Home News Thursday News, October 14th

Thursday News, October 14th

Iowa State Banks To Acquire Financial Holdings Of Iowa Prairie Banks

(Hull) — Iowa State Bank of Hull intends to file papers with the Federal Reserve Board to take over the financial assets and liabilities of the Iowa Prairie Bank with locations at Brunsville, Merrill, and Hinton.  Public comments on the proposed transaction will be accepted through the Federal Reserve Board until November 12th.  Iowa State Bank has locations at Hull, Sheldon, Orange City, Ireton, Remsen, Paullina, Sanborn, Melvin, Sibley and Le Mars.

 

 

Diamond Vogel Holds Ground Breaking Ceremonies For New Research and Innovation Center

(Orange City) — Diamond Vogel Paints and Coverings of Orange City held ground breaking ceremonies for a new research and innovation center Wednesday afternoon.  President and CEO of Diamond Vogel Jeff Powell says the thought to expand the facilities began three years ago, and it is needed to keep up with customer needs.

The new facility, which is located immediately to the west of the corporate offices, will consist of two stories with 36,000 square feet of space. Powell says it will help consolidate technical services into one location.

The Diamond Vogel executive says they hope to add more employees in the future with the expansion, but for now, it is to expand the needed space for the business.

Powell says the new research and innovation center will have a cost of approximately $15 million dollars.

Diamond Vogel employs approximately 700 people with the Orange City headquarters having nearly half of the number.  Powell says they hope to have the facility completed and in use within a year’s time.

 

 

 

Plymouth And Sioux Counties Pork Producers Contribute Greatly To Local Economy

(Le Mars) — We continue our focus on the state’s pork industry as October is recognized as “pork month.”  Earlier this week we learned that the pork industry is responsible for creating more than 140,000 direct and indirect jobs in Iowa.  Iowa ranks first in the nation for pork production, and one-of-every four pigs from Iowa is slated for export.  What about the local economic impact from pork production?  Both Plymouth and Sioux County rank in the top four hog producing counties in Iowa…Sioux County is first, and Plymouth is fourth.  Both counties are among the top 20 hog producing counties in the nation.  Pat McGonegle is the Executive Director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association.  He says northwest Iowa is the belt buckle of the nation’s hog belt. McGonegle tells of the statistics associated with Plymouth County’s pork production.

 

McGonegle shares the pork related statistics of our neighbors to the north living in Sioux County.

The state’s pork producers official says further expansion within the pork industry may depend upon the price of grain, the cost of building materials, and the availability of the labor work force.

McGonegle says pork producers are keeping a watch on the spread of the deadly swine disease, African Swine Fever.  So far, the deadly disease has not entered the United States, but it has decimated hog herds in both Europe and Asia.

 

 

 

Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Murder – 2nd Time

(Orange City, IA). —  A jury in Sioux County District Court found 71-year-old Gregg Winterfeld of Spirit Lake guilty — for a second time — on a charge of second-degree murder Tuesday night. The case started May 9th, 2020, when Grant and Theresa Wilson of Cleghorn, Iowa, were visiting Winterfeld at a rural Ireton, Iowa, home. Grant Wilson and Winterfeld spent the day drinking alcohol, and at one point, Winterfeld locked Wilson out of the home, and armed himself. Winterfeld attempted to persuade Wilson to come back inside, but when he refused, Winterfeld shot him. Winterfeld was charged with first-degree murder in March and was found guilty of second-degree murder. Before sentencing, however, the court noted a procedural mistake and ordered a new trial. The re-trial ended with a second jury finding Winterfeld guilty of second-degree murder. A new sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

 

 

 

Farmers, Environmentalists Oppose World’s Largest Carbon Dioxide Pipeline

(Eldora, IA)  —  A proposal to build what’s called the world’s largest carbon dioxide pipeline is drawing opposition from Iowa farmers and environmentalists. Summit Carbon Solutions plans to build 700 miles of pipeline across Iowa to capture carbon from ethanol plants and bury it deep underground in North Dakota.  Beth Richards’ family farms in Hardin County, which is in the proposed path, and she questions how landowners would benefit from the project. “Why should landowners welcome encroachment on their land for a project that doesn’t pay direct dividends to them,” she asks, “other than a vague promise that ethanol is good for corn prices.” Summit is holding public meetings in the 30 Iowa counties the pipeline would pass through. After the meetings are held, the company can petition state regulators for a permit.

 

 

 

Congresswoman Hinson Explains Vote Against Raising Debt Ceiling

(Washington, DC)  —  First District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is explaining why she voted against raising the debt limit in the House Tuesday.  Hinson says her vote sends a message on Democrat spending.  “It is critical of course, that we do not default on our debt, she says. “But it is equally important that we don’t let democrats spend as much as they want on whatever they want to.” Her comments came during her weekly conference call with reporters.

 

 

 

Polk County Sheriff:  August Fatal Accident Results From Road Rage

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Authorities in Polk County say a fatal accident last summer resulted from a road rage incident.  Fifty-three-year-old John Schmidt of Pleasantville died when he lost control of his vehicle August 26th, crossed the center median, and was hit by two other vehicles.  Investigators say Schmidt and 32-year-old Steven Elmer Clark of Indianola had been traveling at a high rate of speed on U-S Highway 65 when the fatal accident happened.  Clark turned himself in and is free on bond.  He faces two charges, including homicide by vehicle-reckless driving.

 

 

 

State of Iowa Creating Opioid Treatment Training Program

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the state and University of Iowa Health are offering statewide opioid addiction treatment training.  The program will be funded with nearly four-million dollars from an opioid settlement — and will train doctors and many other health care providers.  Miller says we are very conscious of having a set of programs that cover the whole state.  U-I professor of psychiatry Doctor Gerard Clancy says our society is struggling with this pandemic beyond the virus infections themselves, and it shows up with opioid addictions.  Under the program U-I-H-C specialists will train practitioners across the state to use medication to treat opioid addiction.  Last year, there were 213 opioid-related deaths in Iowa.

 

 

 

Reports Finds Iowa’s Childhood Obesity Rate at 16.9%

(Des Moines, IA)  —  A new report finds about one in every six Iowa kids is obese, which is on par with national figures.  Jamie Bussel with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says the annual State of Childhood Obesity report studied kids nationwide between the ages of ten and 17.  Bussel says for Iowa the rate is 16-point-nine percent while the national average is 16-point-two percent.  Iowa ranks 18th in the nation on this report, a rise from 22nd place last year and a drop from 14th the year before.  The pandemic has forced many Iowa kids to live a more sedentary lifestyle, and Bussel says it’s absolutely having an impact on our weight and our health.  The study suggests solutions that include making universal school meals permanent and broadening federal programs designed to pull families from poverty.