Custer County Chronicle

Studebaker show draws many visitors

Published by admin on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 9:13am

Studebaker and Packard cars and trucks manufactured from the 1920s through the 1960s were featured Sept. 5 at the annual show sponsored by the Dakotas Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC).  
Thirty four restored and modified models were  on display on 6th Street. There was a continuous flow of visitors all day. They were offered ballots to vote for their favorite models and 1,264 votes were cast from people from three foreign countries and 32 states.  

Chamber director resigns

Published by admin on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 9:12am

Custer’s first annual Fall Festival will coincide with Custer Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Dolsee Davenport’s final day in that position.
Perhaps it’s fitting her final day will come during one of several events the chamber has implemented in her time at the chamber, first as event coordinator under former chamber director Dave Ressler, and later as director beginning in 2016.

Citizens: ‘Do something’ with center

Published by admin on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 9:25am

Frustration was palpable at a special meeting of the Custer City Council Aug. 30. The council and citizens in attendance discussed what the next step is in the stalled project to renovate the former Custer Elementary building into a home for Custer YMCA and city offices.
“If we could collectively say something to you, it would be, ‘just do something,’” said Kathy Johnson.

More vets react to Kabul ‘chaos’

Published by admin on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 9:23am

“Horrifying,” “sickening,” “mind-boggling,” “surreal,” “debacle” and “failure!” Those are the words local veterans of the Global War on Terror are using to describe their reactions to the unfolding situation in Afghanistan where the Biden administration abruptly pulled out American troops after a 20- year campaign to suppress the terrorist group known as the Taliban.

Buffalo cow rams a park visitor

Published by admin on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 9:21am

Over the last two seasons at Custer State Park (CSP) the score is officially Bison 2, Lady Pedestrians 0.
For the second year in a row, a park visitor has been tossed by a buffalo and escaped serious injury. The latest incident occurred Saturday at about 5 p.m. near the State Game Lodge in the open field between the Game Lodge pavilion and Coolidge General Store where the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival is usually held in September.

School will have early homecoming

Published by admin on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 9:20am

The new school year just started last week, but Custer’s homecoming celebration is next week already. The week of special days and events culminating with the parade and football game was originally scheduled for October, but had to be moved up due to a conflict with the Lakota Nation Invitational volleyball tournament. That, along with the fact that long-time high school student council advisor Sandy Arseneault took a leave of absence this year, left school leaders scrambling to put together a schedule of events for Homecoming 2021.

County sets RX pot rules

Published by admin on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 9:17am

If you want to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Custer County, it’s going to cost you.
At the Aug. 25 meeting of the Custer County Commission, the commission passed the first reading of a pair of ordinances dealing with medical marijuana, including one that creates licensing provisions for such establishment.
The commission voted to make the cost to file an application fee for a business that deals with medical marijuana $50,000, with the same amount for an annual renewal fee.

Motor vehicles drive treasurer business

Published by admin on Thu, 08/26/2021 - 9:47am

Part 13 of a series of articles examining the numerous economic and lifestyle impacts of the current in-migration to Custer County.
As Custer County treasurer, Dawn McLaughlin is in charge of collecting all taxes for the county, including all property taxes for cities, school districts and any other political district authorized to levy real estate taxes. However, at this point in time, what’s keeping her office hopping the most is transfers of vehicle titles and the sale of temporary and annual vehicle registrations for the state of South Dakota.

Fall Festival is planned

Published by admin on Thu, 08/26/2021 - 9:46am

In an effort to increase traffic to Custer on the Saturday after the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce plans to hold a Fall Festival that day, Sept. 25. The chamber invites Custer businesses, organizations, groups, committees and individuals to join them in planning fall-themed events and activities.

Vets weigh in on fall of Afghanistan

Published by admin on Thu, 08/26/2021 - 9:44am

The events unfolding in Afghanistan in the wake of the Biden administration’s pullout of American troops after a 20-year military occupation of the country is prompting reactions from local veterans, including one man who was involved in the evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam, over 45 years ago.
Buffalo Gap rancher Harvey Fitzgerald served 34 years in the military, first with the U.S. Air Force and later the S.D. National Guard. He did not serve in Afghanistan, but was deployed to Iraq in 2007-08 as a military advisor embedded in a brigade combat team.