Custer County Chronicle

More information on property tax proposal

Published by admin on Tue, 12/24/2024 - 9:01am

Greetings and Merry Christmas! Jesus is the reason for the season.
So what’s up? Well, my emails are flooded with letters about library and South Dakota Public Television cuts suggested in the governor’s address. Remember it has to get through the legislature before anything can be cut. I’m against both of those bad ideas and will do everything I can to stop them.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Published by admin on Tue, 12/24/2024 - 9:00am

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, “If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.”

A budget for the people

Published by admin on Tue, 12/24/2024 - 8:57am

Our state motto is “Under God, the People Rule.” During my time as governor, I have always kept my budget proposals focused on our people, not government programs. Every dollar that we invest – every policy that we support – should be focused on our people, on making them safer, stronger and freer. Our budgets should always focus on our core priorities. That is what I have done in my first six years as governor, and that is what South Dakota will continue to do.

Let’s not celebrate someone’s murder

Published by admin on Wed, 12/18/2024 - 3:26pm

We’ve been a little taken aback at some of the reactions to the Dec. 4 daylight killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a busy sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan.

Change is the only constant for us

Published by admin on Wed, 12/18/2024 - 3:22pm

By the time you read this, our most recent reporter, Nathan Steele, will be living in California, having recently accepted a job that will see him working in Death Valley National Park. In getting to know Nathan over the past couple of years, it seems like a job he will really enjoy, as he seems to be more of an “outdoor cat” than an “indoor cat.”  This job will put him out in nature, which he seems to really enjoy.

Unveiling the plan to reduce property tax

Published by admin on Wed, 12/11/2024 - 9:58am

Greetings! Wow, what a week! Of course the governor’s budget address to joint session of the House and Senate was epic in the truest sense of the word. It was sad for me because I felt very comfortable with her as governor. I knew how she felt and carried a lot of the values/principles of our population. I also knew her staff and now to operate to get things done.

Open meeting laws back in forefront

Published by admin on Wed, 12/11/2024 - 9:53am

The sometimes-flickering candle of open government in South Dakota brightened a bit recently when the state resurrected its Open Meetings Commission, which had been dormant for almost four years.

Bringing a bit of Custer with me

Published by admin on Wed, 12/11/2024 - 9:50am

Spend much time in Custer, and probably most small towns, and you’ll notice a move, rather a behavior I’ve dubbed “Custer’s last standstill and talk.” It’s equal parts annoying and charming, and love it or hate it, it’s just a part of living in Custer.  There are two main variations of the behavior that you’ve likely encountered while out and about around Custer County.

Well it’s about dam time, Custer

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 5:02pm

It was all the way back in 2012 when West Dam initially began to leak after the outlet structure on the dam broke. The dam eventually lost all of its water and has sat in its semi-weed-covered, semi-boggish state ever since.
In the 12 years since then, various mayors, city councils, engineers, politicians and who else knows have given great effort to try to get the dam fixed and the pond refilled. For various reasons—many not in their control—the project has never come to fruition. So, there West Dam has sat. Empty and ugly.

The little things more than ever

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 4:59pm

We cut our Christmas tree over the weekend, a cherished tradition that ushers in the Christmas season, and which brings more delight, not less, the older I get.