Le Mars FFA Celebrates 75 Years
(Le Mars) — Nearly 270 people filled the Carey gymnasium at the Le Mars Community High School to attend the 75th anniversary celebration honoring the Le Mars F-F-A chapter on Saturday evening. The group consisted of school administrators, current members and their parents, and a large group of Le Mars FFA alumni. A slide presentation reviewing the past 75 years was presented by high school senior, and current Le Mars FFA chapter treasurer, Jacob Holck. Holck detailed the historical aspects of the chapter, recognizing the previous advisors, past chapter alumni, and the many accomplishments by the chapter and members of the Le Mars FFA chapter. Special recognition was given to the attending charter member, Cliff Tonsfeldt, as well to those families that have had four generations involved with FFA. Following the banquet and program, past FFA members gathered by decades to have their pictures taken, as well as past presidents, state degree honorees, and American degree recipients. Advisor Brett Oetken encouraged all attendees to visit with their friends, neighbors, grandchildren, and children to become active in agriculture. Oetken says agriculture is an ever-changing and growing industry that offers many opportunities, and today’s youth should take a serious look at agriculture for future careers.
Iowa Republican Delegates Pledge Their Support To Ted Cruz
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Eleven of the 12 Iowa GOP delegates chosen at the state party’s four district conventions held across the state on Saturday have pledged their support to Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.
Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, bested the rest of the GOP field in the Iowa caucus back in February.
The Des Moines Register reports that Cruz’s successes on Saturday came at the expense of Trump, the Republican front-runner whose campaign had vocal groups of supporters at each convention. None of the delegate selected Saturday pledged support to Trump.
The lone delegate not pledging to support Cruz is Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a former official in Governor Terry Branstad’s administration and a former congressional candidate. She declined to commit to any candidate on Saturday.
Lt. Governor Reynolds To Travel To Israel
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds is embarking on an economic development trip to Israel, participating with a group from the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association.
The delegation departs Saturday and will return on April 17th.
A news release from Governor Terry Branstad’s office says the goal of the mission trip is to build upon existing relationships and foster new partnerships with Israeli government, military and business leaders. The delegation also will engage in business development and economic development opportunities unique to each state.
Reynolds says she looks forward to meeting with state officials and discussing business and economic opportunities for Iowa as part of the trip.
Bakken Oil Pipeline Given Green Light
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State utility regulators say construction can begin on the Bakken oil pipeline in Iowa as soon as federal permits are obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and two other plans are filed.
The Iowa Utilities Board voted Friday to issue the order. The order declares that Dakota Access LLC has substantially complied with conditions established last month when the state panel approved the pipeline project.
Ward Lentz with the corps says construction likely won’t begin in Iowa until June.
State regulatory approval in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois has been given for the 1,168-mile pipeline that will transport up to 570,000 barrels of oil daily from North Dakota’s Bakken oil patch to a distribution hub in Illinois.
Lawyers For Three NW Iowa Counties Ask Judge To Dismiss Lawsuit
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Lawyers for three northwest Iowa counties being sued by a Des Moines water utility are asking a judge to dismiss two of the lawsuit’s 10 claims.
In court papers filed last week, an attorney for Buena Vista, Sac and Calhoun counties says the U.S. District Court in Sioux City has no jurisdiction over claims that the counties violated the Clean Water Act and state laws. Attorney Michael Reck says that’s because the counties’ drainage districts have no regulating authority over landowners who install tiles to drain their fields.
The lawsuit seeks to force the drainage districts to obtain federal water pollution discharge permits.
No hearing has been set on the request to dismiss. The utility has until May 5th to respond.
