SIOUXLAND—WINNAVEGAS CASINO IN SLOAN WILL REOPEN THIS MONTH EVEN
THOUGH IT REMAINS SURROUNDED BY MISSOURI RIVER WATER.
THE WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED A PERMIT TUESDAY THAT
ALLOWS THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE TO OPERATE AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES FROM LAND NEAR
I-29 TO THE CASINO.
WINNAVEGAS INTERIM MARKETING MANAGER DEANA WHISTLER SAYS THE “DUCK”
BOATS WILL DRIVE AND FLOAT ROUGHLY A MILE ONE-WAY.
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THE RISING MISSOURI RIVER FORCED THE CASINO TO CLOSE ON JUNE 10TH.
IT IS NOW AN ISLAND PROTECTED BY A BERM. WHISTLER SAYS THEY ARE
PURCHASING TWO DUCKS FROM PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA FOR ROUGHLY $175-THOUSAND
A PIECE.
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WHISTLER SAYS NOW PATRONS CAN ENJOY CRAB LEGS, SLOT MACHINES, TABLE
GAMES AND DUCK RIDES ONLY AT WINNAVEGAS CASINO.
(Le Mars) — We’re only one week away from the start of the Best 5 Days of Summer… the Plymouth County Fair! Carol Schneider of the Plymouth County Extension Office, says there are a few new things at this year fair, but for the most part things will stay the same as we celebrate 70 years of the fair.
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Many of your favorite activities and entertainment acts return this year. Starting next Wednesday night the grandstands will feature Motocross, Thursday night is the Tuff Truck Contest, Friday is the Tractor and Mini-Rod Pull, Saturday the Demo Derby and Sunday night features a new rodeo. The Great Frontier Bull Riding Company will start their show at 8pm in the grandstands Sunday night. Entertainment in Pioneer Village includes many types of music from dueling pianos, to rock, country and gospel music. Evenings with the always popular hypnotist will also return. Full entertainment schedules can be found on-line at plymouthcountyfair.org.
In addition to the rodeo, new fair attractions this year include the debut of the rabbit building, and a stuffed animal show for the Clover Kids. Carol Scheider says that the biggest change is the addition of a Dairy Expo that will help fair-goers understand the importance of the dairy industry in Plymouth County.
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More on the Dairy Expo and other Plymouth County fun next week as we celebrate the Best 5 Days of Summer!
(LeMars) — When it is so hot like it has been, the last thing you want to have happen is for your air conditioner to stop operating. But that is exactly what can happen. The hot, scorcing temperatures are keeping a LeMars business busy. Scott Petty, general manager with Langel’s Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning says his crew have been traveling across northwest Iowa repairing several air conditioning units. Petty says the calls started on Monday morning and already he is scheduling repair appointments through Thursday. Petty says it is common for an air conditioner to quit working during days with extreme heat, especially if it is an older air conditioner.
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Petty says a little bit of prevention including changing filters will help your air conditioner from shutting down.
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Power company says peak usage record set
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) The ravages of an unrelenting heat have caused customers of Interstate Power and Light Company to reach a new peak for energy usage.
The company, which is part of Alliant Energy, says the region that includes Iowa and Minnesota set a new peak of 3,701 megawatts at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Company president Tom Aller says the hot and humid weather has taxed its grid, adding that its resources will continue to be tested until conditions cool off.
The previous high was set in August of 2003.
Keokuk probationer accused of another theft
KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) A 43-year-old Keokuk woman already on probation for a theft conviction has been charged with another theft.
The Daily Gate City reports that Lori Kayvan was arrested Thursday, accused of stealing from her employer. She’d been working as a cosmetologist.
In May Kayvan was given a suspended sentence and two years of probation for stealing from the Keokuk Girls Youth Basketball Program.
A Lee County jailer said Tuesday that Kayvan has been freed on $10,000 bond.
A phone listed for her is no longer in service.
Her attorney, Curtis Dial, declined to comment on the case to The Associated Press Tuesday evening.
Information from: Daily Gate City, https://www.dailygate.com
Ames biodiesel firm plans public offering of stock
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa-based biodiesel company has filed plans to raise $100 million from an initial public stock offering.
The Des Moines Register says Tuesday that Renewable Energy Group Inc. of Ames filed the plans with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company, which says it’s the largest producer of biodiesel in the U.S., has nine plants operating or under construction in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and Louisiana.
The filing shows that last year the company sold 68 million gallons, which amounted to 22 percent of the biodiesel market. Its biodiesel sales nearly doubled to $207.9 million during 2010, which helped it trim losses to $21.6 million from $60.9 million in 2009.
The company says the number of shares to be offered and the price range haven’t been determined.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com
Draft GOP Rick Perry group opening office in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a presence in Iowa even when he’s not traveling there.
A group known as Americans for Rick Perry has placed seven paid staff in the early presidential caucus state.
These staffers are talking to GOP activists about Perry’s record and are attending Republican events, including a gun-rights rally Saturday in Poweshiek County. The group was formed in June by a Perry supporter from California.
Ames police discover discarded safe
AMES, Iowa (AP) Police in Ames are trying to figure out where a safe found in a muddy riverbank came from.
Police discovered the safe in south Ames on the banks of the South Skunk River Monday afternoon.
The Ames Tribune reports that the safe was found battered with its door lying disconnected beside it.
Authorities think the safe may have been recently removed from a downtown business, but their investigation is ongoing.
Police are asking anyone with information about the safe to contact them.
Information from: The Tribune, https://www.amestrib.com
Firm accused of exploiting turkey workers settles with federal agency
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) A Texas company accused of exploiting mentally disabled men who worked at a turkey plant in Iowa has agreed to follow minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping laws in the future under a settlement with labor regulators.
Hill Country Farms of Goldthwaite, Texas agreed to those steps in an injunction approved by a federal judge Monday that settles a complaint brought by the U.S. Department of Labor.
A judge in April ordered the company and its president to pay $1.76 million in back wages and damages for not paying the minimum wage or overtime to 31 disabled men who worked at West Liberty Foods.
Under the settlement, the department dismissed allegations that the company also underpaid six nondisabled workers who supervised them at the plant and a bunkhouse where they lived.
Police issues warrants in Boswell home invasion
LEON, Iowa (AP) Police have issued arrest warrants for two men suspected of being involved in a weekend home invasion at U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell’s Decatur County farm.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday that authorities had arrested one man, 19-year-old Cody John Rollins of Lamoni. They also were searching for a second suspect, 20-year-old David Palmer Dewberry of Fremont, Neb.
The home invasion occurred Saturday night and ended when Boswell’s grandson threatened a suspect with a shotgun.
Branstad approves disaster assistance after storms
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Terry Branstad has announced individual disaster assistance programs for residents dealing with damage in four counties hit by recent storms.
Branstad on Tuesday approved proclamations for Marion, Marshall, Tama and Dickinson counties. The program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with an income at or below twice the federal poverty level.
Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for expenses linked to storm recovery efforts. Grants are available for home or car repairs, clothing and temporary housing.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
