Firefighters Respond to Vehicle Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to Wells Enterprises north ice cream plant at about 11:50 a.m. Monday morning for a vehicle fire. The vehicle reported to be on fire was a Ford pickup. Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says the fire was accidental and he believes it was started due to an electrical problem. The pickup sustained substantial damage.
(photo contributed.)
Le Mars Police Department To Host “Night Out” Open House
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police Department will hold its “Night Out” Tuesday evening with an open house at the new Le Mars Police Department headquarters. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says the Night Out event will feature many public safety entities, and not just the local police department.
Chief Vande Vegte says the Night Out event is important as another opportunity for the police department to reach out to the local community and share dialog.
Vande Vegte asks Le Mars residents to park on the south side of the police station. He says he is aware of one block party scheduled for Tuesday’s Night Out event.
Vande Vegte says the purpose behind holding a block party on Night Out is to get to know your neighbors, and to establish a neighborhood watch program. The Night Out open house will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a meal, and is scheduled to conclude at around 7:00 p.m.
Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department To Close Road
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Road Department will be closing 330th Street, beginning today, from county road L-14 going east for one mile to Roosevelt Avenue. The road will be closed until Friday, October 15th due to the replacement of a bridge with a culvert pipe.
Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors To Meet
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hear a report from Sheriff Jeff TeBrink as he will request approval of another full-time jailer. County Emergency Services Management Director, Duane Walhof will discuss with the county board of a EMPG grant, and seeking ARPA funds. County Recorder, Jo-lynn Goodchild will submit her quarterly report, and County Engineer, Tom Rohe will discuss road construction projects.
City Council To Hold Public Hearings
(Le Mars) — Le Mars City Council will hold two separate public hearings today at the start of the city council meeting. One hearing will solicit comments regarding American Bank’s request for approval to vacate an alley, which would allow them to expand their facilities. The expansion of the building facilities would be directly over city utilities such as a sewer line, water main, and underground electrical power lines. The other public hearing will determine the sale of property from the late Dennis Lundgren’s estate. The property has been deeded to Floyd Valley Healthcare, which has turned the property over to the city on a quit claim deed. The two tracts of land consist of approximately 225 acres. The property is scheduled for a land auction on October 29th. The city council is expected to approve the sale of property. In terms of action items, the city council will decide whether to approve and proceed with Phase 2 construction project for the new police station. The city council will review a speed limit ordinance. The council will also look at rezoning for Dogwood third addition.
Area 4-H Members Celebrate National 4-H Week
(Le Mars) — This is National 4-H Week, and 4-H members across the state are promoting the youth organization. Ann Schoenrock is the 4-H and Youth Extension and Outreach Coordinator for Plymouth County Extension and Outreach. She says what used to be thought as a rural-based organization has expanded to appeal to urban and suburban youth, and it has been broaden to include even young elementary students.
Schoenrock says when students reach the 4th grade is when they join the traditional 4H organization.
The Plymouth County Extension 4-H official says this past year, exhibitors could participate in the “Mystery Horticulture” project.
Schoenrock says the 4-H program offers members many opportunities beyond just exhibiting at the local county fair.
Plymouth County is fortunate to rank among the top Iowa counties for 4-H membership.
Schoenrock says 4-H members that reside in town are offered some opportunities to experience farm life, and even exhibit livestock entries at the Plymouth County Fair.
Schoenrock says 4-H members will be competing in a contest that involves decorating downtown business windows as a way to help promote 4-H during National 4-H week. She says the 4-H youth council will be distributing information to 4th and 5th graders at all the schools during 4-H week as a way to also promote the organization, and encourage students to become members.
Iowa Lawmakers Return To Capitol For Special Session
(Des Moines, IA) — State lawmakers return to the Iowa Capitol today (Tuesday) for a rare special session. The session was called for a vote to accept or reject new political boundaries drawn up following the 2020 Census. House Speaker Pat Grassley has given no indication of how Republicans might vote. Grassley does say he wants to keep the special session to this issue only. The boundaries are based on data released by the U-S Census Bureau in February. Governor Kim Reynolds scheduled the special session through a proclamation last month.
Applications Opened For Certain Iowa Families IN LiHeap Program
(Des Moines, IA) — The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP (Lie-heap) has more money this year. The director of the program. Christine Taylor, says the program begins November first of every year, but if you or someone in your home is 60 years of age or older, or disabled, then you can begin applying October 1st. She says they received funds from the American Rescue Act and they will be passing the extra money onto the recipients. The regular payment is around 470 dollars and she says they may be able to give an extra payment at the end of the spring.
