Hearing Scheduled For Today For Sheriff’s Deputy
(Le Mars) — Public notice is hereby given, that a deputy sheriff appeal public hearing for Aaron Leusink will be held in the Plymouth County Courthouse Annex basement at 1 pm today, Tuesday, June 9th, by the Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Commission per IA Code 341A.12.
Social distancing due to COVID-19 will be required for this hearing and chairs will be spaced 6 feet apart. Masks may be worn by those attending.
Supervisors To Canvas Primary Election Results
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet this morning. The county governing board has a short agenda before them. The supervisors will canvas and certify the primary election results from last Tuesday. They will hear from County Engineer, Tom Rohe as the supervisors
will set a date for a road vacation on 180th Street in Johnson Township.
Rohe will submit a couple of construction permits for the supervisor approval. The first involves Long Lines Communications as they want to do work in Marion Township on county road C-30, and the second permit request
involves a tile crossing on 120th Street in Meadow Township.
Feurhelm Joins Le Mars Community Board of Education
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education met last evening and among other business, appointed a new director for district 5. Mackenze Lang had to resign the position since she was moving to an area that no longer served the rural areas of the Le Mars Community school district. Jill Feuerhelm will now serve on the school board, representing District 5.
(photo contributed.)
Dordt University Promotes Robert Taylor
(Sioux Center) — Dordt University of Sioux Center recently named Robert Taylor IV as Vice President for Student Success. Taylor previously served as Dordt’s Dean of Students and will continue to serve in that role alongside his new position.
Soybean Growers Wondering If They Can Continue To Use Dicamba Herbicides
(Le Mars) — Soybean growers are confused over whether or not they are allowed to use a popular broad-leaf herbicide this year after the U-S 9th Circuit Court of Appeals came out with a ruling this past week. At issue is the generic herbicide of dicamba. Joel DeJong, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crops Specialist for Northwest Iowa says label use was approved four years ago for the products containing dicamba, and including
for this year.
DeJong says now is the critical time for the use of the dicamba herbicide for weed control in soybean fields, and he explains the position of the appeals court ruling.
DeJong says the reason for the controversy surrounding dicamba is because it often can vaporize, and with winds it will drift into a neighboring field of soybeans that are not tollerant to the herbicide, and then it causes damage to those soybeans.
The companies that are licensed to market the dicamba herbicide products include: formerly Monsanto, now after acquisition Bayer, BASF, and what was formerly referred to as Dow Agri-Sciences, but now is part of Corteva after the merger with DuPont. DeJong says there is one other dicamba product that
was not included as part of the court case.
DeJong says the Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t yet commented on the court’s ruling, and many states, including Iowa Department of Agriculture is telling farmers to go ahead and use the product this year, but be aware the rules may change, and change quickly.
The ISU Extension crops specialist continues with the Iowa Agriculture Department’s current position.
DeJong advises farmers to know what crops are surrounding your farm, and to check with their insurance company to see if any liability issues would be covered, since the court has issued its ruling. He says there are some products available on the market that are designed to help reduce the drift factor with dicamba herbicides. DeJong says there are some nozzles for
sprayers that are designed to help reduce herbicide drift. Late last evening, the EPA did write a comment on the ruling which essentially reads that farmers can use the dicamba products for this year, but the EPA has cancelled its use for future years. DeJong tells farmers to read and follow all label directions when applying any herbicide product.
Penalties Toughened For Trespassers At Food Operations
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Legislature has passed another bill that toughens penalties for those who trespass at a food operation, including livestock confinements and meatpacking plants. Representative Jarad Klein, a Republican from Keota, says it’s a pretty simple concept — you can’t go in a livestock building without permission. Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom (ROH-zen-boom) of Oskaloosa says he was targeted by animal rights protesters who got inside a hog confinement he had leased to someone else and released photos and video the group said showed animal neglect. The bill enhances the penalty for trespassing on or in a food operation to an aggravated misdemeanor. A second offense would be a felony. Critics predict
the bill — if the governor signs it into law — will be successfully
challenged in court.
Iowa Lawmakers Bicker About Wearing Face Masks
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa legislators have been bickering about face masks.
Most Democrats have been wearing face coverings — while most Republicans are not. Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, gave two speeches urging his colleagues to wear a mask at all times. He says it is important for those who have underlying conditions or family members who have underlying conditions. Republican Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks of
Ottumwa is an eye doctor. Miller-Meeks responded to Dotzler, saying she’s read reams of research that suggests maintaining six-feet of separation is sufficient. “I don’t need to be chastized as a physician on whether I should wear a mask or not wear a mask because I’ve looked at the C-D-C guidelines.
I am, in fact, following those guidelines,” Miller-Meeks said.
Des Moines City Council Passes First Consideration Of Anti-Profiling Ordinance
(Des Moines, IA) — The Des Moines City Council has unanimously passed the first consideration of an ordinance prohibiting racial profiling. Council members will hear from the public at the next meeting. Opponents say the ordinance doesn’t do enough to address their concerns. More public comments
will be accepted at the next council meeting June 22nd. Mayor Frank Cownie says the city has already implemented more than 40 suggestions from community groups in the revised ordinance. The Iowa-Nebraska N-A-A-C-P and other organizations say they didn’t have enough time to look through those revisions before the Monday’s meeting was held.
More Test Iowa Sites Opening
(Waukee, IA) — Five more “Test Iowa” sites are opening in Waukee, Carroll, Clarinda, Creston, and Denison to conduct coronavirus tests. The state is providing the testing supplies and the samples will be processed at the State Hygienic Lab in Coralville. Appointments for drive-through testing must be
made through the Test Iowa app.
UIHC Administrators Say They Could Handle A Resurgence
(Iowa City, IA) — Administrators at the University of Iowa Hospitals say they would be well prepared if there was a resurgence of the coronavirus outbreak. C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran says they would probably be able to handle the resurgence without having to again shut down all elective services — depending on the size of the outbreak. Vice
president for Medical Affairs, Doctor Brooks Jackson, says they have all the necessary equipment they would need and they did learn how to effectively use the treatments available. He says they had a 99-point-seven percent survival rate from the 367 patients they identified and treated at U-I-H-C. The one
patient the treated that didn’t survive had an advanced cancer diagnosis before coming to the hospital.
Senate Committee Considers Permanent Drinks To Go
(Des Moines, IA) — A committee in the Iowa Senate has narrowly approved a plan to give Iowa restaurants and bars permanent permission to sell mixed drinks to go. Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation on March 31st that allowed bars and restaurants with a liquor license to sell carry-out
cocktails along with carry-out food as a way to make come revenue during the coronavirus shut down. The proposal also would let the state’s vineyards sell so-called growlers that hold up to 72 ounces of wine and would create a new
state permit for selling beer and spirits at charity events. This package of changes in Iowa’s alcohol laws cleared the Senate State Government Committee on an eight-to-seven vote late Friday night and is eligible for debate in the full senate.
