The city of Sioux City has officially approved selling land to a nonprofit that plans to build an in-patient substance abuse treatment center, which officials say is greatly needed.
Agape Community Services will pay more than $700,000 for the property near the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center. The deal includes a $210,000 forgivable loan from the city.
Founder and Executive Director Rachelle Rawson said the idea for an intense, inpatient treatment center came several years ago when she served time behind bars on drug-related charges. Agape will offer a similar program as one used in the federal prison system.
Rawson said the facility will first focus on men and provide a faith-based, holistic approach to help those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
“You know, I don't care if you have not currently struggled with addiction or related issues yourself, but you know somebody that has, whether it's a neighbor, a community member, a cousin, child, and it is going to take the whole community wrapping their arms around this to make it happen,” Rawson said.
Rawson says fundraising for the $12 million needed for the project could take two years, with two more years for construction, to ideally open in 2028.
*In other news, the headquarters of the main Nebraska state elections office received a suspicious mail item Monday, and all county election offices have been told to be on watch.
A release from the Nebraska Secretary of State office said the unopened suspicious envelope was isolated in a separate area in its office in accordance with established protocols.
Employees immediately contacted the Nebraska State Patrol, who requested additional assistance from other offices in the city of Lincoln.
During their investigation authorities identified a substance in the envelope, which was tested and found to be non-hazardous. The envelope and its contents will now be looked over by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Postal Service authorities.
No one was harmed during the handling of the envelope and subsequent investigation.
*Additionally, the city of Vermillion, South Dakota, is looking into the possibility of spending more than $1 million for pickleball courts.
The city council will meet Monday evening, and at the last meeting lots of residents came to weigh in on the courts, which could cost up to $1.3 million.
Council member Lindsey Jennewin asked why the the two current proposals rose from an initial estimate of $700,00. Vermillion Parks & Recreation Department Director JIm Goblirsch said the first estimate came before a consultant had investigated the grounds for where the courts could be placed.
Several residents spoke in favor of the courts being placed at Cotton Park. At least three people said that pickleball is a loud sport, with one of those saying he still wants to see the courts be built. One woman said pickleball games would detract from the silent nature of parks that she wants to enjoy.
There are some existing pickleball courts in Vermillion, but this new option would have many more in one location. The council voted 5-2 to continue vetting the proposal.
*In other news, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold free sessions at a Sioux County business on how to make homes more able to withstand natural disasters.
Those will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at True Value Hardware in downtown Rock Valley, Iowa, which is in a town that had much flooring damage from a late June high river event.
The tips will involve techniques for rebuilding homes, plus proven methods for preventing damage from future disasters.
