(LE MARS)–ICON Ag Solutions General Manager Adam Timmerman said, “Keep Going,” as the first shovels of dirt were turned at the John Deere dealer’s new Le Mars sales and service site Monday.
That’s exactly what local officials hope will happen as a result of ICON’s decision to build in an area of Le Mars first developed as the new corporate headquarters for Wells’ Dairy. Business and government leaders say they want businesses to keep going into the area where millions of dollars have been spent for infrastructure and land
Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Don Kass of rural Remsen welcomes ICON Ag Solutions decision to locate on the east side of Key Avenue.
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ICON Ag Solutions is the first project Plymouth County Economic Development director Andrea Westergard worked on after she was hired in March of last year. Westergard describes the project as a partnership.
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Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff emphasized two words, “Thank you,” when he spoke after the groundbreaking.
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Speaking on behalf of ICON Ag Solutions, Timmerman talked of growth.
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The firm expects to host a grand opening at the new location in the spring of next year.
(CARROLL)–The Carroll County Sheriff’s office has released the names of the two people killed in Sunday’s plane crash near Lidderdale.
Sixty-four-year-old Orlan Ely Kellenberger and his wife, 64-year-old Mary Margaret Kellenberger of Lamar, Missouri, died when their six-passenger single-engine Beachcraft plane crashed into a field. The Kellenbergers had visited friends in West Bend and had taken off in Algona on their way to Missouri. Sheriff Doug Bass says members of the National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate the cause of the crash. No other details available at this time. (News report from Radio Iowa)
DENISON, Iowa (AP) The Donna Reed festival in the star’s hometown of Denison is taking a new approach because of financial woes and dwindling attendance.
The festival, held since 1986, paid tribute to Reed, who was born Donnabelle Mullenger in 1921. Actors, producers and writers from Hollywood and New York came to the western Iowa town for a week in June each year to tutor others.
Officials with the Donna Reed Foundation think a year-round schedule of events, seminars and workshops could be more manageable and affordable.
Foundation board member Roy Voggesser says it’s worth a try.
Reed won an Academy Award for the 1953 movie “From Here to Eternity.” She became a television icon with the “The Donna Reed Show” from 1958 through 1966. And she starred with Jimmy Stewart in the 1946 holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The Army Corps of Engineers said the three largest Missouri River reservoirs gained water in May because snow in the mountains and rain in the upper basin pushed runoff to 127 percent of normal.
The amount of water in the six reservoirs was 60.8 million acre-feet, the largest amount since 1999. Runoff this year is expected to be 115 percent of normal.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) About ten soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guard are deploying as part of the Iraq War.
The Iowa National Guard said Monday that the soldiers are part of a detachment that specializes in moving personnel around via air. The same unit previously was mobilized from November 2002 through April 2003.
A send-off ceremony is scheduled for the soldiers on Friday at the Ankeny Airport. Both local and National Guard officials are expected to attend the ceremony. After the ceremony, the soldiers are to travel to Fort Benning, Ga., for more training and to prepare to travel overseas.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa lawmakers have called off plans to have a committee study the legalization of medical marijuana, saying such a decision could be made by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy noted Monday that an old state law says the board may set the rules, so there’s no need for a committee. The Des Moines Democrat says the ball is in the board’s court now
The pharmacy board in February recommended the Legislature change the classification of marijuana. It noted that a decades-old piece of Iowa law already appeared to allow that, but members said the intent of the law was unclear.
The board’s executive director, Lloyd Jessen, said Monday that the board doesn’t want that responsibility and needs direction from elected leaders.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Waterloo students will have to tuck in their shirt, wear pants no more than one size too big and leave the steel-toe boots at home.
In a 3-2 vote Monday, the school board approved regulations that fill in the details of a dress code policy for its schools beginning in the fall of 2011.
The policy was approved three weeks ago in a similar vote.
The regulations include specifics about the solid color tops and bottoms required under the policy, along with footwear, jackets and other clothes. It also has a list of items prohibited, including no sleeveless shirts, no jeans and no sandals.
Consequences for students out of compliance could range from time away from normal school activities to out-of-school suspension.
GRANGER, Iowa (AP) Granger will keep “hot” and “cold” on its water towers that will get a new logo.
The two towers have been labeled for about 30 years, and many residents say they represent the town.
The City Council on Monday decided to incorporate “hot” and “cold” into the design. The decision resolves a dispute that surfaced last month when the city decided to repaint the towers without the words.
The new logo is a stylized green and gold “G” with a leaf.
Most residents are satisfied with the compromise.
Business owner Alice Wicker says it moves the city ahead with a new logo and keeps “our sense of humor.”
Granger, which has about 1,000 residents, is about 25 miles northwest of Des Moines.
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) Casey’s General Stores Inc., the Midwest convenience store operator that is resisting a $1.9 billion takeover bid, says its net income rose 41 percent in the fourth quarter as revenue soared.
The earnings results beat Wall Street expectations, and the company raised its quarterly dividend by almost 18 percent to 10 cents a share.
Its shares rose 2.3 percent to $36.75 in premarket trading.
Casey’s has said the April buyout offer of $36 a share from Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard is too low and sued its suitor.
Facing resistance, Couche-Tard has taken its offer directly to Casey’s shareholders and says it will defend itself against the suit.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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