SMASH OUT HUNGER
A Le Mars business is using their display at the Plymouth County Fair to raise awareness, and funds, for a program which benefits children in need. Mitch Christoffel at Total Motors said their effort, called Help Smash Out Hunger, began as an idea from one of their employees, Evan Kunkel.
This developed into a benefit for a charity with which Total Motors has long been involved.
Christoffel says that donations will be matched.
Their Help Smash Out Hunger promotion is off to a great start.
Total Motors is a regular contributor to the Le Mars Backpack Program.
Christoffel says donations and signatures can be taken until late Friday, before race time, at the Total Motors display west of the grandstand at the Plymouth County Fair.
Driver Evan Kunkel with the Help Smash Out Hunger car
PLYMOUTH COUNTY FAIR ROYALTY
The 2022 Plymouth County Fair officially opened last night, and one of the first items of business was the crowning of this year’s Fair Queen and King. Jake Utesch of Kingsley was announced the fair king last night. He represents the Kingsley Patriots 4H club, of which he has been a member for 8 years. The Queen of this year’s Plymouth County Fair is Claire Blezek of Le Mars. She a member of the Grant Clever Clovers 4H Club. Wade Fisher of Remsen was named Mr. Personality. He’s a member of the Grant Little Grants 4H Club. He’s been a member there for nine years. Miss Congeniality at the fair is Alyson Ball of Remsen. She’s been a member of the Union Livewires 4H club for seven years.
STATE FAIR QUEEN
The crowning of a Plymouth County Fair Queen means the reign of McKenna Henrich has come to an end. She’s also the state Fair Queen, until she relinquishes that title next month at the Iowa State Fair. McKenna described what her past year has been like as state fair queen.
Henrich recalled when she was crowned Plymouth County Fair Queen, then state fair queen.
McKenna anticipates giving up her crown at the state fair next month.
Queen McKenna says the reign as state fair queen marked her personal growth over the past year.
Henrich plans to go on to university to pursue a career in the field of medicine.
Henrich has already visited 50 county fairs so far this season, and she plans to visit more before ending her reign at the Iowa State fair in August.
FEENSTRA BILLS
Two bills introduced by US Representative Randy Feenstra of Hull have passed in the House. One bill, called the National Weather service Communications improvement Act, modernizes the former NWS Chat feature. The Weather Service Director is ordered to review and select a new system to disseminate weather information to broadcasters, emergency officials and the general public. The other bill, the NOAA Chief Scientist Act, would establish qualification requirements for the Chief Scientist position at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.
GOVERNOR’S APPOINTMENTS
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions. Several northwest Iowans are among these appointments.
They include: Daryl Ten Pas of Sioux Center to the City Finance Committee; Rob Roozeboom of Sheldon to the Iowa Dervelopmental Disabilities Council; Joshua Bowar of Sioux Center to the Nonpublic School Advisory Committee; Tyler Hahn of Cherokee and Beth Bunkers of Granville to the Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board, and Samantha Rozeboom of Lyon County to the State Board of Health. These appointments are pending the approval of the Iowa Senate.
STATE SUPREME COURT
Governor Reynolds also announced her appointment of David May as a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. May is from Polk City, and has been serving on the Iowa Court of Appeals since 2019. He also served as a district judge in the fifth judicial district. Judge May is the governor’s fifth appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court. He fills the vacancy that arose because of the retirement of Justice Brent Appel.
MIDWIFE PROGRAM
A University of Iowa survey about nurse midwifes finds Iowans understand they deliver babies, but don’t know much else about them. Professor Peggy Stover (STOH-ver), director of the U-I’s Undergraduate Marketing Institute, says she was shocked at how little people knew about the midwife profession.
The U-I’s Carver College of Medicine is planning to open the state’s first nurse midwife education program this fall to help fill gaps in rural areas. Stover predicts it will be an important addition for the state’s health care offerings.
While “wife” is in the name, being a midwife is not exclusively a job for women, but it’s a matter of perception.
The survey found a majority of respondents didn’t realize most insurance companies cover the services of a midwife, and that nurse midwifes can deliver babies in a hospital in the event of an emergency.
