Van Otterloo Proposes Additional Security Presence At Courthouse
(Le Mars) — During yesterday’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meeting, Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo proposed an idea to the county governing board that would include an added security presence at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Van Otterloo informed the supervisors that we
are now in an era that demands to have stepped up security. Van Otterloo says the security personnel would be paid through the existing proposed Sheriff’s office budget since a part-time jailer recently moved on to another full-time position. Van Otterloo says the courthouse could establish the security position as early as April 1st. He says there are some recently retired Sheriff’s Deputies that have shown interest in the part-time courthouse security position. The county supervisors did not take
any action on the proposal, but told Van Otterloo they would consider the plan.
Financial Audit Shows Plymouth County Finances Are “Strong”
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County’s fiscal year 2017-2018 finances were audited by members of the Williams and Company accounting staff of Le Mars, and during Tuesday’s meeting, Justin Jacobsma appeared before the supervisors to
submit his review of the audit. He says the county’s finances are “strong.”
Jacobsma informed the county supervisors that Plymouth County has enough reserve revenue in the general fund to be able to sustain and pay expenses up to 206 days. He says Plymouth County’s revenue exceeded its expenses by more than $167,000.
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor To Close To Complete Renovation
(Le Mars) — If you want to have the sweet treat of ice cream from the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, you better hurry. The famous tourist attraction is scheduled to close on March 1st for its final phase of renovation. Officials anticipate the ice cream parlor will remain closed until construction is completed, which is expected to be in June, just in time for the annual Ice Cream Days celebration, June 12th through June 16th.
When the ice cream parlor reopens in June, visitors of all ages will enjoy the interactive exhibits highlighting the history of ice cream, and how signature flavors are made at Wells Enterprises. The parlor will also debut “Downtown Le Mars” first outdoor rooftop seating area. The re-imagined ice cream parlor is sure to make the sweetest spot on Central Avenue, even sweeter!
Iowa State Patrol Releases Numbers From Weekend Blizzard
(Des Moines) — The numbers are being tallied from last weekend’s winter blizzard. From midnight on Friday through mid-morning Monday, the Iowa State Patrol responded to 145 crashes and helped more than a thousand stranded motorists.
That’s Sergeant Nathan Ludwig, a spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol. He advises drivers on the roads today to buckle up, put the smart phone away and put plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you — because there are still a lot of icy spots on the highways.
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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach To Offer Seminar For Cow-calf Operators
(Le Mars) — Cow-calf operators will want to attend a seminar scheduled for next Monday, March 4th to be held at the Le Mars Convention Center lower level beginning at 1:00 p.m. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Beef Specialist for northwest Iowa Beth Doran says the seminar will primarily focus on the health and nutritional factors of cows ready to calve during these cold and snowy weather days.
Doran says the seminar is to serve as an update for local cow-calf producers.
The ISU beef specialist says a second topic for discussion will focus on the 2018 Farm Bill, and how it relates to cow-calf producers.
Doran says with the recent snowfalls, many cows left in the harvested cornfields to graze are not getting the needed nutritional value from the cornstalks.
Doran says the result could be lower birthing weights, along with more calving difficulties due to the cow and the calf are weak. Registration is set at $5 per person, and Doran asks participants to pre-register with the Plymouth County Extension office. Additional seminars are scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th at Sac City, and Wednesday, March 6th at Rock Rapids.
Tentinger Talks Trade
(Le Mars) — Earlier this month, officials representing Iowa’s agriculture industry participated in a trade mission to the Latin American nations of
Columbia and Panama. Bill Tentinger of Le Mars was among those trade team participants. Tentinger has been on several previous trade missions to such nations as Japan, China, Mexico and the Philippines. He says he was surprised of the acceptance of U-S meat products by the Colombians .
In addition to visiting Columbia, the trade team also spent time at Panama, a country Tentinger had previously visited on a separate trade mission. He says since the U-S entered a free trade agreement with Panama, he has noticed improvement with the trade relations.
The Plymouth County pork producer says it is important for Iowa agriculture to establish relationships with other nations in order to promote and market our agricultural products to developing nations.
The trade delegation was being accompanied by Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and officials from the Iowa Economic Development Board. Tentinger says its beneficial for everyone to have government officials along for the trade trips. Since Tentinger is
from Le Mars, he is always on the look out for Le Mars’ most famous product…Well’s Blue Bunny ice cream.
Tentinger says he was able to find some ice cream products in both Columbia and Panama that originated from Le Mars, the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”
Tentinger says he has witnessed the growth of trade opportunities for Iowa and the U-S. He says 30 years ago, Japan was not a major buyer of U-S pork, today the oriental nation is the largest importer of U-S pork products.
Tentinger says he sees the same type of trade growth potential with Columbia and Panama.
Brazilian Man Sentenced After Causing Jet To Be Diverted
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Brazilian man who caused a jetliner flight to be diverted to Cedar Rapids has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
U.S. District Court records say 34-year-old Guilherme Alves De Melo was sentenced Tuesday in Cedar Rapids and told to pay nearly $4,800 restitution to American Airlines for the cost of diverting the flight. He’d pleaded guilty to intimidating a flight crew member.
Court records say that on June 23, Alves became disruptive and “lost it” about an hour before the plane was scheduled to land in Chicago. The plane had taken off from Calgary, Canada. That led some passengers to restrain him with zip ties provided by the flight crew before the plane was diverted to eastern Iowa.
Alves was charged in Iowa with disorderly conduct for yelling
obscenities as he was arrested by Cedar Rapids police. He pleaded guilty to that charge the next day and paid a $100 fine.
