Custer County Chronicle

Custer girls rock out at ‘Girls Rock’

Published by admin on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 11:30am

Girls Rock. That’s not only the name of the camp that returned to Custer for the first time in several years, but it’s also just a true statement, as several Custer girls demonstrated at their live performance at the high school theater Saturday.
Girls Rock Custer gives young girls in the area the opportunity to learn an instrument, form a band, write original music, record vocals in a recording studio and then perform it for a live audience. Girls Rock Custer is designed to shape confidence, creativity, self-esteem and self-expression.

Gunnell becomes Eagle Scout

Published by admin on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 11:27am

Case Gunnell is now an Eagle Scout after completing his project in the Hermosa Cemetery. He did a variety of renovations last month, just in time for Memorial Day.
“For the Hermosa cemetery I  rebuilt a 70- year-old church pew. I sanded and stained the bench because it was so old, but it was in way better condition then the current one that was located in the chapel,” said Gunnell. “I also rebuilt a trash can holder because the old one was falling apart.”
Gunnell also did some landscaping work as he took down some lilac bushes with help from friends from his church.

FFA members compete at state

Published by admin on Wed, 05/17/2023 - 11:27am

Custer High School’s new Future Farmer’s of America (FFA) program is taking off running. It sent six students to the state competiton at South Dakota State University in Brookings April 22.
Still in its first year, the program does not yet have an official advisor, but principal Tobey Cass accompanied the students to the competitions.
FFA participants Colter Gerard and Kenley Perker spoke about the new program at the May 9 Custer School District Board of Education meeting.

Anderson’s perfoming arts career off to whirlwind start

Published by admin on Wed, 05/17/2023 - 11:21am

Since graduating from Custer High School in 2018, Lizzie Anderson’s star has only been on the rise. In 2022, she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in dance arts  management from Oklahoma City University.
On Aug. 18, she will graduate with her masters of science degree in leadership in creative enterprises from Northwestern University. Since then, Anderson’s career has taken off running, or rather sashaying and pirouetting.

District names teachers of the year

Published by admin on Wed, 05/03/2023 - 12:16pm

The awardees for Custer School District’s educators of the year were recently announced for each building in the district.
For Custer Elementary School, second grade teacher Elizabeth Gangel was awarded.
In the Custer Jr./Sr. High School, the award went to Slade Swedlund, the Industrial Tech teacher.
In Hermosa, Carianna Anderson, a special education teacher, was awarded.
Anderson, who has been working with kids for over 17 years, and in Hermosa for 7 years, said that it is “an honor” to be recognized as Educator of the Year.

Nine HOSA students to compete at International Leadership Conference

Published by admin on Wed, 04/12/2023 - 10:58am

After competing in the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) State Leadership Conference, there were many Custer High School students who placed in the top 10 and a record nine students placed in the top three in their respective events to go on to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Dallas, Texas in June. There were 13 students who went to the state conference, and all of them competed in at least one event.

Mentors needed for local students

Published by admin on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:30am

The TeamMates Mentoring Program in Custer is continuing its search for community members who are willing to make a difference in the lives of local youngsters. TeamMates is a school-based mentoring program focused on buiding friendships between students and safe, caring adults. It’s emphasized that people don’t need any particular skills to fill these roles, just a willingness to listen and a heart for children.

Actors win Superior Awards at State

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 10:08am

After a first-place performance of their play “Drift’ by Dennis Bush at the Regions competition, the Custer High School drama department performed again at the State One-Act Play Festival at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls last Friday.
Custer competed against 11 other class A schools. At the festival, schools from across the state competed for superior rankings in individual, ensemble, play and technical categories for their one-act plays. The performances are judged by theater professionals from across the state.

‘Grandma Jan’ teaches etiquette class

Published by admin on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 10:06am

Not everyone is so lucky to have a grandmother nearby to teach them proper manners and dining etiquette—unless you’re a Custer High  School student.
Jan Wilson, known to many as ‘Grandma Jan’ from her time working in Custer schools, taught manners and etiquette  lessons during special lunch and breakfast sessions to Custer High School seniors last Wednesday and Thursday.
“Contrary to belief, manners are not outdated,” says Wilson.
She began hosting the classes for high school seniors in the 2017-2018 school year.

CHS one-act to perform at State

Published by admin on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 9:21am

After winning first place  in the Regions competition at Custer High School last Wednesday, Custer will be one of two drama departments in the 6A region to move on to perform at the state competition at Sioux Falls O’Gorman High School Feb. 2-4.
The play, Drift, by Dennis Bush follows the lives of eleven homeless people in the Theatre District of New York City.
“They’re not movers and shakers, they just get moved and shaken. In a world that’s been turned upside down, they find poetry and pain, with no pity and shame,” reads the play’s program.