Custer County Chronicle

In June, local Scouting America Troop 25 completed the legendary “Philmont Adventure,” a high-adventure backpacking trek that spanned more than 60 miles in eight days, with more than 11,000 feet of elevation change. Over the past two years, these Scouts held numerous fundraisers to pay their own way, curated backpacking gear, trained with several “prep trips” to ascertain the use and quality of their equipment and hone their skills, and conducted endless “pack checks.” This was a marked turn for the Scouts of Custer. 

The Custer Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 annual Chamber Membership Awards Banquet will be held this Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Custer State Park Event Barn. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and awards presentations.
Several awards will be handed out to local businesses, citizens and organizations at the banquet. The awards to be handed out are:
• Heart of Custer
•Community Team/Service
• Individual of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement
• New Business of the Year
• Business of the Year

Grief is a unique battle. It affects people in different ways and at different times. For some, it is readily apparent, and for others it is a quiet struggle. Although the pain eases in time, the grief is something many people carry for life, especially families who have lost children. 
Custer residents Wayne and Cindy Anderson know this firsthand. Their youngest son Jacob, or Jake, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in 2004. After complications of chemotherapy, he passed on into Heaven in 2005 at the age of 23. That was 20 years ago.