County Supervisors Expected To Approve Road-use Agreement With Wind Farm Company
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a short agenda for today’s scheduled meeting. The county governing board is expected to amend the road-use agreement with the wind turbine company, Invenergy. They are
also expected to approve Todd Wendt to the Plymouth County Civil Service Commission to fill a vacancy of an unexpired term. The county board of supervisors will meet with County Engineer, Tom Rohe to discuss road construction projects.
Floyd Valley To Discontinue TestIowa COVID Testing
(Le Mars) — As COVID testing has declined from peak use and the number of immunized Plymouth County residents continues to increase, Floyd Valley Clinics will be adjusting a few COVID-related patient protocols. Wednesday, March 31st will be the final day for the Floyd Valley Clinics Test Iowa site.
This will also be the final day for the Respiratory Care Clinic in its
current North Entrance location.
For those that are experiencing COVID-suspected symptoms, you will now be seen in the Floyd Valley Clinics (Le Mars, Marcus and Remsen). When making your appointment, please be sure to alert your care team to all of your symptoms. When arriving for your appointment, please utilize the Respiratory Care designated parking, call the number on the sign and remain in your car
until being called by the care team. If needed, a COVID test can be ordered by the provider. A deep cleaning of exam rooms will be performed between patients to assure patient safety.
For those needing a COVID test prior to travel, please call either your care team directly or the Le Mars Clinic Lab at 546-3426. We will be offering PCR testing ($175) and an antigen testing ($40). Please be sure to confirm with your airline and/or destination which test they require. These tests will be
performed by appointment only in the clinic lab. Please enter the West Entrance to check in and register.
COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be offered based on allocation from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Floyd Valley Healthcare has expanded the vaccination guidelines to include anyone 18 years of age or older that lives, works or doctors in Plymouth County. We recommend that appointments
be made by logging onto FloydValley.org. This online process is quick and simple. For those that do not have access to a computer, you may call 712.546.3646.
We know many of you are experiencing COVID fatigue, but we ask that you continue to wear masks in public, limit large social gatherings and remain vigilant with hand hygiene. We are working hard to keep our communities safe, please continue to do your part as well.
Feenstra Tells Pork Producers “I Have Your Back”
(Le Mars) — Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra spoke for a few minutes during the Plymouth County Pork Producers banquet held Saturday. Feenstra, who has been assigned to the serve on the U-S House Agriculture Committee, informed the county pork producers that he will always have their back.
Feenstra then reflected on last year when many of the pork processing facilities were either greatly reducing their processing capacity, or were shut down all together due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feenstra says many government officials, including Congressional members, and agency
bureaucrats have no idea about pork production.
The 4th District Iowa Congressman informed the pork producers that he views his job to relate the issues facing pork producers and all farmers to others gathered in our nation’s capital.
Feenstra says he will be watching the Environmental Protection Agency to make certain the agency follows the rules set forth of the Renewable Fuels Standard, and to include ethanol and biodiesel, and not to grant waivers to petroleum refiners. Feenstra says he is the pork producers’ advocate, and he
encouraged the county pork producers to contact his office at anytime they had concerns with government policies.
March 22nd – 26th Is National Severe Weather Awareness Week
(Sioux Falls) — This week is recognized as National Severe Weather Awareness Week, and Meteorologist Peter Rogers of the National Weather Services at Sioux Falls says now is the time to plan for when severe weather will strike this year.
Rogers says Monday’s focus is on severe thunderstorms and lightning. He says there is no truth to the weather myth that lightning will not strike twice in the same place. He says lightning can and often does strike the same place twice.
The National Weather Services meteorologist says when a severe thunderstorm is approaching your area, the best option is to seek shelter.
Rogers says each year, in the United States, on average, 49 people are killed by being struck by lightning, and hundreds of others are injured by lightning strikes.
