Home News Thursday Afternoon News, July 27th

Thursday Afternoon News, July 27th

Schmitz and Kessenich Crowned As Fair Queen and King

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Fair crowned its royalty last evening during a (Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Fair crowned its royalty last evening during a
ceremony held at the Pioneer Village stage.  Emcee Dave Grosenheider of KLEM radio announced the name of the new king.

Daniel Kessenich was selected as the 2017 Plymouth County Fair King.  Kessenich is the son of Susie and Mark Kessenich. He will enter his senior year in high school this fall at Gehlen Catholic High School.  Next was the announcement of
the Plymouth County Queen.  13 women competed for the title of Plymouth County Queen.  Here again is Dave Grosenheider.

Schmitz is the 17 year old daughter of Patrick and Sheryl Schmitz. James Kellen was selected as “Mr. Personality”, and the two princes were Ote Albright and Jack Ruhland.  The first runner-up was James Kellen.  The title of “Miss Congeniality” was awarded to Sarah Benton, and as for the princesses, Mattie Tucker and Callie Henrich.  The new queen, Kara Schmitz, explains why she had a desire to become the Plymouth County Fair queen.

Daniel Kessenich talks about what the title of Plymouth County Fair King will mean to him.

 

 

Hoffmans, Dreckmans, and Britt Honored At Fair

(Le Mars)— Fair officials were pleased with the first day’s attendance, although it was estimated to be slightly lower than last year’s Wednesday attendance. 17,500 people passed through the gates of the Plymouth County Fair.
A year ago, fair officials estimated the attendance at more than 18,000. Visitors to the fair didn’t seem to mind the early morning showers that dropped seven tenths of an inch of rain on the fairgrounds. The Plymouth County Fair Board awarded two Hall of Fame awards, they were presented to Tom Britt of Le
Mars, and Jerome and Eileen Dreckman of Le Mars. Prior to the presentation of the Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame awards, the Plymouth County 4-H Foundation Board awarded former fair board member, and now board member of the Iowa State
Fair, Dave and Mary Kay Hoffman.

 

 

Pilot Forced To Land Plane On Woodbury County Rural Road

(Sioux City) — A pilot was able to safely land his single engine airplane on a Woodbury County roadway after running out of fuel. The incident happened today (Thursday) at about 10:05 a.m. Woodbury County authorities say the male pilot
was flying from Platteville, Wisconsin to Denver, Colorado. He was hoping to make it to the Sioux Gateway airport where he would re-fuel his plane. The pilot landed his aircraft on the 1600 block of county road D-38. Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies, Sergeant Bluff Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Woodbury County Emergency Services responded to the scene. Officials with Hawthorne Aviation from the Sioux Gateway Airport took fuel to the plane. Thepilot fueled his plane, and then took off from County road D-38 and continued to
Denver. Woodbury County authorities did not identify the pilot.

 

 

Briar Cliff President Announces He Will Leave 

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The president of Briar Cliff University in Sioux City intends to leave his position at the end of the upcoming fall semester after serving less than two years.
Hamid Shirvani said in a college news release Wednesday that the decision “is a result of a combination of family, personal and professional considerations.” The university board of trustees will begin its search in the next few months for a new president.
Shirvani began his Briar Cliff stay on June 1 last year, replacing Bev Wharton, who led the private Sioux City college for 15 years. Shirvani left a position as senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., to join Briar Cliff.
The fall semester student count showed a student enrollment more than 1,300 students.

 

 

Drought Conditions Worsen

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drought conditions are getting worse in several states, DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drought conditions are getting worse in several states, and extreme heat and weeks with little rain have begun to stress corn, soybeans,
wheat and livestock in some areas. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln says nearly 11 percent of the continental United States is in moderate drought or worse. The most severe drought area is centered on portions of Montana, North
Dakota and South Dakota. The United States Department of Agriculture has designated several
counties in those states as areas of natural disaster, paving the way for emergency loans for producers. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas also are seeing stressed crops and farm animals. About half of U.S. spring wheat, 15 percent of corn and 14 percent of soybeans are in drought.

 

 

Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Economies Are Worst In Nation

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A report from a federal commerce bureau says the economies of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota logged the worst performance in the U.S. in the beginning of 2017, with economic output declining in all three states. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that from January through March this year, Nebraska’s economic output declined by 4 percent when compared to the final quarter of the previous year, making it the worst of any state. South Dakota ranked second-worst with a 3.8 percent decline, followed by Iowa with a 3.2 percent decline. The Omaha World-Herald  reports that the bureau is a federal agency from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It measures a state’s “real” gross domestic
product, which is the market value of goods and services produced in-state.