ROUND BARN DISPLAY UPDATE
The Le Mars Chamber Ag Committee says it’s time for a new look inside the Round Barn at the Plymouth County Fair Grounds. Ag Committee member Janelle Johnson says
there are plans to freshen up the permanent display in the Round Barn.
It’s time for a new look at the Round Barn
Currently there are dozens of pictures of barns from around Plymouth County Displayed in the Round Barn.
What the Chamber Ag Committee wants to do is show what farms look like now, along with the people who operate them.
Johnson urges Plymouth County farmers to get creative in picturing their farms and equipment.
Pictures can be forwarded to the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce office.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT DISCUSSES FLIGHT 232 CRASH ON 35TH ANNIVERSARY
A flight attendant who was on United Flight 232 when it crashed in Sioux City 35 years ago returned for events this past weekend to remember the 112 who died and the 184 who survived the crash. Susan White was just starting her career and was 26 when an engine failure led to the D-C-10 crashing at the Sioux Gateway Airport. She says the response was tremendous.
After two nights in the Briar Cliff dorm room, White’s father came to Sioux City to fly back home with her and she eventually returned to her job.
White says part of her therapy was reunions with the other crewmembers, including some that were in Sioux City.
White was in Sioux City on the anniversary last Friday to talk about how the crew communicated during the emergency.
GOV. REYNOLDS EXTENDS DISASTER PROCLAMATIONS
Governor Kim Reynolds has issued an extension for previously issued disaster proclamations in Iowa that were issued in June. The extension covers 27 Iowa counties, including Plymouth, Woodbury, Sioux, O’Brien, and Cherokee.
This allow state resources to be used to respond to and recover from severe weather. This also includes the targeted suspension of specific regulatory requirements in affected counties. The new proclamation is effective immediately and is set to expire on August 17, 2024, unless otherwise specified.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENING IN O’BRIEN COUNTY
FEMA is opening a Disaster Recovery Center in O’Brien County on Wednesday, July 24 to provide one-on-one help to people affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding this spring. The Center will be located in the Sheldon City Hall. Other Disaster Recovery Centers are located in Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Cherokee, Spencer and Estherville.
HAWARDEN FLOOD RECOVERY
Since flood water has subsided in Hawarden, the city is making progress toward restoring service to homes. Public Works Director Travis Waterman says as of last weekend, several hundred homes had been affected by the flood.
A record flood level on the Big Sioux River caused water to stream into the city through a former creek bed.
The city is transitioning into a recovery phase.
Waterman says water service has been restored in the city, and water restrictions have been lifted. They are working to restore electric service into individual homes.
There are some signs that transition is taking place: a final curbside trash pickup took take place last Saturday. Donation sites are closing down, and flood supplies are being moved out.
How to battle future floods is an important question for the city. Waterman says with a flood stage 5 feet over their record, water came into the city in places they had not seen before.
SUPERVISORS MEET
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this morning will receive reports from County Sheriff Jeff Te Brink, EMS assistant Chief Mike Wise, and county engineer Tom Rohe. They will also consider a permit for a minor subdivision proposed in Fredonia Township.
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY LEADERS GRADUATE FROM LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Nineteen long-term care leaders graduated from Iowa Health Care Association’s 2023-2024 Executive Health Care Leadership Institute program earlier this month. Among the graduates is Blake Nettleton, of Accura Healthcare of Le Mars. This year-long program provides Iowa long-term care workers with the leadership fundamentals and specific technical skills needed to provide care.
IHCA’s 2023-2024 Executive Health Care Leadership Institute featured training for leaders in Iowa skilled nursing facilities, assisted living programs, and home health agencies.
ALL IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTION BACK HARRIS
The Iowa delegates for next month’s Democratic National Convention are unanimously backing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.
The delegates met virtually early last (Monday) night and Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says she’s proud to lead a united delegation at this historic moment. By nine o’clock last (Monday) night, Harris had secured enough support among all states’ convention delegates to be the party’s nominee. The chair of Iowa Democrats says Iowans understand the stakes in this year’s election. Hart says a substantial number of people reached out to the state party to volunteer in the hours after President Biden exited the race and Harris began her own campaign.
3.7 MILLION VEHICLES REGISTERED IN IOWA IN 2023
Iowa D-O-T records show a decline in the number of cars and pick-up trucks registered to drive on Iowa roads last year. In 2023, there were just over a million cars registered for use in Iowa and just over a million pick-ups for personal or business use. However, there was a nearly four percent drop in the number of automobiles registered in Iowa last year. Pick-up truck numbers in Iowa fell a percentage point from 2022 to 2023. The D-O-T’s data includes semi tractors, mopeds and other types of vehicles. It shows more than three-point-seven million vehicles were registered in Iowa in 2023.
