Remsen Has Successful Quasquicentennial Celebration
(Remsen) — The town of Remsen was able to enjoy a nice festive weekend as the Plymouth County community celebrated its Quasquicentennial. The parade drew a large crowd, as well as a large number of entries. More than 150 units participated in the Remsen 125th parade, including the entire Abu Bekr Shriners with their various units. Many of the shriners delighted the crowd with their precision drill movements with their go-carts, ATV’s, and even the white horse mounted patrol.
Fire Department Responds To Alarm
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire Department responded to an alarm at 1171 Prospect Street southwest on Sunday afternoon at about 5:30 p.m. There was no fire, and fire officials were able to gain entrance and correct the false alarm system.
Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department To Close Iris Avenue For Bridge Repair
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will be closing Iris Avenue between county road C-12 and the Plymouth-Sioux County line. The road is scheduled to remain closed for more nearly a month for a bridge replacement with a new culvert.
Tornadoes Reported In Eastern Iowa
REINBECK, Iowa (AP) – Several tornadoes were reported and at least two homes were damaged after a line of severe storms passed through central Iowa.
Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg says the National Weather Service received reports of tornadoes Sunday night in Grundy, Tama and Jasper counties.
He says the same possible tornado tracked through both Grundy and Tama counties, with a separate storm hitting Jasper County.
Chief Deputy Tim Wolthoff with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office says one home about a mile west of the town of Reinbeck suffered roof damage and another across the street sustained major structural damage. He says both were occupied but no one was injured. The Weather Service may survey the area Monday.
The sheriff’s offices in Tama and Jasper counties had no reports of injuries or damage late Sunday.
Eastern Iowa Suffers From Flooding
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Eastern Iowa officials continue to watch the weather and swollen rivers and lakes closely.
A number of low-lying areas along the Mississippi River and around Iowa City have already been flooded, but reservoirs and levees are generally containing the water.
Emergency management officials say the main threat over the next several days will be rain. A significant storm could worsen the flood outlook, but exactly where rain falls will be important.
The forecast calls for a chance of more rain Monday and Tuesday.
Coralville Lake north of Iowa City is now expected to crest Tuesday, and remain about four feet below its emergency spillway.
Flooded Mississippi River Becomes A Tourist Attraction
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – The flooded Mississippi River became something of a tourist attraction this weekend in eastern Iowa.
The Quad-City Times reports (https://bit.ly/TX3i8a) crowds of people visited Davenport’s skybridge Saturday to get a view of the floodwaters covering low-lying areas.
Mike Loew and his wife were in Davenport to attend the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest that had to be moved because of the flooding. He has been coming to the event for nearly two decades.
Loew says it’s remarkable to see the water so high.
Holly Schafer says she brought her two kids from Milan to see the flooding in person, and it’s amazing. The river crested earlier this weekend at 20.94 feet at Davenport and it has been to decline, but it won’t return to within its banks until later this month.
Clear Lake Police Arrest Suspect Of Stealing Boat
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A Clear Lake officer has arrested a 19-year-old suspect after a boat docked at City Beach on northern Iowa’s Clear Lake was stolen.
The theft occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday. Mason City television station KIMT says (https://bit.ly/1m8iISt ) a witness told officers that he’d be willing to chase after the stolen boat, so one of the officers hopped aboard and they took off.
Clear Lake police Lt. Paul Chizek says the two found the boat near the other side of the lake and got the suspected thief to stop.
The theft suspect’s case isn’t listed on Iowa online court records.
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DCI Investigating Officer Shooting Of Ankeny Woman
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is probing an Ankeny officer’s fatal shooting of an armed woman.
Ankeny police say officers were sent to a home around 5:15 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report about a suicidal woman. Police say the officers found a woman armed with a semi-automatic weapon. Police say the woman was shot when she refused to drop the weapon and pointed it at an officer.
She was taken to Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines, where she died. She’s been identified as 59-year-old Marilyn Boyd.
The officer’s name and other details about the shooting haven’t been released.
Mosquito Population On The Rise
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The recent heavy rains and flooding in Iowa and Nebraska created prime breeding areas for mosquitoes, so more bug bites are likely in the next few weeks.
Experts say it’s not clear whether the increase in mosquitoes will lead to more cases of West Nile virus. The types of mosquitoes common now generally don’t carry diseases.
But many cities across the area will be working to minimize bug populations. Ames Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham says the city takes steps to control the mosquito population at Brookside Park and several other locations.
Using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants can help reduce bug bites. Experts say it’s also good to avoid being outside at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Corn Checkoff Increases
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – One of the new laws enacted this month allows an increase in the Iowa Corn Checkoff. It’s money collected from each bushel of corn sold to promote the grain.
Checkoff funds have been used to promote ethanol, such as sponsoring an Indy Car race.
The checkoff can only be increased after farmers approve it in a referendum.
The first authorization on the checkoff in 1977 set a maximum of 1 cent per bushel sold. In 2012 corn producers approved that amount, which meant state legislators had to update the law for the checkoff to go any higher.
Corn promotion officials say they have no plans to increase the checkoff, which generates as much as $20 million a year.
