(LE MARS)–A window project is an opening Plymouth County officials will use to replace aging, malfunctioning air conditioning units.
Plymouth County supervisors got an update this week from county staffer Larry Hoffman about recent work on what are roughly estimated to be two, 40-year-old units on the ground level. Other equipment is on the rooftop.
To make a connection into the building, supervisors indicated merit in replacing the equipment now using the existing window access which will be a much smaller opening in the new air conditioning systems.
A Kingsley contractor is currently replacing all the windows on the Courthouse.
Supervisors asked to review pricing from more several firms after one price quote was submitted at Tuesday’s meeting. The cost of replacement air conditioners could be about 10-thousand dollars.
Suspect arrested for rural burglary
(ORANGE CITY)–An Orange City man was taken to the Sioux County Jail on burglary and drug charges after an investigation of a burglary at a rural Orange City residence.
The Sheriff’s office arrested 20-year-old Joshua Davidson Thursday on felony charges of theft in the second degree and burglary in the third degree for an August 12th burglary.
Davidson was arrested after his residence was searched for possible stolen property. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and prescription medication and possession of drug paraphernalia.
King: A “Fair Tax” needed
(LE MARS)–Tax cuts put in place during the Bush-era should be made permanent. That’s the view of Congressman Steve King.
The reductions are slated to end this year.
Congressman Steve King would keep the cuts, but he favors an alternative.
Listen here
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King recalls Ronald Reagan’s saying, “What you tax you get less of.”
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King adds, “It does them all and it does them all better.”
Hyperion says refinery still planned for 2015
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Hyperion Resources says it still plans to have a $10 billion oil refinery operating near Elk Point by 2015. The statement came in response to both South Dakota governor candidates saying this week that they’re unsure whether the plant will be built, in part because financing the project might be difficult.
Hyperion spokesman Eric Williams says the Dallas-based company isn’t commenting on specifics of the financing. But he says in the past six weeks there has been “a real uptick” in inquiries from potential investors.
The Hyperion refinery and power plant on 3,800 acres of farmland near Elk Point would process 400,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands crude oil a day. It would be the first new U.S. oil refinery built since 1976.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Sugr beet ruling affects producers
ES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Some sugar beet growers are uneasy as they wait for federal officials to decide the next step for a crop that provides half the nation’s sugar supply.
A federal judge in California issued a ruling earlier this month that prevents future planting of sugar beets with genetically modified seeds until the U.S. Department of Agriculture studies the effect the crop could have on other food.
Industry officials say farmers need to be patient and let the process play out.
Duane Grant, the chairman of Idaho’s Snake River Sugar Co., fears there aren’t enough conventional seeds to plant next year.
But North Dakota sugar beet farmer Robert Green is optimistic a solution will be found.
Mold found in more Iowa schools
SPRINGVILLE, Iowa (AP) Mold has delayed the start of class in more Iowa schools.
Officials in Springville, near Cedar Rapids, say mold has been found in an elementary school. The mold was found on Thursday, and students were sent home early.
No classes were being held on Friday.
There was no immediate word from school officials on how bad the mold problem is and how long it would take to clean it up.
Mold has also delayed classes at West Branch Middle School in West Branch and at Regina Catholic Education Center in Iowa City.
Both schools postponed the start of classes from this week until Monday.
UI and ISU offer textbook rentals
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Students at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University have another choice when it comes to textbooks they can rent them.
The universities are joining a growing number of schools with rentals being offered at campus bookstores.
The National Association of College Stores says about 300 college bookstores offered rentals last year. This fall, it’s 1,500.
UI bookstore director Richard Shannon says rentals could save students more than 60 percent of the cost of a new book.
Iowa will start with 50 titles targeting the more popular classes in a pilot program, while ISU will have 140 titles for rent.
Officials say it’s another way to cut book costs for students and bring in more traffic to bookstores.
Man dies while operating bulldozer in Iowa
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a man died while driving a bulldozer, which ended up in a pond at a quarry pond Fort Dodge.
Lt. Kevin Kruse of the Webster County sheriff’s office says the man was operating the bulldozer on Thursday when he suffered a heart attack or other medical problem.
The bulldozer went into the pond at the CertainTeed Corp. quarry. The incident happened about 1 p.m.
The man’s name was not released pending notification of family.
Kruse says another quarry worker pulled the man out of the water before emergency crews arrived.
CertainTeed spokesman Mike Loughery says the company is investigating.
Police increase security outside Iowa State Fair
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Des Moines police are adding extra officers to security duty outside the Iowa State Fair because of fights.
Officials say a roving group attacked several fairgoers outside the gates last Saturday.
Police also investigated two stabbings in the same area. The victims were not seriously injured and refused medical attention.
Police are adding five more officers this weekend to provide more security around the fairground’s perimeter.
The Iowa State Patrol handles much of the law enforcement duties on the fairgrounds.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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