Northey Visits Marcus, Remsen
(Remsen) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey made a stop in both Marcus and Remsen on Monday. Northey, a farmer from Spirit Lake, says this summer’s drought has similarities to the 1988 drought. He says several regions of the state are suffering, particularly east-central Iowa.
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However, he also says their are some pockets within the state that have not been adversely affected by the dry conditions.
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Northey says most of the government sponsored disaster programs are coordinated at the federal level, but he says the state department of agriculture are standing by to help.
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The state secretary of agriculture toured both the Little Sioux Corn Processors in Marcus and he visited the Remsen Processing in Remsen.
Iowa’s corn crop has deteriorated further with 40 percent now in very poor or poor condition. A week
ago it was 27 percent.
The USDA says it has received reports of farmers chopping down their corn.
Just 23 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition down from 36 percent a week earlier.
For Iowa soybeans 30 percent are now in very poor or poor condition. It was 20 percent a week ago. Just 28 percent of the crop is in good or excellent condition down from 38 percent a week ago.
Nationally, 45 percent of the corn crop is very poor or poor. Last week it was 38 percent.
For soybeans, 35 percent is now poor or very poor compared with the 30 percent a week earlier.
Farmers Inquiring About Crop Insurance Claims
(Le Mars) — This year’s drought has many farmers hoping that crop insurance will help cover their losses. Chuck Kellen of Mark Crop Insurance of Le Mars says many farmers are inquiring about claims against silage.
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Kellen suggests farmers see their agents so claims can get started. Kellen says farmers are anxious about claims, but he says payments may not be made for at least a month or later.
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The crop insurance representative says yields will be lower for both corn and soybeans, but he says soybeans may still have a chance at producing respectful yields. But the corn, according to Kellen, may be lost, especially in western Plymouth County.
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Supervisors Have Full Agenda
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to have their regular Tuesday meeting at the Courthouse today. The supervisors will discuss the membership to the Northwest Iowa Development, as well as review and take action on SIMPCO’s Hazard Mitigation Plan Multi Jurisdiction. The supervisors will also discuss and act on the Western Iowa Community Improvement Regional Housing Trust Fund, and the supervisors will review bids for the masonary repair of the courthouse building.
Chamber Chooses 12 Little Ambassadors
(Le Mars) — Twelve young people have been chosen as the new Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Little Ambassadors. The twelve were selected from 36 entries, from which Mary Reynolds, Le Mars Mainstreet Coordinator, says the judges had a difficult decision. Originally, ten youngsters of the ages four to six were to be chosen, but Reynolds says they instead went with twelve. The new Little Ambassadors will be featured on the cover of the new Le Mars Visitor’s Guide, and they will help with various Chamber sponsored events, including Ice Cream Days, Halloween children’s event, Easter egg hunt, and they will even assist Santa and Mrs. Claus. The twelve Little Ambassadors include : Sebastian MacGregor, son of John and Dawn MacGregor; Kane Kerns, son of Jake and Missy Kerns; Landen Kneip, son of Troy and Noelle Kneip; Logan Anderson, son of Chris and Tracy Anderson; Tate Murphy son of Michael and Melanie Murphy; and Cole Brownmiller, son of Todd and Carrie Brownmiller. The girls ambassadors include : Zoe Wittkop, daughter of Russ and XinJie Wittkop; Bailee Leiting, daughter of Michelle Leiting; Ashlyn Fintel, daugther of Jeremy and Loni Fintel; Sarah Brown, daughter of Matt and Jodi Brown; Madison DeRocher, the daughter of Adam and Kelly DeRocher; and Braelyn Helmrichs the daughter of Chris and Laura Helmrichs.
Le Mars Little League Receives Donation
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Little League Baseball organization received a pleasant surprise on Saturday afternoon. The Bob Peutz family made a generous donation to the program. Little League President John Britton explains…
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The money was donated as part of a golf bag raffle that had taken place during the golf tournament held Saturday in memory of Jason Peutz. More than 200 people participated in that golf tournament. Britton says he is not certain as to how the donated money will be used, but he is grateful to the Peutz family.
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Comprehensive Land Use Meeting Scheduled
(Le Mars) — As part of the requirements asked of the county, Plymouth County will hold a Comprehensive Land Use Planning meeting scheduled for Monday, July 30 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the basement of the new Courthouse Annex building. According to Alan Lucken, the mission of the meeting is to set a new direction for the planning and zoning commisson, as well as the Board of Adjustment, and the county supervisors. Lucken says the meeting will feature information gathered by the consulting firm J-E-O. Lucken also says the meeting will cover all aspects of the county’s jurisdiction. The meeting is open to the public.
Fire Sprinkler Testing May Cause Low Water Pressure
(Le Mars) — Wells Blue Bunny needs to check a fire sprinkling system on Wednesday at their south ice cream plant facility, and Le Mars City Water Superintendent Gayle Sitzmann says during the time of testing, Le Mars residents may see a drop in their water pressure. Sitzmann says the testing will take place between 10 and 10:30 a.m. He says the potential lowered water pressure should only be for a few minutes.
Lyon County Employees Charged With Theft
ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Five county employees in Lyon County have been charged with misconduct for selling scrap metal that belonged to the county and keeping the money. Three others face similar charges for knowing about it but keeping it quiet.
Another worker, 51-year-old Todd Arthur Huisman, of Rock Rapids, is alleged to have pocketed $9,000. He also faces a felony theft charge. The telephone for his attorney rang unanswered Monday.
In addition, 58-year-old Jeffrey Williams, the former county engineer, faces felony theft and misdemeanor misconduct charges for conducting septic tank inspections and allegedly pocketing money he received for them.
KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D., reports that he’s been fired. Court records show he has entered a not guilty plea. The attorney listed in records did not immediately return a call.
Sioux City Driver Pleads Not Guilty To Vehicular Homicide
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The driver of an SUV involved in a fatal crash has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide.
18-year-old Oscar Ramirez entered the plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court. A trial date is not yet set.
He was the driver of a sport-utility vehicle that crashed on Jan. 30. The vehicle rolled several times and landed in a pasture.
Eighteen-year-old Nino Segura of Sioux City was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
South Sioux City Bank Robbed
(South Sioux City) — SOUTH SIOUX CITY POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT WHO ROBBED THE BANK OF THE WEST AT 10TH AND DAKOTA AVENUE AROUND NOON MONDAY.
THE SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS A BLACK MALE AROUND 5’7″ TALL WITH A MUSTACHE AND GOATEE. HE WAS WEARING A RED AND YELLOW SHIRT AND JEANS ALONG WITH A BALL CAP.
THE SUSPECT FLED WITH AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF CASH.
WE’LL HAVE MORE ON THE ROBBERY AS DETAILS BECOME AVAILABLE.
