City Makes Repairs To Rail Crossings And Intersections
(Le Mars) — City crews have completed their work at the intersection located at
12th Street southwest and Business Highway 75 near the Hy-Vee supermarket. Le
Mars Public Works Department had closed the intersection earlier this morning, in
order to move the traffic signal light standard so a new railroad crossing arm and
catwalk can be located at the rail crossing intersection. Scott Kneip,
superintendent with the Le Mars Public Works Department says the intersection
could possibly be closed again for a few hours on Tuesday. Kneip says when the
intersection is closed, people should take Lincoln Street either at 6th Avenue
southwest near the Dairy Queen restaurant, or travel south on Business Highway 75
to the 18th Street intersection, and come back on Lincoln Street.
(Le Mars) — Meanwhile, city crews have closed the intersection at 1st Street
Southeast and 1st Avenue Southeast by the northwest corner of the North Ice Cream
Plant. The intersection is anticipated to remain closed for at least 12 days. Le
Mars Public Works Department are making street repairs at the intersection.
Harvest Begins In Northwest Iowa
(Le Mars) — Harvest has begun in northwest Iowa with combines seen in both corn
and soybean fields. Early reports indicate perhaps a better than expected soybean
yield. Some farmers and local grain elevators are saying soybean yields are above
60 bushels per acre, and there are even some reports of 70-plus bushels per acre.
Doug Schurr serves as the manager of the Farmers’ Cooperative Elevator at Craig.
He says the soybean yields are doing very well.
As for the corn harvest, Schurr says at Craig there hasn’t been a lot of corn that
has been delivered as of yet. However, he says the yields are good, somewhat
comparable to last year, but maybe a bit smaller than last year.
KLEM news is interested in knowing how this year’s harvest is progressing. We
invite area farmers to call us and let us know what you are noticing with this
year’s harvest. Simply call (712) 546-4121 and ask for the news department. We
want to know if you are harvesting corn or soybeans, your field location, what is
the moisture levels, and of course, we are interested in hearing the potential
yield production.
Branstad To Make Trade Mission Trip To China And Japan
(DES MOINES) – At his weekly press conference today, Gov. Terry Branstad announced
he will lead a trade mission to China and Japan in mid-November. Gov. Branstad
was joined by President of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Al Wulfekuhle and
Executive Director of the Iowa Beef Industry Council Chris Freland.
In 2015, Iowa companies exported $1.2 billion in manufactured and value-added
goods to China and $1.1 billion to Japan. China is Iowa’s third largest export
destination, while Japan is the fourth largest. In addition, Japan is Iowa’s
leading export market for pork and beef products. Iowa companies exported $564
million in meat products to Japan in 2015.
This will be Governor Branstad’s fourth visit to China and third to Japan since
2011 and is a testament to his long-standing commitment to strengthening economic
ties with these important export markets for the state. Branstad says “Trade
missions like this one allow Iowa companies to expand their markets outside of the
U.S. and ultimately creates more jobs and strengthens our economy.”
In China, Governor Branstad is slated to speak at China’s Food Security and Food
Safety Strategy Summit and the International Meat Conference. Additional mission
highlights include a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping,
attending a reception at U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy’s residence and
meetings with investment or trade prospects.
Trade mission participants include Iowa companies involved in meat processing and
representatives from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Beef Industry
Council, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa companies
will participate in meetings specific to their market entry or expansion needs.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is working with the state’s China contract
representatives and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to identify trade and
investment prospects for the delegation.
Courtroom Opens Again After Renovation
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Months after a falling chunk of marble prompted the
closure of a Woodbury County courtroom, officials say the space will reopen and
ease scheduling problems in the 98-year-old courthouse.
Courtroom 203 will reopen Monday, about five months after county supervisors
ordered its closure.
They took the action after a 6-foot marble section detached and fell from a
window assembly. Windows in the courtroom also bowed out.
Closure of the courtroom has been a headache for court officials, who have
tried to shift hearings to other courtrooms.
Repairs to the courtroom will cost about $175,000.
Supervisors have set aside $450,000 for additional work on other courtrooms.
The Woodbury County Courthouse opened in 1918 and was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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FAA Gives Leath Approval To Fly Again
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration retested the flight skills
of Iowa State University President Steven Leath after he damaged a university
plane on a rough landing.
FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said Monday that Leath had satisfactory
results on the check ride in August 2015 and was allowed to keep his pilot
certificate.
FAA rules say that such rides are usually required after accidents or
incidents when the pilot’s competence was the apparent cause of what happened.
Leath has blamed windy conditions for his landing at the Central Illinois
Regional Airport in July 2015 that damaged both wings of the school’s Cirrus SR22
single engine plane.
After The Associated Press revealed the accident last month, Leath vowed to
stop flying university planes and made a $15,000 donation to cover the repair
costs.
