Home News Wednesday News, September 22nd

Wednesday News, September 22nd

Le Mars FFA To Host “Hunger Is A Factor – Fill The Tractor”

(Le Mars) — This is Homecoming week for Le Mars Community High School, and for the fourth year, the Le Mars FFA chapter is hosting a program to draw attention to those who are often hungry and under privileged. Calla Langel serves as the local FFA chapter’s reporter, and tells us about the program called “Hunger is a factor — Fill the tractor.”

Langel says the FFA chapter will have two tractors near the entrances of the football stadium during Friday evening’s game.  Attendees of the football game are urged to bring along non-perishable food items and drop them off in the front-end loader of the tractor.

The FFA chapter officer says their goal is to hopefully exceed the donations from previous years.  Langel explains the collected food will be donated to local food pantries.

Langel says if you cannot attend Friday night’s game, but still wish to participate in the food donation program, food items can be dropped off at either the High School office, or at the school’s agriculture building.  Langel explains the “Hunger is a factor – Fill the tractor” is one of the local FFA’s major projects for the year.  She says donating food makes everyone feel good.

 

 

 

Floyd Valley Healthcare Foundation To Host “Celebrating Our Heroes” Wine And Craft Beer Fund Raiser

(Le Mars) — Join the Floyd Valley Foundation for our annual fall fundraising event!  Enjoy a fun evening with friends and family on November 13, 2021 at P’s Pizza House supporting a great cause.  Doors will open at 6:00 pm with a variety of hand selected local wine and craft beer for sampling.  In addition to the tasting, a unique meal of gourmet hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.

 Individual tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased by visiting floydvalley.home.qtego.net. Proceeds from this year’s event will be used to assist in the purchase of new equipment for the Floyd Valley Therapies’ expansion. 

 Seating will be first come first serve when the doors open. Masks will be encouraged and hand sanitizer provided.  If circumstances change, we are prepared to shift to a virtual event with to-go food and drinks.

 Silent auctions will be virtual again this year and will begin on Saturday, November 8th with select items and then will continue with additional items that evening.  Back again will be the popular and unique Golden Bottle Event that will kick off the live auction.  As doors open, attendees will have an opportunity to make a $100 donation for a hand selected craft beer/wine pack. Only 30 of the craft beer/wine packs will be sold and one box will include a VISA gift card.

The night will end with a program honoring all FVH employees, area EMS/Fire Rescue, police and sheriff’s departments as well as the live auction.  The live auction will feature premier items including a Sipping Napa Valley at Home package, a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino package, Cabin Get Away in Okoboji, a piece of exquisite jewelry from Hotopp Jewelry & Gifts and much more.

 “We are so excited to again be hosting this event and at a new venue! This event continues to be a well-attended fundraiser and not only raises funds for the Foundation but also increases awareness of services provided by Floyd Valley Healthcare. The volunteer committee is planning another unique and enjoyable evening that is sure to be the signature community event of the year,” states Amy Harnack, Foundation Manager. 

 

 

 

Ernst Wants To Have Monument On National Mall To Honor Victims Of War On Terrorism

(Washington) — After their bipartisan bill was blocked on the Senate floor, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, are continuing their push to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to honor those who served in the Global War on Terrorism. Ernst and Hassan, along with Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation President/CEO Marina Jackman and Gold Star wife Jane Horton, held a press conference today calling on Congress to pass their bill. Ernst spoke of her disappointment in the manner the Biden Administration has handled the exit strategy from Afghanistan, but offers her continued support to the military personnel and their families for their service to our country.

Ernst says it is the right thing to do to honor those military personnel that have lost their lives to the War on Terrorism by constructing a memorial monument on the Nation’s Capital Mall grounds.

Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, a co-sponsor of Ernst’ bill echoed Ernst’ remarks by saying a monument is needed to honor the brave men and women from the War on Terrorism.

Ernst’s efforts to set up a memorial for the  War On Terrorism was blocked by Senate Democrats.  In addition, Congress had passed a bill back in 2003 which would no longer permit any additional monuments and memorials to be on the grounds of the National Mall, the grass area that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the west, including the Viet Nam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, World War Two Memorial, the Washington Monument in the center of the mall, and extending to the U-S Capitol Building on the east edge of the mall.

 

 

 

Feenstra Critical Of Democrats Voting To Raise The Spending Limit

WASHINGTON — Iowa 4th District U-S Congressman Randy Feenstra is speaking out against the action by Democrats to vote to increase the spending level.  The Iowa Republican shared some critical comments directed towards House Democrats who voted to raise the debt ceiling as they simultaneously scramble to pass nearly $5 trillion in spending.

“Last week I wrapped up my second 39 County Tour. I heard from a number of Iowans who do not want their tax dollars spent on trillions in far-Left Green New Deal provisions — and they certainly do not support Democrats raising the debt ceiling to implement their unprecedented progressive agenda.

“If Democrats want to unilaterally jam their Socialist Spending Spree through Congress to the peril of our economy and future generations, then they can take sole responsibility for raising the debt ceiling. Democrats are failing to govern responsibly, and like I promised, I voted against increasing the debt limit.