Iowa State Graduates Who Missed Commencement Can Walk Across The Stage
(Ames, IA) — Iowa State University graduates who didn’t get to attend their commencement in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic will get their chance to walk across the stage Saturday. That ceremony will include students who graduated between May 2020 and August 2021. So far, about 370 students have said they plan to attend. I-S-U spokesperson Abbie Suntken says many of them thought they lost the opportunity. Now, parents and friends will be able to watch them get their degrees. Twelve thousand students who were denied the experience are eligible to take part this weekend.
40th Eastern Iowa Honor Flight Spotlights Veteran Who Has Supported Past Flights
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Organizers of the 40th Eastern Iowa Honor Flight have named today’s (Tuesday’s) event after Navy veteran Mike Wilson. He has financially supported four different flights over the years. Wilson told K-C-R-G Television his experience on one of the early flights spurred him to donate more than 200 thousand dollars. He says it’s a good idea to “share what you have.” Wilson is also an advisor to the Honor Flight board of directors, sharing advice on ways to make the experience better for the veterans.
Man Found Dead After Marshalltown Fire
(Marshalltown, IA) — Investigators in Marshalltown are trying to find the cause of a house fire that left a man dead. Marshalltown firefighters were called around 5:00 Sunday morning. Fire was visible in the living room area and neighbors told firefighters they heard knocks and screams for help. Firefighters found the body of a 71-year old man after putting out the fire. His name has not been released.
Troopers Use Trucker To Find Driving Violations
(Des Moines, IA) — The last of five statewide Traffic Fatality Reduction Task Force special non-holiday enforcement efforts wrapped up on Monday. State Patrol spokesman, Sergeant Alex Dinkla, says they used a new technique in central Iowa where they had a trooper riding with a trucker up and down I-80/35 specifically looking for drivers using their cellphone or electronic communication device in an inappropriate manner. Dinkla says they only used the Trooper and the truck for a few hours and wrote 21 citations. One of the first goals is to have the yearly deaths on Iowa roadways drop below 300.
Axne Talks About Infrastructure Package
(Norwalk, IA) — Third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says there is less turmoil among Democrats working on an infrastructure package than is being portrayed in the media. She says progressives and moderates are working together on a lot of issues. During a stop in Norwalk Axne says she wishes Democrats had gone about this process differently — and suggests failure to pass the legislation will be an economic setback for the country.
Poll Finds Trump Popularity Up In Iowa
(Undated) — A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds former President Donald Trump’s favorability rating in Iowa is higher now than it was while he was president. The poll found 53 percent of those surveyed have a very favorable or mostly favorable view of the former president. Trump’s favorability rating is 91 percent among Iowa Republicans. Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Des Moines this Saturday, his first trip back to the state since leaving office in January.
Harvest Is Progressing Ahead Of Five-year Schedule
(Des Moines) — Harvest made good progress even with variable precipitation late in the week, allowing Iowa’s farmers 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 3, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay, soybeans and corn.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 13 percent very short, 32 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 17 percent very short, 36 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached maturity, six days ahead of normal. Corn harvest for grain reached 19 percent statewide, eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain fell to 20 percent. Iowa’s corn condition rated 60 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 92 percent, eight days ahead of normal. Producers harvested over 20 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop during the week ending October 3, with the total harvested reaching 40 percent, ten days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in central and east central Iowa have now harvested half of their soybean crop. Soybean condition was rated 64 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated 27 percent good to excellent. Spotty precipitation helped keep some pastures green for cattle to continue grazing, but water for livestock continues to be an issue.
Harvest made good progress even with variable precipitation late in the week, allowing Iowa’s farmers 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 3, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay, soybeans and corn.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 13 percent very short, 32 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 17 percent very short, 36 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached maturity, six days ahead of normal. Corn harvest for grain reached 19 percent statewide, eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain fell to 20 percent. Iowa’s corn condition rated 60 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 92 percent, eight days ahead of normal. Producers harvested over 20 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop during the week ending October 3, with the total harvested reaching 40 percent, ten days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in central and east central Iowa have now harvested half of their soybean crop. Soybean condition was rated 64 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated 27 percent good to excellent. Spotty precipitation helped keep some pastures green for cattle to continue grazing, but water for livestock continues to be an issue.
