News

Joining the picket line

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:33pm

Custer can hardly seem further removed from the bright lights and intricate sets of Hollywood entertainment, but as small towns tend to reveal, it is a small world.  In fact, Custer native, Anne Cofell Saunders is right in the middle of the latest Hollywood hubbub as she is actively involved in the Writers Guild of America strike and has been on the picket lines often in hopes that the strike will end soon so she and other professionals in the industry can get back to work—with fair wages and protections from controversial technology like Artifical Intelligence, for example.

CTE wing yet to have any wings

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:29pm

At the Sept. 11 meeting of the Custer School District Board of Education, Jeremy Altman of Architecture Inc. presented on a new design for the CTE (Career and Technical Education) expansion project.
“At this point, we’re looking for direction on whether or not this is feasible,” said Altman.
At a total project cost of $39,219,670, it’s looking like the answer is “no”—at least in the iteration presented at the meeting.

Judge denies writ of mandamus

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:28pm

Preserve French Creek, Inc., was dealt a blow in its quest to prevent the City of Custer from redirecting its effluent discharge into French Creek. Its request for a writ of mandamus that would stop that portion of the project was denied again in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.
In a ruling issued Sept. 15, Seventh Circuit Court  judge Stacy Wickre wrote the ordinance voted on by Custer County voters that deems discharge of the city’s effluent into French Creek or its tributaries as a nuisance is preempted by state law that prohibits the county’s enforcement of the ordinance.

Heavy rains cause flash flooding

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 2:27pm

Heavy rains, hail and power outages were the order of the evening in the eastern part of the county last Wednesday when a thunderstorm passed through Custer County and dumped between three and six inches of rain and large hail on certain parts of the eastern side of the county.
The heaviest ran and hail seemed concentrated west of Hermosa along Hwy. 40, where the most flooding and largest hail occurred.

Crazy Horse to end laser light show Sept. 30

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 10:26am

Sept. 30 will mark the end of an era as the Legends in Light laser show shines for the last time against the Mountain at Crazy Horse Memorial.  What began as a dream and a generous one million dollar donation from Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s mogul Ray Kroc, went on to amaze and entertain Crazy Horse Memorial visitors from all over the world for nearly 20 years.

Doaty resigns from city council

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:37am
The City of Hill City is again without a mayor and also down an alderman as Ward 1 alderman Carl Doaty resigned after Monday’s Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting.
Doaty said he resigned as a need to reduce stress, give him room to breathe and preserve his mental and physical health. 
“I did what was best for me, my health and my family,” he said.
He described many sleepless nights where he was having difficulty striving to find “balance” between trying to solve city problems and having an unwilling board.

Doaty proposes $3.5 million bond for water tower

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:37am
After a discussion about water rates at the Aug. 28 Hill City Common Council meeting, the council decided to further discuss the bulk water rate and the capital improvement funds at the Sept. 11 meeting. 
To recap, alderwoman Lori Miner said at the last meeting the suggestion from city administrator Brett McMacken was that the water and sewer rates themselves were meeting needs and covering costs. Rather, it was the improvement fees, specifically the sewer improvement fee, that might need to be increased. 

District ranked in top five in state

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:34am
“We’re so lucky with the new staff that we have,” said Hill City School District superintendent Blake Gardner, who had the new teachers introduce themselves to the Hill City school board at its Sept. 11 meeting.
Gardner   the high school came in fifth place in the U.S. News & World Report State of South Dakota rankings noting,  “I think we’re all kinda bummed” since the district is used to being in the top one or twi.
“We’re happy to be recognized by them,” Gardner said, noting the school is still in the upper echelon. 

Desire to bring Meals on Wheels to Hill City

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:30am
Is there an interest in Meals on Wheels in Hill City? Would the senior citizen population participate in congregant dining if it was available? Are there volunteers willing to make it possible?
These questions were posed at a recent meeting of the Hill City Food Pantry. 
“About a year before covid, Susan and I worked diligently to get Meals on Wheels back into Hill City,” Dale Householder said.l 

Meetings offer Ranger Square info

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 9:26am
By Leslie Silverman
 
Two public meetings to learn more about the Ranger Square project take place Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hill City Center. It is an opportunity to hear from Ranger Square volunteers, to learn how the project will benefit the community and to answer questions the public might have about the project.