Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Answer Two Calls Monday Morning
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Fire-Rescue responded to two calls on Monday morning December 12th.
The first call came in at 9:44am for a Carbon Monoxide alarm going off at 220 9th Ave. SE.
Firefighters checked the home and found no levels of Carbon Monoxide. Owners were advised to replace their detector.
The second call came in as a fire alarm at Park Place Estates at 900 Lincoln St. NE at 11:41am.
Upon arrival all residents had been evacuated to areas of refuge in the facility. Firefighters encountered smoke in the building on the first floor in the east hallway of the facility.
A fire was located in the elevator equipment room in this area. Firefighters disconnected the electrical service to the elevator equipment and had to ventilate smoke from the room and the first floor east hallway. The fire rendered the elevator unusable. An elevator equipment repair company was contacted to come repair the elevator. No one was injured and damage was contained to the elevator equipment.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Floyd Valley Hospital maintenance staff.
Firefighters were on the scene for 40 minutes.
Cattle Producers Approve A State Beef Check-off Program
(Le Mars) — Iowa cattle producers have recently voted to start a state-wide check-off program on all beef sales. Many commodity organizations already implement some type of a check-off program, including cattle producers. Since the 1980’s the nation’s cattle producers have contributed one dollar per head at the time of sale for a national check-off program. An example of the use of the check-off for beef promotion is the popular slogan: “Beef…Its What’s for Dinner”. What’s different now is, Iowa cattle producers voted by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin to start up a fifty-cent per head state-wide check-off program. So, in addition to contributing a dollar per head to the national beef check-off program, Iowa cattle producers will contribute an additional fifty cents per head for the new state beef check-off program. Lowell Vos is a cattle producer from Kingsley. He serves as the Regional Vice President of the Iowa Cattlemen Association representing northwest Iowa. Vos says Iowa cattle producers want to see additional efforts to promote and market Iowa beef.
The new fifty-cent per head beef check-off is mandatory for all cattle producers, including dairy producers, at the time of sale of cattle at either the packing companies, livestock auctions, or private sales. Vos says producers do have the opportunity to file for a refund of check-off investments. Vos has high hopes the new state beef check-off program will encourage additional exports of Iowa beef to foreign nations.
Iowa Cattle producers just finished up with a series of state-wide meetings. Vos says producers are deeply concerned with the low price for cattle at $105 per hundred weight. He says cattle producers are losing as much as $400 per head. The Plymouth County cattle producer says many are worried about the outlook for the future.
That new Iowa beef check-off program will begin on March 1st, 2017.
Branstad Won’t Comment On Trump’s Chinese Policy
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador to China, has declined to comment on a key policy between the U.S. and China following remarks from his future boss.
Branstad was asked at a Monday press conference whether the one-China policy should be maintained after Trump said Sunday that he didn’t feel “bound by a one-China policy.” Under the policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the capital of China and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan.
Branstad says it would be inappropriate for him to comment on policy matters before he’s confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He added that it’s not his role to set policy, but rather to be one who “helps implement policy and works as a go-between between our two countries.”
Confirmation Schedule Not Yet Set For Branstad’s Ambassador Appointment
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – It may be weeks or even months before Gov. Terry Branstad’s nearly 22-year tenure leading Iowa ends.
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Branstad as ambassador to China, but the governor told reporters Monday that he hasn’t received paperwork to begin the Senate confirmation process, and it could take several weeks for his nomination to be reviewed. He plans to remain governor until he’s confirmed as ambassador.
That means it will be some time before Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds becomes Iowa’s first female governor.
Branstad says he’ll make budget recommendations to the Legislature and will deliver a key speech to lawmakers in January.
Republicans will have control of both the Senate and House this session, so whoever serves as governor will have the opportunity to make sweeping changes in state policy.
Regents Board To Decide To Take Disciplinary Measures Against Iowa State University President
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents is expected to decide whether to take action against Iowa State University President Steven Leath for his use of university airplanes.
During a special meeting Monday afternoon in Ankeny, the board is scheduled to receive the results of an audit that scrutinizes all flights Leath has taken during his five-year presidency.
Regents are then expected to go into closed session to evaluate Leath’s job performance.
The board ordered the audit in October after The Associated Press revealed that Leath had been in an accident in a university plane he was piloting in 2015. Other trips on both school planes have since been questioned.
Board President Bruce Rastetter said in October that a number of trips appeared to be questionable, and that he was disappointed.
