Bike Central Has Been Busy Leading Up To RAGBRAI
(Le Mars) — One person that has been busy leading up to RAGBRAI is Kevin Richards, the owner of Bike Central of Le Mars. Richards says because RAGBRAI is starting from Le Mars he has seen an increase of interest from local residents wanting to again ride their bicycles.
Richards says he has spoken to many local people interested in participating in this year’s RAGBRAI event, even if they ride for a few miles.
Richards anticipates many bikers will need a final tune-up or some type of repairs, so he says he will keep his shop open for extended hours.
The Bike Central owner is a veteran when it comes to RAGBRAI rides. Although he will participate on this year’s ride, he says he will not complete the course, but adds he has a good reason for stopping early and taking a detour.
Richards says he has already met people from LuVerne, Minnesota and Spokane, Washington who are already in town for RAGBRAI.
Local RAGBRAI Riders Preparing For Cross-State Ride
(Le Mars) — Local interest in RAGBRAI is building especially for those Le Mars residents who are veterans of the annual cross-state bicycle ride. Kevin Eekholf and Todd Anderson are among those from Le Mars who have multiple rides under their belt. Eekhoff has traveled on 27 of the 48 RAGBRAI rides.
He talks about what led him to participate on RAGBRAI.
Eekhoff says he is pleased to see the ride begin from his home town, although he says he is having to pay back several favors from years past.
The RAGBRAI veteran says for people outside the state of Iowa their biggest surprise is that Iowa is not flat, that in fact there are several hills within the state.
Eekhoff tells of the one ride that stands in his memory as being one of the most difficult rides.
Eekhoff says he is proud of the way Le Mars has prepared for RAGBRAI, and he believes people will long remember their experience in the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”
Todd Anderson is also a long-time veteran of RAGBRAI rides.
Anderson says he first got interested in riding on RAGBRAI when several of his friends talked him into the adventure.
Anderson says he enjoys the view, along with the variety of foods available, but mostly he appreciates the camaraderie with friends while riding across the Hawkeye state.
Like Kevin Eekhoff had mentioned, Anderson says he too feels proud of the fact Le Mars is hosting the annual bicycle ride.
Anderson tells of his expectations for this year’s ride.
Pork Producers Push For Year-Round Visas For Immigrant Workers
(Ankeny, IA) — An Ankeny woman who is president of the National Pork Producers Council is urging members of the U-S Senate to reform the visa system so immigrants working as farm hands or in meat packing plants can stay permanently. N-P-P-C president Jen Sorenson said, “our foreign born workforce is an essential part of our supply chain and we need visa reform to reflect our year-round needs.” Sorenson says the U-S is suffering from a serious labor shortage negatively impacting our farms and our processing plants. The current H-2A visa program allows agribusinesses to fill temporary positions with foreign-born workers. Sorenson says that’s designed for seasonal agriculture, like vegetable and fruit farms, not for livestock operations which need a workforce all year long. The U-S House passed a bill in March that would make changes to the visa program for temporary farm workers. Sorenson testified before a Senate committee this week.
Latest Map Shows 70% of Iowa in Drought, 25 % in Severe Drought
(Des Moines, IA) — Drought conditions are persisting in central and northern Iowa despite some recent rainfall and flooding in the state. The latest U-S Drought Monitor shows around 70 percent of Iowa is in some form of drought while about 25 percent is experiencing severe drought. Forecasters say southern and southeast Iowa are experiencing no drought conditions. Temperatures in the 90s are expected to make the soil even drier this weekend.
Iowa National Guard Soldiers Return From Kosovo
(Des Moines, IA) –– Some members of the Iowa National Guard’s 113th Cavalry are back home after a ten-month deployment to Kosovo. A group of soldiers returned to the Des Moines International Airport Thursday. About 100 more troops with the 113th Cavalry arrive at the Sioux City Airport today (Friday) and the rest of the unit is flying into Des Moines on Saturday. Captain Alexander Keller said thoughts of his family and this reunion kept him going through the tough times in Kosovo.
Substitute Announcer Used Racial Comments During Kossuth County Speedway Race
(Algona, IA) — The Kossuth County Speedway in Algona says it will no longer use a substitute track announcer after a video containing racially insensitive comments at the track last week went viral. In the video clip streamed by FloRacing, the announcer can be heard telling the crowd to stand for the national anthem before making comments about N-F-L players kneeling in protest. The announcer tells those listening to “Get the hell out of dodge” if they don’t want to stand for the National Anthem. He goes on to say that persons of a “darker toned skin color” want the N-F-L to play a different national anthem before games, something he does not agree with. Officials with Kossuth County Speedway said that they do not condone the comments made last week and will “not tolerate discrimination at our racing events and welcome fans of all color, gender, religion and creed to join our racing family.”
