News

Hermosa forum focuses on ambulance district

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:52pm

The possibility of forming an ambulance district to serve eastern Custer County was discussed at a heavily-attended community forum Oct. 28, at the American Legion in Hermosa. The forum brought together Hermosa and Custer County residents, area ranchers, members of the Hermosa Board of Trustees, Custer County Commissioners and representatives from various sectors of public service in and around Pennington and Custer counties, including Battle Creek and Fairburn fire districts, emergency management and the Rapid City Fire Department. 

Home decorating contest announced

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:51pm

Attention all you Christmas home decorators!
The Custer County Chronicle and Custer Area Chamber of Commerce are again teaming up to plan an exterior Christmas decorating contest in which we want you, the reader, to submit either your decorated home/business or the home/business of an outdoor display you enjoy.
Entries will be collected by the Chronicle until 5 p.m. Dec. 12. The public will choose the winners via online voting. The top three place winners will be awarded prizes.

Elk Mountain School District bond fails

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:49pm

The Elk Mountain School District held an election, Tuesday, Nov. 4. On the ballot was the board of education’s proposal to issue a bond for around $4 million to expand and remodel the school. 
The plan for the addition was to add two classrooms, a lunch room, half a gym, a maintenance room and storage. Meanwhile, the plan for the remodel was to reconstruct the current community room into two more classrooms, with the option of creating a third with an accordion wall. 

Liability insurance to be required at airport

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:48pm

To require liability insurance or not to require it? That was the question the Custer County Commission discussed at its meeting Nov. 5 at the courthouse. 
Regarding the Custer County Airport hangar space monthly rental agreement, commission legal counsel Aaron Davis said the biggest issue was whether or not to require liability insurance for people who have hangar space. 

Veterans Memorial to expand

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:40pm

The Custer Veterans Memorial will grow soon, with plans to have the work finished by Memorial Day.

Keystone trustees approve surcharge rates

Published by admin on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 8:30am
Surcharge rates for the new sewer plant upgrade project have been established by Keystone city officials. The rates were approved at the Nov. 5 Keystone Town Board meeting. 

Property tax relief ideas forwarded

Published by admin on Wed, 11/05/2025 - 2:36pm

After a year of meetings, ideas and a 2025 legislative session that saw plenty of attempts but few results in curbing skyrocketing property taxes in South Dakota, the state’s Comprehensive Property Task Force has presented a bevy of suggestions for ways the 2026 legislative session can deal with the issue.
On Oct. 24, the taskforce announced its recommendations in a press release that pledges to provide property tax relief for South Dakotans “through responsible fiscal reform and smarter government spending.”

Tax payer set to lawyer up over tax rift

Published by admin on Wed, 11/05/2025 - 2:36pm

A saga dating back five years was brought to a close at the Oct. 20 meeting of the Custer County Commission—albeit with the threat of getting a lawyer involved.
Before the commission at the meeting was Cynthia Finlayson, once again addressing a tangled property tax issue that was first brought before the commission last year but actually began in 2020 when Finlayson purchased some county property.

Bison auction brings in over $900K

Published by admin on Wed, 11/05/2025 - 2:30pm

Revenue was up at the 60th Annual Custer State Park Fall Classic Bison Auction Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Custer State Park Visitor Center. In 2024, the total auction revenue was $885,425 with the sale of 482 animals. This year, the total revenue was  $971,350, and 387 animals were sold. 
The live public auction, which offered online bidding with simulcast, was managed by Bradeen Real Estate & Auctions of Custer. 

Council discusses property classification

Published by admin on Wed, 11/05/2025 - 9:48am
The Oct. 27 Hill City Common Council (HCCC) meeting focused on discussion items including how various properties would be categorized for water bills.
City administrator Nate Anderson said he was looking for guidance on how to balance large seasonal users with the relief aldermen wanted to give to small year-round users. 
“We wouldn’t have to double our sewer plant” if it wasn’t for large seasonal users, Anderson said. 
He recommended continuing with a step and tier system, which was implemented this year.