Le Mars City Council To Hold Public Hearing On K-N-S Addition
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council is scheduled to meet today and again discussion will focus on the KNS addition. Last evening, the City’s Planning and Zoning Board met to discuss the issue. A public hearing regarding the KNS addition final plat and rezoning will occur at noon today at the City Council chambers. The city council will also hold a hearing regarding the sewer revenue loan agreement. The council is expected to take action on a new water tower and booster station improvements. Other topics slated to be discussed include the Local Options Sales Tax and Motel/Hotel tax resolutions.
Supervisors To Meet With Planning & Zoning Administrator
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Supervisors will hear from Planning and Zoning Administrator, Alan Lucken during today’s meeting at the Courthouse board room. Luken will submit recommendations to the supervisors for their approval. Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Neal Adler is also on the supervisor’s agenda. Adler will discuss payment of the Northwest Iowa Development dues. Plymouth county Conservation Board Director, Dennis Sohl will appear before the county supervisors to discuss conservation board revenue, and Plymouth County Engineer Tom Rohe will inform the county governing board of permit requests by Premier Communications.
“Then Feed Just One” Exceeds Meal Count Goal
(Le Mars) — More than 500 volunteers on Friday helped Gehlen Catholic exceed its goal of assembling meals for the starving people of Honduras. Carolyn Bickford, with the “Then Just Feed One” organization at Le Mars explains.
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Bickford says she was most appreciative of the many people that devoted an hour and a half of their time to help assemble the meals.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2013/Bickford2.mp3{/audio}
Bickford says between the Gehlen Catholic’s efforts, along with the meals that were assembled earlier last week from Spalding Catholic school and Remsen St. Mary’ Catholic school, the total was enough to fill an entire shipping container.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2013/Bickford3.mp3{/audio}
The charity leader says it will be approximately three weeks before the people of Honduras will have the opportunity to eat the meals assembled at Le Mars.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2013/Bickford4.mp3{/audio}
Bickford says it was great that the volunteers were able to exceed the goal of assembling over 147,000 meals, however, it does present itself with another concern. With the larger load, comes a larger cost to ship the food. Bickford says they need to raise an additional $5,000 to help pay for the extra meals.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2013/Bickford5.mp3{/audio}
Jamal Dean Fighting Extradition
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man arrested in Texas in connection with the shooting of a Sioux City police officer is fighting extradition back to the state.
21-year-old Jamal Dean has indicated to authorities that he intends to fight extradition. He is in a maximum security section of the Kleberg County Jail in Kingsville, Texas.
Kleberg County Sheriff’s Capt. Albert Castillo says Dean must enter a formal decision during a court hearing. Texas Gov. Rick Perry could be asked to authorize Dean’s removal from the state.
Dean was arrested Saturday after a hunt involving local, state and federal authorities. He is accused of shooting a rifle at Sioux City Officer Kevin McCormick during a traffic stop on April 29.
McCormick is expected to make a full recovery.
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Disaster Area Declared For Northwest Iowa Counties
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Farmers in four northwest Iowa counties are eligible for low-interest emergency loans after the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a major disaster declaration for
the area.
Farmers with losses in Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, and Osceola counties resulting from severe winter storms on April 9, 10, and 11 may apply for emergency loans carrying an interest rate of less
than 2.4 percent. The money will help replace lost livestock, fruit and nut trees, and perennial crops. They also may repair or replace damaged or destroyed essential farm buildings.
The Farm Service Agency announced the disaster declaration on Monday. The four Iowa counties are eligible because they are contiguous with five Minnesota counties designated as a primary
disaster area.
Farmers must apply for the loans by Jan. 3.
Cool, Wet Weather Delays Corn Planting
(Des Moines) — A year ago Iowa farmers had already planted more than 62 percent of their corn crop. This year, however, due to the extreme cold and wet conditions, only eight percent of the state’s corn crop has been planted, according to the weekly crop conditions report as issued by the Department of Agriculture. It is the latest planting progress since 1995. The wet weather has helped out the topsoil moisture levels. Just one percent of the state’s topsoil moisture level was rated as very short, three percent was short, but 57 percent of the state reported adequate top soil moisture levels, and 37 percent of the state say they now have surplus levels of top soil moisture.
State Senate Likely To Reject Miscellaneous Spending Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate is set to debate and likely reject a miscellaneous spending bill that now includes a number of contentious policy measures.
The so-called standings bill passed the Republican-controlled House last week.
Sen. Robert Dvorsky of Coralville, who sponsored the bill, says Senate Democrats will likely reject the House version Tuesday.
Last, week, Republicans added policy items to the bill, including one that would change collective bargaining rules. Republicans also added their version of a plan to regionalize Iowa’s mental health care system.
The standings legislation includes a series of budget items, such as basic school funding, as well as some new fiscal and policy items. It’s traditionally viewed as the last opportunity to move
legislation before the session ends.
University of Iowa To Create New Program
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa is creating a new office to promote and enhance the school’s efforts to have teachers, researchers and students partner with communities across
Iowa.
Provost Barry Butler said Monday that the new Office of Outreach and Engagement backs up the university’s commitment to improving the lives of Iowans.
He said the office would be led by epidemiology professor Linda Snetselaar, a Faculty Senate leader, on an interim basis effective June 1. A search for a permanent associate provost to fill the role
will be conducted within a year.
Butler says the office will coordinate existing and new efforts to recognize and promote publicly-engaged scholarship and creative activity. The office will also create an online database listing the university’s community partners and projects and the impact they have.
Cedar Falls Expects Minor Flooding
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Minor flooding is expected in Cedar Falls as the Cedar River tops flood stage by about 1 foot.
The National Weather Service expects the river to crest in Cedar Falls early Wednesday.
At that expected level, flooding should be minimal, with a road and part of a park left under water.
During April, Waterloo saw more than 7 inches of rain. That makes it one of the city’s wettest Aprils on records.
May also is off to a wet start, with 2.3 inches of rain and 1.7 inches of snow.
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