Custer County Chronicle

Fire held to single room

Published by admin on Thu, 06/23/2022 - 11:30am

The Custer Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire in the 100 block of north 3rd Street at 12:24 a.m. June 17 in Custer.
First arriving volunteer firefighters found a free burning fire, with a moderate smoke condition, in the interior of an occupied residential structure.
Firefighters held the fire to the room of origin, preventing the spread of flames to additional area of the structure.   There were no reports of injuries to firefighters civilians or domestic animals.  

Locally filmed movie to be released in July

Published by admin on Thu, 06/23/2022 - 11:29am

Nearly three years after filming at locations around the Black Hills including Four Mile Old West Town west of Custer and more than five years after it was first conceived, the western horror/thriller movie “Black Wood” will premier nationally next month.
Rapid City filmmaker Chris Canfield, the movie's writer and director, sent an email to those involved in the production last week to announce that Saban Films has acquired the domestic rights to the film which will result in a limited theatrical release on July 22 followed by video on demand (VOD) availability on July 26.

District 30 Senate recount next week

Published by admin on Thu, 06/23/2022 - 11:28am

The official recount in the election for District 30 senator will take place next Monday and Tuesday.
When the election results were tallied for the primary election June 7, current senator Julie Frye-Mueller was ahead of challenger Tim Goodwin, a current District 30 representative, by the thinnest of margins, capturing 2,848 votes compared to Goodwin’s 2,802. This was within the margin for Goodwin to request a recount.

Residents charged up over lithium claims

Published by admin on Thu, 06/23/2022 - 11:27am

Aided by a front page article in last week’s Chronicle, word-of-mouth and social media, the word is quickly getting out about hundreds of lithium mining claims that have been staked on public lands in Custer County, and opposition is mounting by the day.

Daughter of Warren Jeffs says she ‘always knew’ she would leave FLDS

Published by admin on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 9:50am

Jaska Jeffs has no desire to see her father.
“No way,” she said. “Absolutely not.”
Jaska is trying to distance herself from her past, a past that includes her father, infamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) leader Warren Jeffs, who is serving life in prison for a variety of sex crimes against children.
She hasn’t spoken to her father since she was 11 years old, and has no plans to do so.

County canvasses June 7 vote

Published by admin on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 9:48am

It was a quick meeting at the June 9 meeting of the Custer County Commission, as the commission breezed through a light agenda in 40 minutes.

Hundreds of lithium claims filed

Published by admin on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 9:47am

It was the lure of gold that first brought thousands of miners to the Black Hills nearly 150 years ago, but with the rising popularity of electric cars and calls for more “green energy” alternatives it appears the hope of finding rich deposits of the mineral lithium is bringing 21st Century prospectors to the Hills. The filing of hundreds of mining claims for lithium in Custer County in the last two months is a matter of serious concern for many local residents who fear lithium mining may impact tourism, harm the ground water and destroy the natural beauty of the Black Hills.

School board discusses safety

Published by admin on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 9:42am

In light of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Custer School District Board of Education discussed the safety of its schools at its June 13 meeting at the school administration building.
Superintendent Mark Naugle said he has discussed school safety with both Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley, and discussion has been held regarding reviewing safety plans, practicing active shooter training and other safety protocols.

Primary voter turnout low

Published by admin on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 9:41am

For a much-publicized election in which all three statewide GOP candidates faced serious primary challenges and there was also a controversial constitutional amendment on the ballot, voter turnout was low in South Dakota last Tuesday. Here in Custer County, turnout was even lower than the state average but those primary challengers fared better than the rest of the state.

Emotions run high over vacation rental vote

Published by admin on Thu, 06/09/2022 - 9:59am

By a 3-2 vote at Monday evening’s meeting, the Custer City Council approved the second reading of an amendment to its ordinance that deals with permitted conditional uses and prohibited uses and structures within a residential district by making boarding houses and short term rentals a prohibited use in said residential areas. The ordinance change does not affect areas zoned commercial, nor does it eliminate already-established short-term rentals. Those that already exist will be grandfathered in with the existing conditional use permit.