Home News Saturday News, August 29th

Saturday News, August 29th

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Man With Warrants

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to apprehend a man with outstanding warrants Friday afternoon. At about 2:45 p.m. the sheriff’s office was advised of a wanted subject may be around the area of Highway 12 in western Plymouth County after he had violated a no contact order. A short time later, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was advised that the subject was just involved in a high speed pursuit with Union County Sheriff’s Office in Union County, South Dakota. Union County officials lost sight of the subject after he entered the state of Iowa. At about 3:24 p.m. the vehicle
matching the description the subject was seen driving during the pursuit was spotted at the gas pumps at Chubs Country Store in Akron. A traffic stop was conducted and the subject was arrested inside the convenience store. Justin McKay, age 45, of Sioux City was arrested and charged with OWI on the third or subsequent offense, which is a Class D felony. McKay was also charged
with two outstanding Plymouth County warrants. He is currently being held at the Plymouth County Jail on a $7,500 bond for the third time of OWI and two $300 bonds for violation of a no-contact order.

 

 

 

Sioux County Authorities Investigate Landfill Center Burglary

(Orange City) — Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the
help of the public as they investigate a burglary and vandalism that occurred Monday at the Northwest Iowa Landfill Center at Sheldon. Surveillance video shows that at around 5:00 a.m. an individual had broken into the shop at the landfill center and had damaged some welding supplies and materials. The welding equipment was moved to another location in the building, but was left behind and the person ultimately left the scene. Sioux County Sheriff’s office is asking if anyone recognizes the individual featured in the video to contact the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.

 

 

 

Plymouth County Has State’s Highest Rate Of Positive COVID-19 Cases

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County recently witnessed a spike in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 and health officials say we all need to be aware of mass gatherings that have taken place. Tara Geddes is the Plymouth County Community Health Services Director and she says there are many factors to be
considered when observing the positivity percentage rates.

Geddes says the latest numbers show Plymouth County with a 22 and a half percent positive percentage rate, which makes Plymouth County one of the highest within the state.

The county community health director says the virus is affecting all ages of people, although younger to middle-aged adults are having the most numbers.

All of Plymouth County schools are back in session with in-class full-time learning, and Geddes says, so far, it has worked well. Geddes reviews the latest COVID-19 statistics for Plymouth County.

Tonight, marks the first evening for high school football, and along with area volleyball matches, Geddes admits to being concerned, especially for the spectators. She suggests people need to continue to wear masks or face coverings.

Geddes is hopeful that Plymouth County will be able to lower our numbers within the coming days and weeks.

 

 

 

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Tells Farmers To Plan Now For Propane Needs

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 28, 2020) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urges farmers and agribusinesses to start evaluating how much propane they’ll need to meet grain drying and home and livestock heating demands this fall and winter. The derecho that swept through Iowa on Aug. 10 created many
unknowns for this year’s harvest. Propane users should anticipate, and suppliers should make plans to accommodate, increased propane demands this fall.

“After an ideal planting season and a warm, dry summer, we anticipated normal crop dry-down this fall, but the drought and derecho had significant impacts on our corn fields,” said Secretary Naig. “I encourage farmers to take a look at their grain drying and home and livestock heating needs, and formulate a
plan with their propane suppliers to make sure their needs are covered and their tanks are full.”

The derecho’s sustained, high winds damaged an estimated 3.57 million acres of corn in 36 counties, just a few weeks before the harvest. While the degree of damage varies by field, millions of acres of corn stalks were snapped, flattened or tangled. This will reduce the amount of airflow around the crop, and farmers should anticipate harvested corn will have higher-than-normal
moisture levels. Farmers should start engaging in planning conversations with their local propane suppliers, take advantage of early buying and booking programs, and top off their tanks now before harvest begins.

 

 

 

2663 New COVID Cases in Iowa, 12 Additional Deaths

(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public of Health is reporting a record two-thousand-663 positive tests for COVID-19, increasing the state’s total to 62-thousand-31 cases. The uptick in cases come after state health officials said the results will now include antigen testing. Twelve more Iowans have died of coronavirus complications which brings the death toll to
one-thousand-91. Two-hundred-99 people are hospitalized with COVID, 91 patients are in intensive care units and 41 are on ventilators. A total of 45-thousand-884 patients are recovered. There are currently outbreaks at 36 long-term care facilities in Iowa.

 

 

 

33 Inmates, 2 Staff at Mount Pleasant Prison Test Positive For COVID

(Mount Pleasant, IA) — Officials say a spike in positive COVID-19 cases in Henry County can be traced to an outbreak among inmates at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. Deputy Warden Marcy Stroud says there are 33 positive cases and all but three are asymptomatic. There are also two staff members
who tested positive. Stroud said, “the units that have actually had positive cases, those positive guys have been moved off into one unit together.”
Stroud said testing will continue and it’s still not known how the virus came in to the facility. The state’s coronavirus website indicates Henry County’s 14-day positivity rate for COVID tests was 13-point-six percent.

 

 

 

State Auditor To Release Guidelines For Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes

(Des Moines, IA) — The state’s top election official says his office will give auditors new information to clear up confusion about where drop boxes for absentee ballots may be placed. Secretary of State Paul Pate said, “this was a good example of a terrible line of communication and my office will take some of that on our shoulders.” Pate said drop boxes for absentee
ballots must be on county-owned property and cannot be spread around a community. The issue was raised after complaints about unattended drop boxes in places like parking lots and grocery stores. Pate says “this is where the attorney general was involved in stating that those do not meet the present
standards of the law.”

 

 

 

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Fines 2 Casinos For Gambling Violations

(Riverside, IA) — Two casinos in the state are being fined for gambling violations by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Administrator Brian Ohorilko says the Isle in Waterloo had an underage violation in February where a minor was permitted to enter unchallenged and was on the floor gambling for over 30 minutes. He says the commission reviewed the matter and
Isle Waterloo stipulated to the facts and agreed to a penalty in the amount of 20-thousand dollars. The Wild Rose Casino in Clinton had a violation involving a self-banned gambler. Ohorilko says that person was able to create a players club card even though they were on the state self-exclusion list. The Wild Rose discovered the incident, reported it and agreed to pay a
five-thousand-dollar penalty.