(LeMars) — Applications for approximately $40,000 in LeMars Convention and Visitors Bureau hotel/motel sales tax funding will be available beginning November 1st. LeMars non-profit and not-for-profit organizations qualify for the hotel/motel sales tax funds. Projects must begin no earlier than July 1st of 2012, and must be completed by June 30th, 2013. All applications must be typewritten. Organizations receiving Convention and Visitor’s Bureau funding cannot request additional funds from the LeMars City Council. Since the incorporation of the five percent hotel/motel sales tax in LeMars, more than $978,000 in grant funds have been awarded to a variety of projects.
(LeMars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved the funding for new windows at the Pride Group building during its weekly meeting. Mike Porter of Pride Group presented bids from three separate contractors. Porter indicated the present windows have been in place for more than 30 years, and needed replacement. The Supervisors approved the bid submitted by Stratmeier’s Home Improvement of LeMars to replace 12 windows at the facility with new, commercial grade, aluminum double hung Gerkin windows at an expected cost of $11,980.50.
(LeMars) — The Plymouth County Secondary Road Department will begin work today installing a new culvert pipe on Dogwood Avenue between 180th Street and 190th Street. The road crew is removing an aging wooden bridge. It is expected the work will be completed on November 9th, but in the mean time, Dogwood Avenue between 180th and 190th streets will be closed.
(Undated) — Farmers wanting to offer help to their favorite organization have the chance to do so with the financial assistance of Monsanto Company. America’s Farmers Grow Communities is the program that offers a $2,500 scholarship to a farmer and in turn that farmer can contribute the funds to a local non-profit organization. This is the third year for the program and Annie Kayser, Community Outreach Coordinator, says it is a way for Monsanto to assist local communities. She says the organizations don’t need to be affiliated with agriculture in order to win.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/October2011/monsanto communities1.mp3{/audio}
Monsanto has expanded the program this year so each of the Iowa 99 counties will receive the scholarship. Kayser says last year’s winner went to Hinton.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/October2011/monsanto communities2.mp3{/audio}
Eligible farmers need to be over the age of 21 and farming at least 250 acres, and they can submit their nominations on-line at www.growcommunities.com or they can call (877)-267-3332. Nominations are due by November 30th.
(Omaha) — Republican Iowa Congressman Steve King attended the U-S Army Corps of Engineers public meeting held at Omaha to discuss the importance of Congressional passage of his flood control legislation, H.R. 2942. King’s legislation requires the U-S Army Corps of Engineers to increase the amount of storage space in the Missouri River Reservoir System that is dedicated for flood control, and its passage and enactment into law would provide protection against future episodes of significant downstream flooding. During the public hearing, King stated that the flooding has caused billions of dollars in damage, and that his legislation is intended to prevent such widespread and costly damage from occurring in the future.
