North West Rural Electric Cooperatives To Offer Early Dividends
(Orange City, IA) — In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Board of Directors of North West Rural Electric Cooperative
(NWREC) has approved an early retirement of patronage dividends to the member-owners. According to Lyle Korver, NWREC General Manager, the amount of the retirement is $1.6 million dollars.
Jeff Rehder, NWREC Board President, said the directors and management team understand that many of the members are experiencing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Rehder says, “We decided this was oneway we could provide some timely assistance to our members,” Rehder said.
During these unprecedented times, NWREC is also making every effort to work with customers who are experiencing financial difficulties by waiving late fees, providing payment plan options, and temporarily suspending disconnections for non-payment.
Korver says, “The directors and employees of North West REC want to assure our member-owners that our commitment of providing safe and reliable power to our members is as strong as it has ever been.”
North West Rural Electric Cooperative serves it membership in O’Brien, Ida, Sioux and Plymouth Counties.
Farmers Nearly Completed With This Year’s Planting Duties
(Le Mars) — Farmers have been able to take advantage of the recent nice weather and get a jump on this year’s planting duties. According to Iowa State University Extension Crops Specialist for northwest Iowa, Joel DeJong, many farmers have either finished planting, or are getting close to finishing
planting.
DeJong says soil conditions have been excellent for the planting, but he says we could use a nice significant rainfall in the near future.
Despite not having much rain, DeJong says many of the earlier planted crops have already emerged.
DeJong says there are some soybean seeds that are laying in dry soil, that could use a boost of moisture.
The extension crops specialist says conditions have been favorable as soil temperatures have hit 50 degrees and are rising. He says area alfalfa and oats crops are doing well, but like the corn and soybeans, a rain would be welcomed. DeJong says extension personnel have set up traps to determine the likely severity and infestation of different crop pests.
DeJong says other areas of the state are also ahead of normal planting schedules, although in eastern Iowa, they have had some rains which has slowed down the planting progress.
Farmers Are Urged To Certify Their Planted Acres With USDA
(Le Mars) — As farmers finish up with this year’s planting duties, they are reminded to report to their county USDA office to certify their acres.
However, due to the COVID-19 virus, farmers are being urged to call first and set up an appointment. Jeff Davis serves as the Farm Services Agency director for both Plymouth and Sioux Counties. He says the deadline to certify crop acres remains at July 15th, but he says farmers need to plan ahead when they report their acres.
Davis explains the procedure that will be implemented this year through the U-S-D-A Farm Services Agency.
Davis admits the process may not be easy, but it’s what needs to be done. Farmers can contact their respective county office either in Plymouth County or Sioux County.
The F-S-A director asks farmers not to wait until the last minute, and to show some patience with the USDA county employees as they process the data and information.
Davis says both offices will be staffed with only two employees.
The Farm Services Agency director reminds farmers that all acres need to be certified with the government in order to participate in government programs.
Davis says the deadline to certify crops is July 15th.
Naming Rights To Remsen St. Mary’s Gymnasium Raises More Than $5,000
(Remsen) — More than $5,000 was raised Friday evening through an on-line auction that benefited Remsen St. Mary’s school. Sarah Garvin, Remsen St. Mary’s Director of Advancement says the on-line version of the auction went
well. Remsen St. Mary’s officials resorted to having an on-line auction through the Catholic school’s Facebook page since COVID-19 had caused officials to cancel the actual gathering.
Garvin says the dollar amount is comparable to past years when there was a live auction.
Garvin says, over-all, the fundraising efforts between the naming rights to the gym, and donations, along with auction activity of the no-ball ball exceeds $50,000.
The gym’s name in honor of Gib Schroeder will take effect at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, and will remain in his honor for the duration of the school year.
Western Iowa Tech Community College To Serve As Testing Site For Sioux City
(Des Moines) — The Office of Governor Kim Reynolds has opened a Test Iowa site in Sioux City for residents of Northwest Iowa. Iowans are encouraged to fill out an assessment today at TestIowa.com to determine if they qualify for testing. Individuals who qualify will then schedule an appointment to get tested. Sioux City’s Test Iowa site is located at Western Iowa Tech Community College, at 4647 Stone Ave, Sioux City, IA. Only individuals who have qualified for testing and scheduled an appointment will be tested.
University Of Iowa Conducting Study To Make Health Care Workers Safer
(Iowa City, IA) — Researchers at the University of Iowa are studying the best ways to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection for health care workers.
An official at the Department of Emergency Medicine says scientists are looking at what kind of tools and techniques can be used to improve safety.
They’re also studying how to protect medical professionals while they are involved in high-risk procedures done on critically ill patients.
Percentage Of Positive Coronavirus Tests Going Higher
(Des Moines, IA) — An infectious disease specialist in Iowa reports the percentage of positive coronavirus tests is going higher. Doctor Megan Srinivas (SHRIH nee vahs) says 17-to-18 percent of tests in this state are coming back positive. The doctor says the number is still going up. Nearly 92 hundred patients have tested positive for the virus so far. Iowa has suffered 184 deaths.
Muscatine Police Search For Suspect In Stabbing
(Muscatine, IA) — With no suspect in custody three days after a man was stabbed, Muscatine police are hoping the public can help. The incident happened at about 9:00 a-m Friday. Officers responding to a call say they found a 31-year-old man suffering from a stab wound, lying in the street. He was taken to a nearby hospital, then airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The victim’s name hasn’t been released. Police are still looking for his attacker.
Accused Sex Abuser Makes Sunday Court Appearance
(Des Moines, IA) — A man facing a half-dozen sex abuse charges made a court appearance in Polk County Sunday. Forty-year-old Shawn Hanke was arrested last month. He’s accused of assaulting multiple victims between the ages of 12 and 15. Those assaults happened in 2017. Hanke is free on 65 thousand dollars’ bond. A no-contact order is in effect for one of his alleged underage victims.
