Small Fire Reported At Plymouth Energy Offices
(Merrill) — The Merrill and Le Mars Fire Departments were dispatched at 6:20 a.m.
this morning to 22234 county road K-49 for what was a small fire located within
the administration offices of Plymouth Energy. When the ethanol employees
reported to work this morning, they noticed smoke emitting from their computer
server room. Plymouth Energy’s Plant Manager Joe Gillispie says the small fire
was confined to the offices. He explains what happened early this morning.
Gillispie says the offices are nearly a half mile away from the ethanol plant, and
at no time was the fire anywhere near the ethanol production facilities.
The ethanol official says the plant is still accepting corn, and selling distilled
dried grains, and he says business should be able to proceed as normal.
Murphy Elected As President Of Le Mars Community Board Of Education
(Le Mars) — Attorney Pat Murphy was again elected to serve as the president of
the Le Mars Community School District’s Board of Education. The school board held
elections during last evening’s regular board meeting. Todd Lancaster was re-
elected as the school board’s vice president, and the school board retained the
services of Lisa Boehm as the secretary of the board, and Kim Clarey was selected
to serve as the treasurer for the school district. The attorney firm of Tratwsig
and Bauerly was selected to serve as the official counsel for the school district.
Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt submitted his letter of intention to retire at the
conclusion of this school year. In that letter, Wendt says he considers Le Mars
to be home, and he has enjoyed his time serving in the capacity of school
superintendent for the Le Mars Community School District. Initially, the school
board was somewhat reluctant to act on Wendt’s request as the motion failed to
receive a second. Board chairman Pat Murphy then went on to other business on
hand. After approving a measure to accept bids for two new school buses, the
school board then returned to Wendt’s letter to retire. The second time the issue
was brought up, the board did approve the request. School board member Todd
Lancaster probably expressed the opinion of all board members when he said he
“didn’t want to see him (meaning Wendt) leave.” Murphy, who has served on the
school board the longest duration, offered these comments.
Pat Murphy – School Board President
Secondary Roads Department Closes Road For Culvert Installation
(Le Mars) –The Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will be closing Juniper
Avenue from county road C-16 to 130th Street. The road closure started
Monday afternoon and is expected to remain closed through next Tuesday as work
crews replace a culvert pipe.
Supervisors Have Light Agenda
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene for their weekly
meeting today at the County Courthouse boardroom. County Engineer Tom Rohe is the
only item on today’s agenda, as he will submit permit requests from Southern Sioux
Rural Water for Grant and Washington townships. Rohe will also present requests
for the county governing board’s approval regarding a tile crossing permit, and Western Iowa Telephone is seeking a permit for Remsen township. Rohe will also discuss with the county supervisors a request for dust control on 300th Street.
SIMPCO To Host Another Comprehensive Community Meeting Today
(Le Mars) — Another comprehensive community improvement meeting is being
scheduled for Tuesday afternoon beginning at 5:15 p.m. at the lower level of the
Le Mars Convention Center. This month’s topic is Le Mars’ community facilities
and services. Simpco officials will be leading the discussion. Kevin Randall
explains what will take place at the meeting.
In previous meetings, economic development, housing and neighborhoods, and
transportation needs for Le Mars have been discussed.
City officials are wanting to know the thoughts and comments of Le Mars residents
and business leaders as to what type of facilities may be needed, as well as the
services that the city provides. Randall says the meeting should last slightly
more than an hour. He says Simpco officials will compile all the results from
each of the meetings, and present a report to the Le Mars City Council as a blue-
print plan for future development.
Motorcycle Collides With Pick-up Truck In Sioux City
(Sioux City) — Three people were injured in a collision of a motorcycle and a truck at the intersection of Gordon Drive and Dace Avenue in Sioux City at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning. Sioux City Police say the motorcyclist was driving at a high rate of speed on Gordon Drive, ran a red light, and struck the side of a truck as it crossed Gordon Drive on Dace. The impact sent the motorcycle driver through the rear passenger window of the truck in its back seat. The cyclist was taken to Mercy Medial Center with critical injuries. The male driver of the truck and a female passenger were transported to Mercy with minor injuries. The names of the victims have not been identified. The driver of the motorcycle has died as a result of the injuries.
Iowa Soybean Association Joins Environmental Groups With Water Quality Coalition
(Des Moines) — A coalition that’s been pressing state policymakers to raise the state sales tax to pay for water quality projects is expanding. Iowa Soybean Association executive director Kirk Leeds says his group is joining the effort today (Monday).
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[RIcapWQ2] :07 :make those investments.”
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Leeds says Iowa lawmakers boosted taxes for the state’s transportation system in 2015 by raising the state gas tax and his group will lobby lawmakers will make the same kind of investment decision for water resources in the state.
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[RIcapWQ4] :10 :in this state.”
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The state’s LARGEST farm organization is NOT part of the coalition — but Leeds points to the Iowa Farm Bureau’s decision this past week to support efforts to find existing or raise NEW state tax revenue for water quality initiatives. Leeds predicts “political compromises” are ahead.
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[RIcapWQ3] :16 :additional recreational opportunities.”
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Jan Glendenning (glen-DEN-ing), the state director of the Nature Conservancy, has been working on this issue for a decade and she’s “optimistic” the tide is turning.
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[RIcapWQ1] :06 :after year.” (2x)
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The C-E-O of a beer distributing company based in Council Bluffs has agreed to be co-chair of Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy. That’s the name of the coalition. The group supports a three-eighths cent increase in the state sales tax. An estimated 180-million dollars would be raised annually. About 60 percent of it would be used for on-the-farm practices that improve water quality. The rest would be used for projects that enhance outdoor recreation with investments in parks, trails and lakes. Tammi Kircher (KIRCH-er), the state chairwoman of Ducks Unlimited, says outdoor recreation is “big business” in Iowa.
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[RIcapWQ5] :17 :that impact larger?”
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Kircher and about two dozen others held a news conference today (Monday) near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers to announce the expanding membership in Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy. The group did not mention the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit that challenges the VOLUNTARY efforts of Iowa farmers to control farm chemical run-off into the Raccoon River. The utility uses the river as its main source of drinking water for more than 250-thousand central Iowa customers.
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