Our Community

Down Memory Lane Aug. 5

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:46pm

10 YEARS AGO, 2016
— NyLotis and Calvin Van Ornam celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary July 27. They were high school sweethearts from a distance, as he lived on a small farm near Hardy, Neb., while she lived on the other side of the state in Falls City, Neb. A music contest is where they first met and while sharing correspondence and occasional dating, love bloomed ... Custer High School fielded a sanctioned rodeo team for the first time in 30 years. The team members were Lexi McCoy, Grace Kremer, Natalie McCoy, Rachael McCoy, Ashlee Kritenbrink and Hope Tietsort. 

Lost and found: Time capsule on display

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:45pm

The idea of a time capsule started in 1973, while the new Custer County Courthouse was being built next to Way Park.
The Custer County Historical Society proposed to the county commissioners that a cornerstone vault be buried under the patio at the entrance to the building during the Centennial year (1974) of the Custer Expedition into the Black Hills. The purpose of the project was to preserve the history of Custer City and Custer County and pass it on to future generations. 

Sheriff's Log July 16-20

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:39pm

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Sunday, July 19
5:16 p.m.: A belated report came in of someone stealing all the presents from a wedding held at Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park on state-managed land. The dastardly deed is under investigation.    

Black Hills Live Aug. 5, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 9:59am

Wednesday 8-5

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
The Little White Church
Hill City, SD 
7:30 AM

Driver’s License Exams 
Custer County Courthouse 
Annex Pine Room
Custer, SD
8 AM to 5 PM

Seniors Fitness Class
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
8:30 AM

Seniors Bridge Card Games
Hill City Center 
Hill City, SD
10 AM

Walking Storytime
Custer County Library to Pageant Hill
Custer, SD
10 AM - 12 PM

Down Memory Lane Aug. 5, 2026

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 9:35am
5 YEARS AGO, 2021

Both towns welcome hungry bikers

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 9:34am
As the rally kicks up, so do the biker breakfasts that support community organizations and causes. 
This year Keystone is having a one-day Sturgis Rally Breakfast Aug. 8 from 7:30–10:30 a.m. at the Keystone Community Center at 1101 Madill St.
The event is quite unusual for two reasons—the food has all been donated by the town’s engineering firm, Interstate Engineering, and town employees are hosting the event to support the town’s old schoolhouse.

BHEC breaks ground on new facility

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:19pm

Ground has been broken on a new Black Hills Electric Cooperative (BHEC) facility on the eastern side of Custer County that if all goes well, will be completed by the end of next summer.
 The co-op broke ground on the facility, located at 24624 Tayler Trail near the junction of Hwys. 40 and 79, on April 21.

Down Memory Lane July 29

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:17pm

10 YEARS AGO, 2016

South Dakota T. rex fetches $50 million at auction

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:08pm

A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil discovered on a ranch in western South Dakota has sold for more than $50 million in an auction held Tuesday morning in New York.
According to the Sotheby’s website, the auction is closed and the dinosaur fossil nicknamed “Gus” was sold for $50.13 million after starting at $19 million, one of the highest sales ever for such a fossil. The sale price is well above the $30 million price estimated by Sotheby’s prior to the sale.
No information was provided about the buyer.

Sheriff’s Log July 13-16

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:07pm

Custer County Sheriff’s Log
Call of the Week
Monday, July 13
11:33 p.m.: Two female campers were tussling over a too-bright lantern at Center Lake Campground  on state-managed land in Custer State Park. When all was said and done, deputies awarded one of the participants, a 44-year-old Rapid City female, a citation for disorderly conduct and an admonition to stay out of other people’s campsites.