Premier Communications Wants To Expand Services To Rural Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — Representatives from Premier Communications of Sioux Center appeared before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to discuss installing fiber-optic cable for many Plymouth County rural regions. High speed broadband internet for all areas of Iowa is a priority set by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, and the Iowa legislature approved the funding of $100 million dollars for the upcoming fiscal year for the use of grants to help with companies install broadband internet in the rural areas. Doug Boone, CEO of Premier Communications, informed the county governing board that they are
seeking a grant from the state to begin work on installing internet to rural Plymouth County. Boone says Premier Communications was requesting a resolution of support to help with the scoring of the grant, as well as a pledge for funding.
Boone says the targeted area of Plymouth County would include the rural areas surrounding Le Mars, Brunsville, Struble, Craig, and Merrill. He says there are 1,362 locations identified within the proposed service area.
The Premier Communications official says that broadband internet wires would be buried.
Boone explains the total investment for the proposed project.
The board of supervisors gave their approval for a resolution of support for Premier Communications to pursue the grant, and also pledged $10,000 for assisting with the funding of the project.
Severe Storms Rumbling Across Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) — Forecasters are warning Iowans about the potential one-two punch of severe summer storms today (Wednesday). National Weather Service meteorologist Craig Cogil says wide sections of the state have already seen heavy rain and large hail move through this morning. Cogil says there will be redevelopment this afternoon across northern Iowa and a lot of the storms could be severe. The main concern is from damaging straight-line winds and large hail. Cogil says there may be an isolated tornado or two. Street flooding could become a threat with the downpours.
Culver Nominated For Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corporation Board
(Washington, DC) — President Biden is nominating former Iowa Governor Chet Culver to serve on the board of the Federal Agriculture Mortgage Corporation. The company purchases loans from agricultural lenders and sells instruments backed by those loans. Culver previously served on the “Farmer Mac” board of directors during the Obama Administration. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is serving as U-S-D-A secretary for a second time.
GoFundMe Page For Family of Algona Boys Killed By Father Exceeds Goal
(Algona, IA) — A fundraiser for the family of two boys shot to death in a murder-suicide in Algona is shattering its five-thousand-dollar goal. The GoFundMe page in memory of six-year-old Logan and three-year-old Seth Phelon has raised around 15-thousand dollars so far. The Iowa D-C-I said 32-year-old Christopher Phelon of Algona shot his sons and then turned the gun on himself. The boys’ mother, Grace, went to pick them up July 5th and learned what happened. A post on the GoFundMe page said, “to say that Grace is devastated is an understatement.”
Big Spike in Pheasant Harvest During 2020 Pandemic
(Des Moines, IA) — The COVID pandemic is credited for helping with a huge Iowa pheasant harvest in 2020. The D-N-R reports Iowa hunters bagged nearly 300-thousand roosters during the 2020 season — the second-highest harvest reported in more than a decade — and around 16-thousand more than 2019. Wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz says there were 10-thousand more hunters in 2020 — which he credits mainly to the pandemic — as all types of outdoor activities saw increased. Bogenschutz says the roadside survey heading into the season showed an 18-percent increase in birds, which was another factor in the good harvest.
