Hinton Graduate Earns FFA American Degree
(Hinton) — Because of the COVID-19 virus, and like many events this year, the National FFA Convention was held virtually on-line instead of a live event. Unfortunately, students from across the nation were not able to converge on Indianapolis, Indiana for the week-long conference. However, the youth agricultural organization still honored many FFA students from across the nation, including the awarding and recognizing the American Degree recipients. The American Degree is the highest honor an FFA member can achieve, and this year, a recent graduate of Hinton Community High School earned the honor. Joel Jauer, not only was awarded the prestigious honor,
but he can also make the claim he is the first from the Hinton FFA chapter to be honored with an American Degree.
Jauer says he is proud of his achievement, and talks about what it meant for him to have a FFA chapter get started in Hinton only a few years ago.
Each FFA member must implement what is known as a “Supervised Agricultural Experience” which could be a variety of opportunities such as starting their own business, or raising crops or livestock, or working for a business. In Jauer’s case, he chose a couple of job related opportunities.
Jauer says in order to receive the American Degree, it does require a considerable amount of record keeping. Jauer had to complete an application in order to achieve the American Degree. Jauer says he suggests for younger FFA members to start early, and to keep focused. He says he was influenced
by many of his FFA peers from other schools.
Besides Jauer, Le Mars Community had two recipients of the FFA American Degree this year. They included Claire Ohlichs and Whitney Ten Napel. No other surrounding schools had any eligible members this year.
Lead Change in Race For Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
(Des Moines, IA) — The Secretary of State’s website now shows Democrat Rita Hart leading Republican Marriannette Miller-Meeks by 162 votes in Iowa’s Second District congressional race. The total number of votes for the race that’s listed on the website has also changed by more than 200 votes. On Wednesday, the Secretary of State’s website showed Miller-Meeks leading by 282 votes. Secretary of State Paul Pate and the Jasper County auditor are holding a news conference today (Friday). State officials gave the Jasper County auditor permission yesterday to recount ballots in one precinct after noticing the tabulation from that precinct was eight votes short of what it should have been. Auditor Dennis Parrott said a counting machine had malfunctioned in that precinct and ballots were getting jammed.
Reynolds Claims 2020 Elections Results a ‘Validation’ of GOP Response to COVID
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa’s 2020 election results have validated the approach she and other Republicans have taken at the state level on tax cuts and spending issues over the past two years. Reynolds told reporters, “in addition, it was a validation of our balanced response to Covid-19, one that is mindful of both public health and economic health.” Back in March, Reynolds ordered schools and many businesses to close for several weeks, but during a news conference in her statehouse office, the governor said closures are “not a permanent solution” and a majority of Iowa voters agree. Reynolds added, “Iowans said in this election they want to get through it. They, you know, agree with how we’ve handled Covid-19. I just believe that’s what the election said.”
Northeast Iowa Woman Accidental Shot By Toddler in Dyersville
(Dyersville, IA) — Authorities in northeast Iowa say a Dyersville woman is hospitalized after being accidental shot by her two-year-old child. Dyersville police say the toddler fired the shot from an unsecured handgun Wednesday night. The 21-year-old woman was taken to a Dubuque hospital and later airlifted to Iowa City. Her current condition is not immediately available. The incident is still under investigation.
Authorities ID Man Found Dead in Boone County Farm Field
(Boone, IA) — The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is identifying the man found dead in a farm field in late September. Deputies say the body of 52-year-old Arthur Chambers was discovered from the farmer who owns the rural property. Investigators are still trying to determine Chambers’ cause of death. The Iowa D-C-I and State Medical Examiner’s Office are assisting local authorities with the case.
