(LeMars) — More than 291,000 people decided to take a walk yesterday at noon in support of the goal of making Iowa the Healthiest State in the Nation.
Here in LeMars, 1812 people participated in the “Start Somewhere Walk” including Kevin Eekhoff of the First National Bank of LeMars. Eekhoff joined the downtown walk that started at the Olson Cultural Arts Center. Eekhoff was confident that LeMars would have a good turn out for the one kilometer walk. There were organized walks in each of the 99 counties. Organizers had hoped at least 250,000 Iowans would participate. They were quite pleased to see that they had exceeded their goal. Todd Lancaster, the Executive Director with the LeMars YMCA, explains what’s the next step with the goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.
Listen here
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A Blue zone community is a selected town that will receive $2.5 million over the course of five years for its efforts in making their town a part of the “healthiest” state in the nation. It is being provided by Blue Cross – Blue Shield Wellmark of Iowa. Lancaster says the committee will review the interest nominations and then they will ask for a nomination from the selected interested communities.
Listen here
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(LeMars) — The Plymouth County Auditor’s office has announced that absentee ballots for the City election to be held November 8th, are now available. Absentee ballots can be acquired at the Auditor’s office Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
(Washington) — Each member of the Iowa Congressional Delegation have signed a letter to the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking him to reconsider his position with regard to denying Missouri River flood victims any federal assistance. Earlier this summer, FEMA said no to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad when the state requested federal aid to victims living in six counties that border the Missouri River. Iowa Republican 5th District Congressman, Steve King, says he fully supports Governor Branstad’s appeal. King says the state has provided FEMA with information showing 975 homes were damaged by Missouri River flooding. King says the figure is nearly three times higher than previous estimates. The western Iowa Congressman says now that FEMA has a better understanding of the flood’s impact, it should do the right thing by reconsidering and granting the state’s request so that these important individual assistance resources can benefit Iowans.
