Recent Heat Wave Adversely Affects Animals
(Le Mars) — It’s been hot for people, but it has been especially troublesome for animals. During this week’s heat wave, farmers,livestock producers and even fair exhibitors have needed to take extra measures to make certain their animals remain cool, comfortable, and content. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Beef Specialist Beth Doran says such conditions add stress to the animals.
Doran says under the extreme heat conditions, it is best not to move cattle, or work cattle, but just to let them be, and provide shade and clean fresh water.
The Iowa State University Beef Specialist say she did notice several cattle producers set up sprinkler systems for their cattle in feed lots.
When it comes to our pets, Doran suggests we walk our pets either during the early morning, or later at night, when it is cooler.
Doran says, the bottom line for any animals whether they be livestock or pets, is to keep them as cool and comfortable as possible during these hot days.
New Organization To Rescue Animals Will Debut At Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — “Wet-Nose Rescue – Plymouth County Animal Shelter and Adoption” will make its debut at the 2019 Plymouth County Fair to promote the new group’s mission of rescuing homeless cats and dogs.
The non-profit group’s fair booth will be located near the fair’s historic Round Barn. Featured will be the sale of The Round Barn books published by the late Glada Koerselman in 1999. In addition to the barn books, “Wet-Nose Rescue” will offer animal-related gifts and memberships to the new organization. A dog-themed quilt will be on a silent auction.
The sale of The Round Barn book comes during the 101st year of the historic barn. Photos from Glada’s late husband, Dick Koerselman, fill the book.
Glada, who died in 2014, was the longtime editor of the Le Mars Daily Sentinel, and Dick was the photographer. The Koerselmans spent the day chronicling the move of the Round Barn to the fairgrounds on Sept. 10, 1981.
The “Wet-Nose Rescue” members say it is fitting to begin their fund-raising with The Round Barn book since the Koerselmans were great advocates for animals; Glada started the Blessing of Animals in Le Mars in the early 1990s.
Organizers of the “Wet-Nose Rescue” say their goal is to raise awareness of the need to rescue homeless cats and dogs and also raise funds for a future animal shelter. When fair-goers purchase a membership to the “Wet-Nose Rescue,” the group will offer a personalized gift featuring the new organization’s logo.
Following the fair, the “Wet-Nose Rescue” group will team up with Lally’s Eastside Restaurant of Le Mars for a buffet fund-raiser from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Support Siouxland Soldiers To Hold Event In Marcus
(Marcus) — Support Siouxland Soldiers is joining forces with the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs, and with Grace United Methodist Church of Marcus to host an evening of fellowship and support for all veterans and military families. The free event will be held on Thursday, July 25th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Grace United Methodist Church of Marcus. The event is
free to attend and will include a BBQ meal and dessert, a grocery
distribution, books, clothing and resource fair of Veteran Serving Agencies from the area. Please show proof of service at the event entrance, first come-first served. Support Siouxland Soldiers is a non-profit, volunteer organization that hosts over 20 support events each year for all veteran and military families. Their goal is to engage the Siouxland community and show
support to all veteran and military families for their service and
sacrifices.
Iowa’s Voter Registration System To Remain For Presidential Elections
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s 14-year-old voter registration system will live to see another presidential election.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s office confirmed Thursday that a long-discussed plan to replace the I-Voters database will not be completed before the 2020 elections.
Spokesman Kevin Hall says the office is still in the information-
gathering phase of the project. He says the state plans to solicit
information from potential vendors soon and later move forward with a bidding process.
Hall says the project will cost millions and “we owe it to the voters of Iowa to build it responsibly with the future of elections and security in mind.”
Current and former state officials say the I-Voters system is secure and that they’ve taken steps to prevent intrusions. Built in 2005, the system has been updated numerous times and contains Iowa’s 2 million registered voters.
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, a Democrat, says he worries the
system is running on technology that is vulnerable to hackers. He says he’s disappointed by the pace of the replacement project.
Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate remained 2.4% in June, making it among the lowest in the nation.
