Custer County Chronicle

Trump delivers July 4 address

Published by admin on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 9:42am
On the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday, President Donald Trump used his address Friday night at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota to allege that there is “a resurgence of the communist menace in our land.”
“Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty,” Trump said. “It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11.”

Old Time Country Fourth events start Thursday

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:57pm

The Custer Area Chamber of Commerce invites residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day in the heart of the Black Hills with Custer’s Old Time Country Fourth of July Celebration. This year’s festivities are especially meaningful as communities across the nation commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with a weekend filled with patriotism, family fun, live music, parades and fireworks.
Festivities begin on Thursday, July 2, with a free Patriotic Story Time at 10 a.m. at the 1881 Courthouse Museum.

Trump, fireworks at Mount Rushmore

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:56pm

President Donald Trump will attend the first fireworks display in six years at Mount Rushmore National Memorial July 3, according to announcements last Thursday from Freedom 250 and South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden.

Mechaleys guests at ‘Igniting Hope’

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:55pm

It’s been over six years since an awkward group of now-former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) girls first reached out to now-former Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley with the goal of leaving the FLDS.
Fast forward to today, and Mechaley is recently retired, and those once-naive girls—daughters and a niece of self-proclaimed prophet of the FLDS Warren Jeffs—are now mothers, employees and thriving outside of the constraints of the FLDS.

County waiting on numbers for HVAC system

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:54pm

The Custer County Courthouse’s aging and increasingly obsolete heating and cooling system was among the items discussed at the June 24 meeting of the Custer County Commission, with county maintenance supervisor Joe Panza reporting on a pair of meetings he had with Witt’s Heating & Air Conditioning and JAM Heating & Cooling soliciting advice on how to deal with the courthouse system.

Derrick Reifenrath appointed sheriff

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 10:03am

There’s a new sheriff in town.
Derrick Reifenrath of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office was appointed as sheriff June 18 due to the retirement of Sheriff Marty Mechaley. Reifenrath ran uncontested for the position of Custer County Sheriff when petitions were open this spring.  
The appointment took place at a special meeting of the Custer County Commission Thursday in the commission meeting room. 
“Thank you, gentlemen, for all the years. I really appreciate all of you,” said Mechaley.
The commissioners said they appreciated Mechaley as well. 

Besco alleged to have embezzled more than $131,000

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 10:02am

The Buffalo Gap Town Board convened June 9 for a special meeting to hear a report presented by state auditor general Russ Olson regarding alleged embezzlement of funds by the former town finance officer, Heather Jean Besco (a.k.a. Heather Jean Besco-Clyde) to the tune of more than $131,000 from 2016-24. She was arrested in Nebraska April 9 and charged in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court for Grand Theft-Embezzlement of Property Received in Trust. 

School board hears facilities update

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 10:02am

The Custer High School serving kitchen is in need of upgrades, and time is short to get them done.
At the June 8 meeting of the Custer School District Board of Education, the board discussed changes to the kitchen that are required by the state’s Deparment of Health, including upgraded wall panels, sink and countertops.
The needs were part of the district’s Facilities and Transportation Committee discussion that was held prior to the board’s regular meeting, which was held at the Hermosa School.

Funding request sent to committee

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 10:01am

The Custer Volunteer Fire Department’s 2026 additional funding request was sent to the Public Works Committee for further discussion. This was decided at the June 15 meeting of the Custer City Council. Councilperson Nina Nielsen made the motion, and it was unanimously approved without further discussion. 

Fall River Health Services contributing to housing

Published by admin on Wed, 06/17/2026 - 9:36am

In a first-of-its-kind project in South Dakota, the small hospital in Hot Springs is investing in a subdivision project to provide housing for its employees.
Fall River Health Services, an independent nonprofit medical center is paying $2.3 million of the overall $3.4 million cost of infrastructure for a subdivision that could create 48 new affordable housing units a few hundred yards from the hospital campus.