A Wisconsin firm ranked Mid-Sioux Opportunity third in Iowa for the Weatherization Department’s highest yearly average energy savings.
Mid-Sioux’s 2009 average yearly savings was $416 through the weatherization program. That compares to the average in Iowa os $324.
Housing and Energy Services Director Julie Colling says Mid-Sioux is thrilled to receive such a high ranking. Colling says Mid-Sioux’s weatherization department works hard to assist clients in lowering their energy bill and saving money.
Last year, Mid-Sioux ranked fifth for yearly energy savings from weatherization.
(SIOUX CENTER)–Farm groups are coming together in Sioux Center to answer questions about farming and livestock production.
“Meet a Farmer” is October 28th at Dordt College.
Trent Loos (loose) is the guest speaker. The radio personality and agricultural advocate speaks at 7:15 p-m in the B-J Haan Auditorium. Loos is a sixth generation farmer focused on bridging the gap between ag producers and consumers.
During the afternoon, Loose will speak to Dordt College students and a session of more than 300 high school students from northwest Iowa and surrounding states.
The Dordt Student Recreation Center is the location for a social at 6 p.m. on the 28th. It’s an opportunity for appetizers made from farm produced items and to visit with family farmers from the hosts organizations.
They include Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, Dordt College, the Iowa Poultry Association, Center Fresh Egg Farms, Northwest Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and Sioux County Pork Producers.
(SIOUX CITY)–A Republican seeking a fifth term as Iowa’s Governor makes four campaign appearances in Sioux City next week.
Terry Branstad will attend the Republican Jewish Coalition Luncheon at Luciano’s Restaurant at noon Monday. He’ll speak at a Morningside College Campus Event in the UPS Auditorium at two Monday afternoon.
His Briar Cliff University Republican event is at 3:30 Monday afternoon in the Stark Center.
Branstad joins Congressman Steve King at the Anderson Dance Pavilion on the Sioux City Riverfront for a “Taking Back Tomorrow” G-O-P Rally one week from today at 2 p-m.
(SIOUX CITY)–An event organizers are describing as a Jobs Now Tour to rally voters will be in Sioux City this month.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and radio host Mike Gallagher will speak at the Sioux Center Convention Center October 22nd at 9 a-m.
The stop is part of the American Solutions nationwide Jobs Here, Jobs Now tour.The goal is to support Iowa candidates whose polices will help create new jobs.
The Sioux City event is open to the public, but tickets must be reserved online at 10MillionVoters.com
1st District rivals argue over secret donors
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is accusing his Republican challenger of using hundreds of thousands of dollars from secret donors to buy the election.
Republican challenger Ben Lange dismisses Braley’s complaint. He says Braley only wants to talk about money and not the issues.
Braley and Lange spoke Friday during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program.
At the center of the argument is Des Moines-based American Future Fund, run by veteran Republican activist Nick Ryan. Ryan says the group has spent $500,000 on television ads in the first district to influence the debate.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down campaign finance laws in January banning corporations and unions from giving to political campaigns. Since then, nonprofit groups have formed and collect corporate money without disclosing donors.
Effort made to get fuel to Iowa farmers faster
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Chet Culver has signed a proclamation temporarily suspending hours of service rules so that drivers can transport diesel fuel to Iowa farmers more quickly.
The governor’s office said in a news release Friday that the effort applies to hours of service for motor carriers and drivers of commercial motor vehicles who are transporting diesel or gasoline on roadways in Iowa. Culver says there’s a “serious fuel supply problem” in Midwestern states.
He attributes the shortage to pipeline supply disruptions, maintenance activities and there being a peak demand for fuel because of the early harvest. The temporary suspension is good for 60 days from Sept. 21. That’s when Culver declared Iowa was in a state of disaster emergency due to the significant size of the corn and soybean crops and weather concerns.
Police say 7th grader brought gun to school
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Des Moines police say a seventh grade student brought a gun to school and they have confiscated the weapon.
Des Moines police said the student brought the 9mm semiautomatic handgun to Goodrell Middle School on Friday and showed it to another student. That student reported the gun to school officials, who found the weapon in a locker and called police.
Police say the gun wasn’t loaded and they confiscated it along with ammunition. Police say the student accused of bringing the gun to school was transferred to juvenile custody and the case has been forwarded to juvenile court.
Authorities say they don’t know why the student brought the weapon to school.
Keokuk buys historic rail depot for $1
KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) The more than century-old Keokuk Union Depot now belongs to the city for the price of $1.
The Daily Gate City in Keokuk reports that the city council approved buying the depot on Thursday. Transferring ownership of the riverfront building to the city means it now can be placed on the National Historic Register and receive rehabilitation grant money.
Any initial grant money is expected to be used by the Riverfront Implementation Committee to stabilize the 119-year-old building’s roof. The building has fallen into disrepair. The city will add the depot to its umbrella insurance policy and pay $1 a year to lease surrounding property.
City council member Dann Winn calls the depot an “historic piece of Keokuk history.”
Information from: Daily Gate City, https://www.dailygate.com
Statue to 5 Iowa brothers installed in Waterloo
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) A statue honoring Waterloo’s five Sullivan brothers killed during World War II has been installed in its new location.
The religious statue honors George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan. They died after their ship, the USS Juneau, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and exploded on Nov. 13, 1942. Only 13 sailors of the Juneau’s crew of 700 survived.
The marble statue was erected in 1956 on the site of now-closed St. Mary’s Catholic Church. It was removed in July for restoration. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported Friday that it was relocated to the Waterloo Knights of Columbus Council 700 Hall.
The statue will be formally dedicated on Nov. 13, the 68th anniversary of the sinking of the Juneau.
Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, https://www.wcfcourier.com
Fake food inspector scam reported in Mason City
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) Restaurant owners in the Mason City area are being warned about fake food inspectors.
The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals warned restaurants about the apparent scam, with spokesman David Werning saying someone is calling and falsely claiming to be a food inspector. Werning tells the Globe Gazette in Mason City that the agency doesn’t want restaurants to get “stung by a scam.”
Werning says someone is called a Mason City restaurant this week and claimed to be an inspector. The person wanted an employee who answered the phone to make a call on their personal cell phone. Werning says the goal is to get financial information about restaurants.
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health reported the scam to the state and says none of its inspectors made the calls.
Information from: Globe Gazette, https://www.globegazette.com/
Decorah adopts policy to respond to hate incidents
DECORAH, Iowa (AP) The city of Decorah in northeastern Iowa has adopted a policy for responding to hate incidents.
City officials said in a news release Friday that the goal is to commit to promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment. They say the title of the document is “From Hatred to Healing.” Decorah Mayor Don Arendt signed a proclamation on Friday that accompanies the policy.
The city says the Decorah Human Rights Commission decided a policy was needed after a 2008 incident involving local residents and two Luther College international students. The policy includes steps for responding to a hate incident and steps for preventing one through education campaigns.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
