Unity Christian High School Assisting With Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
(Orange City) — Unity Christian High School of Orange City is joining the ranks of increasing number of organizations accepting donations to be directed to Texas for relief from Hurricane Harvey. Wayne Dykstra, serves as the Head of Schools
for Unity Christian. He says the idea came from a parent who owns a semi truck and trailer.
Dykstra says the donations will be distributed to a Baptist church located in Sugarland, Texas. Dykstra says there are some Unity Christian alumni living in the hurricane affected area, and offered suggestions as to the type of donations most needed.
Dykstra says the semi truck and trailer is scheduled to leave northwest Iowa on Tuesday.
The Unity Christian school official says the semi truck and trailer will be parked at the football game on Friday evening encouraging fans to donate to the hurricane relief program.
News about Unity Christian’s efforts to collect donations has spread throughout the town of Orange City. Dykstra says churches, businesses, industries, and students and faculty from Northwestern College are also contributing to the
cause. Dykstra says he has been surprised at the response from the initial idea of giving.
Plymouth County Fire Trucks Pass Pumping Certification Tests
(Le Mars) — All of the fire trucks from Plymouth County communities have passed its annual pump tests. During the last few days, 14 fire trucks from Le Mars, Hinton, Remsen, Akron, Merrill, Kingsley and Oyens were tested to see if each
truck is capable of pumping the amount of water as designated at the time the truck was manufactured. A representative from Danko Fire Services of Synder, Nebraska tested each truck with a pumping endurance test. The annual test is required of all fire departments and their apparatus. Communities with fire
trucks that pass the test, are given a good rating with I-S-0 and often it means lower insurance premium rates for communities.
A Danko Fire Services representative tests a Remsen Fire Truck’s pumping capabilities.
Changes Are Made For the Deep Creek Watershed Project
(Le Mars) — Changes have occurred in the Deep Creek watershed project. The Deep Creek Watershed project has expanded from 29,813 acres to 58,494 acres, nearly doubling in size. The expansion means additional farmers and landowners can take advantage of cost-share funds available for conservation methods that will help reduce nitrate run-off, and help improve water quality. The Deep Creek watershed
now includes parts of Sioux, O’Brien, and Cherokee counties, as well as the northeast portion of Plymouth County. The changes include each producer is able to sign up to receive cost-share funding for a maximum of 200 acres per practice, the nitrification inhibitor cost share has changed from five dollars an acre to
three dollars an acre with priority going to first-time applicants. Current cost-share rates include for no-till and strip-till practices at $10 per acre.
Subsurface Phosphorus Placement at $10 dollars an acre, fall cover crops at $25 per acre, Nitrification inhibitor at $3 per acre, De-nitrifying Bioreactors and Saturated Buffers are both at 50 percent cost share, and water and sediment control basin can be paired with Environmental Quality Incentives Program or
EQIP, and is eligible for 50 percent cost share. Installation of terraces are also eligible for 50 percent cost share. For more information about the cost-share program as it relates to the Deep Creek Watershed Project, you can contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District office.
Donlin Named As Top 60 Hospital CEO’s To Know
(Undated) — Becker’s Healthcare is pleased to recognize the following 60 CEOs, presidents and administrators of critical access hospitals.
The men and women included on this list are at the helm of organizations regularly recognized for safety and quality. Many led their hospitals through expansions, mergers and EHR implementations. The individuals on this list are also key members of the community, serving on corporate boards and state-level initiatives to improve access to care. Individuals and institutions cannot pay for inclusion on this list. For a complete listing go to https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/61-critical-access-hospital-ceos-to-know-2017.html.
Mike Donlin. Administrator of Floyd Valley Healthcare (Le Mars, Iowa). Donlin began his career as an orderly in a small Onamia, Minn.-based hospital before being commissioned to the National Naval Medical Center in 1975. After serving in the administration of military hospitals across the country, Donlin became administrator of Floyd Valley Hospital in 1998, now known as Floyd Valley Healthcare. Donlin is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the board for Le Mars Area Dialysis Services and the Le Mars Community Betterment Foundation.
Economic Survey Points To Possible Growth For Midwest
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of business leaders suggests more economic growth lies ahead for nine Midwest and Plains states. A report released Friday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 57.5 in August from 56.1 in July. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says it “points to solid growth for both
manufacturing and non-manufacturing for the rest of 2017.” The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Fitzgerald Warns Reynolds Of State’s Budget Woes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s treasurer is warning that the state should borrow money to ensure it can pay its bills on time amid a potential budget shortfall, but Gov. Kim Reynolds’ staff says the move is politically driven. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced Thursday that he had asked the Republican governor to authorize using loan notes that are paid back quickly and
don’t increase the state’s liabilities. Fitzgerald, a Democrat, says borrowing would be a “sensible way” to manage “uncertainties.” Brenna Smith, Reynolds’ press secretary, says Fitzgerald is engaging in “headline-grabbing scare tactics” and it’s “unwise” to suggest the state can’t pay its bills. Fitzgerald says his warning is not political. Reynolds may need to call a special legislative session to address the state’s roughly $7.2 billion budget. A nonpartisan state agency has estimated Iowa faces a revenue shortfall of about $100 million, but the figure could
fluctuate.
Iowa Asks To Eliminate Medicaid Benefit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is seeking federal approval to cut a key Medicaid health care benefit for the elderly and poor in an effort to save money. The state has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to eliminate a provision that allows a person to get Medicaid coverage three months
before he or she submits an application to join the program. The provision ensures a care facility receives retroactive payment for treating some patients who are suddenly sick or in an accident. The policy would impact new Medicaid patients. The Iowa Department of Human Services says the GOP-controlled Iowa
Legislature mandated the cut in a bill with cost-containment measures. DHS estimates $36.7 million would be saved, including $9.7 million for the state. DHS told The Des Moines Register it hopes to implement the changes on
Oct. 1. —
