Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department To Close 325th Street To Install Box Culvert
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will be closing 235th Street between county road K-18 and Evergreen Avenue, beginning today, in order to replace a wooden bridge with a box culvert. The road is expected
to remain closed through Wednesday, August 12th.
Museum To Sell Produce As A Fund Raiser
(Le Mars) — “Grow the Museum,” a garden produce stand, will open at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars Monday, July 27, and remain open all week as a fund-raiser for the Museum.
The garden produce stand on the Museum’s south lawn is a substitute for the Country Store that is closed this year on the fairgrounds, due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The stand will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, Monday, July 27, to Saturday, Aug. 1, on the Museum’s south lawn.
Anyone willing to donate garden produce to the Museum should call 546-7002 prior to July 27 and make arrangements to deliver the produce to the Museum during the week of sales. All proceeds will go to the Museum.
Customers will be able to park near the produce stand for curbside service and are encouraged to remain in their vehicles.
The Museum, located at 335 First Avenue Southwest in Le Mars, will offer a variety of produce, including locally raised sweet corn, donated for many years to the Country Store by the Lynn Buss family. All proceeds will go to the Museum.
The Plymouth County Historical Museum remains closed to visitors due to the pandemic.
Drought Conditions Worsen In Western Iowa
(Des Moines) — A new map from the National Drought Mitigation Center shows dry conditions worsening in western and central Iowa. State climatologist Justin Glisan says 15 counties are now in what’s considered severe drought.
Glisan says he’s constantly asked about when and if any significant rainfall is coming to Iowa.
Glisan says he remains hopeful the situation may change soon.
Severe drought is shown in part or all of these 15 counties: Adair, Audubon, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Sac, Shelby, Story and Webster.
Restaurant Association Asking For More Regulations
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds has extended her public health emergency proclamation that requires social distancing measures for businesses and other establishments for another month. The extension comes as the President of the Iowa Restaurant Association is calling out establishments that aren’t in compliance. Jessica Dunker says 99 percent of
the 63-hundred bars and restaurants follow the protocols — and many go above and beyond them.
Dunker says there also needs to be more enforcement for those not following the temporary regulations.
She says Iowa can’t handle setbacks that have happened in other states.
She says an outbreak of COVID-19 caused by a restaurant that is not following the rules could impact every establishment in the state.
Dunker says they are working with customers to ensure that everyone can follow the guidelines.
The proclamation had been set to expire Saturday, and will now expire August 23rd. The measure covers bars and restaurants, gyms, casinos, salons, theaters, along with doctor and dentist visits.
Biden Delivers Recorded Message To Iowa Democrats During Fund Raiser Event
(Des Moines) — The Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for president is describing Iowa as a swing state that may be vital to an Electoral College victory this fall. Joe Biden delivered a short message to Iowa Democrats during the party’s virtual fundraiser Sunday evening.
Biden’s campaign recently hired experienced staff to run his Iowa effort. Biden’s remarks Sunday night were a public signal of Biden’s investment here, and the former vice president noted Iowa’s competitive races for the U.S. House AND Senate.
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith — in his recorded remarks — said the nation is at a turning point.
The Iowa Democratic Party’s virtual fundraiser lasted just about an hour. It featured recorded remarks from party leaders as well as Democratic activists who were honored with eight different awards. Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann blasted the event, saying it shows the only way for
Iowans to see Biden is to buy a ticket to a fundraiser.
Iowans Worry Rules Changes Would Let Renewable Energy Projects Take Their Land
(Des Moines, IA) — A group of Iowa landowners is worried some proposed rules changes would let renewable energy projects take their land. They have reached out to the Iowa Utilities Board with dozens of letters expressing their worries about those companies using eminent domain. The board says it
has received about 550 public comments so far. Some groups say it isn’t likely that those projects would qualify for eminent domain under Iowa law, but there are no safeguards in place. Local leaders say decisions like that shouldn’t be made by the Iowa Utilities Board.
Fort Dodge Fire Takes Life
(Fort Dodge, IA) — Authorities in Fort Dodge are trying to determine how a fatal fire started Sunday afternoon. Fire crews found an unresponsive woman inside the burning apartment structure shortly after 2:00 p-m. She died and her body has been taken to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office. Her name
hasn’t been released. First responders say smoke was coming from the apartment as they drove up. A resident of the apartment building made the first call to 9-1-1 dispatchers.
