Custer County Chronicle

Down Memory Lane Aug. 26

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:39am

10 YEARS AGO, 2016

Black Hills Live Aug. 26

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:39am

Wednesday 8-26

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Custer County Commission
Custer County Courthouse
Custer, SD 
8 AM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30 AM

Seniors Bridge Card Games
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

Meals on Wheels Golf Tournament
Rocky Knolls Golf Course 
Custer, SD
10 AM

Horsted releases coffee table book

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:37am

Local photographer/author Paul Horsted and his partner Camille Riner have just published a 400-page coffee-table book with more than 350 “then and now” photos from across the entire state. The book opens with historic and modern images of Black Elk Peak, then moves across the Black Hills including Custer City and Custer State Park. Next it meanders past-and-present across South Dakota landscapes and landmarks and through 100 towns and cities to Sioux Falls. Hundreds of rare historic images fill out the volume, matched with Horsted’s images of those historic photo sites today. 

Sheriff’s Log Aug. 2-7

Published by admin on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 9:22am

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Thursday, Aug. 6
4:52 p.m.: A dead raccoon was reported on Hwy. 79 near Fairburn. However, in the words of the responding deputy, “It would take tools to remove it from the road.”   

Down Memory Lane Aug. 19

Published by admin on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:06pm

10 YEARS AGO, 2016

Sheriff’s Log July 30-Aug. 5

Published by admin on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:04pm

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Friday, July 31
10:37 p.m.: Deputies dealt with a dispute at a downtown Custer tavern that involved a bachelorette party, insults and a slap to the face. One person was cited for simple assault, but the fun didn’t end there…
Saturday, Aug. 1
12:01 a.m.: …as deputies returned to the same tavern for more fussin’ and fightin’. One of the participants in the previous incident, a 22-year-old Custer male, was arrested for disorderly conduct and another person caught a citation for the same thing.   

Black Hills Live Aug. 19, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 9:34am

Wednesday 8-19

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Driver’s License Exams 
Custer County Courthouse 
Annex Pine Room
Custer, SD
8 AM to 4 PM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30 AM

Seniors Bridge Card Games
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

Seniors Board Meeting
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

McLain retiring from Custer portrayal

Published by admin on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 1:55pm

Gen. George Armstrong Custer is taking his final stand on Mt. Rushmore Road Aug. 10-13 during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Mitch McLain has been serving the community as a Gen. Custer reenactor for around 23 years.
Originally, McLain got involved in reenacting in 1987 while he was a deputy sheriff in Hill City. At a public meeting, McLain suggested doing a bank robbery or Wild West show as a way to bring more visitors to Hill City. 
“They said, ‘Well, it’s been tried before, and it never worked. It never lasted very long,’” McLain said. 

Down Memory Lane Aug. 12

Published by admin on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 1:54pm

10 YEARS AGO, 2016

Sheriff's Log July 20-30

Published by admin on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 1:48pm

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Monday, July 27
11:49 p.m.: A wild brawl erupted at a Custer convenience store on north 5th Street after some words were exchanged between two groups of people waiting in line there. One of the participants, a 43-year-old Custer male, fled the area and was subsequently arrested for simple assault, disorderly conduct and intentional damage to property.