Farmers Learn About Cropping Options During Hail Information Meeting
(Le Mars) — Nearly 70 people consisting of farmers, crop insurance agents, adjusters, USDA government officials, and seed dealers attended Friday morning’s hail information meeting that was held on a hail damaged field southeast of Le Mars. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crops Specialist Joel DeJong conducted the meeting and explained to area farmers
about how to tell if their damaged crop may be able to grow following the hail storm from earlier this week. The first word of advice DeJong offered was to have farmers visit with their crop insurance agent before making any decision.
Marty Pippett of Mark Crop Insurance of Le Mars was on hand for Friday morning’s meeting. He says his phone has been busy this week. Pippett tells of the first action farmers need to take to make a claim.
Pippett says farmers may need to wait a few days to see the full extent of crop damage as a result of the recent hail storm, and before making a final decision regarding what to do next.
The crop insurance agent says farmers need to think about many factors and considerations before coming to a final decision.
Pippett says once the late plant period deadline passes, it is an option to plant an uninsured second crop.
Jeff Davis, the Plymouth County Farm Services Agency Director with the U-S-D-A says there is not enough crop damage to the entire county that would prompt a disaster declaration to offer area farmers any federal assistance. A seed dealer at today’s meeting did indicate most seed companies do have enough
extra soybean seed available for those farmers choosing to re-plant their soybean fields.
City To Close Street For Tree Removal
(Le Mars) — Starting Monday June 28th 2021 at 6:30 a.m. the Le Mars Street Dept. will close 4th St. S.W. between 2nd Ave. S.W. and 3rd Ave. S.W. and reopen it at around 5 p.m. that night . The contractor DK Tree Removal will be taking 4 trees down in that block . See attached picture of street closure
Le Mars Woman Arrested For Stealing A Pickup Truck
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was able to arrest a woman connected to a pickup truck reported stolen on Wednesday evening. At approximately 9:11 p.m. a red 2003 Chevrolet pickup was reported as being stolen from Le Mars. The information was entered into a national data base for law enforcement. On the same night at about 10:33 p.m. a Plymouth County Deputy observed this vehicle to be heading north on Highway 75 just outside of Hinton. The vehicle entered the east ditch and came to a rest on the railroad embankment just shy of the railroad tracks. A foot pursuit ensued. The deputy was able to apprehend the individual a short distance away from the
pickup. Crystal Marie Finchum, age 30, of Le Mars was placed under arrest for Theft in the 2nd Degree for the possession of the stolen vehicle. She was transported to the Plymouth County Jail for booking. A search warrant was issued and executed on the pickup. Multiple items of interest were seized in connection to drug charges and possible stolen property. Ultimately, Finchum was charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree, Driving while license suspended, Operating while under the influence – second offense, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Hinton Police Department.
Library Gets Fiberglass Ice Cream Cone Painted To Represent Children’s Stories
(Le Mars) — A new fiberglass ice cream cone has been added to the collection found around town. The latest ice cream cone is at the Le Mars Public Library, and its artist says she was influenced by popular children’s stories.
Jaycee Vander Berg painted the colorful ice cream cone. Vander Berg, is a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy, but obtained an art degree along with her criminal justice degree at Northwestern College. She says she consulted her mom and a friend, both elementary school teachers, as to the more familiar children’s stories.
Jaycee Vander Berg, (right) along with an employee of the Le Mars Public Library hold up the children’s books that influenced Vander Berg and are represented on the fiberglass ice cream cone near the public library. The new ice cream cone was installed last week.
Vander Berg explains what children’s stories are represented on the ice cream cone.
Vander Berg says she remembers reading many of the represented children stories when she was a child.
The ice cream cone artist says she was asked by Mary Reynolds with the Chamber of Commerce if she would be interested in painting one of the community’s iconic symbols?
Vander Berg isn’t certain as to how many hours it took her to paint the fiberglass cone, but she guesses it may have been some where close to at least 30 hours.
She says she enjoyed the time creating and painting the ice cream cone, and finds joy in seeing everyone that passes to look at the newest ice cream cone.
Vander Berg says she hopes people will have fun trying to recognize the different stories featured on the cone. There are more than 55 ice cream cones within Le Mars.
Plymouth County Cyclists Receives Hotel/Motel Grant Funding
(Le Mars) — In February of 2020 the Plymouth County Cyclists were awarded $1000 from Le Mars Hotel/Motel Sales Tax receipts.
The mission of the CVB Advisory Board is to attempt to fund as many qualifying projects with enough money to be useful toward completion of the project goal.
Qualifying projects meet state code regarding the allocation of revenues generated by the hotel/motel sales tax. Priority is given to projects that encourage growth of tourism to the city of Le Mars.
