BUILDING PERMITS
1.5 million dollars worth of construction projects were approved in Plymouth County last month. A report from the county zoning administrator says just over a million dollars of farm building permits were approved, including six machine or storage sheds, 3 grain bins, one horse barn and a machine shop. Non-farm permits included 4 house or garage additions, three sheds, and a swimming pool. The construction is estimated to be worth 477-thousand dollars.
IOWA’S HAD A RECORD 127 TORNADOES SO FAR THIS YEAR
It’s been a big year for bad weather in Iowa and state climatologist Justin Glisan says there’s a new record in an undesirable category — most tornadoes in a single year.
Tornadoes can strike during any month of the year, even during the wintertime. In 2021, Iowa had a record 63 tornadoes in a single day — in December. That was during the state’s second derecho in as many years, and that December outbreak set another record for most EF-2 tornadoes in one day — at 21. As for the month ahead, Glisan says August promises to be something of a rollercoaster as far as temperatures.
Rainfall should be about average for August, though Glisan notes July’s rainfall was nothing close to average.
The month goes into the books as the 6th wettest July on record for Iowa.
LE MARS DRAINAGE STUDY
The Le Mars city council Tuesday approved an engineering proposal to study storm drainage on the south edge of the city. The area located at 18th Street and Central Ave, is the site of future residential development. This area is prone to flooding during heavy rain events. Civil Engineers and Constructors, LLC, will study the area’s topography, and current storm sewer infrastructure, to determine what measures need to be taken to improve storm drainage. The contract with the North Sioux City, South Dakota firm, is for 54-thousand dollars.
DISASTER AID TO NORTHWEST IOWA SCHOOLS
The Iowa Department of Education Tuesday announced five Iowa school districts located in disaster-impacted communities will receive a total of nearly $300,000 in emergency grant funds to support students experiencing homelessness as a result of this summer’s weather-related disasters. The Rock Valley, Correctionville, and Spencer school districts are among the recipients.
Emergency Grants to Serve Students Experiencing Homelessness grantees are located in counties that were included in disaster emergency proclamations issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds this spring. Districts could apply for up to $80,000 in funding to provide services and support for students who are displaced or facing homelessness as a result of the natural disaster so they can attend school
NORTHWEST IOWA HOSPITAL MOVES
A northwest Iowa hospital will close in September. O’Brien County Economic Development director Kianna Johnson says the closure of MercyOne Medical Center in Primghar is devastating news.
A MercyOne clinic will remain open in Primghar, but MercyOne clinics in nearby Sutherland and Paulina will be closed. Johnson says community leaders in the county met last week.
Johnson says she’s reached out to the South Dakota based system that operates facilities in northwest Iowa in hopes Sanford Health might take over the hospital in Primghar. Sanford operates over 380 facilities in seven states.
Primghar has had a hospital since 1914. In 2000, Mercy Hospital in Sioux City acquired the Primghar hospital and it was rebranded as a MercyOne facility in early 2019. The last hospital to close in Iowa was in Keokuk — in October of 2022.
A Michigan-based company bought the hospital in 2023 and plans to open it later this year as a rural emergency hospital. Patients will be stabilized at the facility in Keokuk, then transferred elsewhere.
REACTION TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY VEEP NOMINEE
(Vice President Nominee Tim Walz)
Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart released a written statement after the Harris campaign announced Minnesota governor Tim Walz would be the vice presidential nominee. Hart says Walz is a great candidate who understands Midwest principles, how hard Iowans work and the value of a dollar.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is sharing his initial impressions of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Walz served in the House from 2007 to 2019 and was a member of the House Ag Committee. Grassley admits it’s unusual that he didn’t work with Walz on anything agriculture- or ethanol-related in all of those years, especially since they’re from neighboring states. Grassley, a Republican, says he’s done some research on Walz.
Grassley says voters will have a very clear choice in November.
Walz was born and raised in Nebraska, served 24 years in the Army National Guard, and worked as a high school social studies teacher before turning to politics. He’s been Minnesota’s governor since 2019.
As governor of Minnesota since 2019, Walz successfully enacted major reforms, including requiring paid leave, strengthening workers’ rights, increasing investments in infrastructure and environmental issues, cutting taxes for working families, and requiring universal free school meals.
IOWA NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES VOTE FOR HARRIS
The 49 Iowans who are delegates to the Democratic National Convention have voted electronically for Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee. C-J Petersen is one of those delegates and the designated “whip” to round up votes in the group. He says they were all elected at the state convention as Biden delegates, but decided to vote unanimously for Harris. Sue Dvorsky (duh-VOR-skee) of Coralville – a former chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party — says Iowa Democrats still have muscle memory from when Iowa voted twice for the Obama-Biden ticket and can spur turn out for Harris and the person she picks as a running mate. Dvorsky and Petersen made their comment Monday night during an online gathering of Democrats.
FELONY OWI ARREST
A Sioux City woman was charged with felony OWI after a traffic stop in Plymouth County. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office says Samari Kanep Sepinon, 36, was stopped near the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and C38. Sepinon was charged OWI 3rd offense or subsequent, a class D felony. She was also charged with driving while suspended, operating without an interlock device, and child endangerment. Sepinon was booked into the Plymouth County Jail and held on bond. She remains in custody. OWI 3rd offense is a Class D felony, punishable from 30 days in jail to up to five years in prison.
TEEN ARRESTED
An Orange City teen was arrested Monday and charged in a domestic incident. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office was called to a residence on county road B58 south of Orange City. Investigating officers found that 19 year old Cody Van Engen had assaulted a family member. He left the residence and was later located by deputies in Ireton. Van Engen was transported to the Sioux County Jail, and was charged with domestic assault causing bodily injury, and driving with a suspended license, and operating a motor vehicle while barred.
