Underground Pipeline Being Proposed For Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — An underground pipeline that would transport pressurized liquid carbon dioxide from area ethanol plants, including Plymouth Energy of Merrill and Little Sioux Corn Processors of Marcus to North Dakota for long-term storage is being proposed and would include parts of Plymouth County. Plymouth County Board of Supervisors were briefed on the pipeline during Tuesday’s meeting. Jesse Harris serves as the Public Relations Director with Summit Carbon Solutions, as part of the Summit Ag and tells of the plan.
Harris says one of the benefits to the pipeline is to capture carbon dioxide and convert it to a near liquid form and store it underground, to help with the carbon sequestration and prevent it from entering the atmosphere.
Harris says the proposed pipeline will benefit the Iowa corn grower, as well as the ethanol industry.
The pipeline would be installed at a depth of four feet, and the diameter of the underground pipeline would be from four inches to 20 inches. Officials hope that construction on the pipeline would begin in 2023 with completion of the pipeline and operations to begin in 2024. An informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 16th at 12:00 noon to be held at the Le Mars Convention Center, lower level.
Naig Comments On State’s Crops Conditions
(Des Moines) — It was a very dry week across most of the state which allowed Iowa’s farmers 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 12, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay and corn silage. Some reports of old crop corn being moved to town prior to harvest were received.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 9% very short, 26% short, 63% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 14% very short, 37% short, 48% adequate and 1% surplus.
Crop maturity advanced across the State. Corn in or beyond the dent stage reached 87%, three days ahead of the 5-year average. Almost one-third of the corn crop has reached maturity, two days ahead of normal. Iowa’s corn condition rated 59% good to excellent. There were scattered reports of corn for grain being harvested. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 67%, three days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 30%, also three days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 62% good to excellent. There were also a few isolated reports of soybeans being harvested during the week. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig comments on the state’s crop development.
Governor Reynolds Calls For Special Session To Deal With Redistricting Of Legislative and Congressional Districts
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a proclamation convening a special legislative session on Tuesday, October 5th. The purpose of the special legislative session will be to consider and enact a plan of legislative and congressional redistricting in accordance with the framework set forth in chapter 42 of the Iowa code.
Iowa Supreme Court Sets December 1st As Deadline For New Political Boundaries
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Supreme Court has set December 1st as the deadline for Iowa lawmakers to approve new boundaries for Iowa congressional and legislative districts. The Legislative Services Agency will release new maps Thursday, part of the once every 10 years process of redrawing congressional and legislative district lines based on new U-S Census data. That data showing shifts in Iowa’s population didn’t get delivered until August — four months late — making it impossible to meet the September 15th constitutional deadline for having a redistricting plan approved.
Long-time aide to Republican Governors Branstad and Reynolds Wins Special Election
(Ankeny, IA) — Unofficial results show Republican Mike Bousselot (BOO-suh-low) won Tuesday’s special election in House District 37, which covers parts of Ankeny and northern Polk County. Bousselot got nearly 52 percent of the vote, while Democrat Andrea Phillips finished with just over 48 percent in her second run in the district. The seat had been held by Republican John Landon of Ankeny, who died in July. Bousselot had previously served as Governor Branstad’s top health care advisor, then as Branstad’s chief of staff. Another special election is coming up next month. Governor Kim Reynolds set October 12th as the date for a special election in Iowa House District 29. State Representative Wes Breckenridge resigned last week. He is now the assistant director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
Iowa Dairy Owner In Washington To Testify About Milk Prices
(Washington, DC) — The owner of a northwest Iowa dairy will testify today (Wednesday) about milk prices before the U-S Senate Agriculture Committee. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the problems with government regulation of the dairy industry date back decades, perhaps as far as the 1930s. He says the trouble originates with what are known as federal milk marketing orders which set up provisions for dairy processors. Grassley says it’s a troubled system that varies from state to state and significant reforms are needed. The hearing in Washington, D-C is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a-m Central time. The witnesses appearing before the panel include Christina Zuiderveen of Granville, managing partner of Black Soil Dairy.
West Des Moines Man Sentenced To Prison On Drug, Kidnapping Conviction
(Des Moines, IA) — A 40-year-old West Des Moines man is facing a prison sentence of up to 65 years after his conviction on drug and kidnapping charges. Joseph Hansen pleaded guilty to the drug charge last month. He was arrested in May for allegedly holding a former girlfriend against her will in an apartment while repeatedly assaulting her. The victim managed to escape and call the police. He entered an Alford plea in August to charges of domestic abuse and kidnapping. That means he asserts his innocence but acknowledges the state’s evidence would be enough to find him guilty.
Iowa Air and Road Travel Rebound From Pandemic
(Ames, IA) — State transportation officials say travel by airplane and automobile in Iowa have all bounced back this summer as things opened back up from pandemic shutdowns. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson says air traffic was pretty close to pre-pandemic levels in July and is now around 90 percent. Anderson says the car and truck counts on state and local roadways are pretty much back to where we were before COVID. He says overall travel is down one percent compared to 2019 levels. Traffic on roadways had dropped by 44 percent back in May of 2020 during the height of shutdowns. Anderson says the travel on city roadways is the one area that has been behind due to companies allowing employees to continue to work from home.
Des Moines Man Arrested For Fatally Stabbing Girlfriend’s Dog
(Des Moines, IA) — A Des Moines man is facing animal abuse charges for the alleged stabbing death of his girlfriend’s dog. Police responded to the report of a dispute with a weapon Sunday. The caller said she heard one of her dogs yelping and saw her boyfriend stabbing the animal. She locked herself in a bedroom and called police. The dog was taken to a veterinarian where it later died. Officers spotted 31-year-old Viljar Rosales Monday afternoon, but he ran from the scene. A police dog was deployed and Rosales was taken into custody. He was treated for a dog bite at the hospital before being booked in the Polk County jail.
Iowa Man Sentenced For Fatal Accident In NW Wisconsin
(Balsam Lake, WI) — A 49-year-old northern Iowa man has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a fatal accident last year in northwestern Wisconsin. Investigators say Michael Barkema of Klemme had a blood alcohol content of three-and-a-half times the legal limit, according to a breath test. Barkema pleaded guilty to a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. He had told law enforcement he’d had only one beer before the crash. Barkema was driving a truck on a county highway last year when he hit a vehicle driven by 54-year-old Dawn Richter of New Richmond. Richter died before she could be taken to a hospital.
