State Historical Preservation Officials Discuss Tax Credits
(Le Mars) — Two members of the State of Iowa Historical Preservation Office were in Le Mars Tuesday afternoon visiting with various business owners, contractors, and interested people in wanting to know more about historical preservation, and particularly how to obtain tax credits for such renovation. Paula Mohr says the town of Le Mars has already submitted an application to have the downtown district be considered as a “historical preservation district”. She says that designation will go a long ways to help individuals who wish to get either their house or business listed as a historical preservation site. Mohr says the state has money available for renovation assistance, and often times there is more money available than what is requested. Mohr says it is a three step application process, with the first step determining if your building meets the qualifications as a historical building.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Mohr.mp3{/audio}
Mohr says residential buildings can qualify up to 25 percent of the assessed value of the building or $25,000. Commercial properties may qualify up to 50 percent of the assessed value of the building.
Fertilzer Fire Causes Evacuation of Hornick
(Hornick) — A Fertilizer warehouse caught fire Tuesday afternoon, causing the evacuation of the small Woodbury County town of Hornick. Several community fire departments responded to the fire. Woodbury County authorities were worried about the air quality because of the fire, as well as a potential explosion. Fortunately, the fire was contained to the warehouse, and no explosions had occurred as was originally feared. The warehouse, owned by the Western Iowa Co-op is listed as a total loss. Fire officials were able to extinguish the fire in a short time. Residents of Hornick were allowed back to their homes within a few hours. There were no injuries reported.
Groundbreaking for New Care Center
(Akron) — Nearly 60 people turned out with shovel in hand to help with the groundbreaking ceremonies of the new Akron Care Center on Tuesday afternoon. Akron Mayor Harold Higman says that’s the way it should be since so many people helped with getting the community care center.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Higman care center.mp3{/audio}
Higman says the new care center rounds out the progress of Akron making it a fine community that started with a day care center and has since grown.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Higman care center2.mp3{/audio}
Highway 3 Detour
(Le Mars) — You may have noticed the detour traffic signs for Highway 3 heading west of Le Mars from Business Highway 75. City administrator and engineer Scott Langel says the city of Le Mars wants to widen the highway to include a left-hand turning lane starting at the Le Mars Veterinary Clinic.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Langel traffic.mp3{/audio}
Langel says, in addition, several right-hand turn lanes will be added to the traffic pattern.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Langel traffic2.mp3{/audio}
Once the widening is completed, then the city will place a layer of asphalt to the street.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Langel traffic3.mp3{/audio}
The city official says the project will take about three months to complete.
No Snow in April
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state climatologist’s office saysthat for the first time since 1890, no snow was recorded anywherein Iowa during April as the warm weather continued.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports (https://bit.ly/IqFcKt) that National Weather Service records show Iowa is experiencing the warmest year on record for the first four
months of the year.
The average temperature was 43.8 degrees, breaking 1921 record of 40.3 degrees.
This April was the eighth-warmest April on record, averaging 56.1 degrees.
Farmers Have Planted Half Corn Crop
(Des Moines) — Despite receiving rainfall late last week, Iowa corn planting advanced 41 percentage points and now stands at 50 percent complete, compared to 7 percent at this time last year, and the five-year average of 32 percent. Iowa State University Extension crops specialist, Joel DeJong believes northwest Iowa farmers may have planted more than half of the crop.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/DeJong corn planting.mp3{/audio}
Five percent of the state’s corn crop has emerged, that’s ten days ahead of normal schedule. DeJong says the recent rains have helped replenish the surface moisture levels. He says we still need additional rains and warmer temperatures.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/DeJong corn planting2.mp3{/audio}
DeJong says he would still like to see at least two to three more inches of rain in the coming days and weeks. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey says “farmers were able to make good progress last week and now half of the corn crop is planted statewide, which is good news. Farmers will be anxious to get the rest of the crop in the ground and take advantage of any dry weather this week to get in the fields.
