Our Community

Entries sought for GDD flower show

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:50pm

Gold Discovery Days will once again include the Caroline Hatton Flower Show, and your entries are needed.
Hatton was a long-time Custerite, avid gardener, Custer County Master Gardener, and a founding member of the Custer Mile High Garden Club. The flower show is dedicated to her memory. Garden club members loved the guidance and enthusiasm she willingly shared with family and friends.
The free, no-fee show is held at the Custer Senior Center. The show is open to everyone, of any age, who wishes to submit an entry.

Small Pieces Art Show winners listed

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:48pm

The Small Pieces Art Show, hosted by Art Expressions Gallery, closed with a reception Sunday, May 31. This is the 11th year of this show featuring original art works that must fit into an 8x8 inch space.
At the closing reception the artists whose works earned ribbons were also presented with almost $1,000 in cash awards donated by local patrons of the arts. This year’s show had 51 entries from around the Black Hills. With the gallery moving into the old Custer County Bank Building (formerly Custer County Candy Co.), the Small Pieces show was hung in the old bank vault.

Black Hills Live July 1, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 10:05am

Wednesday 7-1

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Driver’s License Exams
Custer County Courthouse 
Annex Pine Room
Custer, SD
8 AM - 5 PM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30 AM

Seniors Bridge Card Games
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

YMCA Kidstop 
Custer County Library
Custer, SD 
10 AM

Two different July 4 celebrations

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 9:58am
Eyes across the nation are on Keystone as the area moves into the Independence Day holiday. The tiny town is the closest to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where, it was announced last week, President Donald Trump will make an appearance at the July 3 fireworks display. Gov. Larry Rhoden and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds are also expected to attend.
Casey McNulty, president of the Keystone Town Board, called Trump’s confirmed attendance exciting. 

Christmas in July for Light Up Hill City

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 9:53am
While most people are enjoying summer vacations, Pete Stach is envisioning twinkling lights and holiday cheer. 
A Christmas in July fundraiser will be held July 10 at Prairie Dog Taproom to support and expand the Light Up Hill City initiative, spearheaded by Stach, to create a premier holiday destination and designate Hill City as the Christmas capital of South Dakota.
“We have an application into the state for the Christmas Capital of South Dakota,” said Stach. 

Down Memory Lane July 1, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 9:50am
5 YEARS AGO, 2021

Black Hills Live June 24, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 10:04am

Wednesday 6-24

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Custer County Commission
Custer County Courthouse
Custer, SD
8 AM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30 AM

YMCA Kidstop at the Community Garden
Custer County Library
Custer, SD 
10 AM

Seniors Bridge Card Games
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

The Kleemann House under new ownership

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 9:59am

If you drove down Mount Rushmore Road the evening of June 11, you may have noticed bows, balloons and bubbles decorating the historic Kleemann House. This marked the grand opening of the establishment under new ownership. 
The building and surrounding property were purchased by Deb Manning, who moved to the area in April of 2021 to run and restore Eagle’s Landing Lodge, which is located west of Custer. 

Down Memory Lane June 24

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 9:57am

10 YEARS AGO, 2016

Sheriff’s Log June 9-13

Published by admin on Wed, 06/24/2026 - 9:51am

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Saturday, June 14
3:10 p.m.: A pickup truck crashed into the road ditch along Hwy. 16A in Custer State Park. The driver was taken to the hospital to get checked out. The good news for him was that he wasn’t badly hurt and was soon released. The bad news for the 73-year-old Edgemont male was that a deputy then arrested him for driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of firearms by a felon, careless driving, possession of an open container in a motor vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt.