TWO YEARS SINCE LE MARS COMBINED FIRE AND EMT FORCES
Two years ago, Le Mars Fire and EMT crews combined to become Le Mars Fire Rescue. Chief Dave Schipper describes the progress he’s seen since the merger.
There is also greater demand for their services, and on their personnel
Some of that demand is due to staff shortages facing other services.
There is sometimes instant reward for the service they take on, such as what happened early last week.
Chief Schipper thinks the merger of fire and ambulance service makes their department more attractive to recruits.
He also says city and community support of Fire Rescue is essential to their success.
IOWA’S MOST VALUABLE FARMLAND IS IN THE NORTHWEST
The Iowa State University Farmland Value survey showed a shift this year in the county with the highest land value. I-S-U’s Rabail Chandio oversees the survey and says while Scott County in eastern Iowa held the top spot for many years, it’s switched to the northwest. Chandio says O’Brien was the highest value county last year, while it’s moved to Sioux County this year. Both counties had per-acre average values of over 16-thousand dollars. Plymouth County’s farmland values were the fifth-highest among counties in Iowa, at 15-thousand, 214 dollars. Chandio says some southern Iowa counties are the lowest in land quality, they’ve seen the highest increase in land values. Chandio says that shift is tied to using farmland for things besides farming, like recreation and hunting.
POLLING SHOWS TRUMP SUPPORT IS DURABLE
Two Iowa-based political science professors say their polling shows voters who say they’re backing Donald Trump aren’t likely to change their minds when voting begins next month. Iowa State University professor David Peterson is manager of I-S-U’s Civiqs Poll. Earlier this month, that poll found Trump’s support among likely Iowa Caucus-goers had grown to 54 percent.
Peter Hanson, director of the Grinnell College National Poll, says Trump is well positioned for the General Election.
Peterson says Governor Kim Reynolds’ endorsement of Ron DeSantis didn’t shake up the race.
Hanson says he hasn’t seen any evidence that an appeal from Reynolds or any other Republican figure is going to shake voters who are loyal to Trump.
The Iowa Caucuses are less than 20 days away.
INJURY ACCIDENT NEAR ALTON
Monday evening, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was called to a motor vehicle accident on Iowa Highway 60, a mile south of Alton. A vehicle driven by Idris Hussein, 31, of Blaine, MN, was southbound on Highway 60 when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed the median, entered the northbound lane and struck a guard rail. No injuries were reported. The Jeep sustained approximately $15,000 in damage; damage to the guardrail was estimated at $5,000. Hussein was cited for failure to maintain control of motor vehicle.
VILSACK WILL BE HONORED BY RENEWABLE FUELS INDUSTRY
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will address the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 11, 2024. During the event, Vilsack will receive IRFA’s highest award. The award recognizes Vilsack as an outstanding voice for farmers and for his touting of biofuels to rural America. Sec. Vilsack was confirmed as the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23, 2021 by the U.S. Senate. Vilsack was the longest-serving member of President Barack Obama’s original Cabinet. Prior to his appointment, he served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, served in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Sixteen rural Iowa projects are getting funds from the U-S-D-A’s Rural Development Program. Rural Development State Director Theresa Greenfield says the projects vary from linking up medical professionals, to improving water systems. More than one million dollars is going into the projects which Greenfield says are designed to support rural communities, particularly those that are 20-thousand in population or under. Among the awards,
Trinity Regional Medical Center of Ft Dodge received a $122,371 grant to equip one hub site and ten end-user sites throughout Buena Vista, Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster, and Wright counties in northern Iowa with telemedicine equipment. Medical professionals at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Webster County will provide nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, women’s health, pediatrics, and mental health care to ten locations benefiting 16,800 individuals.
MISSING TRUCKER REWARD
The Sac County Crime Stoppers has re-organized and are offering a two thousand dollar reward for information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of truck driver David Schultz. The 53-year-old Wall Lake man was last seen November 21st.
Anyone with information about Schultz may contact the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at 712-662-7127 or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 712-262-1873.
Donations to the Sac County Crime Stoppers fund can now be made directly to the Iowa State Bank in Sac City, Odebolt, and Lake View.