The rate released Friday by the Workforce Development agency ranked third in the nation, behind only Vermont and North Dakota.
Iowa’s unemployment rate has been stuck at 2.4% for nearly a year.
Both the number of people working and those who are unemployed increased slightly in June from May figures.
Iowa’s rate compares to a national unemployment rate of 3.7%.
Iowa State Fair Announces New Swine Inspection Process
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have announced new inspection rules for pigs that will be shown at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
An Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship news release said Friday that the additional exhibition requirements are designed to promote biosecurity and animal health as African swine fever continues to spread across China and other parts of Asia and Europe.
All pigs must be individually inspected and identified on a
certificate of veterinary inspection that was completed within seven days of the fair, which runs Aug. 8-18 this year. A veterinarian will inspect all pigs as they arrive at the Des Moines fairgrounds before they are unloaded or mixed with other livestock.
Biosecurity concerns led organizers to cancel the World Pork Expo scheduled for last month at the fairgrounds.
The National Pork Producers Council says African swine fever affects only pigs and presents no human health or food safety risks. There is no vaccine to treat the disease.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking Medicare Payments For Transgender Surgery
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed in May challenging a new state law that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding for gender reassignment surgery.
Judge David Porter says in an order filed Thursday that the two
people who filed the lawsuit must first seek to have their surgeries approved by the Iowa Department of Human Services through Medicaid and follow an administrative appeals process.
He says it’s premature to sue before DHS is given an opportunity to amend or repeal its rules.
He also denied a request to put the law on hold while legal issues
are pending.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa represents Mika Covington and Aiden Vasquez who are seeking to have gender reassignment surgeries.
The ACLU quickly appealed the judge’s decision to the Iowa Supreme Court.
The court ruled in March in a different case that the Iowa DHS cannot block Medicaid-paid gender reassignment surgeries.
Republican lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds responded to the ruling by passing the new law.
Several Democratic Presidential Candidates Having A Slow Start For Their Campaigns
FLINT, Mich. (AP) – Plagued by anemic polling and fundraising, many 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns have fallen into a spiral of perceived struggles that become increasingly self-fulfilling.
Some of the most affected built their runs around signature issues that have largely fallen flat as momentum eludes their messengers.
That includes New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s championing of
women’s rights, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s focus on climate change and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s pitch as a principled moderate.
Urgent calls for gun control also couldn’t keep California Rep. Eric
Swalwell’s now-defunct presidential bid afloat.
After the next Democratic primary debate later this month in Detroit, the threshold to qualify for future debates gets tougher. That’s when many of the campaigns that have yet to break out may face pressure to leave the race.
Iowa State University Graduate Student Indicted With Possession of Child Pornography
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State University graduate student accused of sex crimes during his time at the school has been indicted on federal child pornography charges.
Federal prosecutors say 33-year-old Jona Shitaleni Paulus, of Ames, was charged Thursday by a grand jury with one count of receiving and one count of possessing child pornography.
The Des Moines Register says Paulus was taken into federal custody Thursday – one day after he was sentenced to 90 days in jail related to his guilty plea in a state case. In the Iowa case, Paulus pleaded guilty to a count of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse for an incident at his apartment in April.
Officials say the federal charges stem from sexually explicit
conversations and nude photos Paulus exchanged with a 16-year-old girl.
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Parents Given Probation From Daughter Who Tested Positive For Cocaine
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) – The parents of an underweight baby girl who tested positive for cocaine have been sentenced to probation.
The Des Moines Register reports that 20-year-old Stazia Kirk and 21-year-old Zak Herman, both of Pella, were sentenced Thursday. The pleaded guilty in May to felony neglect of a dependent person.
Court documents say their 3-month-old baby, Charlotte, weighed less than her birth weight when she was taken to a hospital in December. A doctor said the baby tested positive for cocaine and was suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. The documents also say Kirk and Herman admitted to using cocaine recently.
Marion County Attorney Ed Bull said in May that the girl was thriving in her new placement.
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