Custer County Chronicle

This session is full of many challenges

Published by admin on Wed, 01/29/2025 - 5:31pm

We just completed our 8th legislative day of the 100th session. It has been a jam-packed two weeks. With a large class of new legislators, leadership has concentrated on training and organizing the committee chairs and members quickly. As we do at the beginning of each session, we voted to adopt the new rules for the 100th and 101st legislative session. These are the rules which will be in effect until we gavel out in March 2026.  

Inbox has been flooded on SDPB, library, prison

Published by admin on Wed, 01/29/2025 - 5:30pm

Greetings! Week two of the 100th legislative session is in the books. What an exciting time for South Dakota. I’m sure you’ve heard that Gov. Noem was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the nation’s Homeland Security secretary. She has resigned her position as our 33rd governor. Now lieutenant governor automatically moves up to the governor position. Next he announces his lieutentan governor pick and both chambers need to confirm the selection.

Week one is now behind us

Published by admin on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 10:07am

Greetings! Week one of the 100th legislative session is in the books. The legislature is made up of two bodies. The House of Representatives has 70 members and the Senate has 35 members. This year there are 14 new senators and 28 new House members for a total of 42 newbies of the 105 total legislators. That has to be a record!

Thank you Biden, welcome Trump

Published by admin on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 10:04am

By the time you read this, Donald Trump will have been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, having won his second election in three tries at securing the highest office in the land.

It’s been my honor to be your governor

Published by admin on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 10:02am

You probably know that President-elect Trump has called on me to serve, if confirmed, as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. It’s a tremendous honor and a great responsibility. The mission is to keep the American people safe from threats to the homeland.
That leaves me in a position where I may say “farewell” to all of you in the very near future. But South Dakota will be in good hands.

Projects abound in Custer County

Published by admin on Wed, 01/15/2025 - 3:16pm

Here at the Custer County Chronicle, we try not to be prisoner of the moment. What does that mean? Basically, it means to be so heavily influenced by the current situation or emotions happening right now that you can’t think clearly about the bigger picture or potential future consequences, essentially being captive to the present moment without considering what came before or what might come after. Being a prisoner of the moment implies a lack of perspective or foresight.

In for an exciting hoops season

Published by admin on Wed, 01/15/2025 - 3:14pm

I can remember three years ago, when this current group of Custer High School boys basketball seniors were freshman, thinking to myself, “these guys could be really good in a few years.”
Fast forward to this year, and the Wildcats are just that—really good.

The legislative session has gotten underway

Published by admin on Wed, 01/15/2025 - 2:49pm

Greetings! It is finally upon us. The South Dakota legislative session started Jan. 14. It sure seemed like forever to get here, with a six-way contested Primary Election in June and a contested General Election in November. It’s finally time to go to Pierre and do the job you elected us to do.
My platform in both elections was property tax reform and that is my focus this session. We have a bill right out of the chute and a couple more to follow. I’ll write specifically again about that in future articles.

Remembering the news of 2024

Published by admin on Wed, 01/08/2025 - 9:22am

Although we are already eight days into the new year, we are still remembering all the best and worst things that occurred in Custer County last year. We are diligently working on our “Best of” publication that we now do annually, that recalls the (mostly good) things that made last year the year it was. That will be included in both the Custer County Chronicle and the Hill City Prevailer News in our Jan. 22 issues. Businesses that haven’t placed an ad in that upcoming keepsake piece, we encourage you to do so ASAP!

Greetings from Death Valley

Published by admin on Wed, 01/08/2025 - 9:19am

For those who may not yet know, I’ve left town and have started a new adventure in Death Valley National Park, where I’ll be living until I don’t feel like living here anymore. I still love Custer, but even after just a few weeks of living here in the Mojave Desert, straddling the California/Nevada border, I’m completely enamored with my new home.