Custer County Chronicle

Mortenson: ‘We’re locking up librarians’

Published by admin on Wed, 02/26/2025 - 4:14pm

In a move that one lawmaker said would lead to “locking up librarians,” South Dakota legislators advanced a bill 38-32 on Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre that would remove legal protections for libraries and other institutions if children view books that meet the legal definition of “harmful to minors.”

Hermosa on the cusp of new water well

Published by admin on Wed, 02/26/2025 - 4:13pm

The Hermosa Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting Feb. 19. A handful of citizens were in attendance, as well as two Custer High School seniors who were observing the meeting as part of their government class.

Taxes, prisons are hot topics

Published by admin on Wed, 02/26/2025 - 3:26pm

District 30 House of Reps. Tim Goodwin and Trish Ladner along with   Sen. Amber Hulse were on hand for a legislative cracker barrel that took place Feb. 22 at the Hill City Center.
About 70 people attended the event, with questions ranging from specific deregulation to protecting  the environment. By far the most questions posed to the panel was about libraries.

West Dam bill moves ahead

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 10:22am

A bill asking for $1.5 million to help fund the reconstruction of West Dam is headed to the South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Bill Appropriations Committee with no recommendation as to whether or not to pass the bill following an introductory hearing on the bill last Thursday in Pierre.

Rhoden unveils plan to slow property tax increases

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 10:21am

Responding to a public outcry about rising property taxes, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden proposed a bill Thursday at the Capitol to cap growth in owner-occupied home valuations for five years.
The plan would also put stricter limits on the annual growth of local governments’ property tax collections and expand eligibility for property tax relief programs.
Rhoden lauded the approach as a reasonable compromise in a legislative session where property tax relief has spurred a host of competing proposals.

Hermosa up for Elders’ Wisdom program

Published by admin on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 10:12am

Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song (EWCS) is coming to Hermosa Monday, Feb. 24, to honor two more elders in the community, Linda Hasselstrom and Bill Kelly. The program will take place at the Hermosa School Gymnasium at 6 p.m.
“The EWCS brings so much pride and joy to our school and community as we celebrate the elders who have helped to build Hermosa into the special place it is today,” said Hermosa School Principal Forrest “Frosty” Paris.

Rhoden confident property tax changes are coming

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:25pm

Property taxes in the State of South Dakota have shifted away from other classes of property to put an unfair burden on those who have owner occupied status. That needs corrected.
That was the message given by Gov. Larry Rhoden at his press conference held last Thursday at the State Capitol building as part of News Media Day at the legislative session.
Rhoden gave initial comments and then fielded questions from the gathered media during the wide-ranging press conference.

Hermosa retracts Styles meeting ban

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:15pm

In a turn of events at the Hermosa Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 4, the town board voted to rescind its previous vote to ban former town board president Jerry Styles and, following some impassioned discussion, decided instead to serve Styles with a letter of warning in keeping with the ordinance on how complaints are to be handled.

Custer Community Center plan presented

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:14pm

Matt Fridell and Tanya Olson of Tallgrass Landscape Architecture gave an overview of the Custer Community Center Master Plan to a group of about 40 people at the Pine Room at the Custer County Courthouse Annex Feb 7.
Fridell began by saying he feels, “pretty darn good” about the momentum in the community for the project. He calls these sorts of projects a “monumental effort.”
Fridell said Tallgrass is really close to the final editing of the document saying, “I don’t think it will change too much.”

Broken Boot owners visit with council

Published by admin on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 5:13pm

Broken Boot medical cannabis dispensary in Custer is under new ownership, and its new owners came before the Custer City Council at the council’s Feb. 3 meeting to introduce themselves while also discussing the results of an audit the state recently conducted on the dispensary.
David and Stephanie Merritt are the new owners, having purchased the dispensary in December. The audit they discussed was conducted in November.