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.
Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Commissioners spend majority of time In closed sessions; attempt to address increasing attendance cap for event center

Gary Dickson

The Union County Board of Commissioners met for its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Union County Courthouse in Elk Point. The meeting lasted from 8:30 to 11:13 a.m., or two hours and 43 minutes. All five commissioners and the county auditor were present.

During that time span, the commissioners went into executive session three different times. The first one was for a personnel matter and lasted 22 minutes. The second one was for a legal matter and lasted eight minutes. The third executive session was also to discuss a legal matter and it lasted 57 minutes. The total time the commissioners spent in executive sessions which are closed to the public was 65 minutes. Continue reading Commissioners spend majority of time In closed sessions; attempt to address increasing attendance cap for event center

Business, Dakota Dunes, economic development, South DakotaLeave a comment

Two Rivers Golf Club building corporate offices

Gary Dickson

Even though there’s snow on the greens and fairways of Two Rivers Golf Club on the eastern edge of Dakota Dunes, there’s been plenty of activity near the clubhouse this fall. About 100 yards northwest of that building, the wooden frame of a large new building is starting to take shape. Once completed it will be the home of the golf club’s corporate offices as well as its corporate partners. Continue reading Two Rivers Golf Club building corporate offices

Agriculture, Siouxland, Siouxland Observed, South DakotaLeave a comment

Siouxland Observed #7: Where is this old fellow?

Gary Dickson

He’s leaning a little bit, but not too much. You can see right into his heart, by golly. Word is he might be scheduled for a bypass, but he isn’t talking. He doesn’t want to get anyone too riled up — at least not any more than they already are. After all, it’s Thanksgiving. He says even with a bypass he’ll do just fine. In fact, Ol’ Red says the doctors tell him he will probably be feeling better. He might even take up water skiing next summer. Continue reading Siouxland Observed #7: Where is this old fellow?

Dakota Dunes, Education, North Sioux City, South DakotaLeave a comment

DV college-bound juniors and seniors exceed on ACTs in 2022 compared to state

Gary Dickson

The Dakota Valley School Board received good information last Monday evening Nov. 13 when Superintendent Dr. Tonia Warzecha gave a report on the district’s college-bound juniors and seniors’ recent performance on the ACTs.

Those readers growing up in South Dakota and other states may recall taking the ACT exam in high school. It is a national college admission exam that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading, science, STEM and (optional) ELA, also known as English Language Arts and Writing. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

Every subject area shows DV students scoring higher than the state average each year. Continue reading DV college-bound juniors and seniors exceed on ACTs in 2022 compared to state

Business, Iowa, Sioux City, SiouxlandLeave a comment

Restaurant inspection update: Rodents in the oven, mystery meat and insects

Gary Dickson

State, city and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including insects, moldy salads, and beef that was hauled to a restaurant in buckets from a questionable out-of-state slaughtering operation.

One restaurant agreed to close due to the “heavy presence” of cockroaches, and for the 11th time in the past 29 months, state inspectors cited a Des Moines food store for the same violation: failing to have a certified food protection manager on staff to ensure the safe handling of food. Continue reading Restaurant inspection update: Rodents in the oven, mystery meat and insects

South Dakota, SportsLeave a comment

Coyote women beat Big East DePaul in Battle 4 Atlantis; fall to Michigan in semis

Gary Dickson

South Dakota junior Grace Larkins recorded her 10th career 20-point game as the Coyotes knocked off the Big East’s DePaul 83-71 on Saturday night in Imperial Arena inside the Atlantis Resort.
 
South Dakota (3-1) put together its best shooting performance of the season. The Coyotes made 54.4 percent (31-for-57) from the floor, 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from behind the arc and 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the stripe.

South Dakota was the only mid-major to win on the first day of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Continue reading Coyote women beat Big East DePaul in Battle 4 Atlantis; fall to Michigan in semis

Agriculture, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

$8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change

Gary Dickson

South Dakota farmers have received nearly $10 billion in payouts from the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. over roughly the past two decades, with payments specifically due to weather disasters rising significantly during that time.

Between 2001 and 2022, South Dakota was among the top states in the nation for receiving insurance payouts for crop losses due to weather disasters, a trend environmentalists have said reveals a hidden but rapidly rising cost of climate change that is increasing the frequency and severity of storms that damage crops.

American taxpayers have funded a large portion of the payouts, as nearly 65% of the premiums for the crop insurance program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are subsidized with federal funding. Continue reading $8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change

Sioux City, Siouxland ObservedLeave a comment

Siouxland Observed #6: Where do you go with a flat tire? (Where is this sign?)

Gary Dickson

I said this edition of Siouxland Observed wouldn’t be too difficult. And it shouldn’t be if you pay attention while driving through the area just west of Sioux City’s downtown. The only thing more specific I can tell you is the sign can be seen from a short distance from the street you drive as you travel on your merry way to bowling leagues or go out for some Vietnamese food. I’d like the name of the business that this particular sign refers to, please. I’ll put the answer and the name(s) of those answering correctly in an upcoming edition … Continue reading Siouxland Observed #6: Where do you go with a flat tire? (Where is this sign?)