The Saga of the North Sioux City Council – 1.0

It was a chilly no, make that cold evening on Tuesday, March 18 and I was pulling into the driveway to North Sioux City’s City Hall. I directed my car down the drive and surveyed the parking lot. Not too bad, I thought, in terms of parked car congestion.

t was time to get the show rolling. I took a seat in the second row on the far left side. I was about six chairs to the left of Bob Davis, where he could issue a well-formed scowl in my direction. The meeting was called to order by her honor, da mayor. The roll was called. We all stood, and the loyalty oath was pledged.

Continue reading The Saga of the North Sioux City Council – 1.0

Sioux City pharmacy fined for life-threatening medication error

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

More than half of Iowa’s tested streams and lakes are ‘impaired’

There are at least 721 water body segments in Iowa that do not meet water quality standards for recreation, public water supplies and the protection of aquatic life, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR has drafted its latest list of “impaired” waters that it is required to submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency every two years. The list is based on data collected by the department and numerous other entities between 2020 and 2022, and it is used to guide restrictions for stream pollution for Continue reading More than half of Iowa’s tested streams and lakes are ‘impaired’

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

In case you weren’t aware of it, it’s time to purchase boxes of Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and all your other favorite yummy Girl Scout Cookies.

Whether you’ve there are Girl Scouts from your neighborhood knocking on your door with an order list while a watchful parent waits nearby in a car or on the sidewalk, or a co-worker lets you know their daughter or niece is selling the cookies and they have an order form in their desk or you see a group of Girl Scouts stationed at a table in front of the grocery store, it’s hard to not be aware of the annual fundraising event. Continue reading It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

Restaurant inspection update for February

State, city and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations in recent weeks, including poorly cooked chicken, lack of food thermometers, unclean equipment, handling crab meat with bare hands 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. Listed below are some of the findings that stem from inspections at Siouxland restaurants and convenience stores over the past four weeks. Continue reading Restaurant inspection update for February

Union County Sheriff Dies

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

If this is Grape Nuts, it must be Thursday

The late, great singer-songwriter John Prine wrote that he tried to stare down a bowl of oatmeal — and lost. I try to stare down an entire shelf full of different kinds of cereal each and every day. I usually win. But sometimes I lose.

And for the record, I don’t care much for oatmeal, so it doesn’t get any consideration here, except in its connection to John Prine, who I miss, a lot.

Anyway, I need my cereal. Why? Because it helps me keep the days of the week straight. Continue reading If this is Grape Nuts, it must be Thursday

Iowa nurses sanctioned for drug theft, fraud and being drunk on the job

The Iowa Board of Nursing has revoked the license of a Cedar Rapids hospital nurse accused of repeatedly showing up for work while intoxicated.

Other Iowa-licensed nurses recently sanctioned by the board included two nurses from Sioux City: Theresa Hofmeister and Marcia Naberhaus. Continue reading Iowa nurses sanctioned for drug theft, fraud and being drunk on the job