News

Some doubt property tax reform will come

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 2:55pm

Over the course of five months, the Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force met eight times across the state. The panel, which consists of 16 voting members and two non-voting members, heard from experts, officials and constituents about the impacts rising property taxes have on property owners across South Dakota. 

East Custer ambulance work continues

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 2:53pm

It appears the vast majority of the residents of eastern Custer County are in favor of creating an ambulance district on that side of the county. However, whether or not that is actually the case could be decided sooner rather than later.

Coroner letter dead on arrival

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 2:52pm

Horse manure.
That’s what Custer County commissioner Craig Hindle called an anonymous letter received by the Custer County Finance Office regarding county coroner Jim Sanders.
Well, that’s the PG version of what Hindle called the letter, which was signed only “Custer County Resident” and had no return address on the envelope. The letter was discussed at the Dec. 10 meeting of the Custer County Commission.
More specifically, the letter questioned why Sanders gets to “drive a county truck everywhere like it’s a personal vehicle,” and “drive his wife around too.”

Christmas services in Custer County

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 2:50pm

With Christmas just eight days away, the churches in Custer County are busy preparing special services to celebrate the holiday.
Several churches are starting the festivities Sunday, Dec. 21. Southern Hills Bible Church will have a Christmas themed service at 9:15 a.m. Abundant Life Fellowship is also having a traditional Christmas service at 10:30 a.m.

Riley Scott third at Rapid City Invitational

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 2:42pm

Stacked up against some intense competition, the Custer High School boys wrestling team battled it out at the Rapid City Invitational Dec. 12-13. Most of the boys got caught in the blood round, but Riley Scott nearly made it to the finals, placing third in his weight class. 

Water, sewer rates approved with no opposition

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 1:14pm
Hill City Common Council (HCCC) aldermen set water and sewer rates at the council’s Dec. 8 meeting
The new rates are, “inevitable,” according to mayor Tana Nichols, who thanked aldermen and staff for working so hard on the rate structure.
“We are not trying to hurt anybody. This stuff should have been done a long time ago,” Nichols said.

A closer look at the Keystone sewer plant

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 1:13pm
Every day drivers coming to Keystone from Hermosa pass the Keystone sewer plant. The lift station is a tiny building that sits right off Hwy 40. It is the lifeline from the plant to town, connecting the sewer lines to the plant itself located yards away. The system is what is known as gravity fed.
“Gravity couldn’t take it up there, so we pump it up the hill,” said Keystone’s superintendent of public works Jerry Przybylski about the town’s wastewater. 

Hill City preschool achieves exemplary rating

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 10:50am
The Hill City School District Board of Education met Dec. 8 for its final meeting of 2025.
Special education (SPED) director Breanna Lende-Hanson introduced Abby Zuniga, the SPED early childhood and preschool teacher. The two recently went through the application process for the Preschool Levels of Excellence Program, in which the preschool earned an exemplary rating and received an official certificate.
Superintendent Blake Gardner commended the pair, noting the courage it takes to pursue an evaluation of this caliber early in their careers.

City OKs West Dam construction bid

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 10:48am

By this time next year, West Dam will be full once more.
The Custer City Council, at its Dec. 1 meeting, unanimously approved accepting the low bid of $1,945,566.87 from RCS Construction of Rapid City for phase three of the West Dam project, which is the actual construction of the dam itself. Once the dam is reconstructed—work is expected to begin in the spring and be completed by the fall—the reservoir will fill again, completing an arduous journey that has spanned 14 years, four mayors and countless hours of work and headaches.

School board to review fundraising

Published by admin on Wed, 12/10/2025 - 10:46am

Why is the school district doing so much fundraising, and who is keeping track of everything?
These are questions community members are asking superintendent of schools Dr. Tim Frederick. Thus, at the board of education meeting Dec. 8 in Hermosa, he asked the board members to review the current policies by the Jan. 12 meeting. 
Frederick said the student fundraising activities and student activities fund management policies have not been revised since 2017.