Premier Communications Ask County For Assistance With Rural Broadband Internet Plan
(Le Mars) — During the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meeting held on Tuesday, officials with Premier Communications of Sioux Center informed the county governing board the communications company was awarded a grant amounting to $7.4 million dollars to install fiber optic high-speed broadband internet to rural regions of Plymouth County. Ryan Boone informed the supervisors the area would involve the rural regions of Le Mars, Merrill, Brunsville, Craig, and Struble. Boone says there are 1300 identified locations within the specified region. Boone says there is good news and disappointing news about the pending grant. The good news was the communications company was awarded the grant. However, the disappointing news was it was at a 35 percent level of funding, rather than the requested 50 percent. .
Boone explained to the county supervisors the total cost for installation with the 35 percent grant worth $7.4 million dollars.
That difference amounts to around $3 million dollars that Premier Communications is requesting from the county in order to serve a large portion of rural Plymouth County. The Premier Communications official acknowledged the $3 million dollars is a large commitment. However, he offered some suggestions to the county board as to how they may be able to help finance the project.
Boone indicated to the county supervisors that the state was providing a short turn-a-round time to respond and act on the awarded grant.
Premier Communications officials were asked if they thought they could secure additional loans or grants for the project, and Boone responded by saying probably not given the short time table. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors decided to table the issue until next week’s meeting.
Some Rural Iowans Call For Rejection of Redistricting Plan 1
(Des Moines, IA) — Advocates for rural Iowans are calling for the rejection of Plan 1 for redistricting while most of the speakers at a public hearing Wednesday night praised the proposed boundaries for legislative and congressional districts. Steve Woodhouse said “my concerns are just basically because there seems to be a huge divide between the wants and needs of rural Iowa versus that of urban, and I don’t think it’s going to be balanced enough with this map.” Thomas O’Donnell says the people who may oppose this map, “particularly Republicans who are thrown into the same districts in the General Assembly, have to face the reality that population in rural areas is declining,” Most of those who spoke praised the redistricting plan. Kim Hagemann of rural Polk County said, “I’m here to say: ‘Pass the map! Pass the map! Pass the map!” Lawmakers will meet in a special session on October 5th to consider Plan 1.
Sheldon Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Infant Daughter’s Death
(Primghar, IA) — A Sheldon man will spend up to five years in prison for the July 2020 death of his infant daughter. Twenty-year-old Lawrence Ruotolo, Junior was sentenced Wednesday in O’Brien County after pleading guilty to child endangerment. The criminal complaint says Ruotolo was watching the five-month-old girl when she starting screaming and crying. Investigators say he lost his temper and assaulted her. His daughter was unresponsive the next day and died four days later in a Sioux Falls hospital. The girl’s mother – 21-year-old Brittanee Baker – was reportedly sleeping during the assault and is accused of lying to cover for Ruotolo.
California Double Murder Suspect Arrested by US Marshals in Iowa
(Windsor Heights, IA) — A man accused of a killing two people in California is in law enforcement custody in central Iowa. The U-S Marshals Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force says it arrested 29-year-old Joshua Lee Wells of Long Beach last Thursday in Windsor Heights. Marshals say they delayed announcing Wells’ arrest at the request of California police. He’s accused of fatally shooting Juan Guizar-Gutierrez and Maricela Honorator in a parking lot earlier this month. Authorities had been searching near two weeks for Wells. No word on his connection to Iowa.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Announces New Farmer Mental Health Support Programs
DES MOINES, Iowa — As part of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been awarded a $500,000 grant to expand farmer mental health support programs in Iowa. The Department will partner with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to help raise awareness about mental health and wellness resources, and help make them more accessible to farmers and rural communities.
“We all need help from time to time and farmers and landowners are no exception. Some of the challenges they face are unique, like long-term financial stress, unpredictable weather and market uncertainty. We want anyone dealing with added stress and mental health challenges to know that they are not alone,” said Secretary Naig. “We are proud to partner with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to help make mental health and wellness resources more accessible to farmers and our rural communities.”
“While commodity prices have improved over the last year, the derecho a year ago and the drought that has spanned both years has impacted many Iowa farmers. These resources can help farmers and farm families deal with the added stress,” said John Lawrence, Iowa State University vice president for extension and outreach.
“Those who work with farmers will have access to tools to help them recognize mental health concerns and offer appropriate assistance.”
Through this grant, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff will offer community outreach and programming to individuals involved in agriculture and those who support them. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will also conduct facilitator training for programs focused on strengthening families. Farmer resource packets will be available with information on how to access stress assistance, wellness and family finance programming.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship applied for this grant through the “Farm and Ranch Assistance Network” program. Funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
The initiative builds upon recent Iowa State University Extension and Outreach efforts in this area, including:
- expanding Mental Health First Aid and Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) facilitators and training,
- providing Mental Health First Aid and QPR to those involved in agriculture, their advocates and youth professionals serving rural areas of the state,
- developing a web-based presence to support resource and information sharing, and
- developing a “culture of agriculture” training program directed to mental health and healthcare providers.
Farmers and farm families can find more information about the mental health and well-being programs and resources offered through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach at extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/mental-health-and-wellbeing and extension.iastate.edu/sfp10-14/. The Iowa Concern Hotline is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-447-1985.
