Environment

Haak raises beetle cleaning crew (03/18/10)
Some people keep collections of preserved bugs as a hobby. Derek Haak, of Maurice, keeps live ones. Thousands of them. But the colonies of dermestid beetles Haak raises aren't just to look at. They've got a job -- a messy one. The beetles clean off animal skulls and bones so hunters like Haak can preserve them...

NCCC restores grasslands in Plymouth County (03/15/10)
A team of 11 AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members are serving with the Plymouth County Conservation Board and the Nature Conservancy this month. From March 7 to April 23, the group will work to help restore and preserve 15 acres of Five Ridge Prairie, Broken Kettle Grasslands, and Hillview Recreation Area...

Merrill industry is model for Iowa's future, Judge says (03/09/10)
If Iowa is going to recover from the recession that has plagued the nation, recovery is going to come from the ground up. That's what Lt. Gov. Patty Judge said Monday during a visit to the Plymouth Oil, a food-grade corn oil plant just north of Merrill...

High snowfall means low frost depth for Plymouth County (03/04/10)
None. That's the amount of frost in the ground under the snow. That's the report Joel De Jong, crops field agronomist for the Plymouth County Iowa State Extension, has heard from a couple of farmers after they recently installed tile in their fields...

City, county to seek energy efficiency grants (03/03/10)
Energy efficiency was on the front burner Tuesday for members of the Le Mars City Council and the Plymouth County Supervisors. Members of both entities applying for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) for projects that will save energy and enhance economic development by creating local jobs...

"Cash for Appliance" rebate money runs out in 24 hours (03/02/10)
Nearly $2.7 million came and went in Iowa Monday for the "Cash for Appliances" rebate program. The day kicked off with the State of Iowa's program offering $100 to $500 in rebates to encourage Iowans to trade in old appliances and upgrade to new energy efficiency Energy Star rated ones...

County reminds recyclers to keep it clean (02/18/10)
Plymouth County citizens are being reminded to use the large metal recycling bin at the Plymouth County Courthouse responsibly. The large metal recycling bin on the Plymouth County Courthouse block is provided for the rural citizen of Plymouth County to deposit their recyclable materials...

Earth-friendly ECO Center may be finished within year (02/15/10)
The architect for the planned Education Conservation Opportunities (ECO) Center at Hillview Park near Hinton is getting down to the nuts and bolts. With ground-breaking slated for late spring, representatives from M Plus Architects are telling the Plymouth County Conservation Department it could be using the building for meetings, education and other purposes as soon as Jan. 1, 2011...

Are we sending bald eagles back to endangered list? (02/01/10)
Bald eagles are being attacked by an emerging predator. It's in the food they eat. Eagle protection agencies have been seeing eagles that are oddly sick, explained Plymouth County Naturalist Victoria De Vos. "They started testing the blood and they are finding out that they had very high levels of lead -- a neurotoxin," De Vos said. "It was basically paralyzing them in different ways."...

Winter predictions: Plenty of snow, ice ahead (01/25/10)
"Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice..." Le Mars readers of Robert Frost's famous poem might lean toward the latter with the latest bout of freezing rain, ice and blowing snow glazing the region. The predictions for February and March weather seem to pile on more evidence...

Winter keeps wildlife hunt for food and habitat (01/25/10)
Humans are not the only ones ready for spring. Wildlife is also anxious for the great thaw. While winter is generally about survival of the fittest, nearly 2 feet of snow makes it hard for all wildlife to find food, explained Plymouth County Naturalist Victoria De Vos...

Students to hold book sale for Haiti (01/22/10)
A group of eighth graders is working together to make a difference for earthquake victims in Haiti. The Le Mars Community Schools students in Tina Gray's last-period study hall are planning a used book and movie sale Tuesday. "It's to raise money for the people in Haiti and the Red Cross," explained eighth grader Margarita Waldman...

