Opinion

President Trump has a point

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 1:14pm

As we enter the holiday season, many of us take time from our busy schedules to reflect on family, home, community and yes, even the government. We are blessed to live in a country that values its citizens, and we all hope for the best for our children, loved ones and our neighbors.
In South Dakota, we continue to enjoy the freedoms our founders envisioned for the entire nation. Yet it is clear that times are changing, even here at home. We must embrace what is good, recognize what is not, and be willing to correct and inspire where needed without demolishing our democracy.

A big thank you to Jim and the crew

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 1:09pm

Phew.
If you’re reading this, good news. The Custer County Chronicle is up and running at its new location. The lights are on, the computers are on and the internet is working. We were able to get this week’s paper out, despite spending the better part of last week packing and moving and spending time with family and friends as part of our little Thanksgiving break.

The things that never change

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 1:03pm

At possibly no other time of the year than now does the whole of society seem to move faster, more frantically, with hardly the time to stop and catch a breath. Shopping malls are a zoo, parking lots are packed, and the post office is drowning in an endless stream of packages shipping to people who don’t like shopping malls and packed parking lots. There is constant pressure to fill the schedule, to overspend, to one-up last year’s festivities with something new and exciting. 

Thriving rather than surviving this holiday season

Published by admin on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:11am
The other day I read some tips for reducing stress during the holidays. The headline exclaimed, “Tips for a healthier, happier season.” I paused for a moment remembering a recent television spot I had heard about ways to cope during the holidays.
Why are we so “stressed” during the holiday season? Why do we need to “cope?”
So many of us have extra days off during the holiday season. Wouldn’t this mean we are less stressed since work is a major stressor for so many?

We’re thankful for all of you

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:24pm

Thursday we mark another Thanksgiving holiday in the United States of America. We certainly have enough to be thankful for. Our country is seemingly in constant turmoil, but the holiday season can be a time of year when we come together, reflect on all that is good for all of us and be thankful for all the things we have. In many parts of the world people don’t have nearly as much for which to be thankful. Even at a time when our country is seemingly as polarized as it has ever been, we can be thankful we live in this country.

Grateful through grief by grace

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:21pm

There’s a rock pile under the sign for my church. Many may drive past and wonder what it represents, while others may see it as an ordinary pile of rocks. For those of us attending the church, it is a memorial of God’s faithfulness. 
The idea came from Joshua 4, when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground and removed 12 stones from the river, one for each tribe of Israel. With these stones, they created a memorial so whenever someone asked, “What do these stones mean to you?” the Israelites could tell of how the Lord provided for them. 

Opportunity and innovation in education

Published by admin on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 9:34am
South Dakota is open for opportunity – and that includes opportunities for education. Our students are our future, so it is important that we equip them with the skills and resources they need to thrive!

Let there be less light

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 10:05am

Here where I live, 25 miles south of the second largest town in South Dakota, I enjoy walking visitors outside at night. If they insist on taking a flashlight, I pocket it. They look up, gasp, and tell me they have never seen so many stars.
 I may remind them the same stars light their sky.
We walk easily in darkness as visitors learn that tall prairie grasses seem to gather luminance from the stars, sprinkling it around our feet. With snow on the ground, the night is so bright we could run, or read a newspaper.

As always, thank you to our veterans

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 10:02am

If there is something this town does well, it’s celebrate its veterans. Well, there are plenty of things the City of Custer does well, but you get the idea. When it comes to honoring those who served their country, Custer is second to one.

Surviving five hours without electricity

Published by admin on Wed, 11/19/2025 - 9:59am

I have all the respect in the world for the early pioneers who settled this land. I don’t know how they did it.
Unless you just awoke from a coma, if you live in the Black Hills you likely had to deal with a power outage that took out power over a large swath of the region last Thursday afternoon. If you’re like me, you didn’t deal with it very well—for a number of reasons.
It was about 12:45 p.m. when the power went out. I was in the middle of formatting photos for this issue you’re reading. Boom, out went the power.