Museum To Honor Plymouth County Agriculture
(Le Mars) — On Sunday, the start of National Agriculture Week, the Plymouth County Historical Museum and the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee will host a program entitled: “Agriculture; Then and Now”. The
program will begin at 2:00 p.m. and is a tribute to Plymouth County agriculture and it will feature six different speakers as they describe some of the innovative and technological advancements that occurred during their farming
careers. One of the featured speakers will be Norm Barker. Barker, who is 96 years young, recalls the dust bowl era, and how it prompted him to be more conscientious about soil erosion.
As a result of witnessing the devastating effects of the dust bowl, Barker wrote a term paper about soil conservation while attending Iowa State University.
Barker says he was one of the first Plymouth County farmers to erect terraces on his farm.
The other farmer speakers include Larry Petersen, Joe Kessenich, Mark Loutsch and Amanda Brietbarth all of Le Mars, and Mark Phillips of Akron.
Sioux City Fire Officials Explain Underground Electrical Fires
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities blame arcing wires in an underground vault for causing a downtown Sioux City fire that led to explosions that blew manhole covers into the air.
MidAmerican Energy dispatched a crew after learning of the fire and blasts Wednesday evening. The workers isolated the problem and restored service to several customers that had lost power.
Fire officials say a pressure buildup from the fire caused the explosions. No injuries have been reported.
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Democrats Ask Why Oversight Committee Has Not Had Any Hearings
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines lawmaker is questioning why the chairman of the state Senate Oversight Committee has refused to hold hearings this year,
including delving into abuse of residents with disabilities at a state institution.
Democratic Sen. Matt McCoy of Des Moines tells The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/2mA1y2U ) he has requested several hearings but has been rebuffed by Republican Sen. Michael Breitbach of Strawberry Point.
Breitbach says, “It’s my prerogative,” but would say little more.
McCoy’s latest request was for a hearing about problems at the Glenwood State Resource Center. Last month, 13 workers at the state institution were fired or quit and six were arrested after allegations that they mistreated residents with severe intellectual disabilities.
Iowa inspectors reported in January that some staff members humiliated residents or struck them in the head.
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Powerball Ticket Winner Claims Prize
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – A 63-year-old Cedar Rapids man has stepped forward as the holder of a Powerball lottery ticket worth $2 million.
Karl Krumbholz claimed the ticket Friday that matched the first five numbers drawn in the Powerball game Wednesday night. He bought the ticket at a North Liberty tobacco shop, which received a $2,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the ticket.
Krumbholz, who works in information-technology for University of Iowa Hospitals in North Liberty, will receive $1.4 million after tax withholdings.
Had his ticket also matched the sixth, or Powerball number, Krumbholz would have won the lottery’s $123.4 million jackpot.