The funds were used to help put on the club’s 14th annual Tour de Plymouth ride on June 12, 2021. Mark Sturgeon, club member and ride volunteer says “Our club appreciates the continued support of the CVB and our ability to receive
these special tax funds. These funds and the generosity of local business sponsors really helped us make this ride stand out from other area rides. Our ride brings a lot of bicyclists from other cities and even other states to our city, which can only help increase tourism and promote all the great things our city has to offer.” Ride options included a family friend short ride, 25
mile, 50 mile, and 100 mile routes.
Proceeds from the ride are used by the club to promote safe cycling in Plymouth County through the installation of bike racks and road signs and holding educational events like their recent Bike Rodeo, where over 50 children received helmets, lights, and instruction on hand signals, rules of the road, and trail riding etiquette.
To learn more about the Plymouth County Cyclists, follow them on Facebook and visit their website at www.plymouthcountycyclists.org
Onawa Under Boil Water Order
(Onawa) — A malfunctioning sensor drained the city of Onawa’s water storage structure overnight on Thursday. Although water pressure is restored, the city issued a boil advisory for the entire community, including the rest area along Interstate 29. Pressure losses can cause bacteria to enter the water distribution system. As a precaution, the city and DNR recommend residents
boil their water until results from two days of testing show water is safe to drink. Residents should bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food to a boil for at least one minute and then allow it to cool before using. Another recommendation is to use bottled water. Boiling water kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Residents can use tap water for bathing and similar purposes.
Reynolds Signs Emergency Public Health Proclamation
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster Proclamation that extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days sun-setting other provisions. The proclamation also continues to extend the
waivers on transportation restrictions for overweight loads.
Reynolds, Grassley Criticize Supreme Court Decision on Renewable Fuel Exemptions
(Des Moines, IA) — Supporters of biofuels in Iowa are disappointed in a U-S Supreme Court decision allowing small oil refineries to seek extended exemptions from renewable fuel requirements. Governor Kim Reynolds calls Friday’s ruling a “disappointing setback for Iowa agriculture and the
renewable fuel industry.” The high court overturned a lower court ruling that struck down small refinery exemptions granted by the E-P-A. Senator Chuck Grassley says “the 10th Circuit correctly interpreted the law: refiners shouldn’t be allowed to renew expired waivers for biofuels blending requirements.” The Iowa Republican says President Biden must keep his promise
to biofuels producers to limit welfare to Big Oil and promote greater reliance on renewable fuels.
US Senate Passes Bill Named After Davenport Veteran Who Died By Suicide
(Washington, DC) — A bill named in honor of a Davenport veteran who died by suicide passed the U-S Senate unanimously Thursday night and is headed to the president’s desk. The measure cleared the U-S House in May and outlines steps
to improve mental health care options for veterans who live in rural areas.
Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne is the lead sponsor of the bill, named in honor of retired Marine Sergeant Brandon Ketchum. Axne said, “when Brandon sought in-patient hospitalization in 2016 from an Iowa V-A, the treatment rooms were full and he was turned down for care he needed. Hours later, Sergeant Ketchum took his own life. Axne added, veterans put their lives on the line and serve our nation with honor and when they come , they should be able to receive the care they need. All members of Iowa’s congressional delegation co-sponsored the legislation.
New Beef Processing Planned For Southwest Iowa’s Mills County
(Mills County, IA) – A massive “COVID-friendly” beef processing facility is planned for southwest Iowa that promises to create hundreds of jobs and boost the region’s economy by more than a billion dollars a year. Project developer Chad Tentinger says the newly-formed Cattlemen’s Heritage Beef will construct
the 325-million dollar plant in Mills County. Tentinger said, “we’ll be the first state-of-the-art new facility built in western Iowa in more than two generations. We will employ up to 750 workers and our estimated annual economic impact is one-point-one billion dollars to the local economy.”
Tentinger says the plant will fill a “critical gap” between conglomerates and under-sized lockers that aren’t equipped to meet the needs of consumers, producers or retailers. At capacity, Tentinger says the facility will be able to process up to 15-hundred head of cattle per day.
Suspect Arrested For Manslaughters in Swea City Man’s Death
(Algona, IA) — A man is facing manslaughter charges in connection with the death of Swea City man found on a Kossuth County road. Forty-one-year-old Casey Tobin was discovered unresponsive April 3rd near his home and died three days later in Rochester hospital. Deputies arrested 51-year-old Robert Laverty of Swea City Thursday. Court documents show Tobin and Laverty had an argument that turned into fight and Tobin punched Laverty several times. Witnesses said Laverty hit Tobin and he fell backwards and struck his head on a curb. Tobin
died of blunt force trauma to the head.
