COUNTY BUDGET REQUESTS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard a number of budget requests at their session Tuesday.
Angel Anderson, Director and President of Wet Nose Pet Rescue, came before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors with an annual report and a budget request. Anderson says in the past year, Wet Nose adopted out 251 cats and 71 dogs. Total adoptions of 322 was above the 227 adoptions in 2023. Wet Nose Pet Rescue has received 137-thousand dollars in donations this year. They also operate an October fundraiser, and receive help from local governments. In the next year, they plan to install a sprinkler system in their building, and improvements in the ventilation system. They are now in the process of fund-raising and grant writing for these projects. Anderson requested county support of 95-hundred dollars, or one month’s operating expenses, in the next Plymouth County budget.
The Plymouth County Fair Board, Mid-SIoux Opportunity, and Life Skills Training Center made budget requests to the Supervisors. The board also received budget request via letter, from Floyd Valley Public Health, the Regional Housing Trust Fund, and Siouxland Regional Transit System.
ONLINE CITIZEN REPORTING
The Le Mars Police Department is introducing “Online Citizen Reporting”. Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says it’s a way to make it easier and more convenient to file non-emergency police reports.
Le Mars Police are also introducing a new way to request vacation house watches and a new platform to help share business information with the police department.
Keyholders will assist police in updating their business contacts in case of emergencies, as well as sharing camera locations throughout the community of Le Mars.
Going to an online reporting service helps police to more quickly prioritize calls.
The online service can be found in a couple of ways.
More information will be coming out in the coming weeks on all aspects of this new online format.
ISU SURVEY SEE FIRST FARMLAND VALUE DROP IN 5 YEARS
The Iowa State University farmland survey shows the upward run of land prices stalled out this year. This is the survey author, I-S-U extension economist Rabail Chandio.
That is a drop of 369 dollars an acre from last year’s record high.
South-central Iowa was the only area to see an increase in land values. West-central Iowa saw the largest decline in prices.
Land values went up 29 percent in 2021, and 17 percent in 2022, after the pandemic.
Chandio says lower land values can be attributed to a drop in farm income.
High interest rates were a close second to the commodity prices in responses about the impact on land values.
Plymouth County, and four northwest Iowa counties, had the highest land values in the state. Plymouth’s per-acre value was 14,222 dollars. The other counties include Sioux, Lyon, Osceola, O’Brien, and Scott County in eastern Iowa.
DESIGNATE BEFORE YOU CELEBRATE
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau to urge drivers to designate before you celebrate. Through January 1, 2025, drivers will see additional Plymouth County Deputies supporting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of impaired driving.
Last December, 990 drivers were charged with OWI on Iowa roads. Impaired drivers endanger themselves and others. On average, 37% of Iowa’s traffic deaths are impaired related. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and GTSB urge Iowans to always plan before heading out to celebrate.
There are many options to get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. Remember: a few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than an OWI conviction, which can cost up to $10,000. Plan before you head out for the evening. If you see an impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact law enforcement.
GRASSLEY SAYS CHINESE IMPORTS OF USED COOKING OIL ARE HURTING IOWA SOYBEAN GROWERS
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is raising red flags about a large increase in imports of used cooking oil, which can replace soybeans in the making of biodiesel fuel. Grassley says used cooking oil can also be a key ingredient in what’s known as sustainable aviation fuel, which he says is a promising new market for Iowa. “We want that made out of soybeans,” Grassley says. Imports of used cooking oil are getting a subsidy, which Grassley sees as counter-productive. A federal report shows the U-S imported a record of three-point-two BILLION pounds of used cooking oil this year through August, which Grassley says is enough to displace about 270-MILLION bushels of soybeans. Calling it a “massive year-over-year imports increase,” Grassley says more than half of the imported used cooking oil is coming from China.
NORTHWEST IOWA MUSEUM OPENS GIANT MODEL TRAIN EXHIBIT
A model train enthusiast who grew up in the northwest Iowa town of Sanborn has donated his large, multi-train display to a museum there. Rob Balt, curator of Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum, says they’re thrilled to take in the extensive exhibit from Michael Johnson, who now lives in West Des Moines. Johnson is a 1963 graduate of Sanborn Community High School. He and his wife decided they wanted the display to be available to a larger group than just family and friends. Plus, it had grown to be a huge undertaking every year. Balt says Johnson had to make several trips to Sanborn to bring up and assemble the complete display. The museum is hosting a free open house on Wednesday from 5 to 8 P-M to promote the new exhibit, and Johnson will be there to answer questions.
