QUICK HARVEST
The latest U-S-D-A report shows the number of beans harvested went from 26 percent two weeks ago to 55 percent last week. The bean harvest had been one day behind the five-year average, but is now nine days ahead of that mark. The amount of corn pulled from the fields more than doubled from 11 percent two weeks ago, to 23 percent this past week. The corn harvest is three days behind average. The corn condition rose slightly to 63 percent good to excellent.
POLL WORKER PAY
A new report finds poll worker pay for the 2020 Primary and General Elections in at least one dozen counties was either not approved by the county’s board of supervisors or was higher than authorized.
The review was launched by the State Auditor’s office after news reports that Scott County’s auditor had approved paying precinct election workers 15 dollars an hour. That exceeded the 10 dollar an hour rate approved by the Scott County Board of Supervisors.
The State Auditor’s office reviewed poll worker pay in 16 Iowa counties, including Dickinson in northwest Iowa. The report says seven counties either payed poll workers more than had been approved by the county board of supervisors or providing something like unapproved small bonuses for working during a pandemic.
Five of the 16 counties had no documentation of board of supervisors approval of election workers’ pay.
Under state law, temporary election workers are technically temporary STATE employees being paid by the counties. The state auditor’s report recommends that the secretary of state’s office develop new procedures to monitor poll worker pay.
For the upcoming elections next month, Plymouth County poll workers will receive $11.50 per hour. The rate in the last election was 10 dollars per hour.
WEATHER ADVISORIES
There is a Wind Advisory for Plymouth County today from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Winds 25 to 35 mph, gusting to 55 mph are anticipated today. There is also a Red Flag Warning for high fire danger today, from noon to 7 p.m. Strong winds and low humidity will cause any fires that take place today to spread rapidly.
NEW RECORD FARM PRICE
A new record for the price of an acre of farmland in Iowa has been set.
Auctioneer Bruce Brock of Brock Auction Company sold 55 acres in Plymouth County for over $26,000 an acre on Monday:
Brock says the land will remain as farmland, as a neighbor bought the 55 acres:
The veteran auctioneer says there was spirited bidding for the land:
Brock says prices for land in that area of Plymouth County remain strong:
He says the competitive bidding gives everyone a sense of fairness, and the farm brought what the market was willing to pay.
DAY OBIT
The last World War II veteran to serve as a commander of the 185th Air National Guard has passed away at age 97. Colonel Warren “Bud” Nelson was a charter member of the Iowa Air National Guard, serving in the military for almost 40 years.
Following World War II, Nelson, who had been working as a p-51 instructor pilot, was determined to continue flying.
At the age of 21, with three years under his belt, he moved to Sioux City to join the newly formed 174th Fighter Squadron.
From there, he continued to fly the World War II era p-51 Mustangs but by 1950 switched to the jet powered F-84 Thunderjet.
Brigadier General Larry Christensen, a recent commander of the 185th, says Nelson was a true pioneer of the Air Fforce:
Christensen says Nelson piloted several different aircraft:
Nelson was recalled two active duty additional times before ending his National Guard career in 1980 as the 185th Commander.
Christensen says with all that nelson accomplished, he was very humble about it:
Nelson was a native of Jackson, Minnesota, but called Sioux City home for most of his life and continued to live here after his retirement.
Funeral services for Nelson will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at 1st Presbyterian Church in Sioux City.
TOWN WATER QUALITY
A small town near one of the Iowa Great Lakes has to set up new oversight of its drinking water supply. The City of Orleans has been buying its drinking water from the City of Spirit Lake for the past eight decades. Orleans City Attorney Don Hemphill says the Department of Natural Resources wants someone to be responsible for the quality of the water that comes out of the town’s taps — but Spirit Lake has notified Orleans it does not want to assume that responsibility. An engineering firm is reviewing the two options available to the town of about 520 residents to determine which is cheaper in the long run.
GRASSLEY COMMITTEE
Senator Chuck Grassley says if he’s re-elected and Republicans hold majority control of the Senate for the next six years, he may become chairman of the committee that oversees the entire federal budget. Grassley could be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the next two years and then move up in the Senate Budget Committee to be that panel’s chairman in the final four years of a six year term. Grassley’s also a member of the Senate Ag Committee, but he says there’s no chance of him leading that committee. Democrat Mike Franken, a retired Navy admiral, is challenging Grassley’s bid for an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. Franken would seek a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if he’s elected.
