News

Tourism numbers good, but not as good

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 11:50am

Skyrocketing gas prices early in the summer season put a damper on the number of travelers to the Black Hills this year, but a drop in fuel prices brought improvement in the last half of the season according to local industry sources. While some say tourism numbers were up this year, others say the season can’t compete with the banner year that was 2021.
“Last year was a record breaking year all around,” said Fort Welikit Campground owner Steve Saint, who added, “this year we are the same as 2020, which is average.”

Mickelson Trail Trek pedals this weekend

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 10:07am
 
 
The 24th annual Mickelson Trail Trek rolls through Custer, Hill City and surrounding towns this week.
 
The event’s registration is already full with 600 bicyclists riding the three-day, 109 mile course.
 
Custer will first see the cyclists this Thursday and Friday. Friday’s crew bikes from Custer to Edgemont (44.5 miles) and Saturday’s pack rides from Custer to Rochford (39.5 miles).
 
Then, Sunday’s bicycle ride is from Rochford to Deadwood (24 miles).
 

Hill City orders work stop

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 9:59am
 
 
“Excessive.” 
 
That is the phrase person after person used to air their frustration about the Hill City Planning and Zoning’s (P&Z) recent decision to issue a stop work order on the exterior of the McGregor and Main building. 
 
Citizens, business owners and organization leaders rallied around developers Isaac and Carmen Almanza and spoke passionately to the Hill City Common Council at its Sept. 12 meeting.
 

Name released in fatal crash

Published by admin on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 9:13am
A Zumbrota, Minn. man has been identified as the person who died late evening Sept. 3 in a motorcycle crash north of Hill City.
 
Preliminary crash information indicates that a 2012 Harley Davidson Touring motorcycle was southbound on U.S. Hwy. 385 when it crossed the centerline into the northbound lane and hit a guardrail. 
 
Paul Smith, the 72-year-old driver, was thrown from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet.
 

Assisting with the escape - Part II

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:41am

This is the second in a series about Marty and Jen Mechaley and their involvement with assisting several of Warren Jeffs’ daughters in leaving the FLDS.

County reappraisal gets underway

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:39am

The Custer County Department of Equalization has officially begun its large and likely years-long task of reappraising the entire county, and at the Aug. 31 meeting of the Custer County Commission the commission heard from department director Leah Vissia and appraiser Tara Haswell about where the project has been so far as well as what is next.

Pine looper causes concern in Pringle

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:39am

Since July, concerned Pringle residents have begun to notice an insect they’ve never seen before infiltrating their property. Presently observed in both life cycles of caterpillar and cocoon, the insect was identified by Custer County’s Weed and Pest department as a pine looper.
Homes near Bowman Draw noticed the pine looper raining down from ponderosa pine trees, gathering all over the ground and crawling on homes.

Biker loses leg in collision

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:38am

A Rapid City man was severely injured in a collision between the motorcycle he was riding and a pickup driven by a Custer woman last Wednesday morning just north of Custer.
Lt. Jeff McGraw of the Custer County Sheriff's Office said the accident occurred at around 8:30 Wednesday morning near the Custer Crazy Horse Campground and the Custer Cemetery on Hwy. 16/385.

County gives green light to well drilling

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:37am

“Let’s get the well drilled.”
That was the consensus at the Aug. 31 meeting of the Custer County Commission, as the commission heard an update on the planned water well for the Custer Highlands, which included hearing that a driller is on board and ready to drill the well, even if it has to be capped until the rest of the required parts of the well are secured.

Ducks proved lucky for Lions Club

Published by admin on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 9:36am
 
 
The first annual Lions Club Rubber Duck race took place Sept. 3 raising approximately $1,200 for the organization. 
 
According to Lions Club president Stefanie Doaty, all of the funds will stay within the community for things like scholarships, hearing aids, eyeglasses and natural disasters. 
 
The race event sold out all 500 ducks and a generous anonymous donor allowed for an increase in prize money for winning ducks.