Plymouth County Board of Supervisors hold first meeting of 2026
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hold their first meeting of 2026 this morning, with a full slate of agenda items including appointing a new chairman and vice chairman.
The appointments will be the first item on the agenda; afterwards, the Board will approve several appointments to county boards and commissions. On the County Board of Health, Dr. Emily Hutchins will replace Dr. Paul Schroeder for a three-year term, and Trevor Oetken will replace Chris Beeck on the Conservation Board for a five-year term. The Board will also make an appointment to fill the vacancy of Lowel Vos for a five-year term, as well as re-appointments on several other boards and commissions.
Other agenda items the Board will discuss includes a Wellness Program agreement between the county and the Iowa State Association of Counties, designating the official county newspaper, and authorizing claims and payroll for 2026. The Board will also hear from Heidi Sauh of Foster Grandparents and Senior Companion Programs concerning a funding request for FY 2026-27.
The meeting will take place this morning at 9:30am inside of the Plymouth County Courthouse.
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Safety planner says improvements in roads and vehicles are factors in lower 2025 traffic fatalities
The number of traffic fatalities has dropped significantly in Iowa this year and could reach a 100-year low. Some law enforcement officials cite Iowa’s new law banning the handling of a smart phone while driving as a major factor. Larry Grant, the state safety planner for the Iowa Department of Transportation, says officers have been issuing citations for the past six months and will start issuing citations January 1st — so he expects the full effect of the law on traffic safety will occur in 2026.
A high percentage of traffic fatalities involve a single vehicle that runs off the road.
As a result, Grant says the Iowa D-O-T’s new policy is that every road the agency builds in the future will have edge line rumble strips and, if it’s a two-lane road, there will be rumble strips along the center line.
The D-O-T is also widening all paint strips that mark lanes on the road from four inches to six inches.
Grant says there have been amazing improvements to vehicles that are contributing to the drop in fatalities — as well as accidents.
Other roadway improvements are improving safety — and reducing wrecks — like high-intensity reflective signs, particularly on the curves of roads. Grant was a state trooper for nearly 30 years and has been the Iowa D-O-T’s State Safety Planner for the past three-and-a-half years.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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Last day to launch fireworks in Le Mars
The Le Mars Police Department would like to remind residents that fireworks cannot be lit after 11pm today.
Fireworks are only permitted to be lit in the city from Wednesday, December 31st to Friday, January 2nd. Fireworks may only be discharged on a person’s property or with the consent of the property owner, and may not be discharged in any parks, public property, or city streets.
If you have any questions, contact the Le Mars Police Department at 712-546-4113.
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