FIBER OPTIC PROJECT
Plymouth County Information Technology Director Shawn Olson informed the Board of Supervisors today that a project to connect fiber optic service to southwest Plymouth County was approved. Olson says he applied for a grant under the Governor’s Rural Broadband Initiative. The contractor, Premier Communications, was informed yesterday that their application for a 3.8 million dollar grant was approved. This will be applied to the project, which has an overall projected cost of 12 million dollars. Olson says once this project is completed, all the rural area of Plymouth County will have high-speed fiber optic service. Premier Communications has other contracts in the county that they are completing. They are currently working in the rural area around Struble and Craig, and are also connecting individual customers in Brunsville, Struble and Craig.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY INSURANCE COVERAGE
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors received information on property and casualty insurance from Rob Bixenman of Perspective Insurance. Bixenman told the Supervisors that total premiums for 2023-24 at renewal will be 375-thousand dollars, up 56-thousand from the current policy. That’s an increase of 17.5%. The county’s assets have increased in value as well, to 51.2 million dollars. Property covered under Automotive and physical damage has a value of 4.5 million dollars.
RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGNS IN NORTHWEST IOWA
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy took his campaign through northwest Monday. During a stop at the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars the 38-year-old business leader outlined his agenda, which includes declaring independence from Communist China…..
Ramaswamy voiced his concern about Super Pacs…
He also told the group assembled the importance of the Iowa Caucuses…
Ramaswamy earlier had campaign stops in Rock Rapids and Sioux Center. He later held a town hall meeting in Sioux City.
SITZMANN FOR LE MARS SCHOOL BOARD
Two candidates seek election to the Le Mars Community School Board from District 3. One of the candidates is Le Mars businessman Joe Sitzmann.
Sitzmann wants to take an active role in leading the Le Mars School District.
Sitzmann says one of his qualifications is as an employer of Le Mars students.
He understands the work of board members.
How do you help students improve their skills after restrictions due to covid?
Sitzmann says facilities is the hot topic among parents and school officials.
Fitting into the city of Le Mars’ Vision 2045 plan is a priority with Sitzmann.
Sitzmann asks that Le Mars School District 3 voters consider him as their board representative
Sitzmann and Zach Davis are the two candidates for the seat in Director District 3. The set is currently held by Jane Arnold, who decided not to seek re-election.
HORNICK SHOOTING
Woodbury County authorities say a father and son are dead following a shooting at a rural farm near Hornick in an incident that began Sunday evening and ended early Monday morning.
Sheriff Chad Sheehan says Woodbury county deputies received a call Sunday evening around 7:30 p.m:
The suspect, 44-year-old Walter Sulsberger, who lived on Grundy Avenue, was at his father’s farm sitting in a pickup truck:
Three armored law enforcement vehicles responded and the state patrol also provided air support at the rural scene.
Sheehan says crisis negotiators were in contact with Sulsberger until shortly before 3 a.m:
Medical personnel came in, and Walter Sulsberger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheehan says the body of Sulsberger’s father, 72-year-old Todd Sulsberger, was found a short time later.
Walter Sulsberger is the suspect in his father’s death.
The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation has been called in to investigate the shootings.
CROP PROGRESS REPORT
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says widespread rain fell in Iowa, then cold and snow affected the state, all in the past week.
Only .4.2 days were suitable for fieldwork, which included harvesting row crops, fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks and hauling manure. Topsoil moisture is 47% short to very short, and 51% adequate. Subsoil moisture is 67% short to very short.
Corn harvest is 77% complete,. Soybean harvest is 93% complete, both eight days ahead of the five year average.
LOW WIND CHILLS POSSIBLE TONIGHT
Iowa parents could lay down the law that their kids will have to wear a coat over their costumes if they’re trick-or-treating tonight.
Temperatures across the state are expected to dip some 20 degrees colder than normal, while wind chill factors may drop into the teens, Lows tonight will drop off quickly, A system is approaching that will bring strong winds, which could push wind chill factors into the teens tonight. The forecast calls for a low tonight around 18 degrees in Le Mars, and breezy conditions, with winds gusting to 25 mph this afternoon, and 20 mph tonight. The forecast calls for high temperatures to recover into the lower 40s tomorrow, and back in the low 50s by Friday.
FORMER SIOUX CITY HOCKEY PLAYER DIES
Former Sioux City Musketeers hockey player Adam Johnson has died after being injured during a hockey game in England. Johnson, who was 29, collided with an opposing player on Saturday night and was hit in the neck with a skate blade. Johnson, a native of Hibbing, Minnesota, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers. Johnson played for the Sioux City Musketeers from 2013 to 2015. He led the team in scoring during his final season in Sioux City. Johnson signed with the Pittsburg Penguins while playing in college for Minnesota-Duluth. He played 13 games in the NHL for the Penguins and over 250 games with their minor league affiliate. Musketeers CEO Travis Morgan said the team will be honoring Johnson during the Musketeers season.