Iowa Senate Approves Bill Allowing Purchase Of Firearms Without State Permit
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Senate has approved a bill doing away with the need to get a state permit before buying firearms or carrying a concealed handgun. The House approved it last week, so it now goes on to the desk of Governor Kim Reynolds. The legislation does away with background checks and
it eliminates the requiring of firearms training before a person can get a permit. The Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action is calling on the governor to veto the bill. If she signs it, Iowa will become one of 18 states that don’t require a permit to carry a weapon in public.
Federal Appeals Court Rules University Administrators Can Be Held Liable
(Iowa City, IA) — A federal appeals court has ruled administrators at the University of Iowa aren’t immune from a lawsuit filed over improperly revoking a Christian student group. The 8th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals came down on the side of the group Business Leaders in Christ. That group argues their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and association were
violated. It barred a student from serving in a leadership position when he disclosed he was gay in 2017. The school revoked the group’s registration after it banned the student who said he didn’t agree with its teachings on sexual morality.
Senators Move To Strip Coal Buying Requirement From Law
(Des Moines, IA) — Senators have voted to strip a requirement from Iowa law that cities, counties, schools, and state government buy coal that’s mined or produced in Iowa. There is no coal mined in Iowa as the last surface mine closed in the state in 1994. Senator Ken Rozenboom of Oskaloosa says coal was a booming industry in Iowa 120 years ago, but coal
mining towns have faded into the history books. Iowa’s coal mining industry began in the 1840s. Its decline began in the 1920s as Iowans began heating homes with other energy sources, like fuel oil, and cheaper coal could be shipped into Iowa from other states. A majority of Iowans now heat their
homes with natural gas.
U-S Ag Secretary Tout Food Assistance Payments
(Des Moines, IA) — U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says through the end of September, there will be a 15 percent increase in federal food assistance to help those who continue to struggle during the pandemic. Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa, says a family of four is going to receive about 102
dollars each and every month for the next several months. The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, visited the Food Bank of Iowa Monday in Des Moines as part of the administration’s effort to tout the federal pandemic relief program. Emhoff says hunger is a real issue in this country. A spokesman for the Republican National Committee said
sending Emhoff and Vilsack to Des Moines can’t distract from the pork barrel spending in the American Rescue Plan that has nothing to do with directly combating Covid.
Casey’s Announces Deal To Purchase Oklahoma Stores
(Ankney, IA) — The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain announced a major deal Monday to acquiring 49 Circle K convenience stores in Oklahoma for 39 million dollars. Casey’s executives expect the deal to close by the end of July. Casey’s reports it will supply the Oklahoma stores from its new distribution center in Joplin, Missouri, according to a news release.
The Canadian company which owns the Oklahoma stores is the same one with which offered nearly two BILLION dollars to buy Casey’s in 201 and then attempted a hostile take-over when its offer was rejected. Casey’s is the now fourth-largest convenience store chain in the U-S and it operates more than 22-hundred stores in 16 states.
Trial For Man Accused Of Killing Former Girlfriend’s Mother Delayed
(Fort Dodge, IA) — The trial for a Webster County man accused of killing his former girlfriend’s mother has been delayed to August. During a court appearance last week, Mark Russell told the judge he wanted to waive his right to a speedy trial. The trial was going to start today (Tuesday).
Russell faces murder charges in the beating death of Angela McLeod in January of last year. Investigators say he hit the victim with a golf club at least three times.
Trial For 2 Men Who Engaged Police In 2018 Shootout Starts In Wapello County
(Ottumwa, IA) — The trial for two men who engaged police in a fatal 2018 shootout starts today (Tuesday) in Wapello County. Michael Bibby and Dalton Cook each face several counts of attempted murder. Authorities say the men had messed up a robbery attempt that ended in a shootout with Ottumwa police.
Tiffany McNeal and Roy White were also involved in the robbery. White was killed in the shootout and McNeal has already pleaded guilty to two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury and one count of burglary.