Blizzard brings snow creature to Le Mars (01/11/10)
Unlike the mythical abominal snowman, snow creatures are real. And one has come to Le Mars. It was sighted after Ron and Stacey Mahlke decided to get out of the house to play with their children - Sydney and Rio - in the snow. But, two and one half hours later, Sydney and Rio watched as a 20-foot green lizard emerged from the depths of the snow bank...

Horse tales: Krosch goes from riding to writing (01/06/10)
Driving by Rich Krosch's farm, people might have noticed what looked like a zebra grazing in the pasture. They weren't too far from the truth. Krosch's son Scott wanted to be chosen for the reality TV show "Survivor: Africa." In an effort to get noticed on his video application, Scott borrowed a white mare and painted the horse striped with livestock paint to look like its wild African cousin...

Remember to recycle after Christmas (12/26/09)
Christmas wrap, cardboard boxes, holiday cards and envelopes -- they're all recyclable. "The residents of Le Mars can place it all in their blue containers and or blue bags," said Mark Kunkel, Plymouth County Landfill manager. Rural residents can take their Christmas recyclables to the landfill or put their blue bags in the dumpster at the Plymouth County Courthouse, Kunkel said...

Your letters matter, soldier tells students (12/03/09)
After writing letters to a soldier in Afghanistan for months, elementary students at Gehlen Catholic School got to meet him face to face. Army Specialist Scott Tillman, of Le Mars, spent Wednesday afternoon speaking in classrooms a few days before returning for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan...

EPA pushes back ethanol decision (12/02/09)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding off on deciding whether to raise allowable ethanol content in gasoline until mid-2010. The announcement came on Tuesday, Dec. 1 -- the original deadline set by the Clean Air Act for the EPA to decide whether to allow up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline, a 5-percent increase on the current limit...

Jury finds Robinson not guilty in traffic death (11/27/09)
A Merrill man charged with vehicular homicide was found not guilty by a jury Wednesday. Danny Clyde Robinson, 50, faced the felony charge after being in an August 2007 collision on Plymouth County roads just north of Merrill that claimed the life of 78-year-old Fern Nielson, of Lake Norden, S.D...

Jury finds Robinson not guilty (11/26/09)
A Merrill man charged with vehicular homicide was found not guilty by a jury Wednesday. Danny Clyde Robinson, 50, faced the felony charge after being in an August 2007 collision on Plymouth County roads just north of Merrill that claimed the life of 78-year-old Fern Nielson, of Lake Norden, S.D...

There's a glow in the west (11/23/09)
Now as an adult, Scheitler has decorated on the grounds of his acreage just one mile from that farm for the past 14 years, each year adding a bit more. Make that a lot more. "We call it 'Christmas Acres,'" Scheitler said. He estimates there are 60,000 lights on 55 trees and 60 bushes, with 17 inflatable decorations in the yard. ...

Put some candles in a hot dog, Bob's Drive-In is 60 (11/16/09)
Most people in Le Mars today can't remember a time when Bob's Drive-In didn't exist, selling its famous Bob's Dogs on the corner of Highways 3 and 75. This year, the family-owned nostalgic eatery marks its 60th anniversary. In 1949, Robert C. "Bob" Kass opened the drive-in after finishing his military service...

U.S. wildlife leaders worry about future during Akron summit (11/16/09)
Leaders from national wildlife groups shared concerns about the future of clean water and conservation in the United States during a summit near Akron this past weekend. "This is a place where agricultural producers, conservationists and water quality advocates come together for a common program," Jim Martin said of the gathering...

Blaze destroys top of Hinton corn dryer (11/12/09)
Burning corn took out one of the Hinton Co-op's grain dryers Wednesday. The Hinton Fire Department responded to a 3:15 p.m. call reporting smoke coming from one of the two grain dryers at the Hinton Co-op. "There was a pretty good fire in the upper third of the grain dryer," Hinton Fire Chief Chad Beck said. "Corn in the dryer was burning and we don't really know why yet."...

