UNNEEDED BEDS GO TO SPENCER FLOOD VICTIMS
The Iowa Waste Reduction program recently helped some of the families who were hit by flooding in Clay County. Iowa Waste Exchange Coordinator Shelly Codner says they were able to send unneeded mattresses and beds from Iowa State University to Spencer.
The Iowa Waste Reduction Program was created to find ways to use items that are no longer needed to keep them out of the landfills. Codner says the beds from I-S-U filled an important need
Codner says Sukup Manufacturing donated the trucks to move the beds to Spencer.
Codner says this was one of the more rewarding projects they worked on, knowing the need for those who have suffered from the flooding.
STATE FAIR PARKING SPACES SOLD OUT
The Iowa State Fair just wrapped up ten days ago, but Iowa State Fair C-E-O Jeremy Parsons says plans for next year are well underway. One concern — for the first time ever, the fair ran out of parking spaces on August 10th, the first Saturday of this year’s fair. Parsons says it was the largest single day in fair history, with some 130-thousand visitors, and the same thing happened on the fair’s second Saturday. As the fair continues to grow and expand, Parsons says they’ll have to learn to prep for bigger and bigger crowds. The bus system in Des Moines operates a shuttle to the fairgrounds for people who park three miles away at the Iowa Capitol Complex. A record 270-thousand people took advantage of that service for this year’s state fair.’
ROHE – RURAL BRIDGES
Plymouth County Engineer Tom Rohe discussed two rural bridges with the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Late last week, a bridge across West Branch Creek on 120th St south of Struble collapsed, due to a heavy load. Another bridge like it, on 130th, a mile south of the collapsed bridge, was also of concern.
The bridge crossing 130th carries a bit more traffic.
Rohe says they will have to decide which bridge to replace.
For now, Rohe is considering cleanup of the collapsed bridge site.
The collapsed bridge was over 80 years old, and the overloaded truck which tried to cross it clipped a crosspiece. Rohe says the way the bridge is designed, damage to any part of the structure will bring it down.
Back in the day, it was common to relocated these bridges.
ALTON MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON
An Alton man was sentenced to five years in prison as the result of a plea bargain with Sioux County prosecutors. Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says 22 year old Dalton Kade Den Hartog Hopcroft was sentenced Monday in Sioux County District Court for OWI Third Offense, a Class D Felony; Operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and a probation violation for previous convictions of OWI and drug possession. The defendant was initially placed on probation in July of 2023. Probation was later revoked after the other charges were filed this May and June.
Assistant Sioux County Attorney Lori S. Ehlers prosecuted the cases.
DenHartog Hopcroft was sentenced to a five year prison term for Felony OWI; a two year term for Operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent; a two year term for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and a previously suspended five-year prison term on the felony drug possession charge. All the prison sentences will be run concurrently.
FEMA CENTER RELOCATES
The Disaster Recovery Center in Woodbury County will be in a new location today (Wednesday). The center was moved from the Siouxland Regional Transit System at 6401 Gordon Drive.
It will reopen today (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. in the parking lot area of Morningside Lutheran Church, located at 700 South Martha Street.
The new location will be easier for residents to access in town.
It will then be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
IOWANS CAN NOW REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Iowans who want to vote by mail can now start requesting absentee ballots for this fall’s election. Tuesday is the first day county auditors can accept applications for those absentee ballots. Becky Bissell, president of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors, says it’s a good idea for Iowans to request ballots sooner rather than later to allow for processing at the auditor’s office and for mail times.
Bissell says if you want to vote absentee, get your application in as early as possible.
Bissell, who’s from Adams County, says Iowans who want to vote by mail should make sure they’re registered to vote. Voters can then print an absentee ballot request form at voter-ready-dot-iowa-dot-gov or call their county auditor to have an application mailed to them. Completed ballot request forms must be mailed or delivered to the voter’s county auditor. County auditors can start sending ballots to voters on October 16th.
ROCK VALLEY PRESS CONFERENCE
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will hold a press conference tomorrow morning in Rock Valley. There will be an update on flood recovery and plans for students to return to school on September 4 and 5. Rock Valley mayor Kevin Van Otterloo, Community School District Superintendent Matt Van Voorst and Christian School Principal Marcus De Jager will join the governor at the press conference.
