Hinton Fire Department Fights Grass Fire
(Hinton) — The Hinton Fire Department responded to a grass fire Wednesday morning. The fire was reported at about 11:17 a.m. along Highway 75 near the junction with County road C-80. Fire crews were on the scene for approximately 45 minutes.
Le Mars Mainstreet Program Reviewed By State Officials
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Mainstreet Organization had a review from two officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the state agency that oversees Mainstreet Iowa organizations. Terry Poe Buschkamp explains what the Mainstreet Iowa officials did while visiting Le Mars.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/Buschkamp1.MP3{/audio}
The state officials met with 47 different individuals from the community to gather information and to assess the progress of the Le Mars Mainstreet program.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/Buschkamp2.MP3{/audio}
The Iowa Economic Development Authority officials say they are pleased to see the progress being made through the Le Mars Mainstreet program.
Floyd Valley Hospital Schedules Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Hospital and the Hospital Auxiliary are hosting their annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon entitled “Thanks for Taking the Time to Make a Difference!” The appreciation luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th and will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Willow Creek Golf Course. Those that will honored with an hours of service award have received an individual invitation to be our honored guest. Anyone who volunteers at the hospital, Park Place Estates, Family Medicine Clinics, with the hospital Auxiliary or Foundation and their events are invited and encouraged to attend.
King Speaks On Ethanol And Farm Bill
(Le Mars) — Congressman Steve King stopped in Le Mars yesterday. King spoke to farmers and agri-business people at the Le Mars Convention Center. He spoke about the recently passed farm bill, as well as the pending decision by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/King ethanol.MP3{/audio}
King says after the long delay, the farm bill is a good bill. He says grain farmers were treated well, but he says livestock producers were not treated well in the farm bill debate.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/King COOL.MP3{/audio}
The Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman was disappointed that his amendment did not make it into the final version of the farm bill. But, he believes the issue is not dead. King submitted an amendment to prevent the state of California from stipulating terms that would hurt production agriculture in other states.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/King California.MP3{/audio}
King offered an explanation as to why his amendment did not make the farm final bill.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/King California2.MP3{/audio}
Scheitler Honored With “Outstanding Service To Agriculture” Award
(Le Mars) — Primebank’s loan officer, Bob Scheitler was honored by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Service To Agriculture” award. The presentation was made during the Chamber Ag Committee’s Agri-business luncheon held Wednesday. Scheitler was born and raised on the family farm north of Oyens. His roots and his heart are in agriculture. He began his career in banking in June of 1969 while still attending Westmar College where he got his degree in Business Administration. He moved into lending in 1971 and has done Ag lending for nearly 45 years helping area farmers to realize their dreams and grow their operations. He has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee for several years helping to promote agriculture in our area. He was part of the group that began the Farm Tour Program for grade school children and has been an active participant in that program. He is responsible for the inception, construction and implementation of the Trolleys at the Plymouth County Fair and served as Herdsmanship Judge at the Fair for several years.
Woodbury County To Close Highway 20 For Repairs
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Woodbury County has approved repair plans for part of a two-lane highway that will eventually be widened.
The county board agreed Tuesday to grade part of U.S. Highway 20 in 2016. The paving process will close the road west of Correctionville, and is part of a bigger plan to widen a 12-mile section of the two-lane roadway.
The plans will require a detour onto eight miles of County Road D22, also known as Old Highway 20. That county road will be widened and repaired in 2015 in preparation for the extra traffic.
The state Department of Transportation says the current widening project, between two miles east of Moville through Correctionville, is scheduled to be completed in 2017.
—
School Transportation Director Given Probation
HOLSTEIN, Iowa (AP) – A former transportation director of a northwest Iowa school district has been given two years of probation for tampering with bus records.
52-year-old Douglas Wessling was sentenced on Tuesday. The judge also ordered Wessling to pay a $1,000 civil penalty. Wessling had pleaded guilty.
Wessling was put on leave last fall and then lost his job as transportation director for the Galva-Holstein Community School District after an investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
District Superintendent Dave Kwikkel has said three district buses were taken out of service because of damage. Kwikkel said Wessling put one of them back into use before it had been repaired. Authorities say he also falsified repair records on at least three buses.
—
