News

Property tax confusion addressed at meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 3:50pm

A woman who purchased property in Custer County wants delinquent taxes owed on the property waived, saying she didn’t know about the additional taxes when she purchased the property.
At the Sept. 25 meeting of the Custer County Commission, Cynthia Finlayson came before the commission to talk about property she purchased in 2020 south of Custer.
The previous owner lived in a two-bedroom log cabin on the north side of the property, and subsequently built a second cabin on the south side of the property before renting the original cabin to her son.

Keystone gearing up for Halloween

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 10:45am
Keystone is poised to become the Halloween headquarters of the Black Hills with several events taking place throughout the month.
The fun kicks off Oct. 11 with the first night of the Haunting of Keystone, a tradition in the tiny town for 14 years.
The event takes place on weekends Oct. 11-13, Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27.
Prices vary depending on what night people choose or if they choose to bundle their experience or just visit one attraction.

Hulse, Swanson are senate candidates

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 10:42am
District 30 will have a new senator after Amber Hulse defeated incumbent Julie Frye-Mueller in the Republican primary in June.
The General Election ballot will see District 30 residents with a choice between Hulse and Democrat Bret Swanson of Hermosa.

Town leaders make changes to funding

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 10:36am
Keystone and Hill City are both undergoing some changes in marketing and funding for major organizations in town. The Hill City Common Council members opted to no longer fund two arts organizations, the Black Hills Film Festival and the Hill City Arts Council (HCAC).
That funding, $4,000 for the film festival and $9,000 for the HCAC, instead was allocated to the Hill City Chamber of Commerce. 
HCAC has been funded by the city since 2020 and was funded by an amount given to the chamber in 2017, according to Stacia Tallon, the city finance officer.

Water, wastewater plans submitted to state

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 10:35am
The next step for Hill City’s Water Facility Master Plan and Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan is in motion. 
During the Hill City Common Council meeting Sept. 23, Joe Nobel with city engineer AE2S requested authorization from the council to add both plans to the State Water Plan (SWP). 

Ponderosa Park shelter to go out for bid

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 10:34am
By Esther Noe 
 
Ponderosa Park is in the process of getting a new shelter. 
At its meeting Sept. 23, city park board member Nate Anderson presented the design plans for the shelter to the Hill City Common Council.
“Ponderosa Park is our newest named park, formerly known generically as visitor center. The area we’re talking about is on the L-shaped pond where the old warming hut was during the wintertime,” said Anderson. “In fact, that mobile trailer was our inspiration for why we wanted to pursue this shelter.” 

‘Food tax’ measure on November ballot

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 9:40am
By Nathan Steele
 
As South Dakota voters cast their ballots in this year’s general election, they will be tasked with understanding several ballot questions on topics ranging from abortion rights to landowner rights and from marijuana to Medicaid. Here’s the rundown on all the initiated measures and referred law set to appear on the ballot.
Initiated Measure 28 to prohibit taxes on
anything sold for
“human consumption”

County passes $13 million budget

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 2:09pm

Custer County will spend $13 million in 2025, after the Custer County Commission formally approved its final budget for next year at its Sept. 25 meeting. The commission held the meeting at the 1881 Courthouse Museum, as it typically does once a year.
The budget of $13,050,418 is up about $350,000 as compared to last year’s budget, which was $12,699,000.
The highway and bridge fund is up slightly, from $3.36 million a year ago to $3.44 million in 2025, as is the sheriff’s office budget, which rose from $1.786 million last year to $1.918 million this year.

Murder/suicide near Argyle

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 2:07pm

Two Argyle-area residents are dead after a murder/suicide ocurred Sept. 25 on Lonesome Dove Drive.
According to Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley, at around 5:35 p.m. that evening a 66-year-old man murdered his wife with a handgun before taking his own life.
Mechaley said shortly before the murder, neighbors in a pickup pulled up to the property to talk to the woman, 67. The man came out of a camper the two were living out of on the property with his arm behind his back, holding a handgun. The woman mentioned to the people the man had been drinking.

‘Food tax’ measure on November ballot

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 2:07pm

As South Dakota voters cast their ballots in this year’s general election, they will be tasked with understanding several ballot questions on topics ranging from abortion rights to landowner rights and from marijuana to Medicaid. Here’s the rundown on all the initiated measures and referred law set to appear on the ballot.
Initiated Measure 28 to prohibit taxes on
anything sold for
“human consumption”