Custer County Chronicle

City OKs sign ordinance changes

Published by admin on Wed, 01/28/2026 - 3:52pm

It’s official: T-shirts are no longer allowed on the exterior facade of downtown businesses.
The Custer City Council, at its Jan. 20 meeting, passed the second reading of its amended sign regulation ordinance, in which the biggest change sees the use of merchandise as signage prohibited. The approval of the second reading means the ordinance will now go into effect.

Community members share vision for students

Published by admin on Wed, 01/28/2026 - 3:51pm

For years, the mission statement of the Custer School District (CSD) has been “Educating every student to his or her potential.” Does that mission statement still reflect the purpose of the district? 
Many parents and community members said no at the Shaping Our Future Together strategic planning meeting at the Career and Technical Education building Jan. 14. This was the fourth strategic planning meeting in the district, the first being at a board meeting and the other three being conducted through public meetings in Custer and Hermosa. 

College savings for kindergarteners in Custer?

Published by admin on Wed, 01/28/2026 - 3:50pm

Imagine having a college savings account tucked away for children at risk of generational poverty as a way to provide hope of post-secondary education. 
At the Custer School District (CSD) Board of Education meeting in Custer Jan. 12, Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) chief executive officer Chris Huber explained it would like to do just that for children in Custer and Hermosa. 
The BHACF is a 501 (c)3 organization that serves the Southern Black Hills by providing grants, providing scholarships and working with donors to address key community issues. 

Trade Show Feb. 28

Published by admin on Wed, 01/28/2026 - 3:49pm

The public is invited to attend the annual Custer Trade Show Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Custer School District Armory, located at 527 Montgomery Street.
The Custer Trade Show will feature a wide variety of exhibitors, including businesses and organizations representing financial services, building materials, jewelry, artwork and more. With something for everyone, the Trade Show offers a great opportunity to explore local and regional products and services all in one place.

Too dry to burn

Published by admin on Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:42pm

Lower those torches, but don’t put them out. The beetle will still burn. Mother Nature just needs to give an assist.
For the first time in the history of the event, the main event of Burning Beetle Weekend—the actual torching of the beetle itself—was postponed last Saturday due to tinder-dry conditions caused by a lack of precipitation this winter.

Resident demands board resignations

Published by admin on Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:41pm

The Hermosa Board of Trustees kicked off the year with a four-hour long meeting Wednesday, Jan. 7. A full house was in attendance, including Scott James, Hermosa’s new town attorney following the resignation of Kent Hagg. 
Updates on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) generator grant circled around to the recent windstorm and the necessity of having a more robust emergency plan and procedures.

Building a better future for the district

Published by admin on Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:40pm

What if teenagers could help address the workforce housing shortage in Custer? Through a partnership with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) and Custer City, the Custer School District might be able to do just that. 
Chief Executive Officer of BHACF Chris Huber presented the partnership at the Board of Education meeting Jan. 12 in Custer. The BHACF is a 501(c)3 organization that serves the southern Black Hills by providing grants, providing scholarships and working with donors to address key community issues. 

Understanding our natural environment

Published by admin on Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:39pm

Despite the Beetle Burn itself being postponed  last weekend, about 40 people  came to the Custer County Courthouse Annex Pine Room to an event titled, “Living in Community in our Natural Environment.” The Jan. 15 event was a learning presentation, with four sessions.
Hank Fridell, chair of the Burning Beetle committee, began the evening  saying, “these are interesting times,” tracing some notable environmental events including the pine beetle infestation, the Atlas blizzard, the French Creek flood and the most recent windstorm.

Burn the beetle, crawl the streets Jan. 17

Published by admin on Wed, 01/14/2026 - 12:55pm

There’s more than one way to burn a beetle. And there’s more than one way to celebrate Custer’s 2026 Burning Beetle, a community celebration that focuses on our connection to the Black Hills and fosters an appreciation for our forests. 
Organized by the Bark Beetle Blues, a committee under the Custer Area Arts Council, the Burning Beetle is also a fundraiser to support the arts in the Custer community. 

City bans T-shirts on store facades

Published by admin on Wed, 01/14/2026 - 12:53pm

The first reading of a  revised sign ordinance that would prohibit the use of merchandise of signage—temporary or otherwise—had its first reading unanimously passed by the Custer City Council at the council’s Jan. 5 meeting.
If approved via second reading, the amended ordinance would require any merchandise that is on the exterior wall of a business to be taken down. City planner Tessah Behlings said merchandise can still be placed on windows and doors of a business, but cannot be affixed to the exterior walls.