Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors To Have Week Off
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will be taking the week off, as there will not be a meeting scheduled for today. They will resume next week at the County Courthouse Board Room.
Chamber Ag Committee To Host Chamber Coffee Inside Round Barn
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee will host this morning’s Chamber Coffee event. The Chamber coffee will be held at the famous round barn located at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, beginning at 9:30 a.m. This will be your opportunity to get a sneak peak of the agriculture education exhibit featured at the round barn. This year, the Chamber Ag Committee has selected the theme: “Farming in the Danger Zone” with a focus on farm safety.
Gehlen Catholic Upgrades The Jaybird Mascot
(Le Mars) — A fresh new look is coming to Gehlen Catholic as a rebranded Jaybird logo has just been released.
“Celebrating our faith is one of the main focuses at Gehlen Catholic, and we wanted to ensure people could see that through our mascot. That is why the “C” for “Catholic” will now accompany the “G” for “Gehlen” and a cross has been added,” explained Amy Jungers, Development Director.
Gehlen Catholic’s Chaplain, Fr. Travis Crotty, is also excited about the change as it gives time to reflect on the rich, historical significance of the Jaybird.
“Catholic education is the apostolate of All Saints Parish. The parishes surrounding Le Mars have had a rich tradition of forming their young people in the faith. The school has been placed under the patronage of St. James, St. Joseph and Our Lady of the Rosary. The mascot name “Jays” came from St. James and St. Joseph, the original parishes of Le Mars. Jesus is the source and summit of all we do at Gehlen Catholic and this new logo which includes the cross reflects that,” Crotty said.
When comparing the old logo to the new logo, it is clear to see that a darker, more defined outline has been given to the Jay, plus the color is more filled-in which allows for easier designing and printing.
“We had started to use the Jaybird logo on more of our marketing materials in print and digital, and we continued to run into small issues that would be eliminated if we decided to make some changes to the design,” said Jungers.
The Gehlen Catholic School Board approved the updated Jaybird logo back in early spring. Jungers explained why the rollout is happening now.
“This has been in the works for a while, and there is no better time to release it than now when we are coming up on a new school year. We are looking forward to our students and teachers coming back into the building, and we hope this updated logo creates some excitement and school spirit!”
The old logo will slowly get transitioned out as the new logo will be used on updated materials from here on out.
Floyd Valley Healthcare to Offer COVID-19 Vaccinations At Fair
(Le Mars, IA) — Floyd Valley Community Health will be offering Pfizer vaccines at the 2021 Plymouth County Fair from July 28th – August 1st at the First Aid Station. The hours for the clinics will be Wednesday – Saturday from 3 – 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. No appointments are necessary and the vaccinations are offered free of charge. Pfizer vaccine is available to anyone 12 years of age and older.
Those vaccinated will be required to remain for 15 minutes of observation after receiving the vaccine, with 30 minutes of observation being recommended for patients who have experienced a severe allergic reaction in the past, such as to other vaccines, oral medications, foods, bees, etc.
Appointments for follow-up will be made for 21 days after the initial vaccination. Individuals that have received both shots of a two-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna, or a single injection of Johnson & Johnson are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the final vaccination.
The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine is not currently recommended in:
· Individuals under 12
· Individuals with a known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (see Full EUA Prescribing Information at https://www.fda.gov ).
· Individuals with a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic, etc.) to any prior vaccine or other SC/IM/IV injection. However, if individuals experienced a less severe reaction vaccine is recommended.
Heat Bears Down On RAGBRAI Riders
(Fort Dodge, IA) –– With heat indices expected to climb up to 105-110 today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), riders in RAGBRAI are looking to beat the heat. Dave Morris of Orange City is making his first ride. At the overnight stop in Fort Dodge, he says his approach thus far has been to get an early start. He says they got up at 5:30 in the morning and got on the road by seven to try and avoid the heat. James Townsend of Nebraska is a veteran of the event. He says if you sweat a lot you can do the heat on the ride. He says the heat bothers him more when he is stopped and at night in his tent. Riders leave Fort Dodge today (Tuesday) and will make their way to Iowa Falls for the overnight stop.
Crop Report: Stress From Lack Of Moisture Impacting Northern Iowa Farmers
(Des Moines, IA) — The new U-S-D-A report says the crop stress from a lack of moisture is most notable in the northern third of the state — which has the worst drought conditions. The overall condition of the corn crop was reported at 65 percent good to excellent. That’s down three percentage points from the previous week. The soybean condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent — and that is down five percent from the previous report.
Sioux County Judge To Rule On Orange City Ordinance On Rental Home Inspections
(Orange City, IA) — A judge is considering whether to allow an Orange City ordinance that lets the city inspect the rental homes without the owner’s consent. Judge Patrick Tott heard the arguments in the civil suit Monday — and lawyer John Wrench told him the landlords and residents he represents believe those civil warrants are a violation of the Iowa Constitution. He says the searches can happen without any evidence that there is anything wrong. City Attorney Zac Clausen says there is no reason for this group of landlords to sue. Clausen says the city has not yet inspected any of the properties and may choose not to do so. Judge Tott says he will issue a ruling on the case at a later date.
Governor Names New Commandant For Iowa Veterans Home
(Marshalltown, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds has named a new commandant to lead the Iowa Veterans Home. Major Matthew Peterson will lead the nursing facility for Iowa veterans in Marshalltown, effective today (Tuesday). Peterson’s appointment will need to be confirmed by the Iowa Senate. He replaces Timon Oujiri, who was fired by Reynolds in May. No reason has been given. A release issued Monday night says Peterson is a fifth-generation Iowan from Red Oak. He retired from the military after serving 20 years with the Marines.
Democrats Fault Governor For Lack Of Board Of Health Members
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Democrats say the lack of enough members for a quorum on the Iowa Board of Health is Republican Governor Kim Reynold’s fault. The Board is seven members short and canceled its July 14th meeting. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn, told reporters in a conference call that “We need real leadership to help us reverse the course that we are on.” Democrat State Senator Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, the state Board of Health is an important advisory board, especially during the pandemic.
The governor’s office has not responded with a comment on the issue.
High Temperatures Can Have Big Impact On Those With Dementia
(Undated) — High temperatures flirting with triple digits this week can be particularly challenging for Iowans who are living with dementia. Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association spokeswoman, Lauren Livingston, says the extreme heat can be just as dangerous as a wintertime blizzard for people with memory issues.
She says family and friends should make plans to regularly check in on a person living with dementia during extreme heat and special arrangements may be needed for sleeping. More than six-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 66-thousand Iowans.
Highway 20 Officially “Medal of Honor Highway”
(Sergeant Bluff, IA) — Iowa is the latest state to dedicate Highway 20 as the nation’s “Medal of Honor” highway. Ceremonies this weekend in Sergeant Bluff at American Legion Post 662 marked the occasion with new signs. Local attorney Rene LaPierre talked with state lawmakers to drum up support and got the bill to the Governor’s desk and she signed it about one month ago. LaPierre says he is “Truly pleased by seeing this and it is a joint effort.” Highway 20 stretches more than three-thousand miles from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts.
