Author: Gary Dickson

Gary Dickson is the writer, editor, and photographer of this blog. He has been a weekly newspaper editor, photojournalist, corporate trainer, mental health and substance abuse counselor, and university continuing education administrator. He decided to retire in September of 2017 after working at a dysfunctional group mental health private practice. After selling their house in the Morningside neighborhood of Sioux City, Gary and his wife, Nancy moved across the Big Sioux River to Dakota Dunes, SD. Nancy, who is five years Gary’s junior, continues to bring home a full-time paycheck so Gary can maintain his leisurely lifestyle. This includes homeschooling their cat, Willie, writing this blog, selling his photographs, taking more photographs, volunteering, and possibly someday getting a part-time job. Gary is well-versed in the geography, history, government, and people of the North Central Great Plains. He has lived in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska and has spent much of his life traveling the region and writing about and photographing the people and land of the Great Plains. Gary has been married to Nancy Bingner Dickson far longer than he has been married to anyone else and intends to keep it that way. He is originally from Sturgis, SD and Nancy is from Chancellor, SD. Some of the topics this blog will cover include: education, the Great Plains, government, politics, journalism, regional history, behavior, culture, arts, people, and the environment. Gary likes to nudge people out of complacency and point out hypocrisy when he sees it. He may also recount some of the poor decisions he has made in the past as a way to enlighten or entertain readers of this blog. He also reserves the right to include transcriptions of conversations he has with Willie. Gary is nothing else if not an amusement to himself. He uses a Nikon D3100 DSLR and a Samsung S5 smartphone to take his photos.
Community, SiouxlandLeave a comment

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

Gary Dickson

In case you weren’t aware of it, it’s time to purchase boxes of Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and all your other favorite yummy Girl Scout Cookies.

Whether you’ve there are Girl Scouts from your neighborhood knocking on your door with an order list while a watchful parent waits nearby in a car or on the sidewalk, or a co-worker lets you know their daughter or niece is selling the cookies and they have an order form in their desk or you see a group of Girl Scouts stationed at a table in front of the grocery store, it’s hard to not be aware of the annual fundraising event. Continue reading It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Crush of complaints forces state to hire extra help for officer misconduct investigations

Gary Dickson

There are so many complaints about cops now flowing into the Division of Criminal Investigation that the agency has hired a second full-time investigator to handle them.

Former FBI agent Dave Keith was hired to handle allegations of officer misbehavior recently, DCI Director Dan Satterlee said Wednesday during the March meeting of the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission in Pierre.

The primary investigator of officer misbehavior has been busy dealing with the spike in complaints since 2021, when the DCI streamlined the process and made an online complaint form available. Continue reading Crush of complaints forces state to hire extra help for officer misconduct investigations

Government, Politics, South Dakota2 Comments

Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Gary Dickson

Gov. Kristi Noem leveled accusations against Native American parents and political leaders Wednesday while saying she wants to help Native American students succeed.

She made the comments during a town hall meeting in Mitchell, where she signed two education bills into law, and at a later town hall in Winner.

“We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefitting from the cartels being here, and that’s why they attack me every day,” she said. Continue reading Noem slings accusations about tribes while signing education bills

Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Clay County Sheriff’s Incident Report

Gary Dickson

The following are summaries of incidents reported to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office between Feb. 14 and March 14, 2024. 

For instance: A caller reported a stray pig and dog on a rural road near Meckling. A deputy responded to a report of a dog at a rural residence biting a bicyclist. A deputy assisted Vermillion police officers with a response to a fight outside of a downtown bar in Vermillion.

Also, the School Resource Officer investigated a report of a high school student in Vermillion having possession of a vape device in school. A caller reported suspicious activity involving two people in a car on a dead-end rural road.

And more are inside the story.

Continue reading Clay County Sheriff’s Incident Report

Crime, GovernmentLeave a comment

Union County Court: March 4-8, 2024

Gary Dickson

You may have noticed we’ve been neglecting to post the Union County Court Report on this site. I’m sorry for the lack of courtroom activity news on my part.

It could have been because I’ve been serving time in jail and haven’t had access to a computer in the hoosgow . . . but it’s not.

I just haven’t taken the time to transfer the information that Shannon Steckelberg, the Union County Deputy Clerk Magistrate works so hard to compile and send to me each week. My gosh, I’m having a shame attack just thinking about my lack of follow-through.

There. It’s over now. Whew! Continue reading Union County Court: March 4-8, 2024

Commentary, GovernmentLeave a comment

Sunshine Week: Support local journalism

Gary Dickson

Sunshine Week is March 10-16, and this year, there’s an even greater need for you to get involved.

Sunshine Week annually celebrates freedom of information laws in every state. It also salutes efforts by good government advocates and journalists to use and ensure the effectiveness of those laws to get the information we need as self-governing citizens.

The name is a play on the commonsense words spoken more than a century ago by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, that “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” Continue reading Sunshine Week: Support local journalism

Government, PoliticsLeave a comment

Hand counting vs. voting machines: Debate rages in South Dakota

Gary Dickson

Most of the county officials who administer elections in South Dakota don’t consider hand counting to be an effective or efficient method of tabulating votes.

That’s the result of a South Dakota News Watch survey that saw input from 49 of the state’s 66 county auditors. Auditors are elected officials who supervise county, state and federal elections as well as maintain financial records and other duties.

The hand count debate comes as South Dakota is viewed as a proving ground by election reformists who claim that recent elections across the county were marred by hacking or fraud, allegations repeatedly rejected by courts of law as well as Democratic and Republican election leaders. Continue reading Hand counting vs. voting machines: Debate rages in South Dakota

Government, Nebraska, PoliticsLeave a comment

Deadline passes for reconsideration of Fortenberry ruling; case could be retried

Gary Dickson

A deadline came and went Monday to request a reconsideration of the appeals court ruling that tossed out the felony convictions of former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

That doesn’t mean the case is over, however.

Prosecutors still need to decide whether to seek a second trial of the former congressman in either Nebraska or Washington, D.C., where it was alleged that Fortenberry lied and misled federal agents probing illegal, foreign campaign contributions. Continue reading Deadline passes for reconsideration of Fortenberry ruling; case could be retried

Government, Health, South DakotaLeave a comment

Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success

Gary Dickson

Out of the 12 recommendations made by an interim legislative committee studying the sustainability of long-term care in South Dakota, most passed the legislative process.

That’s a clear success, said committee co-chair Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton. Legislators were challenged last year to produce recommendations that would pass through the process, something that summer studies have struggled with in years past. This year’s legislative session ended last week, except for a day on March 25 to consider vetoes. Continue reading Long-term care committee’s work translates into legislative success

Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law

Gary Dickson

South Dakota will soon have a council devoted to the welfare of Native American children.

Gov. Kristi Noem signed House Bill 1232 this week, which creates the Indian Child Welfare Advisory Council. It will bring together people from the Department of Social Services, South Dakota’s nine tribes, the Legislature, and the field of child welfare for annual conversations.

Following are summaries of some other bills Noem signed into law recently as she continues to consider measures passed by the Legislature. The 2024 legislative session ended Thursday, except for one day on March 25 to consider vetoes. Noem had not vetoed any bills as of Friday afternoon. Continue reading Noem signs Indian Child Welfare Council and other bills into law