Pheasants Forever Banquet Scheduled For Tonight
(Le Mars) — The annual Plymouth County chapter of Pheasants Forever banquet is scheduled for this Saturday evening, March 7th at the Le Mars Convention Center. Bob Puetz of Le Mars serves as the president of the local chapter and says the evening will be filled with a good meal, fun, games, various raffles, and a special guest.
Puetz says this is not the first visit to Plymouth County for the National Pheasants Forever executive director.
Again this year during the annual banquet, several shotguns and rifles will be raffled, as well as a number of vacation trips.
Plymouth County Pheasants Forever chapter is one of the more active chapters located within the nation. Puetz says the local chapter has been acquiring land for the use of wildlife habitat, as well as to use for public hunting access.
Tickets for the Plymouth County Pheasants Forever banquet can be acquired at the door, or from a Pheasants Forever director. Tickets are selling for $60 which includes the meal and a membership.
Iowa House Passes Broadband Bill
(Des Moines) — The Iowa House has passed a small batch of bills about broadband service in the state. Representative Ray Sorenson of Greenfield says the G-O-P lawmakers and staff who’ve been working on these issues have begun calling themselves the “broadband bros.”
One bill clarifies that state grants to local telecommunications companies for broadband projects are not considered income. Republican Representative Brian Lohse of Bondurant says that means those grants are NOT subject to state income taxes.
Representative Dave Williams of Waterloo, a Democrat, estimates the bill’s value.
Another bill extends the state law that set up statewide rules for how cities and counties may regulate where cell towers are placed. Republican Representative Jeff Shipley of Fairfield was the only lawmaker to object, arguing cell towers may be a health hazard.
Another bill that passed UNANIMOUSLY would have the Iowa D-O-T publicize road construction projects that dig into ground where private companies could install fiber optic cables. It’s being referred to as a “dig once” policy. Another part of THAT bill would create a new state program to designate Iowa communities as “broadband forward” or “telecommuter forward”
zones. It would be up to the Iowa Economic Development Authority to come up for the criteria for those designations.
That’s Representative Brian Meyer, a Democrat from Des Moines. The other broadband-related bill that passed the House this week calls for a legislative study of exchange points that route traffic on the internet.
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State Lawmakers Jeneary And Carlin To Hold Town Hall Meetings
(Le Mars) — State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City and State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars will hold two town hall meetings this morning.
The Republican lawmakers will be at Hinton at the Hinton Community Center at 9:00 a.m. The second town hall session will be held at the Kissenger Community Center in Merrill at 11:00 a.m. The legislators will discuss issues and bills before the state legislature, as well as listen to constituent concerns. The public is invited and welcome to attend the either or both town hall meetings.
Historic Preservation Commission To Hold Workshop
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission will hold a workshop scheduled for this afternoon beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Brown’s Central Avenue Event Center. People interested in the historic preservation of buildings are encouraged to attend. The seminar will examine the
procedures needed preserve historic buildings. The featured speaker will be Design Specialist Tim Reinders with the Main Street Iowa organization. He has assisted with the preservation of many buildings, including some structures located in Le Mars. The workshop is free of charge and is expected to last for up to three hours.
Fischer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison
(Le Mars) — A Hinton man has been sentenced to prison for 15 years. Judge Patrick Tott heard the court case against 34 year old Kyle Fischer. Fischer was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon and as a habitual felon in Plymouth County. Fischer had prior felony convictions in both Plymouth and Woodbury Counties for delivery of marijuana and a third offense
of possession of a controlled substance. Fischer was sentenced on February 26th. The case was originally investigated by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Plymouth County Attorney’s Office.
Governor Reynolds Given Three Names For Supreme Court Selection
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A panel has forwarded three finalists to fill an Iowa Supreme Court vacancy to Gov. Kim Reynolds. After interviewing 15 lawyers and judges Friday, the State Judicial Nominating Commission selected
Mary Chicchelly, a district court judge from Cedar Rapids; Matt McDermott, a Des Moines lawyer who for five years represented the Republican Party of Iowa; and David May, an appeals court judge from Polk City. Reynolds now has 30 days to choose from the finalists. A position on the court became available because of the retirement of Justice David Wiggins. Reynolds has seated three judges since becoming governor.
Army Corps Of Engineers Monitoring Snowmelt For Possible Flooding
(Omaha) — Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say the big upstream reservoirs on the Missouri River are ready for spring snowmelt — and possible flooding. Corps engineer Mike Swenson, in the Omaha office, says they already have hit their flood storage goals and are starting to cut back flows from Gavins Point Dam, upriver from Sioux City.
Corps officials say releases will fluctuate up and down frequently as we head into spring as part of an “aggressive strategy” to maintain flood storage space for as long as possible.
The Corps reports snowpack in the mountains of Montana and Wyoming is now over 100-percent of normal. Officials say runoff has contributed to rises on downstream river levels with the potential to cause setbacks to levee repairs, while cutting back releases from Gavins Point should take the peak off higher river stages.
Pork Producers Ask For Funding To Ward Off Foreign Diseases
(Des Moines) — To best prepare for outbreaks of any foreign animal diseases, the Iowa Pork Producers Association is partnering with the Iowa Department of Agriculture in asking state lawmakers for money. Drew Mogler , the association’s public policy director, says funding is needed
to help the ag department prepare for diseases like foot and mouth disease or African swine fever.
He notes that’s the primary state agency for battling any foreign animal diseases, should they reach Iowa.
Mogler says Iowa lawmakers are wrapping up their talks on policy bills after the recent “funnel” deadline.
Mogler says while neither foot and mouth disease or African swine fever has shown up in the United States, it’s critical officials are vigilant with protection efforts against any possible outbreaks.
