Tag: news

Community, Iowa, JusticeLeave a comment

Sioux Center police officer forced to quit after domestic abuse arrest

Gary Dickson

A Sioux Center police officer who was forced to resign after a domestic abuse arrest — a charge that was later dismissed — and a failed psychological test is entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

According to state records, Steve S. Topete began working for the City of Sioux Center as a full-time police officer in June 2023. When he was hired, he was required to take and pass the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test, which is a 600-question survey designed to measure an individual’s integrity, character and suitability as a law enforcement officer, with the answers reviewed by a psychologist. All certified law enforcement officers in Iowa are required to take the test. Continue reading Sioux Center police officer forced to quit after domestic abuse arrest

Health, Iowa, SiouxlandLeave a comment

Board: Acupuncture patient was abandoned, called sheriff’s office for help

Gary Dickson

An Iowa man had to call the sheriff’s office for assistance after his acupuncturist inserted needles into his body, then went home and fell asleep, according to the State Board of Medicine.

Board records and a report from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office indicate that on June 12, 2023, a male patient went to the Rock Rapids office of XiaoDong “Dave” Wang, a state-licensed acupuncturist. According to the board, Wang inserted acupuncture needles into the man’s body, left the Wang Acupuncture Clinic, went home and fell asleep. Continue reading Board: Acupuncture patient was abandoned, called sheriff’s office for help

Crime, Justice, South DakotaLeave a comment

Texas couple convicted of theft of $500,000 from S.D. man

Gary Dickson

According to a press release from the South Dakota Attorney General’s office today, Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced that a Texas couple has been convicted of a combined six charges in connection with stealing or attempting to steal the property of another person.

A Bon Homme County jury Wednesday convicted Richard Spry, 82, of two felony counts of Grand Theft and one felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft. Susan Spry, 75, was convicted of separate felony counts of Grand Theft and Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft as well as one misdemeanor count of Theft by Exploitation. Both individuals are from League City, Texas. Continue reading Texas couple convicted of theft of $500,000 from S.D. man

Government, North Sioux City, South DakotaLeave a comment

Results from Tuesday’s election

Gary Dickson

North Sioux City experienced what election officials called a higher-than-normal turnout for the four races for city council seats as 614 people cast their votes.

The higher voter turnout may have been at least partially due to the interest generated by the Union Square housing development as well as the proposed North Shore Drive bypass project. Another issue generating interest recently has been a proposed housing project by Mike Chicoine who lives outside the city, where he wants to build a canal for his housing development using water pumped from McCook Lake. Continue reading Results from Tuesday’s election

Environment, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

State DANR announces more than $172 million for environmental projects

Gary Dickson

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $172,554,815 in grants and loans for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste projects in South Dakota.

The $172,554,815 total consists of $20,007,550 in grants and $152,547,265 in low-interest loans, including $10,986,600 in principal forgiveness to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Included in the funding were 11 projects in the Siouxland communities of Alcester, Hudson, Parker, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Viborg and Worthing, plus the Lincoln County Rural Water System and the South Eastern Council of Governments out of Sioux Falls. Continue reading State DANR announces more than $172 million for environmental projects

Healthcare, Iowa, Justice2 Comments

State-certified caregiver charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Gary Dickson

A state-certified caregiver has been arrested and charged with sexually exploiting a minor while employed by an Iowa nursing home.

The most recent case, and the only one in which criminal charges have been filed, involves Guider’s employment at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Over the past 12 months, Martell Guider, a 36-year-old male certified nursing assistant, has been the subject of complaints regarding a series of alleged incidents involving sexual impropriety at three Iowa nursing homes located in Audubon, Correctionville and Kalona. Continue reading State-certified caregiver charged with sexual exploitation of a minor

Siouxland Observed1 Comment

Siouxland Observed, #10: Where is this and what was it called?

Gary Dickson

Yeah, I know, it’s been a while since I’ve posted a “Siouxland Observed” feature – two months almost to the day. Let’s see if we can get more folks participating in this photo guessing game with two pictures of a popular Union County eating spot until it closed a couple of years ago.

The restaurant/lounge sat on the outskirts of one of our population centers. It had good cow, chicken, fish, and a salad bar. Continue reading Siouxland Observed, #10: Where is this and what was it called?

Health, South DakotaLeave a comment

South Dakota’s high healthcare costs causing many to skip treatments

Gary Dickson

The high cost of obtaining health care in South Dakota – ranked second most expensive in the nation – is prompting some residents to forgo necessary medical care over worries they cannot afford it, according to a recent national data analysis.

South Dakota is followed only by North Carolina in a new national ranking of healthcare expenses based on the cost of medical care and insurance. At nearly $12,500 per year, the state has the highest per-capita healthcare spending rate among all Great Plains states, the data show. Continue reading South Dakota’s high healthcare costs causing many to skip treatments

Crime, Government, Justice, South Dakota1 Comment

Union County Court: 3/11 – 3/22/24

Gary Dickson

Following are two weeks worth of cases that have been disposed in the Union County courts. They include everything from traffic to trucking/transportation to criminal cases.

Included is a guide to one case that looks on the surface as if it has a high number of charges. But everything is not always as it appears at first glance.

There are also a couple of high fine amounts for truckers in this round of court activities. How high can they go? Continue reading Union County Court: 3/11 – 3/22/24

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