Custer County Chronicle

Commission discusses term limits

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:35pm

Should Custer County Commissioners have term limits?
Like anything, it depends on who you ask.
The question was raised, however, at the April 22 meeting of the commission—by commissioner Craig Hindle—who said he had it added to the agenda because he does not believe anyone should be a lifelong politician, and he had heard from other people on the issue.
“I’d like to see where we want to go for this,” he said. “I’d like to see it on the November election and let the taxpayers decide.”

Open meetings law violated in Hermosa

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:33pm

In Hermosa
The complaint about the April 22, 2025 Hermosa Town Board meeting filed by former board member Vicki Henrichsen was forwarded to Custer County State’s Attorney Tracy Kelley, who wrote to the state’s Open Meetings Commission. She believed the town board had violated the law at that April 22 meeting. Kelley said she was unable to substantiate similar violations alleged at July 14 and July 19 meetings for that year.
The complaint and documents can be found at boardsandcommissions.sd.gov

Hermosa engineer questions article, comments

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:32pm

By Laura Lindblom

Former Buffalo Gap official arrested

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:30pm

Former Town of Buffalo Gap finance officer Heather Jean Besco, AKA Heather Jean Besco-Clyde, has been indicted by a grand jury on allegations that she stole over $100,000 of town funds during her time as finance officer.
Besco has been officially charged in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court for Grand Theft-Embezzlement of Property Received in Trust by Custer County state’s attorney Tracy Kelley. The charge is a Class 3 Felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $30,000 fine.

Four vie for two seats in state House of Representatives

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:30pm

Four candidates—three Republicans and one Democrat—are vying for a pair of two-year terms to represent District 30 in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Two of the candidates are already serving District 30, while the other two have sought a seat  in the legislature before.
Incumbent Republican Tim Goodwin lives north of Three Forks near Sheridan Lake, and has served eight years in the House of Representatives.
“They say the Senate is a symphony and the House is a rock concert,” he said. “I”m more of a rock concert type of person.”

Commission OKs new trailer court

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:13pm

Creation of a new mobile home park south of the City of Custer was approved by the Custer County Commission at its April 22 meeting after some discussion regarding how the road through the park would be declared public.
County ordinance lays out parameters for mobile home courts, including how much square-feet there must be for each space, water availability, sewer and parking.

State fiscal year tax collections ‘doing well’

Published by admin on Wed, 05/06/2026 - 2:12pm

South Dakota is on track to meet or exceed its revenue estimates by the end of the fiscal year, the Legislature’s lead budget expert said Thursday.
The state is about $10 million ahead of its year-to-date target, said Jeff Mehlhaff, chief fiscal analyst for the Legislative Research Council’s. The state fiscal year ends June 30.
“We’re doing well on the three big revenue sources,” Mehlhaff told lawmakers Joint Appropriations Committee Thursday, referencing sales tax, contractor’s excise taxes and lottery revenue. 

Voters to determine east Custer ambulance

Published by admin on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 1:00pm

Voters on the eastern side of Custer County will head to the polls June 2 to decide whether or not to pay extra taxes to ensure ambulance coverage continues on that side of the county.
For the past several months the Custer County Commission has been working with Pennington County, the Rapid City Fire Department and representatives of the eastern side of the county to bring about the vote, if which approved will bring about the creation of the East Custer Ambulance District.

Dakota Cowboy Inn given new life as apartments

Published by admin on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 12:53pm

Many times when someone purchases a building, they give it a facelift.
As for the Ponderosa Apartments? It received a facelift, triple bypass, appendectomy, heart transplant and facial reconstruction.
Yes, the property formerly known as the Dakota Cowboy Inn needed a little more than a fresh coat of paint. Luckily, Tom Iverson and Daniela Malcoci of Link Investment Group were up to the challenge.

City aid sought by HFH

Published by admin on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 12:52pm

Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity wants to build some affordable workforce housing on north 7th Street in Custer. But it will require some help.
That was the message delivered to the Custer City Council at the council’s April 20 meeting. 
Gene Fennell, a volunteer representative for Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity, along with organization members Mike Keegan and Scott Engmann came before the council to discuss the issue, asking for the city’s help in solving a utility issue that exists on lots that could be used for Habitat housing.