Supervisors To Canvass Election Results, And Compensation Board To Discuss County Employee Salaries
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in order to canvass the election from Tuesday. Following the county supervisor meeting, the Plymouth County Compensation Board will meet at the Supervisor’s Board Room to discuss the proposed salary increases for the county
elected officials for the upcoming year. Each of the elected officials including, Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo, County Attorney Darren Raymond, County Recorder JoLynn Goodchild, County Treasurer Shelly Sitzmann, County Auditor Stacey Feldman, and Don Kass, chairman of the County Board of Supervisors will
appear before the Compensation Board to detail their requests. In addition to determining a proposed percentage salary increase, the county compensation board will also look at determining a compensation for longevity pay, based on the
Plymouth County Handbook. Each of the proposed salary increases are contingent on the County Board of Supervisors when they create the new budget.
Kingsley To Host Source Water Quality Project Meeting
(Le Mars) — A community meeting to further explain a source water quality project is scheduled for today at the Kingsley Community Center. The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. Bridget Durst, the Source Water Community Facilitator with the Conservation Districts of Iowa will lead that meeting. She talks about the need to clean up source water.
Durst says the efforts for the Kingsley community are just getting started, with today’s meeting to help determine the level of cooperation within the community.
Today’s meeting will be at the Kingsley Community Center.
Hinton Police Release Additional Information Regarding Tuesday’s Accident
(Hinton) — The Hinton Police and Hinton Ambulance were dispatched to an injury accident Tuesday afternoon at about 3:30 p.m. That accident was located on county road C-60 or Main St at the north entrance to Hinton Community Schools.
The vehicle was a black 2016 Chevy pickup which was west bound just west of Pine Street, at the north exit from the Hinton High school parking lot. The driver of the pickup truck was Eric Moore of Sioux City. Two juvenile males were running across C-60, one of them, a ten-year old boy, was struck by the pickup.
The injured boy was transported to Mercy Hospital via Hinton Ambulance. The investigation is continuing. Hinton Police was assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office.
Land Values Increase By Two Percent Over Last Year
(Le Mars) — After three years of declines,land values have rebounded, according to an annual survey conducted by Iowa State University. Iowa land values increased two percent during 2017, and according to Iowa State University Agricultural Economist, Dr. Wendong Zhang, land across the state saw either a modest increase or no change. Only south central Iowa had
a loss of land value. The survey results were released on Tuesday. The average price for land across the state is at $7,326 per acre which is $143 more per acre than what was reported last year. Northwest Iowa’s farmland saw an increase of 1.6 percent over last year. Sioux and O’Brien Counties are among
the counties with the highest value for farmland at $10,202 in Sioux County, and $10,354 in O’Brien County. Only Scott County, located in east central Iowa at
Davenport, had higher priced land at $10,497 average per acre. Plymouth County farmland averaged $9,156 an acre. Zhang says lower quality land saw smaller increases in average land value.
The Iowa State Ag Economists offers his reasons for the small increase in land values.
Zhang makes that claim, based on what he says, farm income doesn’t show signs of huge improvements in the near future.
According to the land value survey, Decatur, Wayne, and Appanoose Counties, located in south central Iowa, have the lowest average farmland at just over $3,000 an acre.
Dickinson County Murder Case Suspended For Mental Evaluation of Suspect
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A criminal case has been suspended against a northwestern Iowa man charged with attempted murder in a stabbing last summer so his mental competency can be evaluated.
A judge on Tuesday granted a request for a psychiatric evaluation of 30-year-old Nicholas Thompson.
Thompson is charged in Dickinson County with attempted murder, willful injury resulting in serious injury, going armed with intent and assault with a dangerous weapon. He is accused of repeatedly stabbing a man on June 22 at a home in Spirit Lake and punching woman during the same incident.
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Reynolds Wants To Reform Taxes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to give details on a proposal to cut taxes in Iowa during a key legislative speech early next year.
Reynolds told reporters Wednesday she’d like to provide information about a tax plan during her Condition of the State address on Jan. 9. She says releasing those details are contingent on Congress passing its sweeping tax overhaul. The
federal legislation is expected to make changes to how Iowa collects taxes.
Reynolds’ remarks come days after a budget panel said Iowa’s incoming revenue remains below projections and mid-year cuts to government spending are possible. The Republican governor argues tax cuts will spur economic development. She hasn’t offered details about her tax plan, though she’s indicated an interest in lowering business taxes and income taxes.
High Winds Cause Grain Bin To Lose Roof
BRITT, Iowa (AP) – Officials in northern Iowa say high winds have blown the roof off a grain bin in Britt, causing the bin to collapse onto power lines and knocking out power to the area.
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that no one was injured in the collapse Wednesday morning at Hancock County grain elevator.
North Central Co-op site manager Tom Grant says 10,000 to 15,000 bushels of grain spilled onto the ground when the bin collapsed. Alliant Energy said power remained out Wednesday afternoon for a dozen customers in the Hutchins area west
of Britt.
The National Weather Service says gusts in the area on Wednesday topped 50 mph.
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Jurors To Deliberate Case Involving Daughter Starving To Death
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Jurors are deliberating the case of an Iowa woman charged in the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter.
Lawyers gave closing arguments Monday in the trial of 43-year-old Nicole Finn, of West Des Moines. She has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping and child endangerment in the October
2016 death of 16-year-old Natalie Finn, who weighed 85 pounds when she died.
Prosecutor Nan Horvat says Nicole Finn sought to kill and torment three of her children, including Natalie. Horvat told jurors that prosecutors proved their case “beyond all doubt.”
Defense lawyer Jennifer Larson says her client was detached from reality.
Nicole Finn’s ex-husband, Joe Finn, has pleaded not guilty to
kidnapping, neglect or abandonment and child endangerment. He wasn’t living with the rest of the family when Natalie died. His trial will begin Jan. 8.
