Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors To Discuss Plywood Trail Grant Application
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will discuss the proposed Plywood Recreational Trail when they convene for their weekly meeting this morning at the County Courthouse Boardroom, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Graham McGaffin will appear before the county governing board seeking approval of a state-funded REAP grant which would be utilized for the Plywood Trail. The Le Mars city council gave its approval last week, and now for the grant application to be considered, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors must also need to approve the grant application. Last year, the county board voted against the grant application. The county board of supervisors will hear from County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann as she will deliver the fiscal year Motor Vehicle and Driver’s License report. The county supervisors will hear a report from Amanda Harper with SIMPCO Housing Trust Fund Manager as she will provide a housing update, along with a proposed increase in the Housing Trust Fund. Dave Wilberding, Al Fagan, and Bob Hoffman will all be seeking the board’s approval of proposed subdivisions. Tom Rohe, the county engineer will also appear before the county board to visit about construction projects, as well as submit various construction permits.
Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District Celebrates 75th Anniversary
(Akron) — 75 years ago, Plymouth County established the Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District and elected three commissioners to oversee the funding and implement action to prevent soil erosion. Last evening (Monday) at the Hole in the Wall Retreat Lodge near Akron, the local county soil and water conservation district celebrated its anniversary with a tour and banquet. Steve Tonsfeldt is the chairman of the conservation district commissioners and talked about its history and current mission.
Pictured are the current Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioners. From left to right: Tony Schroeder, Joe Cain, Steve Tonsfeldt, Nancy Anderson (Assistant Commissioner), Bob Puetz, Jeff Petersen, and Mark Brown (Assistant Commissioner).
Will Meyers, Bureau Chief for Field Services with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship presented an award to the Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation Services for its leadership with soil and water conservation efforts.
Will Meyer, far right, Bureau Chief for Field Services with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship stands with the staff of the Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District Office. Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation was presented an award for its leadership with soil and water conservation efforts.
Three Virtual Hearings Set For Maps That Redraw Iowa Political District Boundaries
(Des Moines, IA) — Three virtual public hearings will be held next month to give Iowans a chance to comment on proposed maps that will change the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts. The Legislative Services Agency is using 2020 Census data to align the boundaries based on population changes. It plans to turn over the new set of maps by September 16th. Following that, the Iowa Temporary Redistricting Advisory Committee will hold public hearings the following Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Committee members say holding the forums online will give more Iowans a chance to speak. Iowa law requires at least three public hearings to be held before lawmakers can vote on the redrawn maps.
Prosecutor Blames Poor Police Work For Acquittal
(Council Bluffs, IA) — The prosecutor says poor police work is to blame for the acquittal of a man who had been accused of killing his sister more than two decades ago. Fifty-two-year-old Matt Kennedy was facing a first-degree murder charge after his arrest in Montana last October. His sister, 22-year-old Kimberly Ratliff, was found dead in a car in January 1999. Her throat had been slit. Pottawatomie County Attorney Matt Wilber says the state’s case was hurt by the lack of police work done when the victim died. Interviews were conducted or recorded soon after the crime occurred and Ratliff’s car disappeared from the Council Bluffs impound lot about 15 years ago and has never been recovered.
Police Arrest 32-Year-Old Des Moines Woman On Bank Robbery Charges
(Des Moines, IA) — Police say a 32-year-old Des Moines woman entered a U-S Bank downtown location Monday morning at about 10:00 a-m and handed an employee a note saying she was robbing the branch. After getting some cash, Kari Martin left. Des Moines police say they got a tip about her location three hours later. They found her at a motel at 7:00 p-m and took her into custody. Martin is being held in the Polk County Jail on a charge of robbery in the second degree.
3-Year-Old Boy Hit By Vehicle, Injured In Store Parking Lot
(West Des Moines, IA) — West Des Moines police report a three-year-old boy suffered a head injury Monday when he was hit by a vehicle in a store parking lot. The boy was conscious when officers arrived. The child was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Doctors say he is expected to recover. The names of the child and the driver involved haven’t been released.
Task Force Releases Post Election Recommendations
(Des Moines, IA) — A task force made up of secretaries of state from around the country have released six recommendations for states on handling post-election audits. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate was on the bipartisan task force and says the “best practices” are similar to what Iowa already does. They include things like post-election audits and hand counts that match ballots to what the tabulator said, Pate says the public is now demanding more information — and one key recommendation is to set the rules for an election well before the election. He says when the rules change midstream –that creates doubt with the public The task force of the National Association of Secretaries of State released the recommendations late last week.
Unions Cancel Labor Day Events Citing Pandemic
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Union leaders are canceling several Labor Day across the state because of the pandemic. The Hawkeye Area Labor Council voted to cancel all Labor Day events in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City, Marshalltown, and Mason City. Executive director, Rick Moyle, issued a statement that said the rising number of COVID cases led to the cancelation. The Iowa Federation of Labor’s website says the annual Labor Day observances organized by union members also have been canceled in Clinton, Des Moines, and the Quad Cities.
Hinson Says Afghan Situation Should Be Investigated
(Washington, DC) — Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson visited with veterans in Independence this weekend. Hinson says the Biden Administration had intelligence reports that Kabul would fall to the Taliban and Congress must investigate. Hinson says Congress should investigate why American military equipment is ending up in Taliban hands and she says any arbitrary deadline for withdrawal should be shelved until all Americans and allies in Afghanistan are evacuated.
