Our Community

Schools see new students from New York to Oregon

Published by admin on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 8:59am

Part 12 of a series of articles examining the numerous economic and lifestyle impacts of the current in-migration to Custer County.
 Even as students prepare to return to the classroom next week, Custer County’s growing pains are being felt throughout Custer School District. The influx of new residents from all over the U.S. is resulting in growing enrollment at all three district schools. However, the completion of Phase 1 of the new Hermosa School and the moving of a modular annex to Custer provides a little more breathing room for teachers and students.

Down Memory Lane Aug. 18

Published by admin on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 8:58am

­­10 years ago, 2011 — Weekend visitation to Sylvan Lake had exploded, causing problems with parking and emergency access ... Gold Discovery Days parade winners were Patriotic: Lawana Gramm, Historical: Justin Dorrance, Commercial: Mick’s One Stop Liquor, Organiza-tions: Custer Area Chamber of Commerce  ... Two county post offices were facing possible closure: Fairburn and Pringle.

Sheriff's Log July 20-23

Published by admin on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 8:50am

Tuesday, July 20
11:43 p.m.: Scamming/ bad dating application action was reported in Fairburn. No money changed hands and no one met in person.
Wednesday, July 21
The 911 Misdial of the Day: A “peaceful political conversation” was heard over the emergency line. Though this sounded very strange, no emergency was going on there.
2:42 a.m.: A deputy checked on a stopped vehicle on Stockade Lake Drive. It turned out to belong to stargazers.
8:32 a.m.: A belated report of a lost phone came in from the downtown Custer area.

Alcohol, tobacco sales soared during pandemic

Published by admin on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 8:42am

South Dakotans bought far more alcohol and tobacco than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some healthcare professionals are concerned that residents who consumed more of the unhealthy products could suffer long-term physical and mental health consequences.
Health experts say the pandemic brought on social isolation, job loss, grief and ongoing anxiety about the future, all factors that likely contributed to heightened use of alcohol and tobacco.

Juvenile justice reforms not working as well for minorities

Published by admin on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 8:42am

A series of juvenile justice reforms enacted in South Dakota over the past decade have kept more low-level youth offenders out of detention centers and away from criminal activity that could land them in the adult system, according to state officials.
But state data show that youth of color — who make up a wide majority of the population in the juvenile justice system — have not benefited as much from the reforms and are still being detained in locked facilities at much higher rates than white youths.

Not all us bikers are the same

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 11:06am
I’m not one of those people. I may look like them at times. I may even sound like them. But I’m not one of them. Please don’t glare at me as if I’m one of them. Or worse yet, wave your fist or finger at me. I promise. I know better. I won’t pass you on the right or when there is a double line. I won’t pull up next to you in your own lane.
I won’t stop in the middle of a tunnel on Iron Mountain Road to take a picture. I won’t even stop in the middle of the road to take a selfie with a bison.

Let’s have an amazing school year

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 10:11am
Welcome back to the 2021-22 school year! Where did the summer go? This is my 16th year in Hill City and I have worked in every building as a teacher, principal, coach or athletic director. I absolutely love this school and community and it is a blessing to serve as your superintendent.

Biker breakfast tradition rallies on

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 9:31am
It’s been 27 years since Hill City Senior Center first began serving bikers breakfast during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
In 1994 Dorothy and Gini Pennel got an idea to feed hungry bikers and fundraise for the Seniors.
“I took posters to every campground, gas station and store around,” recalls Gini, remembering the challenge of those first few years. “Now we don’t even need to advertise any more. It’s just grown and grown and grown.”

Garden Club donates to Boys and Girls Club

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 9:20am
Members of the Flower Show committee for the Hill City Garden Club presented the Hill City Boys & Girls Club with a check in the amount of $523 this year and the third, fourth and fifth grade boys and girls at the Club were excited to receive it, along with Veronica Prautzsch, the unit director for the club.

Voters, road districts signal county growth

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 9:13am

Part 11 of a series of articles examining the numerous economic and lifestyle impacts of the current in-migration to Custer County.
 One of the main ways county chief deputy auditor Terri Cornelison at the Custer County Auditor’s office knows the county is growing is simply by the increased traffic at the courthouse these days.
“It seems like the courthouse is busy all the time,” said Cornelison, who notes that, depending on which door they enter by, visitors routinely stop at the first window they encounter to ask directions.