Neunaber Set To Have Hearing On August 4th
(Le Mars) — A hearing has been set for the man being held as a material witness after the deaths of his parents. Jon Neunaber of Akron will face a judge on August 4th. Neunaber was picked up in La Crosse, Wisconsin and brought back to Plymouth County jail. His parents, Donald and Esther Neunaber were found dead in their rural Akron home on July 10th. So far, Neunaber has not had any charges brought up against him. However, an official close to the case told KLEM news that there is no time limit as to when criminal charges must be submitted on a material witness. The official says a material witness can be held indefinately, if a judge believes the individual could be a potential flight risk.
Attendance Up For First Day Of Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — More than 18,500 people attended the first day of the 2014 Plymouth County Fair on Wednesday. Fair officials say the ideal weather conditions with temperatures in the lower 80’s, along with the new Figure 8 racing event at the grandstand were the main contributing factors for the higher opening day attendance. Last year, the attendance for the first day of the fair was set at 17,800. Fair officials couldn’t recall if the 2014 opening day attendance established any first-day attendance records.
Westergard And Marienau Selected As Plymouth County Fair Royalty
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Fair Queen and King were selected last evening. KLEM’s Dave Grosenheider served as the emcee as he announced the 14 king candidates all hoping to win the crown. Lane Marienau was picked to represent the county fair as the new king.
Next, was the selection of the queen candidates.
This year’s queen is Cali Westergard of Akron. Westergard had the weight of tradition on her shoulders as she is the youngest of four sisters to bear the crown. Each of her older sisters were chosen as the Plymouth County Fair Queen. Westergard believes her 4-H and FFA experience will help direct her career involving health and nutrition.
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The newly crowned queen explains why she wanted the honor.
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Lane Marienau of Brunsville was selected as the Fair King. He explains why he chose to become a king candidate.
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Marienau says there is no doubt being selected as the county fair king will go down as being his most memorable moment for his 4-H and FFA career, but he says he will also remember his work in community service.
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The newly crowned king says he will pursue his agri-business goals starting with attending South Dakota State University.
Day Two Highlights Of The Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — Today, is the second day for the Plymouth County Fair, and the schedule has the 4-H and FFA horse check-in at the horse arena followed by the horse show at the outdoor arena. At 8:30 a.m. this morning, will be the 4-H and FFA sheep show. “a ROUND the farm in the BARN” agricultural exhibit will open at noon. 4-H Educational Presentations will be at 1:00 p.m. at Century Hall. The Farm Olympics will be at the covered arena at 6:30 p.m. As for the entertainment, the grandstand will feature the Tuff Truck Competition, and at the Pioneer Village Stage will be the musical group Vocal Trash with three different performances scheduled at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m.
Communications Projects The Focus For 4-H Members
(Le Mars) — As mentioned, the 4-H Educational Presentations will occur today. Extension Program Coordinator, Janelle Johnson says educational presentations are one of four communications projects that will take place at the fair.
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Pride of Iowa is a popular event as people line up to taste the food samples that are prepared by the 4-H members and distributed to the public. Johnson says the Pride of Iowa projects must contain ingredients that are grown or raised in Iowa.
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The event has become so popular through the years, that often times the food samples run out before everyone had a chance to taste the food.
Northey To Visit Plymouth County Fair
(Des Moines) — The Plymouth County Fair will have a special visitor on Friday. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced he will be visiting the fair between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Northey says he wants to tour the fairgrounds and to observe the “a ROUND the farm in the BARN” agricultural education exhibit located within the famous round barn. This will be Northey’s second visit to the fair that promotes itself as being the “best five days of summer”, but it is his first time since being elected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
Roads Department To Close Evergreen Avenue For Bridge Repairs
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Secondary Road Department has announced it plans to close Evergreen Avenue from county road C-38 to 200th Street beginning Monday, July 28th and continuing through the end of October. The road will be closed so crews can replace a bridge.
Hay Bale Rolls On Westfield Man
(Akron) — A Westfield man has died as a result of a large hay bale falling on him. 76 year old Barry Knapp of Westfield was struck by a hay bale that had fallen on him, Tuesday afternoon. Family members were at the scene at the time of the accident. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office and the Plymouth County Medical Examiner have ruled the death to be accidental. Knapp was stacking large round bales when one rolled off the pile and landed on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Alta Man Injured When Car Rolls Over Him
(Storm Lake) — A rural Alta man was seriously wounded Wednesday afternoon when a car he was working on, rolled off a ramp, and struck him. 44 year old Patrick Briner was transported by ambulance to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, and then airlifted by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. The incident happened at about 3:00 p.m. Buena Vista Sheriff’s deputies, along with emergency personnel from the Aurelia Fire Department and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center responded to the scene at 149 510th Street. Briner’s condition is unknown at this time.
Northey Predicts Propane Prices To Rise Again In Winter
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – State officials and propane suppliers are advising consumers to fill their tanks before cold weather arrives because prices could climb again this winter.
Prices will largely depend on how cold it is this winter and how long the cold lasts.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey is telling farmers and homeowners to buy ahead of time.
Last winter dwindling Midwest supplies and rising demand pushed propane prices to more than three times normal to nearly $5 per gallon. Northey doesn’t expect prices that high but he says it is important to think ahead.
Iowa historically received about 20 percent of its propane from a 1,900-mile pipeline that no longer carries it.
As a result, Iowans are increasingly reliant on propane from Kansas which costs more.
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Wetlands Are Shrinking
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Federal officials and conservationists say a recent report detailing annual wetland losses in the five-state Prairie Pothole Region highlights the need for increased protection for birds.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its Status and Trends of Prairie Wetlands report earlier this month. The report shows that the wetlands in the region declined by an average of 6,200 acres per year – and some conservationists say the trend isn’t slowing down.
Conservationists and wildlife officials say more emphasis needs to be put on conservation easements and incentive-based programs that protect wetlands on farmland while reimbursing farmers for lost income.
Officials say Prairie Pothole Region provides breeding and nesting habitat for more than 60 percent of the nation’s migratory waterfowl.
Branstad Taps Law Professor To Be Next Judge
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A private practice lawyer in Iowa City who also works as an adjunct professor at University of Iowa has been appointed a district court judge by Gov. Terry Branstad.
Branstad on Wednesday appointed Lars Anderson to the bench in the 6th Judicial District, which includes Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Tama counties in eastern Iowa.
Anderson, of Iowa City, earned his law degree from the University of Iowa.
He fills the vacancy left by Judge Marsha Beckelman who retired July 3.