Courthouse annex building ready for architect's cost estimate (11/12/09)
The Plymouth County Supervisors are ready to send a floor plan for a proposed courthouse annex building to architects to receive cost estimates on the design. The supervisors' consensus Tuesday came after further review of the changes they have made to the layout of the proposed annex building the past few weeks...

Counterfeit $100 bills reported locally (11/11/09)
Three reports of people trying to pay at Le Mars businesses with fake $100 bills popped up in the last month. According to the Le Mars Police, one man attempted to pass a $100 bill at one Le Mars business, but the clerk wouldn't accept it. Within 24 hours, the same man used the false bill at another local business, which accepted it, according to the police...

Korean War vets remember wartime experiences (11/10/09)
Members of the Korean War Last Man's Club, along with family and friends, gathered in friendship and remembrance for the club's 12th annual banquet Saturday, Nov. 7. The group honored two members who died since the last meeting. They are Willard Herman, who died Dec. 11, 2008, and Norman Lang, who died July 25, 2009...

Couple plans to build semi trailers at former grain site (11/10/09)
A Le Mars couple will be transforming a former grain mill site west of Le Mars into a manufacturing business for semi trailers. Clint and Leslie Chapman, now owners of the 3.59-acre property about 2 miles west of Le Mars on Highway 3, received approval Monday from the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment for a conditional use permit to manufacture live-bottom trailers at the site...

Faber's hobby wine earns high rank (10/28/09)
A Le Mars man's wine, made from grapes grown in his backyard and fermented in his basement, was picked champion in its class last weekend. Wayne Faber entered his dry red wine in the Schleswig Wine and Bier Contest last weekend, an annual event for Schleswig, 45 miles south of Cherokee...

Oh deer! It's that time of year (10/28/09)
With tree leaves turning golden and temperatures cooling, the fall season also brings a greater chance of car-deer accidents on roadways across Plymouth County. "We're starting to see an increase in vehicles hitting deer," said Plymouth County Deputy Paul Betsworth. "Once farmers start getting their crops in, they start chasing the deer out of the fields onto the roadways."...

Local electric providers: We're for cap, but not trade (10/23/09)
Under proposed energy legislation often called "cap and trade," the Midwest would get burned, according to representatives from local electricity providers. MidAmerican Energy representative Mark Reinders explained his company's take on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a comprehensive energy bill proposed by U.S. Representatives...

Recycle open house educates Le Mars residents (10/20/09)
Le Mars residents will have an opportunity to learn about recycling options during a Chamber of Commerce "After 5" event Thursday, from 5 to 6 p.m. at city hall. The "Recycle Open House" is a way to encourage Le Mars residents to recycle garbage items in an environmentally safe way, according to city staff members...

Youth invited to free mentor hunt (10/20/09)
Plymouth County Pheasants Forever is offering a free youth mentor hunt this weekend to anyone ages 12-15. Youth can sign up to hunt Saturday, Sunday or both days. Dogs and dog handlers will be provided as needed for free. "We want to give kids experience in the outdoors, experience pheasant hunting," said Mike Slota of Pheasants Forever. "We provide a safe environment and education about how to hunt birds so they can do it the right way."...

Local Pheasants Forever build on top chapter status (10/19/09)
Plymouth County Pheasants Forever, recognized as the No. 1 chapter in the nation, is working hard on habitat projects in the county while also promoting safe hunting. The chapter is celebrating this fall that top designation for national support which includes programs, habitat projects, youth efforts and national expenditures...

Loess Hills golf course plan denied permit (10/13/09)
Concern for Loess Hills preservation was at the top of a list of reasons why the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment denied a man's request to turn his land into a golf course. John Denney, of Rural Westfield, came before the board Monday seeking a conditional use permit to build and operate a nine-hole golf course on his 20.92 acres near North Ridge Road in western Plymouth County...

