Car Enters Creek From Thursday Accident
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident that occurred Thursday afternoon when a vehicle had entered a small creek bed. At approximately 12:45 p.m. the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a single vehicle accident on Hwy 75 near Titan Road. Plymouth County Deputies, Hinton Fire Department and Hinton Ambulance all responded
to the scene. The driver was identified as a Paula Keehn, (61), of Hinton, IA.
It was determined that Keehn was traveling northbound on Hwy 75 when she lost control of her vehicle entering the center median, striking rocks, and entering a small body of water. Keehn was transported to Unity Point Hospital in Sioux City for minor injuries.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Hinton Fire Department, Hinton Ambulance and Stockton Towing.
Diamond Vogel Paints Continues Plant Expansion
(Orange City, IA) — A northwest Iowa business that makes paint under the brand names Diamond Vogel, Old Master, and Vogel Industrial Coatings will start the next phase of a 24-million dollar expansion this summer. In 2018, state officials awarded Diamond Vogel tax incentives worth two-point-four million dollars for the expansion of its Orange City campus. The latest
phase of the project involves the construction of an “innovation center” for the company’s research and development laboratories and new office space.
Diamond Vogel’s powder-coating facility in Orange City has been expanded to accommodate a larger workforce. The company’s maintenance facility was upgraded last year as well. Diamond Vogel is a family-owned business that was founded in 1926.
Tulip Festival Enters Its Last Day
(Orange City) — The 80th annual Tulip Festival at Orange City is entering its last day. According to Mike Hofman, Executive Director of the Orange City Chamber of Commerce, the tulips are in full bloom.
Traditional street dancing with the performers dressed in dutch heritage costumes is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. with the parade to begin at 2:00 p.m. Hofman says the
people of Orange City have made some improvements to the floats, as well as created new floats to be exhibited during today’s parade.
This morning is the fly-in breakfast at the Sioux County Regional airport, and a bicycle ride. Other attractions include the carnival, Dutch Dozen Singers, and the great tasting food from many food vendors.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Now Offers Pfizer Vaccine For COVID
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare is now offering patients the Pfizer vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Previously, Floyd Valley Healthcare had only offered the Moderna vaccine. But now, patients can choose to have either vaccine. Tara Geddes, the Plymouth County Community Health Director says the Pfizer vaccine has recently been approved by the CDC to use on
children from 12 years of age and above.
Geddes says if you have received the first round of either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine, you need to stick with your initial vaccine for the second round of vaccinations.
Geddes says Plymouth County has seen a reduction of vaccine demand, but there still remains plenty of COVID vaccine available.
The county health services director says COVID case count numbers in Plymouth County have been on the decline for the last few weeks.
Many people may be confused as to whether or not they need to continue to wear a face covering or mask, if they have completed their vaccination process. Geddes offers some advice according to the latest C-D-C recommendations.
The County Health Services Director says some people have reported having side affects that include a small fever, or headaches, or even general soreness, but Geddes says don’t let the side affects deter you from getting fully vaccinated.
Iowa’s Beef Industry Contributes To State’s Economy
(Ames) — May is recognized as Beef Month a time when people’s attention turns to cooking their meals outside on a grill, often times choosing beef as their preferred entree. Rex Hoppes serves as the Executive Director with the Iowa Beef Industry Council. He says the cattle industry, and the beef products derived from those cattle, play a significant role with the state’s economy.
Hoppes says Iowa beef is not only nutritious, but tasty since much of the state’s beef is corn-fed.
The Iowa Beef Industry official continues to tell of beef’s nutritional value.
Hoppes says it is because of the great taste and nutritional value that beef exports have risen during the last few years.
Hoppes says other countries help add value to Iowa beef by demanding what we would consider to be low-market value beef products.
A couple of weeks back, the Iowa Beef Industry Council along with the Iowa Cattlemen Association named a northeastern Iowa restaurant has having the title of “Best Iowa Burger”. Hoppes says the contest is a fun way to call attention to the state’s beef industry, while praising restaurants who choose to serve high quality ground beef for their menu.
Iowa ranks fourth in the nation for cattle and beef production.
Iowa House Not Sold on Senate’s Proposed Mental Health Funding Shift
(Des Moines, IA) — Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans aren’t philosophically opposed to getting rid of a property tax levy that funds mental health services, they just have unanswered “technical questions” about how the state would manage the system once it’s solely financed with state tax dollars. There’s been no debate on the House or Senate floor this week as G-O-P leaders and Governor Kim Reynolds negotiate in private. Grassley said “We’re just having those conversations and working through seeing if there is a way to get a level of comfort where we can all be in agreement.” Grassley is not offering a timeline for when this dispute might be ironed out among Republicans in the House and Senate, but he said having the state take over financial responsibility for the mental health system is “not as simple” as eliminating a property tax levy.
Green County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Explosion at Jefferson Grain Elevator
(Jefferson, IA) — Authorities in Greene County are investigating an explosion from Friday morning at a grain elevator in Jefferson. Sheriff’s officials say the dust grain explosion happened around 8 a-m at the Landus Co-Op. Deputies say the explosion punctured the concrete structure and created massive holes on both sides. There was a fire after the explosion. The company says all employees are accounted for and no injuries were reported.
Casey’s Closes on Acquisition of Buchanan Energy
(Ankeny, IA) — Ankeny-based Casey’s General Stores is announcing the closing of its 580-million dollar acquisition of the Bucky’s Convenience Stores. The company says the Bucky’s acquisition gives them more presence in Nebraska and Illinois, and brings their total company-owned and operated stores to more than 23-hundred. The company says in its announcement that the acquisition marks “the most significant transaction in Casey’s 52-year history.” Casey’s was required to get rid of six stores as part of the consent order the agreed to with the Federal Trade Commission.
US Department of Transportation Awards $4.3 Million Grant to Creston Airport
(Washington, DC) — The U-S Department of Transportation is awarding a four-point-three-million-dollar grant to the Creston Municipal Airport in southwest Iowa. The federal funds will help complete the renovation of a runway, make subgrade improvements and lay new concrete. Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne says the continued federal support of our local airports receive allows them to develop and repair vital infrastructure that keeps Iowans safe. The project is expected to begin next August.
Few Tornadoes Reported In Iowa So Far This Season
(Des Moines) –– Not that anyone’s complaining, but tornadoes have been very scarce in Iowa so far in 2021. This weekend marks the half-way point of our severe weather season, as April, May and June are the prime months for thunderstorms and twisters. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says we’ve only had two tornadoes so far this year, both in eastern Iowa.
Rain is back in the forecast and while Cogil says thunderstorms are possible this weekend in Iowa, the threat of severe weather remains small.
With the arrival of warmer temperatures in the coming weeks, he says we’ll need to remain vigilant for storm development.
Iowa saw a total of 28 tornadoes touch down last year, which is well below the average number of around 50.
