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U.S. 75 SEGMENT IN SIOUX CENTER REOPENED
In a Facebook post, the city of Sioux Center says most of U.S. Highway 75 from just south of 13th St. S to 20th St. S. is now open to two lanes of traffic each way- except no truck traffic at this time. Northbound traffic will merge down to one lane just south of the 13th St. S intersection. The highway remains closed from 4th St South to 13th Street SW. Motorists are urged to use caution in the newly-opened section – some final pavement marking work is ongoing. Also, there may be crews doing additional work this fall and this coming spring.
INJURY ACCIDENT
Two drivers were injured Monday afternoon when their vehicles collided at Newkirk, three miles west of Hospers, IA. Debra Stockman, age 62, of Sioux City, IA, was driving a minivan south on L14. Olivia Lopez, age 19, of Sheldon, IA was driving an SUV westbound on B40. The two entered and struck in the intersection. Stockman was transported by the Hospers Ambulance to Orange City Area Health for treatment of minor injuries. Lopez was transported by the Orange City Ambulance to Sanford Sheldon Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Damage to the minivan was estimated at $15,000; damage to the SUV was estimated at $8,000. Lopez was cited for failing to have a driver’s license. The accident remains under investigation.
PROFILE OF FEENSTRA-MELTON RACE IN FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
All four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House are seeking reelection, including fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra. Feenstra’s 2024 race is a General Election rematch with Ryan Melton, a Democrat from Webster City. Feenstra’s Republican opponent in the June Primary got 40 percent of the vote and that candidate — Kevin Virgil — endorsed Melton in August. The primary reason? Melton and Virgil both oppose the use of eminent domain to seize land for a carbon pipeline. Feenstra says he’s also opposed to eminent domain, but the pipeline is a state issue, not a federal issue and he calls Virgil anti-agriculture.
Melton says he expects to get some protest votes from Republicans. There are 90-thousand more registered Republicans than Democrats in the district and Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson says that’s a big advantage for Feenstra. “Melton is running a valiant campaign,” Peterson says, “but he’s just outmatched in this district and Feenstra’s going to win this one pretty easy.” Melton says his candidacy is partly a party-building exercise, as there are more Democrats in the fourth congressional district running for other offices.
Feenstra, who is from Hull, says his top priorities for 2025 would be securing the southern border and extending the Trump-era tax cuts.
The fourth district covers 36 counties and includes the cities of Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Spencer, Algona, Fort Dodge and Marshalltown.
SOYBEAN HARVEST CLOSE TO FINISH
The U-S-D-A crop report now shows 91 percent of the beans are in the bin, That is a jump ahead of ten percent compared to last week. The west central and east central areas are leading the way with 94 percent or more of their soybeans done. The corn harvest increased by 23 percent last week — so 68 percent is done. Farmers in south-central Iowa are lagging behind– with just 50 percent of their corn harvested.
