LCS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Le Mars Community Schools is celebrating their first employee of the month in this school year.
Amanda Becker, a Resource Room paraprofessional at Clark Elementary was so honored at an assembly this morning. Amanda has been serving in that capacity for three years. Eight of her colleagues submitted her nomination. Beckers is described as kind, dependable, consistent, reliable, respectful, and takes her job very seriously. She’s willing to help fill in wherever needed and does extra things without being asked. And she always has a smile on her face. Congratulations to Amanda Becker of Clark Elementary, the Le Mars Community Schools’ employee of the month!
HARVEST PROGRESS
Farmers used some dry weather to move into full harvest mode last week. The U-S-D-A says five percent of the statewide corn harvest is now complete — which is five days behind last year and one day behind the five-year average. The corn condition remained 64 percent good to excellent condition. The report says seven percent of the soybeans are in the bin. That is four days behind last year and three days behind the average. The soybean condition was rated 62 percent good to excellent.
FOREIGN-OWNED FARMLAND
For more than 20 years, foreign nationals and non-American-owned companies have been able to borrow money from the federal government to buy farmland here in the U-S. Iowa U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says that needs to stop. He’s sponsoring a bill that will make foreign individuals and entities ineligible for financing through the Farm Credit System. Grassley says the practice of allowing foreign-owned companies and people who aren’t permanent residents of the U-S to borrow federal tax dollars to buy farmland poses a potential threat to the domestic food supply and threatens national security. Grassley, who’ seeking re-election, says Congress needs to make sure the farm credit system is only supporting American farmers and ranchers, and not subsidizing foreign investors.
DOT CANCELS AUCTION
The Iowa D-O-T has canceled its fall in-person equipment and vehicle auction. Spokesman David Bollenbaugh says they just don’t have enough vehicles available and think they’re “still trying to play catch up from COVID.” He says they continue maintaining the trucks they have until they can get a replacement and when they do get new trucks — it’s not very many. The D-O-T will continue selling vehicles they are rotating out online. Bollenbaugh says they’ll have several smaller trucks, a passenger van and some larger trucks for sale online — and the mileage will be more than what you would normally see in a sale. You can go to Gov-Deals-dot-com to see the items the Iowa D-O-T has for sale.
FARMLAND VALUES
The U-S-D-A has released a survey which shows a big increase in farmland values and cash rent. Iowa State University livestock economist, Lee Schulz, says the cropland increased 19-point-seven percent.
Schulz says this is one set of numbers in the overall picture.
He says high commodity prices are one of the big drivers of land values.
Schulz specializes in livestock and says that industry is having an impact on pasture land values.
He says as the commodity prices rise there’s competition for that land. The Fed Reserve recently raised interest rates again and Schulz says that is going to continue to impact land values along with the other factors.
Iowa State releases its annual land value survey in December.
LAST GIFT
A Le Mars man has begun a program which seeks to identify people buried in unmarked graves in Plymouth County. Steve Kolker said the idea for the Last Gift program began with his friend Dave, who had passed away several years previous.
Kolker said someday he would like to find more of these graves.
Got together with a few friends, and began raising money for the Last Gift program. Members of the Last Gift program seek out unmarked graves in Plymouth County cemeteries. They work to identify the grave, and learn about the person buried there. They then purchase and place a headstone and hold a small service for that person. Steve is looking for volunteers to help find and research unmarked graves in Plymouth County.
Steve Kolker
DERECHO ASSISTANCE
Farmers in South Dakota are set to get some assistance following a recent storm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced yesterday that it is providing cost-share assistance to South Dakota farmers for rebuilding storage facilities damaged or destroyed by the May 12th storm. Wind speeds reached over 90 miles per hour during the storm. The South Dakota Corn Growers Association says the help is appreciated. Similar assistance is being provided to farmers in Minnesota and Kentucky.
WW II MEDALS
U-S Senator Joni Ernst was in Storm Lake Monday morning to present a set of medals to a Buena Vista County veteran who served in World War Two.
Several of Stanley Peterson’s family members were on hand, including his nephew Todd Peterson, who said the presentation is special to Stanley and the entire family.
Peterson, who is an Alta native, was given the Good Conduct Medal, the World War Tww Victory Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
The awards were made available through the Buena Vista County Veterans Affairs Office. Office director, Louie DeRoos, said they found out this summer that Stanley was approaching his 100th birthday and reached out to Ernst to get his awards.
Stanley joined the Army in 1942 as a Corporal, and served until 1946. He was trained as an aircraft engine and armament mechanic.
