BROWNS RECEIVE SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst paid a visit to Le Mars Friday, to present one of her Small Business of the Week Awards to Browns Century Theater and Gift Shop. Senator Ernst explains the criteria for this award.
Senator Ernst is chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, and will serve in that capacity in the next congress.
Senator Ernst is wrapping up a round of visits to all 99 Iowa counties with stops this weekend. Friday, she also visited Sheldon, Storm Lake, and Emmetsburg.
STREET CLOSING
The Le Mars Street Dept. has closed the two westbound lanes on the west side of Bus 75 . Street Supervisor Scott Kneip says they are not sure how long the closure will be in place. They will have more information on the matter on Monday.
4TH ANNUAL VET TOGETHER EVENT
Siouxland organizations and businesses joined together on Thursday, November 14th for the 4th annual Vet Together event. The event was held at the Elks Lodge #112 in Sioux City. Over 200 veterans and their families attended. They were given a free meal from Big Papa’s Grub on the Run and the Northwest Iowa American Legion Riders out of Le Mars. Guests were able to enter to win door prizes from many local businesses.
The Veterans that attended were given a challenge coin and encouraged to get to know each other and come to meet new friends. The Vet Together event was organized by the Siouxland Warrior Coalition and Powell Broadcasting , with the help of many area local businesses and organizations.
CHEROKEE WASTEWATER PERMIT
A temporary waste discharge permit was approved for the City of Cherokee by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The city’s wastewater treatment plant sustained significant damage because of floodwaters. The facility is unable to process wastewater due to safety and reliability concerns. As a temporary measure, the city has been storing wastewater in lagoons, which are now full and at risk of overflowing. Starting Friday, the City of Cherokee began the discharge up to two million gallons of wastewater per day into the Little Sioux River. This will last for 25 days or until lagoon levels are lowered to safe level. At the same time, the city is developing short-term treatment plans using the lagoons. Plans have already begun for a permanent wastewater treatment facility.
SUMMIT WINS PIPELINE PERMIT IN NORTH DAKOTA
State regulators in North Dakota approved a pipeline route permit today (Friday) for the Summit Carbon Solutions proposed carbon capture pipeline. The route approved by the North Dakota Public Service Commission is part of a 25-hundred mile proposed project covering five states, including Iowa. Summit C-E-O Lee Blank says it’s an important step.
The approval is important for Iowa, as construction in Iowa cannot begin until the project is fully approved in North and South Dakota. The Sierra Club of Iowa’s Jessica Mazour says pipeline opponents are disappointed in the permit decision but that the fight is far from over.
Summit plans to reapply for a route permit in South Dakota on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
