Second Carbon Dioxide Underground Pipeline Being Proposed For Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — Another carbon dioxide underground pipeline is being introduced to cross the state of Iowa and carry pressurized liquid carbon dioxide. The Iowa Utilities Board brought the issue to the attention of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors through a letter directed to the county board. This time, the pipeline is being proposed by Navigator C02 L.L.C. and will transport the carbon to Illinois. The pipeline is being referred to as the Heartland Greenway System and will cross the state in a diagonal pattern from Lyon County in the northwest to Lee County in the southeast.
A branch of the proposed main pipeline will cut across Woodbury County, then go through Plymouth County near the eastern side of the county between Kingsley and Remsen, passing through a small area of Cherokee County, and connecting to the main pipeline in O’Brien County.
The entire length of the proposed carbon dioxide pipeline will cover 885 miles within Iowa. A public hearing meeting has been scheduled for Monday evening, November 29th to be held at the Le Mars Convention Center in Le Mars. That public meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. As mentioned, this is the second proposed pipeline to cross Plymouth County and transport carbon dioxide. The first proposed pipeline would connect the Plymouth Energy ethanol plant near Merrill, along with the Little Sioux Corn Processors ethanol facility near Marcus, and the Siouxland Energy Cooperative of Sioux Center and would transport the sequestered carbon dioxide to an underground storage facility located at North Dakota. The first pipeline was proposed by Summit Ag and would be referred to as Summit Carbon Solutions.
Supervisors Hear Report Of Clean-up Status Of Collected Salvage On Property
(Le Mars) — During the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meeting held on Tuesday, the county governing board heard an update from former county supervisor Mark Loutsch regarding the clean-up process of collected salvage at the property of 18083 Iris Avenue, located approximately five miles west of Le Mars near Highway 3. Loutsch informed the supervisors that in his estimation approximately 50 percent of the salvage property has been removed from the premises. Loutsch says a contractor from South Sioux City, Nebraska, has agreed to assist with the clean-up of the property. Shawn Stapleton of Stapleton Salvage is scheduled to appear at the property this week to remove additional salvage items. The owner of the property has had court orders directing him to clean up the property or face fines. The county supervisors say the property owner has paid the court ordered fines, but still has been ordered to clean up the property that violates the county zoning ordinances. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have not established a hard deadline for the salvage to be cleared, only that progress continues.
Gehlen Catholic To Host Veteran’s Day Program
(Le Mars) –Veterans Day is Thursday, and again Gehlen Catholic school will hold a special Veteran’s Day program beginning at 8:45 a.m. Alissa Schipper is overseeing the annual tribute to our local veterans. She says local veterans have expressed their appreciation for the annual program.
The Gehlen Catholic Director of Campus Ministry says it is an event that involves the entire school.
Schipper says the Veteran’s Day Program will feature music, both instrumental and choral by the high school music students. The traditional military branch tribute will occur as various Gehlen High School students will parade into the Dreckman Memorial gymnasium displaying the flag for each specific military branch. Veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard are encouraged to stand while their respective flag is brought into the gym, and their respective military anthem is heard. Schipper says the popular roll call of the “Wall of Honor” featuring photos and a brief description of local veterans, many with a connection to Gehlen Catholic School, will again occur at this year’s program. Schipper says the students are often nervous about reading the more than 100 veteran names, but they understand the importance of the tribute, and they take the responsibility seriously.
Schipper says this year’s program will feature the origin as well as the significance of “Quilts of Valor”
Schipper says the Gehlen Catholic School Veteran’s Day program will begin at 8:45 a.m. and will last approximately an hour. The entire community is invited to attend the ceremonies honoring our local veterans. Schipper says following the program, a special reception will be held in the library for the local veterans.
Despite Summer Drought, USDA Predicts Large Corn Harvest
(Ames) — The U-S Department of Agriculture issued its crop production estimates on Tuesday. Corn production is estimated at 15.1 billion bushels nationwide, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 7 percent from 2020. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 177.0 bushels per harvested acre, up 0.5 bushel from the previous forecast and up 5.6 bushels from last year. Iowa will retain its title of the top corn producing state with 2.5 million bushels with an average yield of 201 bushels per acre. Last year’s average was listed at 171 bushels per acre. As for the soybean production, the nation’s farmers are expected to harvest 4.42 billion bushels, down one percent from the previous forecast but up five percent from last year. Based on conditions as of November 1st, yields are expected to average 51.2 bushels per harvested acre, down 0.3 bushel from the previous forecast, but up 0.2 bushel from 2020. Illinois is expected to be the top producer of soybeans with 675 million bushels, and Iowa will be in second place with an estimated harvest of 601 million bushels of soybeans with an average yield of 60 bushels per acre. Chad Hart is an agricultural economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. He believes the report may appear neutral to the grain marketing trade.
