Hy Vee To Build New Store In Le Mars
(Le Mars) — Hy Vee is ready to build a new store in Le Mars. That news was announced on Tuesday during the Le Mars City Council meeting. City Administrator, Jason Vacura shared the information with council members.
The Iowa-based grocery supermarket had plans to build a new store several years ago when it had acquired a parcel of land along Lincoln St. across the highway from Habitue To Go. Those plans were placed on hold and Hy Vee continued to conduct business from its present facility. Vacura says construction may begin within the next three weeks. Councilman Steve Wick asked about clarification of the intended location for the new store.
Chaplain Joins Sheriff’s Office
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors were introduced to the new Sheriff’s Chaplain Tuesday morning. The new chaplain is Jake Wulbecker who serves as the Associate Pastor for the Le Mars Bible Church. Wulbecker says he will assist the Sheriff’s Department deputies during times of trauma and stress.
The new Sheriff’s chaplain says he work on-call when needed. He says he will at times ride along with deputies to visit with them about any stress they may have that is related to the job.
Sheriff Jeff TeBrink saw a need for a chaplain within the sheriff’s department and approached Wulbecker.
Sheriff TeBrink says the new chaplain won’t necessarily be involved with the inmates on any type of Bible study, since there is already a support network already established to assist with the inmate’s spiritual needs.
County Supervisors To Have Increased Premium Costs With Risk Sharing Protection
(Le Mars) — Due to the derecho storm that swept across the state of Iowa on August 10, 2020 and devastating thousands of structures and buildings, Plymouth County Board of Supervisors were informed on Tuesday that the county’s premium for protection will increase by $31,000 over a year ago costs. The county governing board approved the renewal of risk shared protection through the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool plan. Rob Bixenman with Perspective Insurance told the county board the program acts much like insurance, but it is not insurance.
Bixenman says the entity is a non-profit organization and all members must share in the profits or losses sustained through claims. Bixenman says normally members would receive some credit back to the members. However, this year that was not the case because of the large volume of claims by other members of the Iowa Community Assurance Pool. Bixenman recited the numbers associated with the devastating derecho storm, which caused heavy losses and thousands of claims from various communities.
Bixenman further explained the statistics from last summer’s storm.
Bixenman informed the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors the derecho basically wiped out the reserves that ICAP had acquired in the years leading up to the derecho storm.
The county board approved renewing with the ICAP and to the higher premium costs. This year the county will have to pay $255,702 for their premium.
Search Warrant Executed At Iowa Home Linked To Xavior Harrelson Case
(New Sharon, IA) — Officers from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were at a home in New Sharon Tuesday, executing a search warrant. That home is linked to the Xavior Harrelson case, according to multiple media reports. Human remains found in a farm field near Montezuma have been confirmed as belonging to the 10-year-old boy who went missing. The A-T-F was following up on a firearms case – separate from the child’s death – and Iowa Public Radio is reporting the subjects in that case are associated with Xavior Harrelson’s family. Authorities say the boy’s death is suspicious.
US Secretary Of Agriculture Vilsack To Visit Deere Picketers In Des Moines
(Des Moines, IA) — U-S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will visit John Deere picketers in Des Moines this (Wednesday) afternoon. The former Iowa governor plans to make the stop at Deere’s Des Moines Works to start a two-day visit to Iowa. The strike by 10 thousand John Deere workers is in its seventh day. Vilsack will also attend events surrounding the 2021 World Food Prize. The latest offer to the U-A-W workers was rejected by about 90 percent during an October 10th vote. The strike started four days later.
Linn County Buying Building To Keep Homeless People Off Streets This Winter
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Linn County officials are buying a 16-thousand square-foot building to help keep homeless people out of the cold this winter. The Cedar Rapids shelter will have a capacity of 100. The temporary shelter will function as an overflow location when the Fillmore Shelter has no more space. Renovation work will be needed before the building in an industrial area can be used. Bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities will be added. The county used American Rescue Plan money to pay Alliant Energy 395 thousand dollars for the building.
Keokuk Man Arrested In Fort Madison On Drug Charges
(Fort Madison, IA) — Members of the Lee County Narcotics Task Force say the arrest of a 37-year-old Keokuk man is connected to an ongoing investigation of the sale of methamphetamine. Benjamin Mitchell was taken into custody Monday. He faces multiple two felony drug charges and two misdemeanors, with several more still pending.
State Health Officials Encourage Iowans to Get Flu Vaccine This Season
(Des Moines, IA) — State health officials are warning this flu season could be far worse than normal. Interim Iowa Department of Public Health director Kelly Garcia says the flu vaccine is widely available and can be taken at the same time as a COVID booster shot. Garcia says this year they’re seeing some disease trends with other respiratory viruses which would indicate we’re headed into a high volume flu year. She’s encouraging everyone to get the flu vaccine. During a town hall meeting with Iowa A-A-R-P members, Garcia urged Iowans to stay home if they have flu symptoms so we’re not putting pressure on hospitals and health care providers. About 39 percent of Iowans got a flu shot last year.
Grassley to Seek Federal Aid For Newton Wind Blade Plant
(Washington, DC) — An Iowa wind turbine blade maker is closing in December and eliminating 700 jobs, at the same time the federal government is announcing plans to heavily invest in new off-shore wind farms. U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll make the case to President Biden to consider manufacturing those blades for the massive new project at T-P-I Composites in Newton. Grassley says it’s hurting those families so we’re going to encourage the Biden Administration to build those in Iowa if the government’s got anything to do with it, because we’re the home of wind energy. The Iowa Republican says he’ll act as a sort of emissary to the White House on Newton’s behalf. Grassley added, “as the father of the Wind Energy Tax Credit, I want to keep it going.”
Iowa Ranks 23rd in State of Mental Health in America Report
(Undated) — Iowa remains in the middle of the pack in a new report called the State of Mental Health in America, which ranks the states based on 15 mental health access and prevalence measures. President and C-E-O Schroeder Stribling says Iowa places 23rd on the latest rankings. Stribling says “Iowa is in a strong position with that trend and of course, as is true for all states, you can continue to develop additional resources for people, especially as we get prepared for the current mental health crisis.” The non-profit Mental Health in America offers a free, anonymous, online screening program which has seen exceptionally heavy use in the months since the pandemic struck our country. Stribling says they saw a more than 600-percent increase, primarily among youth ages 11 to 17. The report finds COVID-19 has brought greater morbidity and mortality, as well as disastrous effects on the nation’s mental health.
Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Meth Distribution Charges
(Sioux City, IA) — A northwest Iowa woman busted with more than 42 pounds of methamphetamine is pleading guilty to federal drug charges. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 41-year-old Heather Sorgdrager of Sioux City admitted to conspiring to distribute large quantities of meth in the area. Law enforcement in New Mexico found Sorgdrager and another person in possession of 42 pounds in April. She told police that she intended to bring the meth to Sioux City. Sorgdrager faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in federal prison and a possible maximum sentence of life.