“We need to rein in out-of-control spending by implementing commonsense measures like discretionary spending limits, spending-to-GDP targets, and federal deficit targets. Further, in the coming weeks and months, we must get inflation under control, reduce regulations, and keep taxes low so our economy can fully recover.

“Make no mistake: By raising the debt limit today, Democrats are paving the way for higher inflation, higher taxes, and cradle-to-grave government control over our lives.”

 

 

 

Grassley Leads Opponets In Recent Poll

(Des Moines, IA)  —  The latest Iowa Poll shows incumbent U-S Senator Chuck Grassley has a big lead among registered voters even before he has declared that he is running.  The Iowa Republican leads former Democratic Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer 55-to-37 percent.  The numbers suggest Grassley would have a good chance of winning an eighth term in office.  Just three months ago, 64 percent of Iowans told poll-takers they thought it was time for somebody else to fill Grassley’s seat.  The veteran politician says he will announce whether he is running by November 1st – a year before the election.

 

 

Five Iowa Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Schools Designation

(Des Moines, IA) — The U-S Department of Education is recognizing five Iowa schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021. The five schools were chosen in the high-performance category that is based on their academic performance on state assessments or national tests. The Blue Ribbon Schools are Bedford Elementary, Pleasant Valley High School, Lewis Central High School, Hills Elementary in the Iowa City School District, and the Spencer Middle School. They are among 325 schools nationwide to receive the designation — and will be honored in a national ceremony later this year. Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo said this prestigious recognition celebrates the incredible work and dedication of Iowa administrators, educators and staff in supporting students and helping prepare them for future success.

 

 

 

League of Women Voters of Iowa Supports Redistricting Plan 1

(North Liberty, IA) — The League of Women Voters of Iowa is calling on the Iowa Legislature to approve Plan 1 for redistricting. President Terese Grant said the plan released last week does an incredible job of reflecting the population shifts that occurred in Iowa over the past decade. Grant said, “we need to encourage our legislators to vote to adopt this plan…when they convene in special session on October 5th.” Grant testified today (Tuesday) during one of three public hearings on the plan. A dozen people have testified at the two public hearings on the redistricting plan and all urged legislators to approve the first plan that’s been released. A third public hearing on Plan 1 is scheduled for Wednesday night.

 

 

 

Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 10 Years For Burglary, Selling Stolen Guns in Iowa

(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A Wisconsin man will spend ten years in federal prison for burglarizing a home and selling stolen guns to a drug dealer in Dubuque. Twenty-three-year-old Shiloh Wolf from Montfort was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession, barter and sale of a stolen firearm. Wolf admitted to stealing ten pistols and revolvers and 800 rounds of ammunition from a home in Bagley, Wisconsin in July of 2016. Prosecutors say Wolf traded five of the guns and hundreds of round of ammo to a meth dealer in Dubuque for cash and drugs. Iowa law enforcement officers discovered a number of felons in possession of guns Wolf stole in the burglary over the next several years.

 

 

 

Clay County Fair Reports Record Spending in 2021

(Spencer, IA) — Organizers of the Clay County Fair are calling this year’s event a success. C-E-O Jeremy Parsons says fairgoers in Spencer spent an all-time record of two-point-53-million dollars on food, beverages and carnival rides. Overall attendance this year was 277-thousand-389 — about 20-thousand fewer visitors than the 2019 Clay County Fair. The nine-day event was canceled last year due to COVID-19. Amusement rides set single-day records eight times this year. The more than 150 agriculture-related exhibitors makes it the largest farm machinery and ag equipment show of any fair in the country. This year’s Clay County Fair ran September 11th through the 19th.

 

 

 

Iowa Ag Secretary:  State’s Corn Crop Looks “Surprisingly Good”

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa’s secretary of agriculture is telling reporters the state’s corn crop looks “surprisingly good” on the cusp of the harvest season.  Despite the hot and dry summer, Mike Naig is also optimistic about the Iowa soybean crop.  Local 5 Television News in Ames says Naig thinks yields should be impressive this fall.  The arrival of a cold front will offer excellent conditions for Iowa farmers over the next few weeks.  The lack of rain in the forecast is not good for farmers in western and northwestern Iowa – where they’ve been dealing with drought conditions most of this year.

 

 

 

SE Iowa Authorities Arrest Missouri Man Suspected Of Statutory Rape

(Centerville, IA)  —  Authorities in southeastern Iowa have arrested a Missouri man suspected of statutory rape.  Thirty-nine-year-old Joshua Davis Pearson of Kirksville was taken into custody Tuesday a little after 12:15 a-m in a rural area of Appanoose County.  He had led law enforcement on a chase that covered two counties before he jumped out of his pickup in a bean field and was arrested after a short chase on foot.  The chase had started when Monroe County deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop for a violation.  Kirksville police say Pearson sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl.  He is being held in the Appanoose County Jail.

 

 

 

Google Fiber Construction Crew Hits Water Main, Causes West Des Moines Problems

(West Des Moines, IA)  —  A major construction project to install Google Fiber in West Des Moines is getting some push-back from residents.  A construction crew hit a water main earlier this week.  A spokesperson for the city says the 42-million-dollar project will have an impact on every city resident.  An estimate for the number of complaints that have been filed so far isn’t available.  City engineer Brian Hemesath says those complaints aren’t common, but crews are dispatched quickly to take care of any service interruptions.  The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.