Plymouth County Road Department Closes 270th Street For Bridge Repair
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department has announced the closing
of 270th Street between county road K-49 and Lynx Avenue. That roadway was closed
this morning, and it expected to remain closed until November 30th. Road crews
are replacing an aging bridge.
Fire Prevention Urges To Check Smoke Detectors
(Le Mars) — People may want to check the date on their smoke detectors. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the emphasis for the October Fire Prevention month this year is to encourage people to change smoke detectors, if in fact their smoke detector is beyond the expired life date.
Schipper says smoke detectors can be purchased from area hardware stores. Should
people have questions about their smoke detectors, or the placement of the smoke
detectors, Schipper says they can contact the fire department.
Consumers “Trust” Farmers For Delivering Quality Food
(Des Moines) — A new survey of grocery shoppers in the state finds 94-percent
“place trust” in Iowa farmers.
Andrew Wheeler is a spokesperson for the Iowa Farm Bureau, which released results
of its Food and Farm Index Survey conducted by The Harris Poll.
The poll found 76 percent of those surveyed said they read food labels when they
buy their groceries. That’s down from 82 percent in last year’s survey.
The survey found 19-percent of Iowa grocery shoppers are interested in food
“raised organically,” while 28 percent are interested in food “raised locally.”
The online survey, involving 505 Iowa residents age 20 to 60, was conducted
between July 24 and August 5.
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Flood Prevention Measures Working At Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An elaborate system of temporary floodwalls is so far
protecting thousands of homes and businesses in Cedar Rapids from major flooding.
Iowa’s second-largest city says its hastily erected 9.8-mile system of Hesco
barriers and earthen berms is largely holding back the rain-swollen Cedar River,
which crested Tuesday at its second-highest level on record.
As of midday Tuesday, city officials said the barriers had prevented most
damage but that some buildings and homes near the river had water in their
basements.
City workers and contractors worked day and night to pump out water that
seeped through the barriers and that came up through the saturated ground and the
sewer system.
Iowa Crops Adversely Affected By Flooding Waters
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials and farmers are trying to assess the
extent of damage to corn and soybean crops from recent flooding.
The Des Moines Register reports that the floods have slowed much of the
state’s corn and soybean harvest.
Widespread thunderstorms and torrential rains contributed to flooding
throughout the state. The Cedar River in Cedar Rapids crested on Tuesday.
State Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says many farmers hope to start
harvesting in the next few days, but it may take as long as two weeks before that
process can begin.
Potential crop damage is adding stress to a year where many growers are
struggling to post a profit. Farmers are hoping strong yields will help offset
lower corn and soybean prices.
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Body Found In Farm Pond
ANDERSON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a body has been recovered from a farm pond
in southwest Iowa’s Fremont County.
A dive team and first responders were dispatched to the pond less than a mile
north of Anderson on Tuesday night after someone reported spotting an upside-down
pickup there.
The pickup and the body were pulled out of the water, and the body was sent
to state authorities for an autopsy.
Authorities identified the body as that of 55-year-old James Vrbsky, who was
last seen by neighbors on Thursday, loading fishing gear into the truck.
