Category: Community

Agriculture, Environment, Iowa, Minnesota, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Gary Dickson

Less precipitation means less pollution is running into the Big Sioux River, according to a 2023 water quality report. “You can see a pretty strong correlation between the amount of rainfall and water quality,” Friends of the Big Sioux River’s Emily Oyos said. “A very direct correlation.”

“We had a significantly less amount of rain than 2022, and that has resulted in better numbers,” said Rachel Kloos, with Friends of the Big Sioux River. Otherwise, the results reveal many of the same problems as in past years. Continue reading Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Business, Community, economic development, Government, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

North Sioux councilors hear bypass meeting complaints; deal with rock nuisance; nudge along new housing development; approve liquor licenses.

Gary Dickson

It was a busy, long meeting for North Sioux City’s City Council this last Monday evening as they addressed a variety of issues from the ongoing McCook Lake canal to a dog daycare owner unhappy with the several proposed Northshore bypass options to a new housing development in the works west of Sioux Point Rd. and south of Quinella Drive and approved the renewal of a slew of liquor licenses. Then there was the issue of rocks too close to the street. Continue reading North Sioux councilors hear bypass meeting complaints; deal with rock nuisance; nudge along new housing development; approve liquor licenses.

Government, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Former small-town Minnesota mayor is behind the rise of electoral activism in South Dakota. He’s just getting started.

Gary Dickson

One of the Midwest’s most prominent election deniers stood next to a pinball machine at the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls in October, outlining how he impacted South Dakota’s 2022 race for secretary of state.

Rick Weible, a 51-year-old computer analyst and Republican Party operative had just given a slideshow to a group called Concerned Citizens of Lincoln County about alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election and perceived vulnerabilities in South Dakota’s voting systems.

“I was upsetting the apple cart,” Weible said of that election. “I brought my Minnesota experience into South Dakota because I was thinking, ‘If I can’t fix Minnesota, how can I get involved somewhere else to force some of these changes?’” Continue reading Former small-town Minnesota mayor is behind the rise of electoral activism in South Dakota. He’s just getting started.

Agriculture, economic development, Government, Rural Life, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Union County Commission meeting heats up over tree removal and cannabis license

Gary Dickson

Things got a little heated Tuesday morning at the Union County Board of Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday, Oct 31. County resident Don Larsen had a beef about trees that were removed from his property in northern Union County. There was also the ongoing saga of the Dune Budz folks wanting to remove the cannabis cultivation license of Dakota Health & Wellness LLC.

But before that could be sorted out, there was regular business to take care of. Commissioners Rich Headid, Keven Joffer and Tom Kimmel carried on in the absence of Milton Ustad and Michael Dailey. Continue reading Union County Commission meeting heats up over tree removal and cannabis license

Community, Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Juvenile justice report: More delinquent kids taken to court

Gary Dickson

South Dakota prosecutors filed more juvenile delinquency petitions in fiscal year 2023 than at any time in nearly a decade, according to an annual report presented Wednesday to a state committee.

The report came during the fall meeting of the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Oversight Council, which is a group of representatives from law enforcement, schools, the Legislature, social services and the court system. The council is responsible for tracking South Dakota’s eight-year effort to reduce the number of children in custody. Continue reading Juvenile justice report: More delinquent kids taken to court

Community, Government, Siouxland, South Dakota, TransportationLeave a comment

Bypass meeting draws plenty of interest from area residents and landowners

Gary Dickson

A public meeting sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), City of North Sioux City and Stockwell Engineers of Sioux Falls drew lots of interest Monday night at the North Sioux City Fire Hall. At least 85 southern Union County residents and landowners attended the meeting to get information on the project that will construct a new road that will bypass Northshore Drive by McCook Lake.

People were able to talk one-on-one to engineers from Stockwell Engineers as well as consulting engineers from Felsburg, Holt & Ullevig who are specialists in transportation planning, and WSB, another engineering firm consulting on the project. Also available at the meeting was Paula Huizenga, the project administrator from SDDOT. Continue reading Bypass meeting draws plenty of interest from area residents and landowners

Community, Iowa, Music, Nebraska, Sioux City, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Christmas at Morningside tickets available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1

Gary Dickson

The Morningside School of Visual and Performing Arts will present Christmas at Morningside on Thursday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 1 in Eppley Auditorium on Morningside’s campus, with tickets going on sale at 8 a.m. on Nov. 1. This year’s program entitled “Dawn of Redeeming Grace” will feature an extensive range of Christmas and holiday music performed by Morningside choirs under the direction of Dr. Ryan Person and Dr. Josh Nannestad, the Morningside University wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Christopher Brandt, and M Avenue Jazz led by Dr. Erik Mahon.

“Christmas at Morningside is a beloved tradition at Morningside and throughout the Siouxland community,” Heath Weber, Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts Department, said. “We are delighted to combine stunning choral and instrumental music with captivating visual presentations that will surely ignite the Christmas spirit in everyone!” Continue reading Christmas at Morningside tickets available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1

Dakota Dunes, Geography, Government, Siouxland, South Dakota, TransportationLeave a comment

Public meeting is Monday night for Northshore Drive bypass project

Gary Dickson

Persons interested in the proposed Northshore Drive Bypass Project in the McCook Lake area should note there is a meeting they may want to attend about the project on Monday evening.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), City of North Sioux City and Stockwell Engineers will hold a public meeting on Monday, Oct. 30 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the North Sioux City Community Center, 205 Sodrac Dr. Continue reading Public meeting is Monday night for Northshore Drive bypass project

Career, Childcare, Community, Family, Sioux Falls, South DakotaLeave a comment

Lack of child care options forces South Dakota families to make tough decisions

Gary Dickson

Stephanie Wiegand is a registered nurse and her husband is a physician assistant. They moved to Lead with their four young children in the spring of 2020. She found one childcare facility in neighboring Deadwood, but its hours didn’t fit their schedules. “We’re here, but now we’re stuck,” said Weigand. Continue reading Lack of child care options forces South Dakota families to make tough decisions

Community, Crime, Dakota Dunes, Government, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Dunes residents asked to report vandalism when they see it happen

Gary Dickson

The Event Center in the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sioux City North was nearly filled to capacity Monday night with Dakota Dunes residents. They were there to hear about increasing issues of vandalism and related juvenile misbehavior in The Dunes from law enforcement and security officials. Continue reading Dunes residents asked to report vandalism when they see it happen