Cargin era as newspaper carriers ends (10/09/09)
Since September 1994, a member of the Rich and Sharon Cargin family of Le Mars has delivered the Daily Sentinel to homes in their neighborhood each day. That era ended in August when Sarah Cargin hung up her newspaper bag, ready to embark on a new road as as student at Western Iowa Tech Community College...

Man's faith sends him on mule journey (10/02/09)
During harvest time, slow moving vehicles are a common sight along Iowa's roadways. Randy Boehmer's mule-drawn covered wagon is not. At a bracing speed of about 5 mph, the Arizona man rode by Le Mars to the north on Highway 60/75 Thursday while making his way from Minnesota to Texas...

Can you hare me now? Unusual rabbit in Le Mars (09/30/09)
Ever seen a four-eared rabbit? Duane Schettler and Amy Lempares, of Le Mars, have and they've got the photos to prove it. "We saw it out the kitchen window in the backyard," Schettler said. The couple has lived in their home, at 1580 First Ave. S.W., for 10 years, and this past summer was the first time they had seen a four-eared rabbit behind their house...

Trees planned for cultural event center (09/28/09)
Olson Cultural Event Center is about to get a little greener. The City of Le Mars is planting 18-20 trees around the stage and cement pavillion at First Avenue and First Street Northeast this fall. The trees will all be maple, and they will be planted along the east, south, and west sides of the center, according to Steve Hansen, the city's public works supervisor...

Supervisors look at storm shelter option (09/23/09)
Could the basement of the proposed Plymouth County Courthouse annex building be made into a storm shelter? Gary Junge, Plymouth County emergency management coordinator, presented that possibility to the conty board of supervisors Tuesday. Junge explained federal and state grant money is available to help pay about 85 percent of the cost to to transform buildings into storm shelters...

Wind turbine company eyes Plymouth County (09/22/09)
A wind farm company may be considering Plymouth County for a new location to build wind turbines. Zoning Administrator Alan Lucken told the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment Monday that he'd recently received a call from an individual from a company that uses massive wind turbines to generate electricity...

Pheasants' habitat dwindles by millions of acres each year (09/18/09)
Hunters may face a challenge this season -- the pheasant population is on a downward spiral in Plymouth County and throughout Iowa. Last year Iowa had 100,000 hunters and 383,000 birds, which is four birds per person in the field. Other years there have been 1.5 million pheasants, said John Linquist, Pheasants Forever regional representative. "From the early 2000s to now there has been a steady decline because of weather and habitat," Linquist said. The cold, damp spring this year affected pheasants' nesting habits, said Mike Slota, Pheasants Forever chairman for Plymouth County youth programs. "The weather has to be somewhat warm to produce the insects for the chicks when they're hatched," Slota said. "The hens can't keep the chicks adequately warm and they just die from exposure." The loss of habitat also affects pheasants' nesting because hens have less area to hide from predators, Slota said. Pheasant habitats, which usually require 5 to 10 acres, are areas with a mixture of tall and short grasses and flowering plants that attract insects, Slota said. A major reason that habitat is dwindling is that millions of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres are going away each year, Linquist said. Last year alone 1.1 million CRP acres expired, according to www.pheasantsforever.org. With the price of grain, farmers are finding they can make more money planting their land than putting it into CRP acres, Slota said. "With this economy you can't blame any farmer for squeezing every dollar out of the ground they can," Slota said. "Their job is to produce grain and make money off the ground. We understand that." Farmers began enrolling their qualified land into CRPs to be planted into habitats 10 to 15 years ago and receiving federal compensation, Linquist said. "A lot of people's acres are expiring and there are no new signups," he said. Another 3.8 million CRP acres will expire this fall and 4.4 million acres next September for a total of 21 million acres gone from the program by the end of 2012 without a new signup. The USDA does not have a signup scheduled, according to the Pheasants Forever website. "It's hard to maintain a bird population when we're constantly taking conservation acres out of play," Linquist said. Pheasants Forever hopes to turn that around with its program, Reload Iowa. The intent of Reload Iowa is to establish 1 million acres of new habitat on Iowa landscape. That means $11.5 million will need to be raised and 50 employees hired to go door-to-door to work with landowners to create the habitat, Linquist said. "That program is going to have to pay enough money out to entice the farmer to want to do this," Slota said. "The farmer has to look at the bottom line." There are also national programs like Conservation Practice 38 or State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) working to help conserve and create new habitat. SAFE started last year with 200,000 CRP acres that were divided among states. "We had 27,700 acres," Linquist said. "All of those acres have been used up and all within a year." The loss of habitat and dwindling pheasant population in Plymouth County and throughout the state has a trickle-down effect on economy and recreation, Linquist said. "When the population of the birds down so does the population of the hunters," he said. That means less dollars spent shopping, eating and staying locally by nonresident hunters. Fewer hunters also leads to a loss of revenue on licenses, which means less money to help support county and state parks, Linquist said. "That's what buys the land and sees to the upkeep," he said. "We're hurting ourselves by people not going out and hunting." A declining pheasant and hunter population is also detrimental for the next generation of would-be hunters, but Slota's optimistic Reload Iowa and similar programs will turn the numbers around. "I hope we start seeing an increase in the next couple of years," Slota said. "I would love to see it start going back the other way and hopefully we are doing the right things to make it start going the other way."

