Custer County Chronicle

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.

The tale of Custer’s four-legged outlaw

Published by admin on Wed, 10/09/2024 - 3:44pm

Friday marks 104 years since the Custer Wolf, one of the most notoriously vicious and wanted animals in the country’s history, met its long-awaited demise. While many people will hear “Custer Wolf” and think of the popular downtown Custer restaurant, they may not be aware of the real-life animal it borrows its namesake from. Its story is a fascinating one, retold in bold and colorful language by humorist Dixon Merritt in a press release by the U.S. Department of Agriculture way back in January of 1921.

No lack of issues to vote on this year

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 12:37pm

If there were ever an election to vote in, this November’s General Election is of the utmost importance, particularly in South Dakota, as we have a plethora of constitutional amendments, an initiated measure and a referred law to vote on. Our advice for you would be to do some homework on which way you are leaning on these issues before you head out to the polls, otherwise you might be in there all day reading and deciding.

Harvesting our own food supply

Published by admin on Wed, 10/02/2024 - 12:31pm

Growing up on our family farm and ranch, there were two time periods that were busiest: calving season in the spring and harvest in the fall. The time has come for farmers to harvest most of their crops. It’s the fruit of their labor after a long growing season.

Welcome to the Buffalo Roundup

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 11:45am

Welcome to the 59th Governor’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival! If you are here from near or far, let us be the first to tell you that we are so glad you are here!

Bingo brings back fun memories

Published by admin on Wed, 09/25/2024 - 11:43am

If you weren’t at the Custer VFW the evening of Sept. 11, you didn’t hear my debut as a Bingo caller. As of the four Custer Rotary club members who volunteered at our new Bingo game, I was selected to be the one to call the numbers.
I have always enjoyed playing Bingo, and the game brings back a lot of fun memories for me, because it was something that for years I did with my sister, my mother and my grandparents.

Sept. 11 still stirs emotions

Published by admin on Wed, 09/18/2024 - 12:24pm

Last week our paper came out on Sept. 11, and as it does every year, that date stirs strong emotions in most everyone who was alive and old enough to remember the horrible scenes that unfolded Sept. 11, 2001.

The slow way

Published by admin on Wed, 09/18/2024 - 12:22pm

My kitchen disappeared weeks ago. The countertops are there, somewhere, underneath the mounds of scallop squash and zucchini and baskets of eggs. I’m the unfortunate breed of gardener who assumes that if one plant is good, 15 is better and, oh, I reap the rewards. If I have doubts about how something will produce, I figure I’ll cover my bases and plant a dozen, or a few dozen of them, just to see what happens, just in case.

Charges against shooter’s parents are justified

Published by admin on Wed, 09/11/2024 - 9:56am

For only the second time in American history, a parent has been charged in connection with a mass shooting by a minor. Last week Colin Gray, father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, was arrested on multiple charges in connection with the Georgia attack that left four dead—charges that experts say push the legal limits of parental responsibility for a child’s alleged gun crime, CNN reported.