Day County S. Dakota Ambulance Catches Fire Transporting Patient

A ride in an ambulance can be scary enough, now imagine the ambulance you're riding in breaks out into flames.

That's what happened on Sunday, (June 9) when a Day County South Dakota ambulance crew was transporting a patient to North Dakota on Interstate 29.

According to Dakota News Now, the ambulance caught fire causing a northbound lane on I-29 to close, and a subsequent four-vehicle accident to occur a short time later.

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Dakota News Now reports that the ambulance driver came to a stop in the lane and with the help of another EMT, was able to safely assist the patient away from the ambulance from the rear. The patient was then transferred into the care of another ambulance dispatched from Breckenridge-Wahpeton. The patient was then transferred to Sanford Hospital in Fargo.

The multiple-vehicle accident occurred on I-29 about one mile south of the ambulance. A car rear-ended another vehicle, which caused two additional northbound vehicles to be struck.

Dakota News Now reports that a total of nine people were involved in the four-vehicle accident. Five of those individuals needed to be transported to hospitals in Fargo for their injuries.

The report also states that the Day County ambulance engulfed in flames was a total loss.

Sunday's ambulance fire closed the northbound lane of I-29 for roughly 45 minutes while crews contained the blaze inside the EMS vehicle.

Source: Dakota News Now

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Seven Mind-Blowing Wonders' of South Dakota

I think most of us have at least heard of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World." We might not be able to rattle them off as easily as McDonald's value menu items, but chances are you've heard of at least some of them, right?

There's the Great Wall of China. Chichén Itzá, a Mayan City on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Petra, in Jordan. Machu Picchu in Peru. Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. The Colosseum in Rome, and finally, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Every state in the nation is known for having a series of natural wonders and signature landmarks. So, I thought I would come up with my own list of the "Seven Wonders of South Dakota."

The following is what I consider to be the signature landmarks, monuments, and natural wonders that are synonymous with the great state of South Dakota. I tried to give both sides of the state a little love while comprising this list.

You might have a few additions...

Let's get started. The Seven Wonders of South Dakota: