August 2011
6 posts
How we found Kip Gearey
We would have never found Kip Gearey and his 18 accidents without the help of a public database kept by the Department of Public Safety. His story illustrates the need to get such databases. Getting it wasn’t that easy. The department denied my first request in February with a laundry list of reasons: database was too big and complex for me, proprietary information, etc. However, the...
Check public records before you get your hair &...
Ever see a license stuck to the mirror of your favorite salon? Well, you should.
Those who do hair, nail and skin care are required to be licensed by the state. (This is to prevent the awful bowl cut that frugal mothers everywhere have attempted at least once. Although, a licensed stylist once shaved the sides of my head, left my top longer and permed it when I was in 3rd grade. I was scarred...
Good News Sioux Falls eaters
Word is that no restaurants or food stores in Sioux Falls are currently suspended.
The State Department of Health also tells me none have had their food license suspended in 2011.
But, as you know, the story is not over. (see previous post)
No-name restaurant back in business, story not...
I had contacted the state on Thursday, which confirmed that Signatures, the restaurant in Mitchell that agreed to suspend food service after failing two state food inspections, was given the ok by health inspectors Thursday morning to operate.
The Daily Republic has more details including the owner stating that water leaks were the problem.
But this story is far from over. The state is in charge...
No-name restaurant's food license in question
State called me back (in less than 30 minutes). Technically, the no-name restaurant in Mitchell “mutually” agreed with the state to suspend food service (the license wasn’t officially suspended), according to Tom Martinec, deputy secretary of Department of Health. It failed two health inspections.
But the state still refuses to name the restaurant-saying it’s an ongoing...
Entertaining Public Records
Public records and databases can be a eye-glazer to some, but they are actually quite useful and, at times, entertaining.
The most interesting database I ever worked with was in Atlanta. The City of Atlanta kept…wait for it.. a stripper database…or officially, registered employees of exotic dance clubs. (or something dull like that)
The database contained info on all employees...
