Lone Tree Road To Be Closed
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will close Lone Tree Road this evening beginning at 4:00 p.m. from Highway 75 to Hickory Avenue.
The road was originally going to be closed last night in order to move an electric transformer from a low-bed semi trailer parked on the roadway to its permanent location at the electrical sub-station near Highway 75. However, the trailer hauling that transformer was delayed. County Engineer Tom Rohe
says the road should be open again by Wednesday late afternoon.
County Supervisors Approve Courtroom Renovation Project
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday with Jordan Metzger, the architect in charge of the courtroom renovation project. The supervisors approved having the courtroom updated to better accommodate today’s court proceedings. Supervisor John Meis tells of the renovation plans
for the courtroom.
Meis says the courtroom will have a fresh look from top to bottom.
Meis says the courtroom will also undergo some improvements to make the room more secure.
The county supervisor says due to the constant price increase with construction materials, the architect couldn’t offer an exact estimate on the cost of the renovation project.
Supervisors established a time-line for the renovation project with bids being accepted beginning on July 12th. A pre-bid meeting has been set for July 29th at 4:00 p.m. Meis gives the projected remaining timetable including the expected start and completion of the construction project.
County Supervisors Hear A Report About Local Ambulance Services
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard from Remsen Ambulance Director and President of the Plymouth County EMS services, Kevin Rollins during Tuesday’s meeting. Rollins was on hand to brief the county governing board about the current status facing many of the county’s ambulance services, and the difficulty in obtaining enough volunteers to cover shifts. The Iowa legislature passed a bill that was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds that now considers local ambulance services to be an essential service, which means, counties can begin collecting a tax from property owners to help fund local
ambulance services. Rollins and the county board were having initial conversations regarding the new law. Rollins informed the county supervisors that education is needed before any additional tax is proposed.
Supervisor Gary Horton asked Rollins if he had an idea as to how much the proposed new tax would be to fund ambulance services?
Rollins indicated the measure would need to go before the Plymouth County voters in order to determine the tax rate, and he added the measure would need at least a 60 percent approval. Rollins says many people believe their tax
dollars are already funding ambulance services, but he adds, that simply is not true.
Rollins informed the county board that a common problem, not just for Plymouth County, but across the state, is finding enough volunteers to cover all shifts. The Remsen Ambulance Director says it may come down to the fact that EMT’s and paramedics may have to be hired.
Rollins told the county board that Remsen averages approximately 250 ambulance calls each year, Akron has similar numbers, Hinton averages about 150 calls, and Le Mars for the last few years, has averaged around 1200 calls for the
community ambulance. Rollins says he doesn’t believe the measure will appear on this year’s ballot, and it may be a couple of years before Plymouth County voters will see the measure listed on a ballot.
Iowa DNR Identifies Body Pulled From Lake Ahquabi
(Indianola, IA) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is identifying the body found floating in Lake Ahquabi on Sunday. The D-N-R says it was 33-year-old Joshua Sweeden of Indianola. An autopsy was done by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office but Sweeden’s official cause of death hasn’t been
determined. D-N-R officials do not believe any foul play was involved.
Iowa Lottery Setting New Sales, Proceeds Records
(Clive, IA) — The Iowa Lottery is breaking several records already with one month remaining in the fiscal year. Lottery C-E-O Matt Strawn says the amount of money turned over to the state set one of the records. He says the Iowa Lottery produced nearly 95 million dollars in proceeds through May – a 30-
percent increase in year-over-year proceeds performance. The 12-month record was 92-point-eight-million dollars. Strawn says the record proceeds are the result of sales that have surpassed 400-million dollars for the first time in the Iowa Lottery’s 36 years. Strawn says the previous one-year record for
sales was 390-point-eight million in fiscal year 2019. He says the COVID pandemic is the behind the massive increase in sales. That increase was driven by scratch tickets – which have surpassed 300-million dollars through May.
