CUSTER, S.D. – The Friends of Custer County Search and Rescue will receive a $15,000 award after finishing as the runner-up in the national Defender Service Awards.
Search and Rescue officials say weeks of community voting and support helped secure the funding, which will be used to help crews respond across hundreds of square miles of rugged Black Hills terrain.
Department leaders say the money will go to the Friends of Custer County Search and Rescue, a nonprofit organization that helps raise funds and purchase equipment for the team.
Officials say the award will help ensure first responders have the vehicles and equipment needed to serve Custer County around the clock, every day of the year.
The department also congratulated first-place winner Bighorn County and thanked the Black Hills community for its support throughout the competition.
