4-H Static Displays Being Judged On Tuesday
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Fair may officially start tomorrow, but there will be plenty of activities occurring today at the fair grounds. Ann Schoenrock serves as the co-program director for Plymouth County Extension and Outreach Services. She says more than 2000 static 4-H and FFA displays will be judged today.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock1.mp3 {/audio}
Schoenrock says the number of exhibits eligible to compete at the Iowa State Fair depends on the number of 4-H members at the county level.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock2.MP3 {/audio}
The Iowa State University Extension official says the static displays has remained fairly consistent throught the years.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock3.mp3 {/audio}
Schoenrock says in addition to the regular 4-H member judging competition, the Clover Kids will also have projects judged. Clover Kids, as Schoenrock explains, are younger aged children, prior to the eligible age to participate in 4-H. She says the program is a way to introduce 4-H to the younger children.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock4.MP3 {/audio}
The Plymouth County Extension official says many of the children involved with the Clover Kids program ultimately join 4-H.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock5.MP3 {/audio}
Today, is also the day that open class exhibits can be entered for the fair competition.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Schoenrock6.MP3 {/audio}
The Plymouth County Fair will start tomorrow and will continue through Sunday, August 2nd.
Brad Harvey Awarded Outstanding Service To Agriculture Award
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee awarded the Outstanding Service To Agriculture Award to an Westfield farmer. The presentation was done Tuesday morning during the Le Mars Chamber Coffee program. Brad Harvey was given the honor. Paul Jacobson, chairman of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee made the presentation to Harvey. The nomination of Harvey read as follows: “Being a part of agriculture has been a part of this year’s Outstanding Service To Agriculture Award recipient’s whole life. After graduating from Iowa State University, he became a full time farmer and jumped right in as a community advocate for agriculture. He takes pride in the land, the animals he raises, the community he lives in and Plymouth County. In addition to raising cattle, swine, and row crops, he is involved with Plymouth County Farm Bureau, Plymouth County Fair Board, Iowa State University Extension Plymouth County Extension Council, Westfield Township Director, Plymouth County Pork Producers, Akron-Westfield FFA Alumni Association, Knights of Columbus and is a member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. In 2010, his family was presented with the Good Neighbor Award from Iowa Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey. Earlier in his career, he was involved with the Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee as a state liaison for young farmers.
The 2015 Service to Agriculture Award recipient is Brad Harvey. Brad and his wife, Chris, live and farm in western Plymouth County near Akron. They have four daughters, Kelsie (married to Tony Reuter), Marissa, Monica, and Natalie. In Brad’s free time he enjoys motorcycle riding, hunting, boating and even dancing with his children at Dance Team events. Our congratulations go to Brad Harvey for being named the 2015 Outstanding Service to Agriculture Recipient.
Le Mars Police Promote Two Officers
(Le Mars) — Two officers with the Le Mars Police Department were recently given promotions. Le Mars Police Chief Stuart Dekkenga explains the promotions came after a resignation earlier this spring.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Dekkenga1.MP3 {/audio}
Dekkenga says as a result of the civil service tests and officer interviews, Sergeant Bob Bendlin has been now promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and Senior Officer Jay King has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. The promotions were effective as of July 21st. Dekkenga says the Le Mars Police Department has also hired a new officer.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/July 2015/Dekkenga2.MP3 {/audio}
Two Men Die From Being Overcome Of Fumes in Manure Pit
CYLINDER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 58-year-old Iowa man tried to rescue his son who was overcome by fumes in a hog manure pit, but both men later died.
The accident occurred Saturday afternoon in the northwest Iowa community of Cylinder. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says Gene Opheim and his 32-year-old son, Austin, were making repairs when Austin was overcome by the gases. His father then entered the pit to save his son but also was overcome.
Fire and rescue personnel were called to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office says the men were removed from the pit and taken to Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, where they were pronounced dead.
Former Newspaper Editor Reaches Settlement
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa newspaper editor who said he was fired for expressing his religious beliefs on a personal blog has reached a settlement over a discrimination complaint.
Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal group, says Monday that its client, Bob Eschliman, and Dixon, Illinois-based Shaw Media Inc. reached a confidential settlement over Eschliman’s termination in May 2014 from the Newton Daily News.
Eschliman was editor when he posted online that gay organizations are trying to reword the Bible “to make their sinful nature ‘right with God.”‘ Eschliman was fired and Shaw Media said in a column that the posting did not reflect the opinion of the newspaper or company. Eschliman filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Clinton Promotes Environmental Energy-Friendly Options While In Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Hillary Rodham Clinton is detailing new energy proposals in Iowa to address climate change. She calls global warming one of the “most urgent threats of our time.”
But she’s still not taking a position on the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The Democratic presidential contender is proposing that every home in the United States be powered by renewable sources by 2027. Her plan calls for installation of 500 million solar panels over four years.
Clinton laid out clean-energy ideas during a tour of a regional bus station in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday.
When asked about the Keystone XL oil pipeline opposed by environmental activists, she would not comment except to say she wants a State Department review of the project to run its course.
Des Moines Water Works Claims To Have Spent $1.8 Million To Eliminate Nitrates In Drinking Water
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The water utility serving 500,000 customers in central Iowa says it has spent more than $1.5 million since December to remove nitrate from the water to keep it within safe drinking limits.
Des Moines Water Works draws some water from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, both of which have had nitrate levels above the 10 milligrams per liter allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recent months.
Water Works CEO Bill Stowe says he’s preparing plans that include spending up to $183 million for new nitrate removal equipment that can keep up with higher levels coming from farms.
The utility is suing three upstream counties claiming farm drainage tiles contribute to high nitrates.
Farm groups campaigning against the lawsuit did not immediately reply to messages.
