Custer County Chronicle

County fair starts Thursday

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:50pm

Mosey on over to Hermosa this week for the 2026 Custer County Fair Aug. 6-9.
This year’s fair is dedicated to Jim and Brenda Lintz who have been staples in the Custer County community, operating a small century ranch just west of Hermosa that has been in the family for over 120 years.
Jim has been a fixture in the Hermosa volunteer fire department as an EMT, served several years in Pierre in legislature as well as being a Custer County Commissioner and on numerous boards, including the Custer County Fair Board to help promote and support the ranching cattle industry.

County approves Big Medicine plat

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:49pm

The final plat that will create 10 lots roughly five acres in size in the Big Medicine Subdivision was unanimously approved by the Custer County Commission at the commission’s July 22 meeting, but not without both concerns and protest from those who live in the area of the subdivision.
The applicant, John Parker, plans to subdivide 50 acres of land into 10 lots, with access to the lots coming from Renegade Pass and/or War Bonnet Road. The subdivision is located northwest of the City of Custer.

Wickre sentenced to 10 years

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:49pm

A Colorado man was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty to grand theft for accepting approximately $124,000 that was to be used toward building a Custer County resident a home, but instead spending all the money and never doing anything toward the construction.

CSD libraries receive statewide award

Published by admin on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 12:47pm

Here’s an achievement to bookmark. The Custer School District (CSD) libraries, including Custer Elementary School, Custer High School and Hermosa School, recently received the School Achievement Through Libraries (SATL) award through the South Dakota State Library (SDSL). This accreditation is valid for three years, running from 2026-2029. 
The application process for the award was completed by district library coordinator Doris Ann Mertz and her team of library paras. Mertz was the county library director for 11 years before she transitioned to  CSD in 2022. 

City, county inching closer to law enforcement pact

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

Judging by events that took place at the July 22 meeting of the Custer County Commission, it appears the City of Custer and Custer County may be nearing reaching an agreement on a new contract for the county to provide law enforcement for the City of Custer once more.
Nothing is a done deal yet, however, as a proposed requirement for the contract received by Custer County in its most recent letter from the City of Custer has provided the latest sticking point in the negotiations.

City wants more info from CVFD

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:21pm

The Custer City Council wants to see more details of budget figures from the Custer Volunteer Fire Department before agreeing to provide an additional $269,500 in funding to the $30,5000 allocated to the department for 2026.
That was the message relayed to department chief Matt Spring at the July 20 meeting of the council, at which Spring came before the department to make the request for the additional funding.

Hermosa battles water supply issues

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:21pm

After weeks of setbacks and water restrictions, the Hermosa Board of Trustees has mapped out a way forward to preserve and strengthen the drinking water supply to Hermosa residents. The timing of the ordeal coincided with record-setting regional heat and drought conditions, but an end is in sight. 

Burn ban back on

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:20pm

Custer County has reinstated a burn ban effective as of Monday, to coincide with the Black Hills National Forest moving to Level II restrictions on Forest Service land.

Woman dies in Hermosa house fire

Published by admin on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 12:20pm

While on the phone with emergency services July 21, 77-year-old Margaret Miracle of Hermosa died of smoke inhalation due to the fire that consumed her home and blocked the exit. 
The fire was called into the Custer County Sheriff’s Office’s 911 center by Miracle who was trapped inside at 7:45 p.m. The house was located off Hwy. 36. 
“(Miracle) reported that there was a fire in her living room and that she was unable to get out of the house,” said Custer County Sheriff Derrick Reifenrath. 

Trump says no August recess with out SAVE America Act

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

President Donald Trump on Monday called on the U.S. Senate to cancel its five-week August break, keeping lawmakers in session to advance several of his priorities, despite not having the votes.
Trump wrote in a social media post that he wanted Senate Majority Leader John Thune to keep the chamber open, preventing vulnerable Republicans facing reelection from the campaign trail, to pass a voter identification bill, among other measures.