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

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

Juvenile justice report: More delinquent kids taken to court

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

Bypass meeting draws plenty of interest from area residents and landowners

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

Christmas at Morningside tickets available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1

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

Public meeting is Monday night for Northshore Drive bypass project

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

A new era of vaccines leaves old questions about prices unanswered

The world is entering a new era of vaccines. Following the success of COVID-19 mRNA shots, scientists have a far greater capacity to tailor shots to a virus’s structure, putting a host of new vaccines on the horizon. These shots are welcome since RSV can be dangerous, even deadly, in the very old and very young. But the shots are also expensive. So their advent is forcing the United States to face anew questions it has long sidestepped: How much should an immunization that will possibly be given — maybe yearly — to millions of Americans cost to be truly valuable? Continue reading A new era of vaccines leaves old questions about prices unanswered

Three Dakota Valley runners place in top 10 at SD’s State Cross Country Meet

Three members of Dakota Valley’s Cross Country Team finished in the top 10 individually at the South Dakota Class 11A state cross country meet last Saturday in Sioux Falls Yankton Trail Park.

According to results released by the South Dakota High School Athletic Association, Sophia Redler, Jack Brown and Joe Cross posted top 10 individual finishes. The Dakota Valley boys placed sixth as a team while the girls placed 13th. Continue reading Three Dakota Valley runners place in top 10 at SD’s State Cross Country Meet

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

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

Dunes residents asked to report vandalism when they see it happen

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