Custer County Chronicle

New wastewater discharge nearing completion

Published by admin on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 11:56am

A disputed force main that will take City of Custer effluent from the city’s wastewater treatment plant to French Creek near the Glen Erin Schoolhouse is nearing completion.
That was part of the update given to the Custer City Council at the council’s June 20 meeting, as Trent Bruce of DGR Engineering, the firm guiding the city through upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant, gave the council an update on the various parts of the plant upgrades.

‘When is a fact a fact?’ discussed

Published by admin on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 11:56am

How creative can you be when writing a true story? Can facts get in the way of the larger truth of a story?  Can the lines between fiction and non-fiction be blurred? These are some of the questions grappled with in the play, “The Lifespan of a Fact” and in a live panel discussion following a performance of that play at the Black Hills Playhouse on Sunday.

‘Exploring with Custer’ revised ahead of 1874 expedition anniversary

Published by admin on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 8:43am

School district budget to be $20M

Published by admin on Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:44am

The Custer School District Board of Education met last Monday in Hermosa and held its annual budget hearing, which began 30 minutes before the regular school board meeting.
Co-business manager Sarah Wedge presented on the changes made to the budget, as well as the addition of some line items, which Wedge explained help to paint a more accurate picture of the district’s finances.

School board talks CTE wing

Published by admin on Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:36am

The addition of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing to the Custer Jr./Sr. High School was again discussed at the June 12 Custer School District Board of Education meeting in Hermosa.
Jordan Burich from Architecture Inc. presented some preliminary plans based on the needs and wants set forth by staff and students in the district, but made clear that they were still in the “very early” study and planning stages.

Zack Brown is new public works director

Published by admin on Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:35am

Zack Brown is the new public works supervisor for the City of Custer. He officially began in his new role June 1.
“Things have been going pretty well. Busy...lots of stuff going on,” Brown said. “It’s a little bit hectic, but it’s been going well. (I’m getting) a lot of information at once and a lot of projects that I’m jumping into.”
Brown came to Custer from Longmont, Colo., where he worked in the water/wastewater division for the City of Longmont’s Public Works Department.

John Parker buys Calamity Jane’s

Published by admin on Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:34am

Calamity Jane’s Coffee Shop and Grill has a new owner, and it’s a familiar face on the Custer business scene.
As of June 1, John Parker is the new owner of Calamity Jane’s, having purchased the business from Sheila Carter.
Parker said he heard through a realtor in March that Calamity Jane’s was possibly coming onto the market, and at the same time, he had been looking to expand the Gold Pan, which sits directly next to Calamity Jane’s to the west. Parker sought to expand the Gold Pan Saloon to expand the kitchen.

Hermosa to host vendor fair Saturday

Published by admin on Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:30am

The Town of Hermosa will be a hub of excitement this Saturday with the Hermosa Vendor Fair and Farmers Market. The new event is put on by Hermosa Connects, a recently-formed non-profit organization with the goal to “connect and promote [Hermosa’s] businesses, events and people.” The fair will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hermosa Community Center and will feature nearly 60 different vendors.

French Creek effluent flap not going away

Published by admin on Wed, 06/14/2023 - 11:35am

So now what?
That is the question on many people’s minds both in Custer County and the City of Custer after last week’s election saw Custer County voters by a 801-609 margin declare the discharge of any treated wastewater from the City of Custer’s wastewater treatment plant into French Creek or its tributaries within Custer County as a nuisance.
So now what?

Longtime coach Larry Luitjens dies

Published by admin on Wed, 06/14/2023 - 11:33am

Larry Luitjens, Custer High School’s longtime boys basketball coach and the all-time wins leader in state basketball history ,died  last Saturday morning at his residence in Sioux Falls. He was 81.
In 45 full seasons as a basketball coach (40 of which were spent in Custer), Luitjens won 767 games, had a 70 percent winning percentage, won state titles, over 30 district titles and numerous regional titles.