Orange City To Hosts XLV Ragbrai Ride
(Le Mars) — More than 30 people representing the Plymouth County Bicyclists Club, city and chamber officials, and other interested on-lookers gathered Saturday evening at the S N S Bar-b-que restaurant in Le Mars to watch the
announcement of the 45th annual RAGBRAI route, including the selection of the over-night host towns. RAGBRAI, sponsored by the Des Moines Register, is a bicycle ride across the state of Iowa. Its journey is the last full week of July and it always begins in the western portion of Iowa and crossing the state
heading east, riding by thousands of acres of cornfields, hundreds of farms, and passing through many of Iowa’s small towns.
Not since 2005 has Le Mars, the “ice cream capital of the world”, hosted the cross-state bicycle ride that attracts 20,000 plus participants. Many had thought this may in fact be the year Le Mars would be chosen, since the ride would originate in the northern portion of the state. The gathering was eagerly
watching a large screen television set, waiting and hoping for a favorable announcement. The Des Moines Register was steaming live via the internet the announcement party. After several award presentations were given, RAGBRAI officials finally got down to the business at hand of announcing the overnight host communities. A collective moan of disappointment was heard at the S N S Bar-b-que, when it was announced that our neighbors to the north, Orange City, would in fact be the starting point for this year’s bicycle ride. The Sioux County community known for its Dutch heritage, tulips, and old fashion windmills can now add RAGBRAI to its list of tourists attractions for 2017.
This year’s XLV RAGBRAI route begins in Orange City, then travels to Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon, and finishes at the Mississippi River at Lansing. The entire route is 411 miles. This is Orange
City’s first opportunity to host the bike ride.
Le Mars Community School Board To Hold Educational Retreat
(Le Mars) — Instead of holding their bi-monthly meeting, the Le Mars Community Board of Education on Monday will participate in the Board and Administrator retreat. The session is scheduled to last four hours. During the retreat, the school board will be focusing their attention on the integration of technology
with the classroom. The school board will hold a round table discussion and learn how the Le Mars Community School District is assisting students with career choices, including computer aided design, trades and industry, certified nurse’s assistant, and industry partnerships.
Iowa’s Tax Cuts Now Mean Bills Can’t Be Paid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A major tax cut several years ago on commercial buildings and other properties has sliced hundreds of millions of dollars from the state budget.
It helps explain why Iowa is in the position today of struggling to pay its bills despite a relatively strong economy.
Signed into law in 2013 by Gov. Terry Branstad, the largest tax cut in state history has gradually cost Iowa more than $400 million over several years.
A separate $300 million will hit Iowa’s main spending fund this budget year, and that cost will be permanent for the years to come.The law’s effect on state spending is coming into sharper focus in 2017 as a new GOP-controlled Legislature works privately to cover a roughly $110 million shortfall in the $7.2 billion budget that began last July.
Des Moines: The Site For Women’s March
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of people marched and cheered speakers in Des Moines in an event connected to similar gatherings in Washington and cities around the country.
People gathered Saturday morning for the Women’s March at the state Capitol.
The event was part of a national movement, with similar gatherings held throughout the country. Organizers billed the Des Moines march as an event focused on equal rights for women and girls, but speakers and protesters holding
signs drew attention to a variety of issues, including rights for disabled people, Native Americans and gay, lesbians and transgender residents.
The events came a day after Trump was inaugurated as the nation’s 45th president. Trump won an overwhelming victory in Iowa, beating Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 10 percentage points.
Kayak Rider Dies
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say the body of a man was recovered from the Des Moines River after his kayak capsized.
Rescue crews were sent to the Sycamore Access boat ramp in Des Moines around 5:30 p.m. Sunday after a 911 call. A man who also had been kayaking told authorities that he’d sought help after turning around and seeing that his companion’s kayak had capsized. The body was recovered around 6:30 p.m.
It’s not yet clear whether the 71-year-old man who died had any medical issues. His name hasn’t been released yet.
Fire Damages Marshalltown Pork Plant
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating what caused a methane- fueled fire at the JBS pork plant in Marshalltown.
Firetrucks were dispatched to the plant’s methane collection lagoon about 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters and JBS staffers isolated the plant from the methane collection system to prevent any gas exposure to the plant itself.
Officials say it took about three hours to extinguish the blaze. No injuries have been reported.
JBS officials estimate damage at $500,000 and say the plant remains in production.
