Tag: South Dakota

Dakota Dunes, Education, North Sioux City, South DakotaLeave a comment

DV college-bound juniors and seniors exceed on ACTs in 2022 compared to state

Gary Dickson

The Dakota Valley School Board received good information last Monday evening Nov. 13 when Superintendent Dr. Tonia Warzecha gave a report on the district’s college-bound juniors and seniors’ recent performance on the ACTs.

Those readers growing up in South Dakota and other states may recall taking the ACT exam in high school. It is a national college admission exam that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading, science, STEM and (optional) ELA, also known as English Language Arts and Writing. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

Every subject area shows DV students scoring higher than the state average each year. Continue reading DV college-bound juniors and seniors exceed on ACTs in 2022 compared to state

Agriculture, Environment, Iowa, Minnesota, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Gary Dickson

Less precipitation means less pollution is running into the Big Sioux River, according to a 2023 water quality report. “You can see a pretty strong correlation between the amount of rainfall and water quality,” Friends of the Big Sioux River’s Emily Oyos said. “A very direct correlation.”

“We had a significantly less amount of rain than 2022, and that has resulted in better numbers,” said Rachel Kloos, with Friends of the Big Sioux River. Otherwise, the results reveal many of the same problems as in past years. Continue reading Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Business, Community, economic development, Government, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

North Sioux councilors hear bypass meeting complaints; deal with rock nuisance; nudge along new housing development; approve liquor licenses.

Gary Dickson

It was a busy, long meeting for North Sioux City’s City Council this last Monday evening as they addressed a variety of issues from the ongoing McCook Lake canal to a dog daycare owner unhappy with the several proposed Northshore bypass options to a new housing development in the works west of Sioux Point Rd. and south of Quinella Drive and approved the renewal of a slew of liquor licenses. Then there was the issue of rocks too close to the street. Continue reading North Sioux councilors hear bypass meeting complaints; deal with rock nuisance; nudge along new housing development; approve liquor licenses.

Government, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Former small-town Minnesota mayor is behind the rise of electoral activism in South Dakota. He’s just getting started.

Gary Dickson

One of the Midwest’s most prominent election deniers stood next to a pinball machine at the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls in October, outlining how he impacted South Dakota’s 2022 race for secretary of state.

Rick Weible, a 51-year-old computer analyst and Republican Party operative had just given a slideshow to a group called Concerned Citizens of Lincoln County about alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election and perceived vulnerabilities in South Dakota’s voting systems.

“I was upsetting the apple cart,” Weible said of that election. “I brought my Minnesota experience into South Dakota because I was thinking, ‘If I can’t fix Minnesota, how can I get involved somewhere else to force some of these changes?’” Continue reading Former small-town Minnesota mayor is behind the rise of electoral activism in South Dakota. He’s just getting started.

Agriculture, economic development, Government, Rural Life, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

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

Gary Dickson

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

Community, Crime, South DakotaLeave a comment

Juvenile justice report: More delinquent kids taken to court

Gary Dickson

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

Community, Government, Siouxland, South Dakota, TransportationLeave a comment

Bypass meeting draws plenty of interest from area residents and landowners

Gary Dickson

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

Pondering and WanderingLeave a comment

People lock their love to Yankton’s Meridian Bridge. But that’s heavy love.

Gary Dickson

There are a lot of places to go for a hike around Siouxland. But one of the most interesting places — at least in my opinion — is the hike across the Meridian Bridge that spans the Missouri River over in Yankton.

And if you look closely at the chainlink fencing beside the pathway, you’ll notice lots of padlocks. At least there were when I hoofed it across the span the summer before last. The bridge is an interesting structure without the padlocks, though. I remember crossing over it on my way to Bogner’s Steakhouse in Crofton, NE with a date during college and family during the 1970s. I recall hearing that the bridge used to be a draw bridge of some sort at one time or another. Anyway, lovers or sweethearts, put their initials or names on these padlocks and maybe even inscribe the date. Then they throw the keys into the river. It all symbolizes unbreakable love, I guess. Continue reading People lock their love to Yankton’s Meridian Bridge. But that’s heavy love.