On July 1st Nick Dion became the official and sole owner of Booms in Wagner. Nick has always wanted to be a business owner and when Scott and Julie Alderink started talking about wanting to sell Booms, he became interested. Everything fell together at the right time and place for Nick to become the owner of Booms. Dion did not necessarily plan to own a business in the hospitality industry, but he really enjoys working with the staff and community. He has met a lot of great and interesting people during his time at Booms and wanted to continue. He also sees his new position as an opportunity to mentor high school students/young adults and be a role model. Owning Booms has opened a door for him to be able to donate and sponsor youth activities in the local communities.

Nick has been working for Scott and Julie since 2011 when he was 15 and apart from three years of school, construction and deployment worked for them ever since. Dion plans to keep the name Booms for now since it is a well-established business. Booms currently has 13 employees. Scott is staying on to help Nick with the transition from employee to owner. Nick plans to continue with local delivery, and catering. Dion is planning some renovations to Booms, starting with updating the drive-thru, bringing in electric menu boards and completely remodeling the meeting room in the back of Booms. The menu will stay the same, but there will be some new specials added. Fry bread is a special that Nick plans to add very soon.

Nick wants to work with local artists to incorporate more Native American art into the current décor at Booms. He wants Booms to better reflect our area so that people who are traveling through and stop at Booms can better understand all the heritage and aspects that make our area so diverse and unique.

Dion was born in Yankton, grew up in Lake Andes and graduated from Wagner Community School in 2014. He is the son of Daniel and Sarah Dion. His siblings are Tyler, Rachel, Alexis, Alcista, Mia, Daniel and Dana. When not working, Nick enjoys golfing, volleyball, playing cards, sports and spending time with his family. Dion is very active in the community. He has been the head coach of the Andes Central wrestling team, currently an assistant pastor at the Lighthouse Church in Wagner, helps with the young adult life group, helped create the Wagner Area Volleyball League, is a part of the Eagle Pride Impact Center (EPIC) in Lake Andes, is working on opening a teen center in Lake Andes and works alongside other community leaders to help with coat drives, food drives and individuals in need.

Congratulations on your new business and thank you for all the wonderful ways you volunteer and give back to the local communities.