Supervisors To Meet Today
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene this morning at the county courthouse board room. The county supervisors will hear from Scott Bixenman requesting an extension to file LAR addition. The supervisors will propose their initial offer to the secondary road bargaining unit for contract changes. County conservation director Nick Beeck will report to the supervisors with his annual report and also a review of the Wetland Easement documents regarding land near the Big Sioux River. County engineer Tom Rohe is also scheduled to appear before the county board to update the current road construction projects.
City Council To Hold Three Public Hearings
(Le Mars) — Le Mars City Council will meet at noon today at the city council chambers. The city council will hold three separate public hearings regarding a proposal to vacate and relocate an easement, the council will hear comments on the proposed new water main that is to be installed along Business Highway 75, and the council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed improvements for 12th Street southeast. As for action items, the council will discuss the ordinance regarding all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The council will hold its second reading of the proposed name change of Floyd Valley Hospital to be known as Floyd Valley Healthcare. The council is expected to select an architect that will work on the new police headquarters, and the city council will decide upon a request from ICON Ag and Turf to expand and build a new storage facility building.
Sioux City Police Arrest Convenience Store Robbery Suspect
(Sioux City) — Sioux City police have arrested a suspect they believe was involved with the November 12th armed robbery incident of the Kum and Go convenience store located at 1373 Pierce Street. On that day, a suspect used a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect fled the scene after taking money from the register. Detectives released video footage of the suspect from store surveillance cameras. Shortly there after, the Sioux City police received tips from social media and crime stoppers. Following an investigation, police arrested 21 year old Leander Tyndall. Tyndall was charged with robbery in the first degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession with the intent to deliver marijuana. He is currently being held in the Woodbury County jail without bond.
Governor Branstad Says No To Syrian Refugees
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says Syrian refugees shouldn’t be resettled in Iowa until there is a federal review to ensure safety.
Branstad late Monday said he had ordered state agencies to halt any future work on Syrian refugee resettlements in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Earlier in the day, he expressed concerns about safety, but said he may not have the authority to block Syrian refugees from entering the state.
Several U.S. governors said they will halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states. The governors are responding to heightened concerns that terrorists might use the refugees as cover to sneak across borders.
Branstad said intelligence agencies should review the security process.
According to the State Department’s refugee processing center, no Syrian refugees have been resettled in Iowa.
Iowa Utilities Board To Hear More Comments On Proposed Pipeline
BOONE, Iowa (AP) – A regulatory board has begun a set of hearings over the proposed construction of an oil pipeline across Iowa.
The three-member Iowa Utilities Board met Monday at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone for the start of so-called evidentiary hearings over several days. They will include comments from representatives for Dakota Access LLC, the company that wants to build the pipeline.
Parties opposed to the pipeline are also scheduled to speak, including affected landowners.
People who both oppose and support the project spoke earlier this month at a one-day public hearing on the pipeline, which would run through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.
The board is expected to issue a decision in December or early next year.
Dakota Access is a unit of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners.
MidAmerican Energy To Build Tallest Wind Turbine
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy says a wind turbine being built in southern Iowa will be the nation’s tallest.
The utility is building the turbine in Adams County as part of a 64-turbine development that should be completed by the end of the year.
Unlike regular towers built of steel, the taller tower will be concrete. The tower will rise to 377 feet, compared to a typical 263 feet, and when the blade is added the height will reach 554 feet. That’s nearly as tall as the Washington Monument.
Mike Gehringer, MidAmerican’s vice president of renewable energy, says by building the tower higher, the turbine can generate more electricity. He says such towers could make some “low-to-medium wind resource areas” viable for wind energy.
Iowa Is Hit By Influenza
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Public health officials say two central Iowa men have died from the flu and the state now has one of the highest influenza virus activity rates in the nation.
Iowa Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says the two men who died were between 41 and 60 years old.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about 300,000 Iowans get the flu each year and an average of 1,000 die annually from the flu and its complications including pneumonia.
The CDC says Iowa, Oregon and Rhode Island currently have the highest influenza activity.
Quinlisk says getting a flu vaccine is the best defense and anti-viral medications started within 48 hours of when symptoms develop can make flu illness shorter and reduce the risk of hospitalization or death.
