WORK UNDERWAY TO REMOVE SIOUX CITY RAILROAD BRIDGE
Work began Monday to remove a railroad bridge in Sioux City that collapsed in June during flooding on the Big Sioux River. Charges were set off on the span of the bridge that is on the South Dakota side of the river in North Sioux City. Amy McBeth of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad says the charges will help make it easier and safer to get that span up and out of the water. Crews started removing the span shortly after the explosive charges were set off. McBeth says they’ll set off charges on the span on the Iowa side of at a future date. They will then put up a new bridge.
TWO COMPANIES GIVEN STATE INCENTIVES
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board has approved state incentives for a northwest Iowa business. Economic Development Authority spokesperson Kanan Kappelman says Ranco Fertiservice company in Sioux Rapids is receiving a 500-thousand dollar grant to help replace flooded equipment. They make dry fertilizer blending and handling equipment for ag fertilizer retailers and Kappleman says the company plans to spend two million dollars on the project, but won’t create any new jobs. She says the modernization will increase efficiencies and the employees would also be able to gain new skills.
RECORD ATTENDANCE AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR
Attendance at this year’s State Fair has set a record. More than one-million-180-thousand people attended the State Fair, which ended Sunday. In addition to the overall record, a single day record of nearly 123-thousand was set on Saturday, August 10th. Daily attendance dropped below 100-thousand on just two days — last Tuesday and Wednesday. This was Iowa’s 170th State Fair. The previous attendance record was set in 2019.
FORMER GOVERNOR VILCSACK PRAISES BIDEN’S DECISION NOT TO SEEK A SECOND TERM
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is reminiscing about his long-time connection to President Joe Biden. Vilsack, who worked on Biden’s first presidential campaign in 1986 and ’87, has served as Biden’s U-S Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack says Biden made an extraordinary decision to end his bid for a second term. And Vilsack says Tim Walzs is a great running mate for Kamala Harris because Walz has an incredibly progressive record as Minnesota’s governor and he’s not defensive about it. Vilsack made his comments this (Monday) morning to Minnesota’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
LE MARS COUNCIL
The Le Mars city council meets today in regular session. There are two action items before the council today. Both relate to the same project. One is a purchase agreement for Floyd Valley Healthcare. They want to purchase property on Holton Drive to combine some of their patient services. The other is a minimum tax assessment agreement for the property.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM/TRUANCY POLICY
Iowa schools will have a new, uniform chronic absenteeism/truancy policy this year. Le Mars Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner says absenteeism isn’t a problem in the district, but they need to stay on top of it.
The Iowa Legislature recognizes absenteeism and truancy as a statewide problem, and took action to make requirements in school policies.
Schools must now follow standards set by the legislature.
Parts of the policy are familiar to Le Mars school officials.
The new law sets procedures to follow when student absences reach a particular threshold.
At 15%, an engagement meeting is required.
Truancy is when a student is absent 20% of a semester’s school days.
Dr. Webner says the district handled absentee cases on a case by case basis. The new law requires specific actions by the school districts.
Dr. Webner says the state mandates leave some gaps that are open to interpretation. He’s awaiting guidance from the Iowa Department of Education on some of the new rules.
CAR CRASHES INTO HOUSE
A motor vehicle crashed into a house in Hospers Friday evening. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says a Sioux City man was driving south on Iowa Highway 60, when he suffered a medical condition. The vehicle went out of control, left the roadway, and struck a residence on Sunrise Drive in Hospers. The driver, 35 year old Mario Alcarz of Sioux City, was transported to Orange City Area Health for treatment of his medical condition and injuries suffered in the crash. Damage to Alcaraz’ vehicle was estimated at 13-thousand dollars. Damage to the residentce was estimated at 100-thousand dollars.
ISU LINEBACKER TO WEAR #26 IN HONOR OF FORMER PLAYER BATTLING BRAIN TUMOR
An Iowa State football player will wear a different number on his jersey this season in a show of support for a former player who’s undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. State Senator Jack Whitver, a former starting wide receiver for the Cyclones, announced his diagnosis this spring. I-S-U football coach Matt Campbell invited Whitver and his family to join the team on the field this weekend to announce linebacker Caleb Bacon would wear the number 26 in Whitver’s honor. Bacon, who’s from Lake Mills, is a walk-on who played all 13 games last season and had the second most tackles on the team. Whitver was on the Cyclone football team from 1999 to 2003 and finished his college career with five touchdowns and 96 career receptions. He also started as walk-on and worked his way up to a starting role.