Hart says even though many parts of Iowa were suffering from drought conditions during the spring and summer growing months. He believes farmers were anticipating dry conditions, and therefore selected hybrids that were a bit more drought tolerant, and as a result those hybrids produced better than expected yields.
Hart says grain prices have been holding strong despite the larger than expected harvested crop. The Iowa State University economist says although China, a major purchaser of U-S commodities, has been on a big buying spree during the last couple of years, the Chinese people have pulled back somewhat on their farm commodity needs.
Body Pulled From Wapsipinicon River in Northeast Iowa
(Quasqueton, IA) — Authorities in northeast Iowa are investigating the discovery of a body in the Wapsipinicon River near Quasqueton. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says fishermen reported a body in the river just before 8:30 this morning (Tuesday). Deputies and first responders pulled a man’s body from the water. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office is doing an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Sheriff’s officials say there is no reason to believe foul play is involved.
Traffic in Iowa Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels in October
(Ames, IA) — More Iowa drivers are back on the roads this fall. Iowa D-O-T spokesman Stuart Anderson told the Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) that October was the first month I believe that our overall traffic in the state of Iowa is above pre-pandemic levels on a monthly comparison basis. Anderson says October 2021 vehicle miles traveled was one-point-five percent higher than October of 2019. He says the county system had a nice bump in October and the harvest season impacted that. Anderson added that overall traffic in the state is positive now after dropping around 44 percent in May of 2020.
Change of Plea Hearing Set For Suspect in Murder of Lake Park Woman
(Spirit Lake, IA) — One of the suspects in the killing of a Lake Park woman plans to change his plea next month. Twenty-four-year-old Justice Bernston pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of 25-year-old Angel Bastman in August. A judge has a set a December 17th hearing for Bernston to enter a different plea. The Dickinson County Attorney’s Office is accusing the other suspect – Allison Decker – of intimidating witnesses in the case. A protective order was issued against Decker Monday. Her trial is delayed until May 17th.
15-Year-Old Dies of Injuries Suffered in Des Moines Shooting
(Des Moines, IA) — Police in Des Moines say a 15-year-old boy shot on Sunday did not survive his injuries. Officers said today (Tuesday) that the boy died in the hospital and it is now a homicide investigation. Authorities found citizens doing C-P-R on the victim before he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Investigators say they have been following leads, but no arrests have been made in the case. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact Des Moines police detectives or Crimestoppers of Central Iowa.
Iowa Governor Has No Plans To Intervene In Strike By John Deere Workers
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she has no plans to intervene in the strike by John Deere workers. That job action is entering its fourth week at plants in Iowa and two other states. Reynolds told reporters during a stop in Pella Tuesday that she is confident the sides will reach a settlement. She says her office is letting the process work out and it is working out. A company spokesperson said last week Deere won’t resume negotiations with the U-A-W and its second contract offer was its best and final offer.
Iowa State University Agricultural Economist, Dr. Chad Hart says the longer the strike continues, the more it will adversely affect the agricultural economy.
Hart says if farmers can get through their harvest without the need for parts and repairs, then the strike will have a less of an impact on the farmers. However, he believes farm equipment prices will go higher, the longer the strike continues.
Hart says raw materials may be difficult to obtain with the supply chain problems, and he says farmers usually have deep brand loyalties. However, as the strike continues, the winners of the UAW-John Deere strike may be John Deere’s competition as farmers may go away from the traditional green and yellow colors, and instead turn to the CASE-IH red, New Holland blue, or Agco orange.
Students Accused Of Killing Fairfield Teacher Ask For Release Without Bail
(Fairfield, IA) — The two students accused of killing Fairfield High School Spanish teacher Nohema Graber have asked a Jefferson County judge to release them without bail. Jeremy Everett Goodale and Willard Noble Chaiden Miller were arrested last week, the day after Graber’s body had been found. Each 16-year-old is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. Papers filed by Miller’s attorney Monday claim he is indigent and ask that his one-million-dollar cash bail be removed or reduced. He would agree to wear a G-P-S monitoring device and be supervised 24-7 by his family.
Five Teenagers Arrested After Pursuit Into Iowa And Back
(Omaha, NE) — Omaha police report the arrest of five teenagers early Monday after a pursuit that crossed the state line into Iowa and back. Officers say the people taken into custody include a woman who turned 19 Monday, an 18-year-old man, two 17-year-old boys, and a 15-year-old boy. Police say the chase started after officers responded to a shots-fired call. During the pursuit into Iowa just north of Council Bluffs authorities saw shots were fired at trailing officers.
Name Drawn From Hat Will Determine Winner Of Osceola Mayor’s Race
(Osceola, IA) — A name drawn from a hat this (Wednesday) afternoon will determine the winner of the race for Osceola mayor. Thomas Kedley and Matthew Stoll ran for the office and the candidates each received the same number of votes. Iowa state statutes say county supervisors have to take a name out of a hat to declare the official winner. That action will be taken at 3:00 p-m at the Clarke County Courthouse in Osceola. Goodale’s attorney made a similar request.
