Tag: Business

CommentaryLeave a comment

To whom it may concern

Gary Dickson

I’m back with another installment of To Whom It May Concern, my multi-topic opinion column about the goings-on in Siouxland, South Dakota, the nation and the world. I’d been meaning to write this earlier – like last month – but things kept getting in the way. Like my health. I had a cold which turned into a bad sinus infection that kept me in bed for most of a week with a fever. Now that I’m almost 71, stuff like that seems to hit me particularly hard. It sucks getting old. But don’t cry for me Argentina, I’ve rebounded, for the most part. Continue reading To whom it may concern

Economy, South DakotaLeave a comment

Rapid rise in South Dakota home prices is ‘not sustainable,’ economist says

Gary Dickson

Average first-time homebuyers can expect to spend about two-fifths of their pre-tax income on a monthly payment for a house in South Dakota.

“This situation is unheard of,” said Dakota Institute CEO Jared McEntaffer.

He addressed the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development on Wednesday at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

McEntaffer called home prices one of the biggest economic issues the state faces. His analysis highlighted the decoupling of housing costs from incomes, posing a challenge for attracting new workers. Continue reading Rapid rise in South Dakota home prices is ‘not sustainable,’ economist says

Business, Health, SiouxlandLeave a comment

Marching through restaurant inspections in Siouxland – Update for Iowa and S.D.

Gary Dickson

State, city and county food inspectors have cited Iowa and South Dakota restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations in recent weeks, including poorly cooked beef, lack of food thermometers, unclean equipment, handling food with bare hands, repeat violations and dirty kitchens.

The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. South Dakota food establishment inspections are handled by the South Dakota Department of Health. Listed below are some of the findings that stem from inspections at Siouxland restaurants and convenience stores over the past five weeks.

Dig in to the details. Continue reading Marching through restaurant inspections in Siouxland – Update for Iowa and S.D.

Crime, HealthcareLeave a comment

Nurse criminally charged in death of care facility resident

Gary Dickson

A nurse who allegedly failed to suction the airway of a U.S. Army veteran in an Iowa nursing home has been criminally charged in the man’s death.

Becky Sue Manning, 69, of Lake View, is charged with felony wanton neglect of a healthcare facility resident. According to prosecutors, Manning, a licensed practical nurse, refused repeated requests to provide physician-ordered care for a resident of the Fonda Specialty Care nursing home while working there in 2023 as an employee of the GrapeTree Medical Staffing temp agency.

In its written response to DIA’s findings, the facility’s owners, Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, said it does not admit to any statements, findings or conclusions by the state inspectors Continue reading Nurse criminally charged in death of care facility resident

Business, IowaLeave a comment

Sergeant Bluff entrepreneur wins SBA’s top state award

Gary Dickson

The owner of a catering business and event venue in northwest Iowa is being named the Iowa Small Business Person of the Year by the Iowa district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Cathy Bishop is the President of Aggies, Inc., a BBQ catering company in her hometown of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

A 1983 graduate of Texas A&M (the Aggies), Bishop spent ten years in Colorado as a bank examiner. She had always dreamed of being an entrepreneur though, and in 1994 she came home and opened Aggies. Aggies began as a restaurant with some catering, but in 2009 Aggies pivoted to catering full-time and turned the restaurant into an event venue.

Continue reading Sergeant Bluff entrepreneur wins SBA’s top state award

Health, SiouxlandLeave a comment

Sioux City pharmacy fined for life-threatening medication error

Gary Dickson

A Sioux City pharmacy with a history of regulatory violations has been fined for a medication error that led to a life-threatening situation for a customer.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy alleges that on Oct. 4, 2023, Greenville Pharmacy in Sioux City incorrectly filled a prescription for a customer who then began taking the drug.

Three weeks later, the customer was treated in the emergency room of a hospital and was then admitted for what the board says was a “life-threatening condition resulting from this medication error.”

Greenville Pharmacy was charged Continue reading Sioux City pharmacy fined for life-threatening medication error

Commentary, Siouxland6 Comments

To whom it may concern

Gary Dickson

I’ve been wanting to write a multi-topic opinion column for some time. It’s not that I haven’t let my personal views seep into my reporting about various activities earlier. For example, you might want to look up one of my stories about the Union County Commission to see what I think about their workings. I admit that my writing isn’t always objective. So what? I own this site and I don’t get paid to write, photograph or post the stories that appear on it. So there.

You might consider this column in a similar light to Frank Costanza’s “Airing of the Grievances” on the classic Festivus episode during the Jerry Seinfeld Show. During that episode, many might remember, Frank — who was George Costanza’s father — stands up and shouts, “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people! Now you’re going to hear about them.” I loved Frank.

Continue reading To whom it may concern

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?’

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

Government, Health, Iowa3 Comments

Siouxland restaurant inspection update

Gary Dickson

City, county and state food inspectors have been visiting Siouxland area restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, school cafeterias, hospitals and convenience stores in November and December.

Below are some of their findings over the past two months as reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level.

The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. Continue reading Siouxland restaurant inspection update