NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this week approved plans for two projects. The county engineer proposes replacement of a salt shed at the county’s site at Le Mars, and replacement of the roof of a maintenance building at Merrill. Tanner Koeppe of CMBA Architects of Sioux City presented plans for both projects before the Supervisors this week. The salt shed will be constructed of concrete and wood, with a 40 by 80 foot asphalt apron. It will include two bays, one for salt storage, one for gravel. The construction at the Merrill maintenance shed will replace a deteriorating roof structure. The Board of Supervisors approved plans for both projects. Plans and cost estimates will be released to bidders next week, pending Board approval. Bids will be open on December 12. Construction on the salt shed will begin in the spring of 2024, but the roof project would take place early next year.
FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER SETS RECORD
A major fundraiser for the Floyd Valley Foundation set a record this year. The 8th Annual Floyd Valley Foundation Wine and Craft Beer tasting event, was held last weekend at Century Hall on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The theme was Lights of Love, and it raised net proceeds of 100-thousand dollars for the Maternal Health Renovation Project. There were wines and craft beers to enjoy, along with food and music. There were silent and live auctions, and a new feature, a dessert dash. The event was sold out. Contributions to the Maternal Health Project are still being accepted. Call Amy Harnack, the Foundation Manager, at 712-546-3348, or amy.harnack@floydvalley.org.
SIOUX CITY ELECTION FRAUD TRIAL
The prosecution rested its case earlier than expected Thursday in the trial of the wife of a Woodbury County supervisor accused of 52 counts of voter fraud. Woody Gottburg reports.
IOWA UNEMPLOYMENT SLIGHTLY HIGHER
The state unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a point in October, up to three-point-two percent. Iowa Workforce Development director, Beth Townsend, says the national economy is likely playing a role in the increase.
She says those national pressures can make Iowa businesses hesitant to add more jobs.
The unemployment rate has inched up slightly in the last three months. Townsend says she’s more concerned about the labor force participation rate — which decreased from 68-point-six percent to 68-point-four percent in October.
GOP CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN IN IOWA THIS WEEKEND
Republican presidential candiates Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy attended an event in Des Moines late Friday afternoon. The Family Leader, a Christian conservative group, hosteda conversation among the candidates. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a rally in Fort Dodge today. Friday morning, DeSantis announced over 50 Iowa faith leaders have endorsed him. Haley was endorsed earlier this week by 72 current or former Iowa elected officials and business leaders like Don Lamberti, the founder of Casey’s General Stores.
THANKSGIVING MEAL COSTS FALL
If you are heading to the grocery store this weekend to stock up for next week’s big feast, you will be pleased to hear you may actually be paying less to feed the family for Thanksgiving. Christopher Pudenz (POO-dens), an economist for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, says they figured the average cost to prepare a traditional turkey dinner with all of the fixings for a family of ten at the table. This year’s meal will cost around 61 dollars, 17 cents, he says, which is down four-and-a-half percent from last year. Pudenz says seven of the 11 food items dropped in price, but the majority of the decrease had to do with declining turkey prices. The turkey itself makes up between 40 and 45-percent of the cost, and turkey prices were way up last year following a long and severe outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. While there have been more outbreaks this fall, he says they haven’t been nearly as severe.
