Supervisors To Review Mental Health Budget
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will be meeting this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room. The supervisors are expected to discuss changing the county’s mental health budget, and possibly set a hearing date for
the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget approval. County engineer Tom Rohe will appear before the county governing board to sign construction contracts with various contractors for road and bridge repair projects.
Ebert Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison
(Le Mars) — The woman accused of intentionally causing an auto accident that resulted in injuries has been sentenced to ten years in prison. 30 year-old Melissa Ebert of Cherokee was solemn when Judge Duane Hoffmeyer handed down the
sentence. In April, Ebert agreed to a plea agreement, and pleaded guilty to two felony charges of reckless driving that caused injuries to herself, her passenger and boyfriend Damian Johnson, and the driver of the on-coming vehicle, Dustin Bull. The incident stems back to September of 2015 when Ebert was
involved with an accident on county road C-38, southeast of Le Mars. Prior to Monday’s sentencing, Ebert was outside the courtroom hugging many of her family members and friends who had come to witness the sentencing. Judge Hoffmeyer
allowed Ebert to give her account of the events that led up to the accident.
Ebert began by saying she was sorry to the Dustin Bull family, saying she never meant to hurt anyone. Bull was the driver of the other vehicle that was hit by Ebert. She then described the events of how and why she and her boyfriend got
into a heated argument.
Ebert says she was forced to make an alcoholic drink for herself and for her boyfriend. She says she refused to consume the drink, and Johnson got angry. At this point, Ebert began getting emotional.
Ebert says she retreated to the restroom to get away from her angry boyfriend.
The accused defendant says she insisted that they find another person to drive, since both had been drinking. But she says her boyfriend ordered her to drive him to her home.
Ebert says Johnson had taken her cell phone away from her. She says she should have ran away, but was scared as to what her boyfriend would have done. She told the judge, she was confused as to what she should have done that fateful
evening. Ebert has a daughter with Johnson and says she wants to get back with her daughter.
Hoffmeyer waived the fees and fines, and ordered Ebert into immediate custody.
She was then placed in handcuffs by a Plymouth County jailer and lead away from the courtroom.
Lang Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement From Labor Union
(Sioux City) — The former president of a Le Mars labor union has pleaded guilty to the the theft of approximately $45,000 from the organization. 53 year old Curtis Lang entered his plea on Monday in U-S District Court in Sioux City to one count of embezzlement. Lang was the head of the United Dairy Workers which represents the employees of Wells Enterprises. Lang admitted in court that he withdrew the money and bought gift cards for himself.
Floyd Valley Trustees To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Board of Trustees will meet this evening. They are expected to review and approve the 2018 fiscal year budget. The hospital trustees is expected to appoint the annual audit to be performed by Denman and
Company. The Floyd Valley Trustees will hear a report regarding the Community Health Advisory Board’s quarterly report. The focus topic will examine rural health clinics. Administrator Mike Donlin will visit with the trustees about a patient satisfaction survey from Press Ganey. Donlin will update the hospital
board about the air handler replacement project, as well as the North Addition update. The trustees will discuss a proposal of surplus equipment for public sale.
Floyd Valley Suggests Getting Vaccinations Updated
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Community Health reminds area parents to make plans now to meet a new immunization requirement that will be in effect for the 2017- 2018 school year for all students enrolling in 7th and 12th grades. The change
requires meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine including:
· one-time dose if received on or after 10 years of age for students in
grades 7 and above, if born after September 15, 2004;
· two doses of meningococcal vaccine with 1 dose received on or after 16
years of age for students in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or
· one dose if received when students are 16 years-of-age or older.
Tara Geddes, Floyd Valley Community Health Manager says “Meningococcal disease is a very serious, life-threatening illness,” She says “This vaccine protects against four strains, or ‘serogroups’ of meningitis, and is 85 to 100 percent effective at preventing infection.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10 to 15 percent of people with meningococcal disease die, even with appropriate treatment. Of those who recover, up to 20 percent have serious after-effects like permanent hearing loss, limb loss, or brain damage.
Geddes says “This new school immunization requirement is important because the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are spread through upper respiratory droplets like saliva. Teens and young adults are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, and meningococcal vaccine is the best protection” said
Geddes. As with all vaccinations, this immunization not only protects the individual, but also their friends and those around them.
For more information on the new meningitis vaccine requirement and for other school vaccine information, visit
https://www.idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/laws. If you have questions about immunizations, contact Floyd Valley Community Health at (712) 546-3335.
Drier and Warmer Conditions Allow Farmers To Get Back Into Fields
DES MOINES – What a difference a week can make. This past week farmers enjoyed the warm temperatures and dry conditions which allowed them to get back into the fields. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says,
“After a wet start to the week, warmer and dryer weather allowed farmer to get in the fields and now just over half of the corn acres have been planted. The rain showers that rolled across parts of western and central Iowa today will slow farmers in those areas, but hopefully the return of warm dry weather will allow them back in the fields soon. If the good weather holds we will continue to see significant progress on both corn and soybean planting the next several days,”
Drier conditions as the week progressed allowed farmers to plant corn and soybeans during the week ending May 7th. Statewide there were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork. However, below normal temperatures have slowed the emergence of crops.
Almost one-quarter of the State’s expected corn acreage was planted during the week ending May 7, 2017. Fifty-two percent of the corn crop has been planted, remaining over a week behind last year, and slightly behind the 5-year average.
Northeast Iowa has the smallest percentage of corn planted at 35 percent, while central Iowa has the most planted at 65 percent. Seven percent of the corn has emerged, 6 days behind last year, and 4 days behind average.
Nine percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, 6 days behind last year, and 2 days behind average.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Southwest and South Central Districts reported 25 percent or more surplus subsoil moisture.
