Plymouth County Fair Attendance Higher Than Last Year
(Le Mars) — The 74th edition of the Plymouth County Fair is now in the history books. Fair officials say the attendance was slighter higher from last year, but not a record breaker. Plymouth County Fair Board vice president Rich Benson says the weather was near perfect for the “5 Best Days of Summer”.
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The fair board official says the total attendance from last year’ fair was at 100,150. Benson says several people had expressed positive comments regarding this year’s fair.
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Benson says the Plymouth County Fair is fortunate to draw so many visitors from other counties, as well as other states.
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Schroeder Says Good-bye To His Last Fair
(Le Mars) — This marks the final fair for Plymouth County Fair Board president Tony Schroeder. Schroeder has been on the fair board for 36 years, and has made the decision to step aside when his term expires in November. Schroeder says when he first started on the fair board he had the opportunity to vote on whether the fair should bring the round barn to the fairgrounds.
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Schroeder credits former fair directors for having great vision for the fair.
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The fair board president says he will remember most the growth of the fair
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Schroeder hopes for continued success for future fairs, and he praises the community spirit.
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Chain Saw Wood Carvings Auction Raises More Than $20,000
(Le Mars) — The traditional county fair auction that sold wood carvings, milk cans, belt buckles, toy trucks, and a quilt brought a total of $20,650. The auction serves as a fund raiser for the fair. This year’s quilt made by Jeri Dreckman sold for $6300. Dreckman spent 425 hours creating the quilt.
Life Skills Quilt Auction Sets New Record
(Le Mars) — Speaking of quilts, the Life Skill Training Center annual quilt auction set a new record this year. Shelly Thomson, Life Skill’s Marketing and Development Director explains.
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As for the other fair fund raiser for Life Skills, Thomson says the Bossy Bingo was done within ten minutes.
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The winner was Kendra Ruden with the winning plot at S-5. Thompson says Ruden will receive $1,100 and Life Skills earning $3,550.
Trump Wins Plymouth County Fair Straw Poll
(Le Mars) — The results of the Plymouth County Republican straw poll are now known. County Republican party chairman, Don Kass says 800 people voted during the five days of the fair. Coming out on top with 34.5 percent, or 276 votes was corporate executive Donald Trump. Second place finisher went to Wisconsin governor Scott Walker with 13 percent with 104 votes. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindahl secured 10 percent with 80 votes, and Dr. Ben Carson earned fourth place with 8.8 percent with 70 votes. The rest of the republican field featured Jeb Bush with 60 votes, or 7.5 percent. Texas Senator Ted Cruz with 42 votes and 5.25 percent. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee received 31 votes at 3.9 percent. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who made an appearance at the fair, received just 30 votes at 3.9 percent. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul gained 28 votes at 3.6 percent. Former Texas Governor, Rick Perry, won 24 votes at 3.6 percent. Florida Senator, Marco Rubio received 22 votes at 3.5 percent. New Jersey governor, Chris Christie had 14 votes, Carly Fiorina also received 14 votes, Ohio governor John Kasich had 10 votes, and South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham came in last place with just four votes. County party chair Don Kass says the poll indicates a dissatisfaction for “politics as usual” and the poll shows that people are just plain angry at the Washington establishment.
Some People Wonder Whether Iowa Politics Is Working?
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa elected officials pride themselves on working in a politically divided government that still gets things done. But after a combative budget process, capped with several vetoes by Governor Terry Branstad, some are questioning how well the system is working.
Simply put, is Iowa politics becoming more like Washington?
Branstad has spent weeks defending his decision to veto several budget compromises negotiated by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-majority House. The governor says he’s not concerned about his relationships with lawmakers or ability to get legislation passed in the future.
Branstad says officials dealt with worse situations during the farm crisis of the
1980s.
But Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says relations between Branstad and lawmakers are near “an all-time low.”
