Supervisors Vote To Rescind Membership To Northwest Iowa Care Connections Mental Health and Approve Lyon County to Join Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region
(Le Mars) — By a vote of five to zero, Plymouth County Board of Supervisors formally approved of rescinding a letter of intent to join the Northwest Iowa Care Connections Mental Health Region. The county supervisors took that action during Tuesday’s weekly meeting. Supervisor chairman Don Kass says since Lyon County Board of Supervisors agreed to join Sioux Rivers
Mental Health Region, it was no longer necessary for Plymouth County to search for another mental health region.
Kass then read his letter addressed to Bill Leopold, the chairman of the Northwest Iowa Care Connections Mental Health Region.
The Plymouth County Supervisor chairman continued with the reading of his letter.
After approving the letter to rescind the membership with the Northwest Iowa Care Connections mental health region, the supervisors then approved Lyon County as a member of the Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region. That resolution was also approved on a five to zero vote. Beginning July 1st of
2019, the new fiscal year, Sioux Rivers will still maintain the required three-county minimum participation with Woodbury County seeking membership with Rolling Hills Mental Health Region, and Lyon County will leave the Northwest Iowa Care Connections Mental Health Region to become a member of Sioux Rivers. Last week, Kass had mentioned to KLEM news that Northwest Iowa Care Connections is looking at including up to five additional counties into their region. Some of the
supervisors were wondering if the Northwest Iowa Care Connections attracts the other counties from the eastern edge of the region, if that may prompt some existing bordering counties with Sioux and Plymouth Counties to look at joining Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region. Kass informed his fellow supervisors that at this time, he wasn’t aware of any other counties looking
at joining the Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region.
D & K Tree Removal Service Gets County Bid For Hinton Drainage District
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, acting on the premise of the county drainage board, approved the bid submitted by D & K Tree Removal Services of Le Mars to clear several trees, brush, and the removal of down trees located in the Hinton Drainage District. D & K’s bid for the project was submitted at $38,435.80. There was a second bid submitted by
L.A. Carlson of Merrill for the amount of $56,593.90.
Police Remind People To Be Safe During Halloween Activities
(Le Mars) — Since today is Halloween, the Le Mars Police Department want to remind people to be safe and implement caution this evening. They recommend for little trick or treaters to carry a flashlight or glow stick, wear reflective tape as part of your costume, and to visit only those homes that
are familiar to you. The police also remind children to cross the street only at designated cross walks. Parents should first inspect all candy before allowing children to consume the candy. Motorists are reminded to expect the unexpected. Watch out for the little ghosts and goblins as they may be wearing dark colored costumes that are not easily seen in the dark. Be aware of children running across the street. Children should only visit
those homes that have lights on. People should leave their porch light on as a way to help illuminate the area, and also as a sign to the small children that you are participating in the trick or treat activity. The Le Mars Police says Halloween is a time for pranks and practical jokes which sometimes can be carried too far and turn into vandalism. He suggests people to be alert within their neighborhood.
Odd/Even Parking Begins On Thursday, November 1st
(Le Mars) — Thursday is November 1st, and Le Mars residents are reminded of the odd/even parking ordinance that goes into effect, regardless of whether or not there is snow. Parking should be on the odd side of the street for odd numbered days, and on the even side of the street on even side of the days. Parking for the next day will occur after 6:00 p.m.
NTSB Says Flawed Rail Track Caused Derailment Of Ethanol Tankers
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal investigators say a broken rail caused the fiery 2017 derailment in northwest Iowa that released 322,000 gallons of ethanol.
The National Transportation Safety Board ruled Tuesday that Union Pacific’s maintenance was inadequate before the March 2017 derailment near Graettinger, Iowa, and Federal Railroad Administration inspectors didn’t do enough to identify flaws in the track.
No injuries were reported in connection with the derailment in a
rural area about 160 miles (257 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines. Five of the 20 derailed tankers plunged into Jack Creek.
The NTSB says the train in this derailment was carrying ethanol for export that had not been denatured by adding chemicals. The agency wants to study whether it’s safer to transport ethanol before it is denatured.
Iowa DNR Investigating Lime Slurry Spill
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa environmental officials say they’re investigating the spill of about 1,000 gallons of lime slurry into a tributary of a central Iowa creek.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the spill happened over the weekend, when a storage tank overflowed at the Air Gas plant in Ankeny.
Officials say a construction company on Monday noticed the discharge of the milky white substance into a tributary of Four Mile Creek. Tests of the creek Monday morning showed water quality was similar upstream and downstream, and there were no signs of dead or distressed fish.
The DNR says Air Gas worked with the construction company to prevent more slurry from entering the creek and pump contaminated water out of the creek.
Jury Rules School District Is Responsible For Fatal Motorcycle Accident
ELKADER, Iowa (AP) – A jury says a northeast Iowa school district must pay $1.2 million in damages to the family of a motorcyclist killed in a fatal collision with a school bus.
The Telegraph Herald reports that the Clayton County jury on Monday found the Clayton Ridge School District at fault. Authorities say 50-year- old Ronald Kephart, of Garnavillo, died after his motorcycle ran into the side of the bus as it turned left on Sept. 1, 2016, near Guttenberg. The driver was cited for failure to yield. None of the students on the bus was
injured.
Kephart’s wife told the newspaper the verdict disappointed her,
calling it “a slap in the face.”
Amy Kephart says she realizes “no amount of money is going to be able to bring him back, but he did a lot for the family emotionally, financially, everything.”
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Three Candidates Seek Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Position
(Le Mars) — Election day is just six days away, and one of the choices for Iowa voters is to elect a Secretary of Agriculture.
There are three people seeking the position of Iowa Secretary of
Agriculture. They include: Republican, Mike Naig; Democrat, Tim Gannon; and Libertarian candidate Rick Stewart. Each candidate acknowledges that farm income is low, and each have an idea of how to correct the problem. Naig says expansion of trade, and negotiating with foreign nations encouraging the export of U-S agricultural goods will eventually lead to a better farm economy.
Democrat Gannon believes farm income can rise by investing in more agricultural research, and exploring new uses derived from farm goods and commodities.
Libertarian candidate Rick Stewart advocates for the government to get out of the way of trade and the business of farming.
Each of the candidates say the expansion of E-15 ethanol-based fuel for the entire year will also help advance the Iowa farm economy.
Biden Appears In Iowa To Campaign For Democrats
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Vice President Joe Biden has made a campaign stop in Iowa, where he bemoaned the tone of Trump-era politics and gave a preview of how he might take on the Republican president should he seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
In Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Biden said, “It’s our leaders who need to set the tone and dial down the temperature and restore some dignity to our national dialogue.”
Biden was on a trip across the Midwest campaigning for Democrats in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2016. He stopped in Wisconsin earlier on Tuesday.
Referencing the violence of last week that included the synagogue shootings and a wave of pipe bombs, Biden thundered, “What the hell is happening to us? Our children are listening!”
Republican Leader Is Critical Of Steve King’s Comments
WASHINGTON (AP) – A top Republican campaign official is criticizing conservative Rep. Steve King of Iowa for his remarks in support of a European political party founded by former Nazis.
House Republican campaign chairman Steve Stivers called King’s comments and social media posts “completely inappropriate.” He says the United States “must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms.”
The Iowa Republican is still favored to win another term from his rural district in next week’s election. But after King’s latest remarks, some campaign donors say they will no longer support him.
King denounced the attacks against him as “orchestrated by the nasty, desperate and dishonest fake news.”
The congressman is facing off against Democratic nominee J.D. Scholten in Tuesday’s election.
