Custer County Chronicle

New path to school

Published by admin on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 10:29am
Work has begun on a project that, when complete, will provide a safe walkway for students to get from the western, central and northern parts of town  to the school campus without having to meander through city streets or Sidney Park Road.

Memorial weekend is a mixed bag

Published by admin on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 10:28am
The summer season got its unofficial start over Memorial Day weekend, and with city-imposed restrictions that mirror Centers for Disease Control guidelines still in place, restaurants and visitors were able to dip their toes into the world of commerce that is the new normal, at least for the time being.

Businesses present plans

Published by admin on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 10:28am
Although the city of Custer is still in the midst of ordinances and resolutions that curtail business, more businesses and facilities are opening as the United States trudges through its third month dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the June 1 meeting of the Custer City Council, the city gave its blessing to five more businesses’ requests for modifications in their operations to comply with its COVID-19 ordinance, as well as plans for Custer Community Center gym, city pool, high school graduation ceremony and July 4 fireworks show.

Monument Health says COVID-19 peak is coming

Published by admin on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 10:22am
COVID-19 is projected to grow rapidly in our region over the coming weeks, according to Monument Health, whose short-term projections, based on data over the past two weeks and used to calculate the expected growth over the next two weeks, show that in two weeks the number of West River positive COVID-19 cases could grow to 776.

July 4, GDD still a ‘go’

Published by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 9:19am
While events around the country and across the state continue to be postponed or cancelled, Custer’s Old Time Country Fourth and Gold Discovery Days are still a go.
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Dolsee Davenport said, while both events are still planned to take place, it won’t be without modifications. One change is that there will be no kids’ fair during the July 4 celebration.
“Our main concern is for the health and safety of the residents and visitors who enjoy those events each year,” Davenport said.

Election is Tuesday

Published by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 9:14am
Although many people have already voted absentee, next Tuesday is the official day of this year’s primary election.
Seats are available on the Custer City Council, Hermosa Town Board, Fairburn Town Board and Custer County Commission. Two seats in the state House of Representatives and the Republican spot on the November General Election ballot are contested.
In the Custer City Council race, incumbent Carrie Moore will face challenger Todd Pechota for a two-year term on the council in Ward III.

City braces for lost funds

Published by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 9:13am
Cities and towns across South Dakota are already making preparations for what in some cases could be catastrophic losses of revenue in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city of Custer is among those, although Mayor Corbin Herman said he doesn’t expect the lost revenue to be nearly as much as some other towns will face.
“Financially, we aren’t sitting great, but we are postponing some projects into next year if we can,” he said. “If we haven’t awarded bids, we’re not going to.”

City extends emergency resolutions

Published by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 9:12am
The Custer City Council unanimously passed a resolution at its May 18 meeting that will extend previous resolutions that declare a public health emergency and limit public gatherings. The resolution, which will remain in effect until July 1 unless otherwise repealed or modified makes the resolutions passed by the council in response to the COVID-19 pandemic expire at the same time as the ordinance passed by the council.

County receives COVID-19 update

Published by admin on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 9:04am
In his 25 years of emergency management, Mike Carter said the COVID-19 emergency is the hardest one he has ever attempted to manage. With all of its moving parts, COVID-19 and all of the things that come with a pandemic are proving to be a challenge.
“It’s a pain like you would not believe,” Carter said.

Fair is on with no bull riding

Published by admin on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 9:30am
The coronavirus pandemic will mean some significant changes for this year’s Custer County Fair, but at least the August event in Hermosa is going forward. At a meeting held May 12, the Custer County Fair Board voted to schedule the fair for Aug. 6-9, but without the popular bull-riding event which has been a staple of the fair the last few years.
“People really enjoy it, so we felt bad about that, but they just didn’t think it was a wise financial decision,” said fair board secretary Connie Steen. “There’s a lot of expense that goes into it and not a lot of profit.”