Custer County Chronicle

On whose shoulders we stand

Published by admin on Wed, 06/18/2025 - 10:22am

Have you ever noticed the following contrast?
When Mother’s Day comes around, in sweeps the sappy sentimentality from all quarters, religious and secular alike. Church sermons laud the important role mothers play, encouraging mothers to embrace their God-given status and find joy in the motherhood journey. Ushers hand out $5 gift cards for ice cream or flowers to all the mothers. Mothers are showered with admiration and gifts, treated to lunch, and generally doted upon.

Prison project is at a crossroads

Published by admin on Wed, 06/18/2025 - 9:35am
South Dakota is confronting a mounting crisis: its state penitentiary, built in 1881, is crumbling and outdated. Conditions are so poor that consultants from Elevatus Architecture of Indiana say it’s a surprise there hasn’t been a lawsuit. The need for a new facility is clear — but how to proceed is a matter of controversy.

Tragedy and news over the weekend

Published by admin on Wed, 06/18/2025 - 9:27am
Greetings! Where to start?
Very early Saturday, June 14 Vance Boelter, dressed as a police officer and driving a police car, entered the home of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and shot and killed her and her husband, Mark. Hortman’s home is located in Brooklyn Park, a suburb located north of Minneapolis. Next, just nine miles away in a town called Champlin, Vance Boelter entered the home of Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and shot him and his wife, Yvette. Both are still alive but in critical condition in a Minneapolis hospital.

Hey, at least they are trying

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:34am

Last Thursday we attended a meeting hosted by a group that seeks to abolish property taxes in South Dakota. The group is led by familiar faces—former District 30 Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, her husband, Mike Mueller, who is a frequent face on the political scene, and Matt Smith, who ran for office in District 30 a couple of years ago. All three can safely be labeled conservative Republicans.

What type of person do you want to be?

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:32am

Are there any other Jane Austen fans out there?
The other day, I saw a shirt that said, “Introverted but will talk about Jane Austen,” and laughed because it’s true. If there’s one subject I could talk about for hours, it’s Jane Austen’s novels.
However, as popular as Jane Austen is, one of my favorite novels by her isn’t very well known. In 1817, “Northanger Abbey” was published after Austen’s death. Although most people know “Northanger Abbey” as a satire of Gothic novels, it is also a beautiful coming-of-age story and a critique on choosing friends wisely.

Regarding the men’s state penitentiary

Published by admin on Wed, 06/11/2025 - 8:43am
Greetings! Back in March, maybe March 2, we discussed our need for a new penitentiary; let’s just call it “the pen.”
Our current facility is located inside the city limits of Sioux Falls. It was constructed in 1891. Back then this location was north of Sioux Falls but the city has grown in the last 133 years.
For the past 10 years I have been attending, a couple times a year, a church service in the pen. The Lutheran Churches of South Dakota, both ELCA and NALC sign up for a Thursday evening service. 

Let’s keep our heads out there on the road

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:30am

We’ve all been there. All you want to do is get to Rapid City. Or Hot Springs. Pick the destination. It’s summertime, so traffic is exponentially worse than a February afternoon. There are visitors from near and far cramming the roads with you. There are tour busses. There are giant RVs. There are bikers. There are people stopping to gawk at animals we see on a daily basis, so we don’t see what is the big deal. And, lest we forget, those J-turns in downtown Custer as tourists cross the double yellow lines on Mt. Rushmore Road to pull into a parking spot.

Take time to enjoy the little things

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 9:22am

Often in life we get so busy sweating the small stuff or trying to plan the next big adventure that we forget to take time to enjoy the smaller things. I know I am frequently guilty of this.
I’m one of those people who likes to always have something to look forward to. If I don’t, I often feel like I’m just going through the motions, just existing. If thre is a carrot on the end of a stick in the form of something to look forward to, I feel like I’m working toward a purpose. I think to myself, “just a couple more weeks until I get to...” whatever it is I have coming up.

Gun bills and the property tax battle

Published by admin on Wed, 06/04/2025 - 8:34am
“SD Gov. Rhoden Signs More Pro-Gun Bills”
That was the headline in “American Hunter,” June 2025 Edition. It goes on to say that Gov. Rhoden signed into law SB100, which allows enhanced permit holders to carry a pistol on our six state universities and our four technical colleges.

Ninetieth anniversary of AA approaching

Published by admin on Wed, 05/28/2025 - 12:06pm

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) will bring together tens of thousands of members and guests from around the world July 3–6 for its International Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to mark the Fellowship’s 90th anniversary.