ICY ROADS CONTRIBUTE TO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
Icy road conditions are causing accidents in the Le Mars area this morning. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office responded to three accidents on the Iowa Highway 60 bypass around Le Mars. A fourth accident occured on Iowa Highway 3, between Oyens and Le Mars. Le Mars Fire/Rescue Chief Dave Schipper said a one vehicle accident on the US 75 bypass was a rollover, resulting in serious injury to two occupants. Another accident resulted in one minor injury. The injured in the two accidents were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare for treatment. In another accident, one injured party was treated at the scene. Schipper said all the accidents occured in a 90-minute window this morning.
LIBRARIES SEEK COUNTY SUPPORT
The directors of Plymouth County’s five public libraries came before the Board of Supervisors today, with a report and their annual budget request.
The directors include Shirley Taylor from Le Mars, Sidney Harkness of Merrill, Janene Klein of Remsen, Julief Kohler of Kingsley, and Laura Pierce of Akron.
Klein reported that circulation at the libraries has increased, and staffing has ben adequate to their tasks. Kohler says one trend she’s noted is that more people and families are spending more time in the library.
Klein says patrons are using more audio books, and that trend won’t diminish. Patrons are also taking advantage of downloads of materials. Taylor says anyone with a library card can access magazines and on-line books through their phones. The state library provides this service, and each participating library helps pay for the service.
The library association requested 150-thousand dollars in the next county budget. That’s 10-thousand more than currently. County funds to the libraries is divided in two ways. Half of their yearly amount is divided equally among the libraries, the other half is divided by curculation.
The Supervisors will consider the request as they begin budget negotiations.
SUPERVISORS SET SALARIES
The Plymouth County Borad of Supervisors approved a motino today to set salary increases for elected oficials and department heads. The Supervisors agreed to set a 2.5% salary increase for county Supervisors and department heads, plus longevity pay, and a stipend to the county Auditor for additional duties. Department heads have the discretion to set pay levels for employees in their departments. These pay rasies will be used in budget formation by the Board in 2025.
DENTAL ASSOCIATION CONCERNED ABOUT SHORTAGE TREATMENT FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS
Leaders of the State Dental Association want Iowa lawmakers to address a critical shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid patients. Carroll dentist Chris Bogue, is the president of the organization.
Dr. Bogue says Medicaid reimbursement rates have stayed stagnant for almost 20 years.
Tracy Gotto of the Buena (buh-YOU-nuh) Vista County Health Department says none of the five dentists in Storm Lake accepts Medicaid patients, and the local health center is the only option.
Iowa State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars supports legislation that would change reimbursement rates for dentists who accept patients enrolled in Medicaid.
Dr. Bogue also wants the legislature to address a severe shortage of dental hygienists and assistants. The need for Medicaid providers is so great that a free “Mission of Mercy” clinic in Sioux City in October treated one thousand people – but was forced to turn down another thousand who officials say exhausted all other options for care.
AVIAN INFLUENZA DETECTED IN A SECOND SIOUX COUNTY COMMERCIAL LAYER FLOCK
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and the USDA say avian influenza has been detected in a second Sioux County laying flock in the past week. This is Iowa’s sixth detection of H5N1 HPAI within poultry in 2024, and the third this season. Last week there was bird flu detected in a commercial turkey operation in Palo Alto County. Iowa poultry and dairy producers are urged to bolster their biosecurity practices in order to protect their flocks and herds. If producers suspect signs of bird flu in their flocks or herds, they are urged to contact their veterinarian immediately. Eggs and poultry products are still safe to consume.
SUPERVISORS MEET THIS MORNING
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meet this morning at 9-30 A.M. Their agenda includes a discussion and possible action on salary increases for elected officials and department heads. Plymouth County’s Library Coalition will provide a report and a budget funding request. Representatives of Premier Communications will update the board on a fiber optic project in Plymouth County.
TWO SEMI ACCIDENT
One truck driver was injured when two semis crashed early Saturday morning west of Le Mars. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office says the accident occurred at the intersection of Iowa Highway 3 and Key Ave. around 3-30 A.M. A semi driven by Jules Wilcox, 45, of Las Vegas, Nevada was travelling north on Key Ave approaching Highway 3, and failed to stop at the stop sign. The vehicle was struck in the intersection by an eastbound semi driven by Eric Conover, 38, of Holstein. Conover suffered minor injury and was transported to Floyd Valley Hospital by Le Mars Fire Rescue. The Conover semi sustained an estimated 100-thousand dollars damage. The Wilcox Vehicle sustained 80-thousand dollars damage.
SEVEN INJURED IN ONE VEHICLE CRASH IN O’BRIEN COUNTY
A one-vehicle crash at the intersection of two state highways in southern O’Brien County occurred late Sunday night, injuring all seven occupants. The O’Brien County Sheriffs Office report says an SUV driven by 30-year-old Wuilder Montoya of Chicago, was driving north on Iowa Highway 143, and ran through the intersection with Iowa Highway 10. The vehicle went into a ditch and rolled. Six passengers, all from Chicago, were injured. Three were ejected from the vehicle, and one had to be extricated. Four of the passengers suffered possible serious injuries, and three suffered minor injuries. The seven were transported to hospitals in Orange City and Sheldon for treatment.
GOVERNOR REVISITS FLOOD DAMAGED CORRECTIONVILLE, ROCK VALLEY
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds returned to northwest Iowa Monday to check on the progress of disaster recovery after historic flooding hit early this summer. Reynolds stopped in Rock Valley, where city leaders say more than 140 homes are beyond repair. Reynolds says the state asked FEMA to cover 100 percent of the cost of the flood but is only going to get 75 percent. State and local governments will have to cover the rest. She also toured Correctionville in Woodbury County with Mayor Ken Bauer (BOW-er) and said things were off to a good start. Mayor Bauer is still trying to calculate the total cost to his community and says recovery is going to take time and they’re moving as fast as they can.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS FROM SIOUX CENTRAL
Sioux Central agriculture teacher Melanie Bloom is the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year. The governor and Department of Education director made the announcement during an assembly at the school in Sioux Rapids Monday morning. The Teacher of the Year award recognizes exceptional teachers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, and who have made a significant impact on student outcomes and their fellow educators. The Teacher of the Year will spend the year traveling the state to work with other teachers. Bloom has been a teacher for 16 years. She established Sioux Central’s first full-time agriculture program, and serves as the F-F-A advisor.
ERNST STATEMENT ON PETE HEGSETH
Senator Joni Ernst — facing a fierce backlash from Trump supporters — has issued a positive statement about Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon. Ernst had previously said Pete Hegseth would have to answer tough questions about alleged sexual indiscretions as well as financial irregularities at non-profit veterans groups he led. Ernst noted this weekend that as Defense Secretary, Hegseth would be managing a 877 BILLION dollar budget. Now, after a third meeting with Hegseth, Ernst says the two have had encouraging conversations. Ernst says she supports Pete through the confirmation process and looks forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.
