Northey Visits Northwest Iowa
(Merrill) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is anxiously awaiting for the U-S Senate to vote on his confirmation. Northey has been nominated by President Trump to be the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
with the U-S Department of Agriculture, but Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and now Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, are holding up the voting process. The reason for the Senators to delay Northey’s confirmation vote is based on President Trump’s
actions with ethanol and other renewable fuels. While Northey is waiting on the final Senate confirmation vote, he is still performing his duties as the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. On Friday, Northey was in northwest Iowa, and visited a water quality project near Sioux City, toured the Plymoth Energy ethanol production facilities near Merrill, and visited with Dordt College Agriculture officials at Sioux Center. As for when the U-S Senate will finally vote on Northey’s confirmation, the Spirit Lake, Iowa, farmer says he is watching the news reports like the rest of us.
Northey says he wants to continue with his 99-county tour and listen to Iowans.
He says when he speaks to farmers about this year’s harvest, he is hearing reports of better than expected corn yields.
On Monday, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will issue its latest crop progress report. Northey says farmers have been busy harvesting the crops since rains in early October pushed back the pace by about two weeks.
Northey says ethanol production facilities, like the one he visited Friday at Merrill, are important to Iowa’s economy.
After visiting Woodbury, Plymouth and Sioux counties, Northey had scheduled stops in both Lyon and Osceola counties for this afternoon and evening.
City Elections Scheduled For Tuesday
(Le Mars) — Tuesday is election day for city-based position. In Le Mars, there is only one contested race for the city council At-large position. Longtime city council member Rex Knapp is being challenged by Dan Dembinski. Council members Clark Goodchild representing Ward 1, and Ken Nelson of Ward 3 are running unopposed, as is Mayor Dick Kirchoff. Also on the ballot will be the election for Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees. Voters will have the opportunity to vote for two positions. Bill Young and Craig Bauerly are both seeking re-election to the hospital board of trustees. Polls will open at 12:00 noon and will close at 8:00 p.m. Voters from all three precincts living in Le Mars will go to the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center to cast their
votes.
Rex Knapp seeks another term on the Le Mars City Council
Dan Dembinski is seeking election to the Le Mars City Council
Floyd Valley Healthcare Prepares For “Evening At the Garden Party”
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare is preparing for its annual foundation fund raiser. This year, the chosen theme is “An Evening in the Garden Party.” The event is scheduled for next Saturday, November 11th at the Le Mars Convention
Center. Floyd Valley’s Foundation Manager Amy Harnack, says the theme follows the plans to convert a grassy area outside the hospital to a courtyard area where patients and staff can retreat for private, quiet meditation while reflecting on the painted mural created by Harry Gray.
Harnack says the evening will feature several varieties of craft beers and wines for attendees to enjoy.
The Floyd Valley foundation manager says a variety of tasty, heavy appetizers from M’s Catering, will be served during the evening’s festivities.
Dueling pianos will provide the entertainment during the hospital’s evening fund raiser.
Harnack says some individual table tickets are still available. Tickets for the “Evening in the Garden Party” are $50 each. To make reservations, contact Amy Harnack at the Floyd Valley Healthcare.
State’s Historical Society Wanting WWI Memorabilia
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State Historical Society of Iowa officials are seeking help in honoring more Iowans who lost their lives in the first World War.
In 1920, the state’s Department of History and Archives contacted families who lost relatives in the war and sought information and images of those killed.
Many people responded, sending the department about 2,700 names and images of men and women who were killed in action, went missing or died of disease, wounds or accidents.
However, 3,576 Iowa residents are believed to have been killed while serving during the war, and the State Historical Society of Iowa is seeking additional names and photographs to add to the earlier information for a new display that will begin next Memorial Day weekend.
To learn how to contribute, go online to iowaculture.gov/honorroll.
Furbearer Season Begins
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Furbearer season has begun in Iowa and Nebraska.
Iowa’s season opened Saturday, and biologist Vince Evelsizer says participation is expected to remain similar to last year, when about 14,500 furharvester licenses were sold. The season in Iowa runs through Jan. 31 and covers muskrats, raccoons, coyotes, beaver, mink, bobcats and otters.
In Nebraska, the season for most fur species began Wednesday and runs through the end of February. Those include muskrat, beaver, badger, mink, raccoon, long-tailed weasel and red fox. Hunting and trapping for bobcat begins Dec. 1 and ends Feb. 28.
Keokuk Man Found Guilty In Teenager Death
KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – A man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a gender-fluid Iowa teenager.
The Des Moines Register reports that a jury Friday found 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez guilty in the death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson.
At trial, prosecutors described Johnson as a high school student who sometimes dressed as a girl. Relatives say Johnson identified as both male and female.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the unusual decision last month to send a federal hate crimes prosecutor to assist state and local authorities with the case.
Prosecutors said Johnson was wearing a pink headband and hair extensions when Sanders-Galvez and his cousin saw the teen at a store, followed Johnson in their car, then took the teen to a Burlington home.
Investigators say a struggle ensued during a sexual encounter, and the men
suffocated and shot Johnson and dumped the teen’s body in an alley.
—
Southwest Iowa Man Convicted Of Killing Woman
AVOCA, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man has been found guilty a second time of killing a woman at his western Iowa home in 2014.
The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that a judge issued the verdict Friday against Robert Reynolds. He faces up to 50 years in prison when he’s sentenced Dec. 13 for the second-degree murder conviction.
Reynolds was first convicted three years ago of first-degree murder for the April 2014 of killing 64-year-old Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey after a night of drinking at his and his wife’s Oakland home. Kinkade-Dorsey was a friend of his wife’s.
The Iowa Appeals Court later ordered a new trial, ruling that the trial judge erroneously changed the first trial’s location.
Reynolds had claimed he hallucinated while intoxicated and thought Kinkaid-Dorsey was a demon when he shot her.
—
