Custer County Chronicle

Drainfields a hot topic at county meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 2:47pm

Under the road or over the section line? That was the dilemma facing the Custer County Commission at its March 11 meeting.
The issue came when Alex Heim told the commission he had a failing drainfield at his VIP Road home. To install a new drainfield he will either need to put a new wastewater pipe under VIP road—to property he owns on the other side of the road for a spot to build a new drainfield—or cross a section line and run onto his neighbors’ property to build the drainfield.

Noe promoted, Ferguson demoted

Published by admin on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 2:45pm

Southern Hills Publishing general manager Jason Ferguson has announced the promotion of Esther Noe to general manager, while subsequently announcing he has demoted himself to “door- opening associate,” which he described as being similar to a Wal-Mart greeter only less cheerful and sans a blue vest. Perhaps a toga, he said.

Qury’s final tally is 9,168 acres

Published by admin on Wed, 03/25/2026 - 8:51am

Eleven days after it started, the Qury Fire Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team transitioned management of the fire to a Type 4 operation.

Hermosa still rife with controversy

Published by admin on Wed, 03/25/2026 - 8:47am

Between alleged open meeting violations, long an issue in Hermosa, routinely four-hour-long board meetings, publicly scrutinized financial decisions, the revolving door of board chairmanship and the firing and hiring of legal counsel, the Hermosa Board of Trustees has been fraught with contention and near-upheaval for years, and that has not changed in recent weeks and months.  

School district talks staff attrition

Published by admin on Wed, 03/25/2026 - 8:47am

The Custer School District (CSD) is looking at implementing attrition and restructuring methods to improve efficiency and decrease costs in the district. Ultimately, the goal is to balance the district’s annual budget while continuing to provide a great education for students. 
“Attrition is the key to all the changes that we’re trying to make,” said superintendent of schools Dr. Tim Frederick. “It’s trying to become more efficient and more effective with the resources that we have and that we can continue to keep for sustainability for the district going forward.” 

Harlow’s allegations discussed at Hill City meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 03/25/2026 - 8:45am

Several people attended the most recent Hill City School District Board of Education meeting 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. 

Fire opt-out rationale given

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 2:46pm

Custer County volunteer fire departments are on borrowed time—literally and figuratively.
That was the message delivered at a special March 9 public meeting held to allow the public to hear what local firefighters say are the reasons for a proposed tax opt-out that will be on the June ballot. If approved, the opt-out will allow the county to opt out of its current fire fund tax levy to raise more funds for county fire departments that are not already within a taxing district.

Fanned by wind and dry conditions, Qury Fire consumes over 9,000 acres

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 2:40pm

Fire season has come to Custer County, and it’s only the middle of March.
A day that started with a Red Flag warning ended in disaster in Custer County Thursday, March 12, when a pair of fires broke out off Hazelrodt Cutoff two miles southeast of Custer that afternoon. Aided by strong winds and dry conditions the fires merged and has so far chewed up 9,059 acres of Custer County land before being mostly corraled by hundreds of firefighters who converged on Custer from local, state and federal agencies.
The fire began just after 1 p.m. last Thursday.

School resource officer contract approved

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 2:39pm

The Custer School District (CSD) has arranged a two-year contract with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office for a School Resource Officer (SRO) at $65,000 per year. Further details were discussed at the Board of Education March 9 at the Custer board room. 
Board vice president Travis Hartshorn, board member Heath Reindl and superintendent of schools Dr. Tim Frederick met with the Custer County Commission to discuss the situation and worked out a plan to keep an SRO in the district. 

Firework lottery dates released

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 9:48am
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is hosting a July 3 fireworks display this year. This is a ticketed event. People who wish to see the fireworks display need to enter a lottery, which opens April 8 at 8 a.m. and closes April 12 at 9:59 p.m.  
Tickets are assigned randomly, and ticket requests  come with an option to be shuttled round trip from Rapid City to the event or park in the parking garage onsite. Lottery applicants will be notified April 14 of the results. A ticket covers a total of four people, which must be declared when applying.