Custer County Chronicle

Looking for the bright side

Published by admin on Wed, 11/13/2024 - 12:48pm

Over the weekend, I made the trek up to Black Elk Peak. It’s a trail I usually avoid in the summer months because of how  busy it is, but now that we’re in the cooler, lonelier months I get to take my time, really activate my senses and enjoy the views—or at least try to.

Media must regain public’s trust

Published by admin on Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:54am

A large swath of the American people no longer trust the media. It’s a sad reality for people in our industry, but it’s reality nevertheless. It’s something the media has brought upon itself, with its 24-hour news cycles that are less journalism and more opinion with two (or more) people screaming and each other, you, or both, giving you a narrative that fits that channel’s political agenda.

Shepherd’s lantern

Published by admin on Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:50am

It is hard to do justice to the bond between a rancher and his cow dog. Until you’ve worked livestock with one, until you’ve seen the ease with which a 30- or 50-pound dog commands the respect of an ornery cow, until you’ve seen their agility traversing a slope that would be dicey on a horse and impossible on a four-wheeler, until you’ve witnessed how much they accomplish, pound-for-pound, it is hard to grasp their importance. Although there are some people who have a close bond with the horses they ride, for many ranchers horses are a valued tool, but fall short of partnership.

We must accept election results

Published by admin on Wed, 10/30/2024 - 3:11pm

It’s here.
The 2024 General Election is here. The anticipation and/or dread is over. Whether it’s the Republican candidate Donald Trump, or the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, we are about to have a new President of the United States. If Trump is elected, he will be president for the second time. If Harris is elected, we will have our first-ever female president. It will also show us that we don’t need two years of endless campaigning to be elected president, but that is another column for another time.

South Dakota is prosperous and free

Published by admin on Wed, 10/30/2024 - 3:07pm

Over the past several years, South Dakota’s economy has consistently been the strongest of any state in the country. We recently received two updates that underscore just how strong our economy continues to be, even with the sluggish economy under the Biden-Harris Administration.

Smaller lot sizes a hot topic

Published by admin on Wed, 10/23/2024 - 9:34am

We weren’t at the most recent meeting of the Custer County Planning Commission, but from what we have been told it was as lively as a committee meeting you will ever see. Why? Because the commission was discussing the possibility of allowing smaller lot sizes on which to build in the county. Currently, the county does not allow subdividing land for construction purposes to less than an acre. From the sounds of things, there was a small army of people against it who came to that meeting, and all of them were against the proposal. It appears now it is dead on arrival.

Can’t hardly wait to be disappointed

Published by admin on Wed, 10/23/2024 - 9:34am

I’d like to recommend my mother be posthumously charged with child abuse.
No, not that kind of child abuse. Mom didn’t beat on me. No, this kind of abuse is more of the ongoing lingering emotional abuse. Why? She allowed me to become a Wyoming Cowboy and Las Vegas (and before that Oakland, and before than Los Angeles, and before that Oakland again) Raider fan.

Smaller town coverage difficult

Published by admin on Wed, 10/16/2024 - 3:12pm

When you ready the weekly issue of this newspaper, inevitably there is a story of some form or fact of our local government. Whether it’s the Custer City Council, the Custer County Commission or the Custer School District Board of Education, you will always find one of us at the meetings, and then a report on what happened at the meeting in (usually) the following week’s paper. Local government coverage is the bread and butter of a weekly newspaper. It’s our job to let you know what is going on with those entities if you cannot attend the meetings.

Optimism and pumpkins

Published by admin on Wed, 10/16/2024 - 3:11pm

A nearly-failed pumpkin patch was the crowning glory of my gardening endeavors this year, saved by my chickens and a good turn of the weather sometime mid-August, and finally – finally! – the overgrown tangle has lit up with all shades of scarlet and orange and gold and blue, with a couple green ones I’m still cheering on.

Celebrate National Newspaper Week

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 3:47pm

For more than 30 years, I worked among fellow journalists who were passionate watchdogs reporting on the actions of people in power as a way to hold them accountable.
I’m proud to see that important work continue, from the reporting on local government budgets to investigations of corruption in the halls of Congress. Ensuring transparency and accountability of government remains the goal every day — and no one is above scrutiny.