discussion and consideration, from a dog running loose in town to issues with possible contamination of wells, the lagoon expansion project, the Preston Development, potential development of the Carriage Hills Subdivision, and an update on the controversial tax increment finance (TIF) district that has plagued the board in previous meetings, among other things.