Category: South Dakota

Education, South Dakota, SportsLeave a comment

Ripperda, Coyote squads recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic

Gary Dickson

South Dakota senior Abby Ripperda, in addition to the Coyote men’s and women’s cross country teams has earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Ripperda is one of 174 women to receive recognition from the USTFCCCA, including being one of three from the Summit League. To be eligible for the award, honorees must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and have finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Regionals or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships. Continue reading Ripperda, Coyote squads recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic

Education, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Lawmakers endorse summer children’s food program, nix expansion of reduced price school meals

Gary Dickson

A bill to include South Dakota in a summer food program for children advanced to the next step of the legislative process Wednesday in Pierre, while legislation to expand eligibility for reduced-price school meals was rejected.

Lawmakers moved a bill forward that addresses the federal government’s Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children. It provides eligible low-income families with $40 per child, per month in preloaded cards to buy groceries during the summer months. Continue reading Lawmakers endorse summer children’s food program, nix expansion of reduced price school meals

Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

Union County Sheriff Dies

Gary Dickson

For nearly four decades, Dan Limoges dedicated himself to Union County law enforcement, with the last 33 years as sheriff.

His lifetime of service has now ended, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges,” the department posted Tuesday on its Facebook page.

Limoges, 64, died unexpectedly Tuesday at his home, according to his obituary.

During that time, Limoges worked with high-profile cases for the county in the extreme southeast corner of South Dakota. Those experiences ranged from decades-old cold cases to three Missouri River drownings in as many years. Continue reading Union County Sheriff Dies

Siouxland Observed, South DakotaLeave a comment

Siouxland Observed #9: What plot of land does this photo show?

Gary Dickson

Area people should have a pretty good idea of where this photo was taken and what it shows. Some folks have really gotten their knickers in a knot over it. Or how it is going to be paid for. Or how long parts of it will be. Or what size units of dirt will be. Personally, I just thought the sun and clouds looked mighty pretty that afternoon when I was nosing around, so I stopped to take a photo with my cellphone. Continue reading Siouxland Observed #9: What plot of land does this photo show?

Government, South Dakota5 Comments

Courthouse Chronicles: ‘Now Where the Hell Is That State’s Attorney?’

Gary Dickson

I dropped my lovely passenger off behind the Baxter Building at the corner of 5th and Jones Streets in downtown Sioux City — a city that’s not as bad as it sometimes smells. My wife waved goodbye as I let our 2021 Hyundai Venue coast down the driveway to the alley where I turned right and half a block later, I dodged a homeless fellow looking for cans then I turned left onto Jones. I drove to 3rd Street and hung a right going by the post office, a parking ramp, the cancer center, Milwaukee Weiners, and the Hard Rock Hotel. I caught Wesley Parkway to the service road which brought me to the I-29 north entrance ramp.

In six minutes I was free of Sioux City, out of Iowa, and back into the Land of Infinite Variety, South Dakota. Tourism folks call South Dakota the Rushmore State now, but I prefer to call it by its old nickname. I think it’s far more accurate.

But I digress.

It was 8:07 a.m. Tuesday, December 12th and I was headed for Elk Point, the County Seat of Union County, South Dakota for the regular meeting of the County Board of Commissioners. Continue reading Courthouse Chronicles: ‘Now Where the Hell Is That State’s Attorney?’

Education, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

South Dakota literacy improvements likely to cost more than $6 million

Gary Dickson

South Dakota educators have pointed to dramatic literacy successes in the state of Mississippi as evidence for lawmakers to support a proposed $6 million investment into expanded phonics-based reading curriculum and teacher training.

But as the appropriation supported by Gov. Kristi Noem moves forward in the Legislature, a top literacy official in Mississippi said that while South Dakota’s plan is a good place to start, a one-time investment is unlikely to reverse falling reading rates in the Rushmore State.

House Bill 1022 would provide the South Dakota Department of Education with $6 million for a four-year statewide teacher training effort in the science of reading (SOR), an intensive approach to reading instruction at the elementary level that relies in part on phonics, or using sounds within words rather than letters to help children read. Continue reading South Dakota literacy improvements likely to cost more than $6 million

Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

State Senate shoots down property tax valuation cap

Gary Dickson

The South Dakota Senate shot down an effort Thursday to cap property tax valuation increases at 3% a year for homeowners and rental properties.

Senate Bill 167 would have capped increases in response to the heavy hikes in property valuations that followed the COVID-19 pandemic’s start in 2020.

Sen. Jack Kolbeck, R-Sioux Falls, said his goal was to offer some relief to long-term homeowners whose new neighbors from other states helped push home values beyond what local incomes can absorb. Continue reading State Senate shoots down property tax valuation cap

Business, Health, Iowa, South DakotaLeave a comment

New year brings new restaurant inspections in Siouxland

Gary Dickson

Below are some of their findings over the past month as reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing and the South Dakota Department of Health which handle food-establishment inspections at the state level.

NOTE: There are some differences between the inspections of Iowa and South Dakota. One difference between the inspections is that Iowa’s inspectors put down a date for when violations or concerns are to be resolved. While there is a place for a date on South Dakota’s forms, none of the inspectors put down a date that violations needed to be resolved/fixed. It appears that South Dakota’s motto of “Freedom Lives Here” is being applied to the state health department’s inspection division. Continue reading New year brings new restaurant inspections in Siouxland