Custer County Chronicle

First RX cannabis shop to open

Published by admin on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:22am

Three years after South Dakota voters passed Initiated Measure 26 to legalize medical cannabis in the state, the City of Custer will have its first medical cannabis dispensary.
At the March 20 meeting of the Custer City Council the council unanimously approved Broken Boot Dispensary’s application for the city’s lone cannabis dispensary permit, with the business to be located at 145 Mt. Rushmore Rd.

Hermosa resident rails against town board

Published by admin on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:20am

The Commissioner’s Room at the Custer County Courthouse had the feel of a courtroom for a portion of the March 8 meeting of the Custer County Commission, as the commission heard from both representatives of the Town of Hermosa and a Hermosa resident who felt aggrieved by that town board.

Board discusses para mentoring

Published by admin on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:20am

The Custer School District Board of Education met Thursday, March 16, to discuss an array of topics: adopting a new paraprofessional mentoring program, health and counseling curricula and childcare issues in the area.
Tina Lundy and Katie Dethlefs, each paraprofessionals in the district, presented on a potential paraprofessional mentoring program for the district. Reasons for implementing the program included the high para turnover rate in the district (almost 20 percent each year) and the fact that new teachers already have a mentor program.

Over $30,000 raised at YMCA fundraiser

Published by admin on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:19am

Tickets to the “Lucky to Have the YMCA” childcare benefit auction at the Custer Beacon sold out last Saturday. The third annual fundraiser featured live and silent auctions, a best-dressed leprachaun pageant, live music and food provided by the Custer Beacon.
Proceeds from the event go toward funding the YMCA’s childcare programs in Custer. Before auction, YMCA childcare direcor Erica Van Horn spoke about the need for fundraising for the program and showed a short video of children and parents who are a part of the program explaining why they felt “lucky to have the YMCA.”

Tomac out as forest supervisor

Published by admin on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:18am

Jeff Tomac, who has served as supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest for the past two years, has been reassigned to the Rocky Mountain regional office in Colorado. A U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman declined to comment fully on the reason for the reassignment.
Regional press officer Donna Nemeth said on Monday that Tomac “is on assignment as a special assistant to the regional forester, working on high priority issues in the regional rangeland management program.”

French Creek effluent could be declared nuisance

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 10:13am

When the June 6 election comes this spring, the residents of Custer County will have an opportunity to decide whether discharging water from the City of Custer’s wastewater treatment plant into French Creek will be declared a nuisance by Custer County.
Whether or not that impending vote will be anything more than symbolic? That’s up for debate.

Ladner charged with simple assault

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 10:12am

The husband of a District 30 representative is facing a charge of simple assault in the wake of an incident that occurred at the conclusion of the Feb. 25 legislative crackerbarrel held at Custer Senior Center.

No decision on section line improvement

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 10:12am

If the Custer County Commission moves ahead with authorizing the improvement of one mile of section line from Aspen Lane to Harris Lane, it won’t be anytime soon.
That was the message delivered by the commission at its March 8 meeting, as the possible improvement was again discussed at the behest of commissioner Mike Busskohl.

A lifetime of Sunrise Services: the lost years

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 10:11am

This is part three of a seven-part series exploring the rich history of the Easter sunrise service at Mount Rushmore National Memorial as the tradition will celebrate its 75th year on April 9.

Bluegrass jams return for spring

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 10:10am

Anyone with a mandolin, banjo, fiddle or guitar is welcome to come to the Custer Beacon on Wednesday nights. The first jam took place last Wednesday, and they will continue through the rest of the spring. Any musicians with acoustic instruments are welcome to participate. The jams will be held each Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m.