Home News Friday Afternoon News, October 8th

Friday Afternoon News, October 8th

Reynolds Visits With Northwest Iowa Business Leaders In Le Mars

(Le Mars) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was in Le Mars Friday afternoon to listen to comments from about two dozen business and community leaders from northwest Iowa.  She says the purpose of Friday’s meeting was to serve as a listening port to better understand how state agencies may be able to streamline their services to reduce duplication of services, and to build up Iowa’s workforce.

Reynolds says the business leaders emphasized a need for additional employees.

Reynolds says some of the comments from the business leaders is to look at offering various incentives to attract workers to Iowa.

 

 

 

Economic Development Director Says Iowans “Need To Tell Our Story”

(Le Mars) — Iowa’s Economic Development Director, Debi Durham wants Iowans to “tell our story.”  Durham was the guest speaker at a Le Mars Chamber of Commerce event on Friday.  She informed the gathering that our state has great potential and opportunities, we just need to share the information with the rest of the world.

Because of the state’s potential, Durham says is the reason Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds launched “This is Iowa” campaign.  The state’s economic development director says the campaign is to “showcase” Iowa to the world.

Durham says Iowa is often times overlooked since many corporate officials regard Iowa as simply as a “fly-over” state in between both coasts.  She says it is good that Iowa doesn’t have a negative image. However, she says the problem is that we don’t have any type of image at all.

Durham says Iowa is known for its rich agriculture base, but she says we need to expand beyond the nation’s old fashion perceptions of agriculture.

The Iowa Economic Development Director says many national-based media outlets, such as U-S News and World Report, are beginning to recognize Iowa’s potential.  She says the recent “Field of Dreams” major league baseball game held at
Dyersville also had the nation’s spotlight on Iowa.

 

 

 

Model Railroad Show To Be Held At Merrill On Saturday

(Le Mars) — If you enjoy seeing model railroads, then you may want to consider going to Kissenger Community Hall in Merrill on Saturday as the Floyd Valley Model Railroad Club will be hosting a model train show as part of the Prairies and Lakes Division of the National Model Railroads Association.  John Schneider is helping organize this year’s show and says doors will open at 8:00 a.m.

Schneider says the model railroad show will feature several displays or exhibits consisting of model railroad scenes.

Schneider anticipates the model railroad show will attract visitors from several states.

The local model railroad enthusiast says there are several different scale-size models that collectors like to discuss about model railroads.

Schneider says many people have a fascination with model rail roads simply because they themselves, or had relatives that worked for a railroad company, or also, like Schneider, the railroad passed by his farm as he was growing up.

Admission to the model railroad show is $3, and the show will continue until 3:00 p.m. at which time Schneider says the Prairie and Lakes Division of the National Model Railroader’s Association will hold its annual meeting.

 

 

 

US Senate Passes Ernst-Backed Measure to Combat Veteran Suicides

(Washington, DC)  —  Senator Joni Ernst says a bi-partisan bill aimed at combating veteran suicides unanimously cleared the U-S Senate.  The measure would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to designate one week per year as ‘Buddy Check Week” to educate veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks.  Ernst says too often, the men and women who have served our country in combat face mental health challenges when returning to civilian life.  She vows to keep pushing to get this important legislation signed into law.  The bill sponsored by Ernst and Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is based on the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” to ensure veterans receive the support they need.

 

 

 

White Flags on State Capitol Lawn Represent Lives Lost to COVID in Iowa

(Des Moines, IA)  —  There are white flags set up outside the Iowa State Capitol today (Friday) that represent lives lost to COVID-19 in the state.  A group of Iowa mothers placed six-thousand-654 flags on the north side lawn as a memorial to victims of the pandemic.  Organizers modeled it after a COVID memorial in Washington, D-C.  They say we should all mourn and grieve for the victims and their families.  The flags will be up until 4:00 this afternoon.

 

 

 

John Deere Union Workers to Vote on New 6-Year Contract

(Moline, IL)  —  Union workers at a dozen John Deere plants in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas will vote Sunday on a new, six-year contract.  The agreement would cover more than ten-thousand John Deere employees.  United Auto Workers leaders have said the deal would provide significant economic gains and it includes a minimum starting wage of 19 dollars an hour that could range as high as 30 dollars an hour if the worker has experience.  John Deere’s Iowa factories are in Ankeny, Davenport, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo.  The last time Deere workers went on strike was in 1986, during the upheaval of the Farm Crisis.

 

 

 

University of Northern Iowa Hosting High Marching School Band Regional

(Cedar Falls, IA)  —  High school marching bands from Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska will compete this weekend at the University of Northern Iowa Bands of America Iowa Regional Championship.  Spokesman James Stephens says it’s a competition- but there’s a lot of camaraderie.  He says everybody wants to support each other and to be there.  Stephens says the competition begins at 12:30 p-m. Saturday, with the doors to the UNI-Dome open at 11:30 a-m.  Iowa bands in the competition include Cedar Rapids Prairie, Davenport Central, Waukee Northwest, Ottumwa, and Independence.  The Iowa Regional is one of 22 Bands of America marching band championships across the country this fall.