Supervisors amend joint urban renewal area (09/17/09)
No one attended a public hearing Tuesday to amend the joint urban renewal area along the Highway 75 Bypass. Following the hearing, the Plymouth County Supervisors approved a resolution re-designating property lines and clarifying legal descriptions in the joint urban renewal area...

Locals would pay price if Cherokee MHI closes (09/15/09)
Closing the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (MHI) would be damaging for Plymouth County, according to area mental health professionals. Transportation costs for both the county and patients having to travel greater distances to other facilities to receive treatment and related agencies that rent space on the institution's campus could face hardships...

Pheasants Forever Remsen water project makes waves (09/09/09)
A project that began with the idea of helping clean up Remsen's water has picked up national interest. This year Plymouth County Pheasants Forever chapter worked together with the City of Remsen to transform about 90 acres of cropland and well field into native prairie habitat...

Paper Collection (09/04/09)
Newspapers, magazines and computer paper for recycling by Le Mars Elementary School students. Paper will be picked up at the following times and locations: 8-9 a.m. dropoff available at Kissinger Elementary School, Merrill; 8-10 a.m. dropoff available at O'Toole Park drop point, 415 First Avenue N.E., Le Mars; 8:30 a.m. ...

City will offer free December trash pickup (09/02/09)
Le Mars Solid Waste Committee members are providing early news of a "Christmas present" for local residents, according to Assistant City Administrator Bill Cole. The gift, revealed during Tuesday's Le Mars City Council session, is a free trash pickup for the month of December...

Urban renewal area changes approved (09/01/09)
The Le Mars and Plymouth County zoning boards met Monday to approve small changes to the outline of the Joint Urban Renewal Area. That district, which allows the governing bodies to gather tax revenue from any new development and use it for set purposes, stretches from 1 1/2 miles north of Le Mars to 2 miles west of Le Mars to 1 mile south of the Wells' Dairy Corporate Center...

Brink inducted into fair's Hall of Fame (08/04/09)
The 2009 Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame inductee grew up east of Merrill and has a long history with the Plymouth County Fair. Darwin Brink, now of Bronson, Iowa, received the honor Wednesday prior to the crowning of fair royalty. "Darwin has been walking or riding the Plymouth County fairgrounds for the past 70 years," said fair board president Terry Reuter...

Judge emphasizes design, gain in swine winners (08/03/09)
The term "design" came into play frequently Saturday as exhibitors in the Fair's Swine Show maneuvered their entries before Show Judge Dr. Tom Baas, Ph.D. Baas, a professor in the Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, explained that while the design of a pig "has always been very important" the design of the pig -- its structure and "how it's put together" -- is receiving added emphasis today in light of modern-day options for pork production...

Related subjects