Arkansas Senator Criticizes Biden Administration On Border, China
(Sioux Center, IA) — U-S Senator Tom Cotton, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, railed against the Biden Administration’s approach to border security and China during a speech in northwest Iowa Tuesday night. Cotton said, “It’s time to lower the boom on China.” The harshest criticism from the
Arkansas Republican was aimed at critical race theory. He said if the party wins next year’s mid-term elections, it can put the brakes on the Biden agenda. Cotton spoke to about 150 people at a G-O-P fundraiser in Sioux Center.
Iowa May Find Out What The Fourth Of July Is Like Without Fireworks
(Des Moines, IA) — Nobody wants it, but some parts of Iowa may find out what the Fourth of July is like without fireworks. National distributors are reporting a shortage due to shipping delays from China. One Iowa supplier says he was able to stay ahead of the problem by ordering in bulk following last year. Even if your favorite fireworks stand has the products you want,
get ready to pay a little more. Prices have been pushed higher while the demand is outpacing the supply. Shipping costs are higher for those operating the fireworks stands.
Attorney For Convicted Killer Tells Judge His Client Should Get Reduced Sentence
(Onawa, IA) — The attorney for a convicted killer in Monona County is telling the judge his client should get a reduced sentence. Jay Lee Neubaum was 17 years old when he shot the victim to death last year. Five witnesses gave testimony at a hearing this week. Neubaum was tried and convicted as an
adult for shooting Joseph Hopkins to death. A psychiatrist told the court Neubaum is immature mentally. He faces a sentence of up to 50 years in prison for his conviction on a charge of second-degree murder. The judge will take the testimony into account when determining Neubaum’s sentence.
Biggest Question Before Davenport: How High Should A Flood Protection Wall Be?
(Davenport, IA) — Davenport city officials are in the middle of deciding how high a flood protection wall should be. In spring 2019 the Mississippi River topped 22 feet, broke through barriers, and swept through the city.
Davenport citizens are supporting a permanent solution like a land berm in place of a flood wall. Scientists are telling local officials Davenport will see floodwaters reach 27 feet in the next century. That is significant because at 22 feet water from the Mississippi River flows onto River Drive in the Village of East Davenport and tops seawalls at Lindsay Park.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Now Accepting Nominations For “Hot Shots”
(Le Mars) — The Sioux City Musketeers, in partnership with Floyd Valley Healthcare (FVH), announce that nominations for the 2021/2022 Hot Shots are now open. Parents or guardians may nominate their child if they currently are or have received care at FVH. Nominees must be between the ages of 6 – 17 years old. The application can be found on FloydValley.org and must be submitted by September 3, 2021.
Throughout the season, there will be six Hot Shots selected. The Hots Shots will travel in a limo to their honor game as special guests of the Musketeers and will receive game tickets, a commemorative Musketeer jersey, Musketeer memorabilia, an opportunity to meet the team and coaches, be a part of the ceremonial puck drop as well as a special mentions at their game.
This program was created with the goal of honoring FVH pediatric patients with chronic health issues. We are excited to give children an opportunity to have a fun time with their family, cheer on the team and just enjoy being a kid again for a night.
“We are happy to have Floyd Valley Healthcare sponsor the Hot Shot program for the last three years and are looking forward to the upcoming season,” states Rich Zaber, Musketeer President. “It is such a delight to meet these kids. I can see the gleam of happiness on their face when you meet them as they sit on the bench and when they go to the back and meet the coaches and the team in the locker room. It’s very rewarding as the night goes on to see them come out of their shells and develop a special bond with the players on a very memorable night.”
“Now entering our fourth year of offering this great program, I am proud of the impact it has had on our young patients and their families. I have seen first-hand the thrill in the eyes of our Hot Shots as they travel in the limo, meet the team and cheer on the Musketeers during the game. I have also received numerous positive comments from our families, many of which speak very highly of the hospitality from the Musketeers and their staff,” states Dustin Wright, FVH CEO. “I am proud to open the nominations for our Hot Shots program knowing that the recipients will be treated to a memorable night.”
The Musketeers and FVH are excited to be able to give children a chance to have a fun time with their family, cheer on the team and enjoy just being a kid for a night again. For more information, you can contact the Sioux City Musketeers at (712) 252-2116 or Ann Cole-Nelson, Floyd Valley Marketing and Communications Manager at (712)546-3495.
