News

Hermosa board talks water bills, property

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 3:09pm

The Hermosa Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting June 10, which was attended by a small handful of citizens.
Aric Alias is officially the new town marshal, starting June 24.
The board discussed recent incidents of 5-year-olds racing motorized bicycles up and down the roads, as well as issues with cars speeding on Fairgrounds Place Road, and they are considering possibly installing some speed bumps and “Children at Play” signs for the summer, especially considering the traffic during baseball season. 

State hospital picnic is July 12

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 3:08pm

On July 12 the Friends of Custer State Hospital Cemetery will host a picnic to celebrate the work that has gone on at the cemetery and renew old friendships. The public is invited to attend. 
The cemetery consists of 44 graves, 42 of which were former clients at the State Hospital/SDDC-Custer. The burials were between 1964 and 2011. 

One last flight of honor to heal old wounds

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 3:08pm

For veteran Lou Raisler, May 20 was a day of respect, honor and closure as he participated in the 25th Midwest Honor Flight. 
The Midwest Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing just that to veterans in South Dakota, northwestern Iowa, Nebraska and southwestern Minnesota with an all-expense-paid journey to Washington D.C. Through the day-long trip, veterans can visit the memorials created to honor their service and sacrifices. 

Opt-out option for ambulance

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:44am
As property tax remains a hot topic across the state, the idea of a tax opt-out may raise concerns for some taxpayers. But when it comes to emergency medical services (EMS), cutting costs could be more costly than you think. 
The Hill City Ambulance District has chosen to opt-out of the proposed tax levy—the maximum tax levy for ambulance districts is $0.60 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation. The service is asking for an additional $125,000 in order to maintain operations and continue providing adequate services to the area. 

City seeks floodplain map grant

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:43am
The City of Hill City seeks a Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant to map its floodplain. Hill City Common County (HCCC) aldermen approved the proposal at the June 23 meeting of the council. If the grant is awarded, it will cost the city 10 percent, or $16,080, of the total project cost. The city was encouraged to apply by the state, city administrator Nate Anderson told council members. 
The HMA grant replaced the former Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which would have cost the city 25 percent.

New fees to come in national forest

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:41am
The Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) has approved a fee increase at some of its most popular day use sites and changes for off-highway vehicles (OHV) riders. 
The approval means an extension of the current season into the shoulder season, October-mid May, and will mean a $5 entry fee to sites like Dalton Lake, Sheridan Lake South, Bismarck Lake and Steamboat Rock. In total, 16 sites, those with a toilet and/or garbage collection, will now have a shoulder season fee.

Commissioners look at preliminary budget

Published by admin on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 9:40am
Pennington County departments gave their budget requests to county commissioners at meetings June 24-25.
A majority of the budget increase requests are coming from judicial services. 
Court administration shows a 22.40 percent increase over its 2025 budget, including increases in court appointed attorney’s fees, court reporter fees, jury costs, witness fees, competency evaluations and medical costs.

Fire opt out a no-go

Published by admin on Wed, 06/25/2025 - 12:12pm

The Custer County Commission seemed set to pass a resolution at its regular meeting June 25 for an opt out of the mill levy for fire protection funding in the county in an effort to provide more money to the six departments in the county that do not belong to a taxing district.
That was, until an emergency meeting of the county’s Fire Advisory Board Monday evening.
That board rejected the commission’s plan for an opt out, with a couple of those in attendance saying departments were concerned about raising property taxes as well as the opt out not going to a public vote.

BHE shutdown program questioned

Published by admin on Wed, 06/25/2025 - 12:11pm

By Jason Ferguson

School approves virtual meeting equipment

Published by admin on Wed, 06/25/2025 - 12:09pm

Custer residents will soon be able to tune into the Custer School District (CSD) Board of Education meetings remotely, thanks to the new streaming device the board approved purchasing at the meeting in Hermosa June 9.
The Owl streaming device comes with a two-year warranty and is portable. It offers an all-in-one 360-degree camera, microphone and speaker system and is designed for hybrid meetings. The camera automatically focuses on whoever is speaking to help viewers follow the discussion and has an 18-foot radius. A link could also be embedded from the district website.