AHLERS HONORED BY IPPA
A Remsen-are pork producer, Jeremy Ahlers, was honored as a 2024 Master Pork Producer. The award recognizes dedicated individuals who support pork producers.
Ahlers started as a young boy, helping with the family farms from sows to weaning and finishing. He worked with his father and uncles on the farm. Jeremy is now sole owner and manager of his sites,
Jeremy’s hope is that his sons, Kaleb and Davis, will continue on the farm as he did. He and his wife Jamie actively support the Plymout County Pork Producers at the fair each year.
There were four Honorary Master Pork Producers honored, including Mike Ver Steeg of Inwood, who received the Iowa Environmental Steward Award, and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.
Besides Ahlers, the 83rd class of Master Pork Producers include Kevin and Devin Lux of Cherokee, and Brad Meyer of Rock Rapids.
A video profile of Ahlers, the Luxes, and Meyer can be found at the Iowa Pork Producers Association YouTube page. Master Pork Producers are nominated for the award by their peers and neighbors. The award was presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
SUPERVISORS TABLE TWO ITEMS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors tabled a couple of their agenda items today.
The Board tabled an action item involving the city of Kingsley. City Attorney Chad Thompson came before the Supervisors with a request to allow a 5-year extension of a TIF District for a residential development, Southeast View Addition. Thompson explained that the extension is needed because inflation has driven up the cost of construction materials, which dried up demand for lots in the residential addition. And the city still owes funds for infrastructure in the development. Thompson received notice form the County Assesor that their ten year TIF District expired in 2027. Some confusion developed because, according to the Supervisors’ minutes, they approved a resolution setting a 15 year TIF. But the resolution did not have an expiration date. The matter was tabled while the discrepancy is investigated.
Also, a discussion and budget review with Rebecca Socknat, Director of Plymouth County Management Agency was to take place today. That discussion will take place at a later Supervisors meeting.
SUPERVISORS PRESENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT WAGE PROPOSAL
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors presented their initial wage increase proposal for the Secondary Road Bargaining Unit in 2025-26.
The Supervisors offered a 2.5% increase, the same as for other county departments. The bartgaining unit initially called for a 5% raise, plus a change in vacation policy. The Supervisors say they are not interested in changing vacation policy.
Later in today’s session, the Supervisors went into Closed Session to continue their discussion on their agreement with the collective bargaining unit.
LE MARS STREET CLOSING
The Le Mars Street Dept. will be closing part of 18th St. S.W. between 6th Ave. S.W. and 12th Ave. S.W. Thursday January 30th, 2025, between 7:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. Well’s South Ice Cream Plant will be installing another new crane rail in the freezer which requires them to pull it out of the freezer and across 18th St. S.W. There will be detour signs set up during the hours listed . See attached file for picture of street closure.
STORM LAKE POLICE SHOOTING
State and local authorities are investigating a standoff that resulted in a fatal shooting occurred early Monday morning in Storm Lake.
45 year old Daniel Joseph James Palenik barricaded himself inside his residence Sunday morning, after a traffic stop outside of Storm Lake.
Palenik was uncooperative, and made threats to law enforcement. He fled the scene at a high rate of speed. He was located at his residence. Residents near the home were evacuated, and a perimeter was set up around the home by law enforcement.
That afternoon, Palenik fired several rounds at law enforcement. Throughout the afternoon and evening, Palenik fired dozens of rounds at officers, striking both occupied vehicles and law enforcement equipment. Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Monday, Palenik again fired at law enforcement. Officers returned fire, striking Palenik. Palenik died at the scene. The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave consistent with departmental policy. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested to investigate.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details will be released at this time.
Numerous law enforcement agencies, to include the Storm Lake Police Department, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Fire Department, Storm Lake Fire Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux City Police Department, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, responded to assist with negotiations and tactical support.
ROLLOVER ACCIDENT
Sunday evening, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated a motor vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of B40 and Chestnut Avenue, six miles north of Hawarden.
14 year old Neave Johnson, of Inwood, was driving an SUV northbound on Chestnut Avenue. When he attempted a turn to travel eastbound on B40, he lost control of the vehicle, entered the ditch and rolled. No injuries were reported.
The Chevrolet sustained approximately $15,000 in damage. Hawarden Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene.
CONCERN OVER LANGUAGE FOR K-12 SCIENCE STANDARDS
Some educators and parents are pushing back on proposed changes to Iowa’s K-12 science standards that changes the phrases “biological evolution” and “climate change” to “biological change over time” and “climate trends.”
During a recent forum on the issue Panorama science teacher Mark Dorhout says teachers in small schools like his use the standards to make their own curriculum. He says new teachers might be more likely to follow them word for word.
Drake professor Jerrid Kruse, is one of the original committee members and says he’s concerned about the shift in language.
The standards will be reviewed by another committee made up of parents and educators before getting final approval by the State Board of Education. You can submit feedback on the changes through the Board of Ed’s online survey through February 3rd.
GOVERNOR SAYS ABORTION OPPONENTS ARE WINNING AT THE BALLOT BOX
Governor Kim Reynolds says the 2024 election was a political lesson on how voters view the abortion issue. Reynolds was the keynote speaker at the Iowa Rally for Life the state capitol. She told the crowd abortion extremism was resoundingly defeated in the presidential race and in Iowa. The crowd at the rally cheered as Governor Reynolds talked about the repeal of Roe v Wade and the Iowa law she signed that bans most abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy.
DOZENS OF IOWA SCHOOLS SEE HIGH ABSENCE RATES DUE TO RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Iowa is seeing a significant jump in the number of schools reporting high absence rates due to illness. Iowa Health and Human Services reports a boost statewide in respiratory virus infections like COVID-19, R-S-V, and the flu, as well as norovirus. State health officials reported last week 73 schools statewide had absence rates of at least 10 percent for the prior week, a big increase from 11 schools the week before.
