Le Mars Main Street Organization Encourages People To Take Survey
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce with its connection to the Main Street Iowa organization is interested in your opinion. Mary Reynolds serves as the coordinator with the Le Mars Main Street Organization and says people are encouraged to complete the on-line survey regarding their thoughts about businesses re-opening following the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Reynolds says people have until Wednesday to complete the survey. So far, Le Mars has had a good response, but Reynolds says they would like to see others complete the survey.
The Le Mars Main Street official explains some of the specific questions that are asked as part of the survey.
Reynolds says she isn’t certain as to when the results of the survey will be released.
State Closes Sioux County Testing Site
DES MOINES – The State of Iowa has announced the closure of two Test Iowa sites this week. The Sioux County site closed lyesterday when testing concluded at 6 p.m. A second site in Wapello County will close today, at 6 p.m. The state is actively pursuing clinic sites in both counties and testing remains available through local health care providers.
The Sioux County site opened on May 27 in Sioux Center, and the Wapello County site in Ottumwa opened May 13.
A total of 18 Test Iowa sites will remain following the two closures. Eight large-scale, drive-thru test sites are located in Black Hawk, Buena Vista, Dallas, Linn, Marshall, Polk, Pottawattamie and Scott Counties. Ten Test Iowa clinic sites are also available in Black Hawk, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Des
Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Mitchell, Page and Union Counties.
Large-scale sites are managed and operated by the State of Iowa. Clinic sites are partnerships between the state and local health care providers. Clinics operate and staff the test sites. The state provides testing supplies and processes the samples through the State Hygienic Lab.
Individuals who wish to get tested at any site must first complete the online assessment at testiowa.com.
Test Iowa is a statewide initiative to expand COVID-19 testing. Locations and hours of operation for all test sites can be found at testiowa.com or coronavirus.iowa.gov.
Promise Community Health Center To Receive IDHP Grant
(Sioux Center) — The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been awarded a $4.4 million-dollar cooperative agreement to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. The department will receive $883,027 annually for five years.
IDPH is partnering with the Iowa Primary Care Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help increase colorectal cancer screenings at 10 of Iowa’s federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to 60% by 2025.
Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center, Iowa is pleased to announce they are one of the 10 centers who will receive this funding.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for Iowa men and women combined.
It is often preventable by getting screened and if detected early, can be 90% treatable. Seven out of 10
people diagnosed with colorectal cancer had no signs or symptoms.
Crops Across The State Are In Excellent Condition
(Le Mars) — The latest weekly state crop conditions report indicates both corn and soybeans are rated as being 85 percent either good or excellent condition. Crops in northwest Iowa are looking great, but what about other parts of the state? Rebecca Vittetoe is a Le Mars native, but now serves as the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach crops specialist for east
central Iowa. She says although the crops in her region look good, farmers are having to deal with some wet conditions.
Vittetoe says last week prior to the weekend rains, and when we had a heat wave, the corn in east-central Iowa was showing some signs of stress.
The east-central Iowa crops specialist says in her area the winds have not been as strong as they were last week for northwest Iowa, and because of that, most farmers in eastern Iowa have been able to apply their pesticides in a timely manner.
Paul Kassel is the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach crops specialist for northwest and north-central Iowa. He says the crops in his region are looking good.
Kassel says the weekend rains were beneficial to his region’s crop production.
As for weed issues, Kassel says farmers in north-central Iowa are again having to deal with water hemp.
Kassel says in Kossuth County there was a need to do some re-planting of crops, but he adds it did not cover a wide area.
State Agriculture Department And Economic Development Authority To Offer Webinar On International Trade
DES MOINES, Iowa -– Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will give an agricultural trade policy update during a webinar hosted by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) international trade office. Iowa State University (ISU) agricultural economists Dr. Lee Schulz and Dr. Chad Hart will also share their insights into the international livestock and commodity
markets and economic forecasts. The webinar’s purpose is to give producers and agribusinesses an update on trade policies affecting relationships with Iowa’s key trading partners, including China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1st beginning at 9:00 a.m. To register, farmers need to send an email message to international@iowaeda.com
and add the attendee’s name and email address to receive the login information. The webinar will also be recorded and available online after the presentation.
DNR Investigates Source Of Petroleum Discharge
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is said to be investigating the source of what are called petroleum sheens on the Raccoon River. Booms have been placed in the river downstream to contain the problem. State officials reported a discharge near Principal Park in Des Moines and citizens reported the petroleum sheens on the Raccoon and Des Moines River Monday afternoon. The discharged was traced back to a storm sewer and now workers with the city and the state agency tracking it through the stormwater connection system.
State Agency Finds No Violations At Tyson Pork Processing Plant
(Waterloo, IA) — The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration says its inspection didn’t uncover any violations at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Waterloo. At least five employees died after contracting COVID-19. The inspection of the plant was closed earlier this month with no sanctions against the company. Black Hawk County officials and plant workers
have claimed there wasn’t adequate personal protective equipment available and they weren’t to social distance on the job. Tyson officials say they have made many improvements since March.
Linn County Attorney Resists Calls For His Resignation
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — The Linn County Attorney is resisting calls for his resignation. Opponents claim Jerry Vander Sanden is out of touch when it comes to racial justice. They point to an editorial he wrote denying that arrest disparities actually show the system is racist and his clearing of an officer in a shooting three-and-a-half years ago. Vander Sanden cleared
Officer Lucas Jones without hearing the victim’s side of the story. The county attorney says he is open to having a dialogue and he has taken part in many round table discussions on race. He has held the office for 10 years.
New Trial Date Set For Man Accused Of Killing Former Girlfriend
(Sioux City, IA) — A new date has been set for the bench trial for a man accused of killing his former girlfriend. The trial for Jordan Henry was originally supposed to start in April, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed most cases. Now, it’s on the court docket for July 21st in Woodbury County. Investigators say Henry strangled Elizabeth Bockholt in a Sioux City hotel room, then set the room on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.
The defense will claim insanity, diminished responsibility and intoxication at trial.
