Sheriff’s Department Investigates Accident
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an auto accident that occured on Wednesday afternoon at about 2:15 p.m. 23 year old Tyler Midland of Le Mars was traveling east on 180th Street when he lost control of his vehicle. His car swerved to the north shoulder at which time Midland overcorrected and swerved back to the south shoulder then his car left the roadway and began to roll. While rolling, the car broke off a utility pole at its base. The vehicle rolled at least two times coming to a rest on its wheels. Midland and his passenger left the scene and continued to his residence. Both Midland and his passenger, Tyler Kounkel, age 33, also of Le Mars were located and transported by ambulance to the Floyd Valley Hospital.
Museum Board Elects Officers
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum held its 48th annual banquet and meeting last evening. Several volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the museum. John Schneider was re-elected as the museum’s president, Brian Nitzschke was elected as vice president, Susan Willer will assume the duties of secretary and Hugh Bolan will continue to serve as the organiztion’s treasurer.
Branstad Appoints Judge
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has named a senior counsel to West Des Moines-based insurer Aviva USA to the district court bench in Iowa’s 5th Judicial District.
Christopher McDonald, of Des Moines, will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Don Nickerson.
McDonald was in private practice before his current post. He received his undergraduate degree from Grand View University in 1997 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 2001.
The 5th district covers 16 counties in central and southern Iowa, including Polk County.
USDA Predicts Record Corn Crop
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a record corn crop this year, topping the previous high by 11 percent.
That could be good news for livestock producers relying on corn for feed and consumers who could see a slight drop in food prices.
For farmers, lower prices are also likely. Corn for December delivery was down 9 cents per bushel Thursday to $5.07. It was trading as high as $6.60 in September.
The USDA expects farmers to turn in 14.8 billion bushels, up 2.4 billion from the current year and 11 percent more than the previous record of 13 billion bushels in 2009.
Farmers are expected to harvest 5 million more acres and get a record 166 bushels per acre, 2 bushels above the average of the last decade.
7 Year Old Dies From ATV Accident
LA MOTTE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 7-year-old boy has bee nfatally injured in the crash of a four-wheeler on an eastern Iowa farm. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the boy was driving the four-wheeler when it rolled. He’d been using it while doing chores a little before 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the farm near La Motte. Authorities say the mother of Austin Reuter found him pinned under the four-wheeler and called for help. The sheriff’s office says Austin was taken to a Dubuque hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The accident is being investigated.
More Properties Added to Cedar Rapids Flood Buy-out
CEDAR RAPIS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids’ last call for flood buyout applicants has added more than 100 properties.
The Gazette reports (https://bit.ly/JoIoVZ) that six weeks ago the city announced the buyout program would be ending. The owners of 111 residential and commercial properties responded, and this week the City Council added them to the list.
The buyouts are paid for by federal Community Development Block Grant money. A city official says the latest additions will bring the total of buyout properties to about 1,350, including
1,200-1,250 that were residential.
The Cedar River swamped the city in 2008, covering 10 square miles.
