News

Monument Health: Rapid City hospital ratings have risen

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 2:50pm

After two years with the lowest possible health and safety rating from the federal government, Monument Health’s score will rise from a one-star to a three-star rating when the new results are released publicly in July, the Rapid City hospital said Wednesday.
“These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of our ongoing quality initiatives, and we will continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of patient care,” Jill Tice, Monument Health vice president of quality, safety and risk management, said in a news release.

Two more sentenced in carjacking case

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 2:48pm

An El Salvadoran man and a Kersey, Colo., woman convicted of a variety of following offenses were sentenced to prison time for their role in the carjacking and kidnapping of an FBI agent.
Deyvin Morales, 29, of Guatemala, was sentenced April 26 to 47 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Karla Lopez-Gutierrez, 29, was sentenced to 26-1⁄2 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The sentencing was conducted by United States District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

School district awarded workforce development grant

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 2:32pm

The Custer School District Board of Education was recently awarded a Workforce Development Grant by the South Dakota Department of Education after submitting its application earlier this spring.

Nichols, Doaty vie for mayor

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:28am

After the appointment of Mike Verchio following the resignation of Kathy Skorzewski, Hill City once again has a race for the position of Hill City Mayor.
On June 4 residents can vote between Tana Nichols and Stefanie Doaty. The winner will serve a two-year term in office.
Nichols has been a resident of Hill City for almost 30 years and is currently the manager of Hill City Harley Davidson. She also served four terms on the Hill City Common Council from 2000-08.

Hwy. 244 project delayed into June

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:27am

Highway 244 near the KOA, which was set to reopen May 3, is delayed.
According to South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) project engineer Jason  Baker, “We will not meet the May 3 anticipated date. We are going to try to open the roadway to traffic mid-May, but not later than May 24. However, construction activities will still be occurring outside the traveled way through mid-June.”

McNulty president of Keystone board

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:26am

Keystone’s May 1 town board meeting began with a canvassing of the April 30 town trustee election. Board members thanked the poll workers and David Cofoid and Lynette Tyon were sworn in as new trustees. Casey McNulty was approved as the board president with trustee Sandi McLain voting against the measure.

Deputy Waldrop talks scam and crime safety

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:26am

Scams are real, dangerous and happening to people in Hill City. This was a primary focus of Pennington County Sheriff’s Office senior deputy Sheriff Jim Waldrop’s annual safety talk at the Hill City Center May 2. Waldrop has been with the sherriff’s office for 15 years and in Hill City for four years.
“I am really getting really passionate about people getting ripped off by scams, and it’s bad,” said Waldrop.

Chronicle wins 10 SDNA awards

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2024 - 11:20am

Writing, photography and advertising were among the categories the Custer County Chronicle was honored for at the most recent gathering of the South Dakota NewsMedia Association (SDNA).
The Custer County Chronicle received 10 awards last Friday, April 26, as part of the Better News Media contest, one event at the 141st annual SDNA convention. The Chronicle was entered in the category for all weekly newspapers with a circulation over 1,300.

French Creek discharge hits state supreme court

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2024 - 11:17am

Water quality advocates in Custer County want the state Supreme Court to make the county enforce a voter-backed ordinance barring the discharge of treated wastewater into a creek by the city of Custer.
The city studied four options for discharge and chose French Creek. Since 1972, the city had discharged treated wastewater into Flynn Creek. But rebuilding its discharge pipe for Flynn Creek would be too expensive, the city and its contractor determined in 2020, and there were environmental concerns with the other options.

Landowners ‘feel sidelined’ regarding French Creek

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2024 - 11:14am

Critics of a city’s decision to release treated wastewater into a scenic and historic Black Hills creek say it could pollute the water and is being done without sufficient input from affected residents.
The city of Custer is upgrading its wastewater treatment system because of projected population growth and maintenance problems with the current system.
The upgrade includes building a new pipe to discharge the city’s treated wastewater into French Creek, downstream of Stockade Lake, and decommissioning the current discharge pipe into Flynn Creek.