Global Environmental Issues

Law would take away guns from domestic violence offenders (03/18/10)
Convicted domestic violence offenders in Iowa could lose their right to own guns and ammunition if the governor signs a bill into law Monday. A person accused of domestic violence who has a protective order placed against them can be required to relinquish their firearms temporarily, the bill states...

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...

Gehlen student removed from school after e-threat (03/04/10)
An 18-year-old Gehlen Catholic Schools student who allegedly authored a message threatening other Gehlen students was removed from the school immediately Thursday. The student, an 18-year-old female, sent the alleged message via an electronic communication, according to the Le Mars Police...

Budget cuts limit low income housing for Plymouth County (03/01/10)
Assistance for low income housing in Plymouth County and surrounding areas will be cut back in 2010. It's a result of lower budgets for the Siouxland Regional Housing Authority (SRHA) which provides low income housing support for Plymouth, rural Woodbury, Cherokee and Manona counties, and the area north of Highway 20 in Ida county...

Proposed texting and driving ban receives local support, criticism (02/26/10)
As soon as this summer, Iowa drivers who text and drive might see flashing blue and red lights in their rear view mirror. The Iowa House and Senate have both passed their own versions of a bill that would ban texting and driving. However, they have to come to an agreement before the law can move forward...

Trees Please! Grant awards $2,000 for Le Mars trees (02/15/10)
Le Mars is receiving $2,000 worth of trees thanks to a donation from MidAmerican Energy. "We'll use it to plant trees along the rec. trail and in the city cemeteries to replace some of the dying spruces," said Steve Hansen, Le Mars public works superintendent...

Public employee bargaining: Designed to protect citizens (02/11/10)
(Editor's note: This story is the first of two stories taking a closer look at public employees' bargaining.) In the business world, salaries and benefits of a business' employees are somewhat dependent on how well the business is doing. However, in the public sector, employees like teachers and city workers are given the chance to organize and bargain collectively based on Iowa Code Chapter 20...

Vander Plaats ready to put government on chopping block (02/09/10)
Gubernatorial hopeful Vander Plaats thinks he has some answers for Iowa's troubled economy -- and the top one is shrinking the government. Vander Plaats spoke Monday to about a dozen people at the Le Mars Pizza Ranch during a tour hitting all 99 of Iowa's counties...

Steve King says time to stop spending (02/08/10)
U.S. Rep. Steve King thinks the biggest problem in government right now is overspending. He also doesn't believe President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan is working as it was set out to do. Neither does he favor a government-run national health care program...

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."...

Gehlen opens Catholic Schools Week with special Mass (01/29/10)
A Mass at Gehlen Catholic Schools gymnasium at 8:45 a.m. Monday will kick off Catholic Schools Week under the theme, "Dividends for Life." The week will celebrate the life-long impact of a Catholic education. Catholic Schools Week is observed Jan 31 through Feb. 6 and is celebrated by the National Catholic Education Association and schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City...

LCS board cuts back early retirement policy (01/26/10)
A revision in the Le Mars Community School District's early retirement policy will be financially beneficial to the district while trimming some benefits to staff as well. It will continue to offer retiring certified staff with a contribution to the individual's medical insurance coverage...

Senator fears program, tax credit cuts loom to balance budget (12/29/09)
Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra predicts the $1.1 billion budget deficit is the most important issue legislators will face come January. "There's going to have to be a lot of decisions made on how to either cut programs or cut tax credits to make a balanced budget," Feenstra said...

Demand increases, dollars shrink for preschool scholarships (12/26/09)
A group that helps Plymouth County residents at or below 200 percent of the poverty level send their children to preschool is feeling the pinch. Last year Northwest Iowa Community Empowerment offered 114 preschool scholarships -- 74 full-tuition and 40 half-tuition -- for eligible low-income families in Plymouth County...

LCS board proposes no teacher salary increase for 2010-11 (12/22/09)
No increase in base salary. No step movement on the salary schedule. No changes in contract language other than date changes. That's the opening proposal put forth by the Le Mars Community Schools board of education negotiating team in response to contract talks with the Le Mars Community Education Association (LCED) for the 2010-11 teachers' contract...

Groups rush to bring cheer to families in need (12/17/09)
The Christmas packages are coming in at the Christian Needs Center in Le Mars. The food and clothing pantry is staying just ahead of families' needs this Christmas season. "We're doing okay," said director Jess Larson. As of Monday, all the families and individuals on the center's adopt-a-family list had been adopted...

County injects $2,500 into drug court to sustain program (12/16/09)
Plymouth County's drug court is receiving a $2,500 boost from the county coffers. On Tuesday, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved giving that sum of money to the program to keep it going through June 2010. Drug Court, which brings adults and juveniles facing drug-related charges in front of a panel of their peers for goal-setting, encouragement and enforcement, is low on money...

Cherokee Mental Health Institute escapes DHS chopping block (12/15/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services is recommending closing the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute -- not Cherokee's -- in a proposal today (Tuesday) to the Iowa Legislature. Last spring, the Legislature asked the DHS to recommend closing one of Iowa's four mental health institutes without cutting services...

Community Foundation award $142,169 in grants (12/14/09)
Twenty-seven organizations and groups in Plymouth County are recipients of grant money totaling $142,169 from the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County. The $142,169 represents the largest amount the foundation has been able to award in grants in the four years it has existed...

Cherokee Mental Health Institute not on chopping block (12/14/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services is recommending closing the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute, not Cherokee's institue, in a proposal today (Tuesday) to the Iowa Legislature. Last spring, the Legislature commanded the DHS to recommend closing one of Iowa's four mental health institutes without cutting services...

The stimulus dollars and you: Have you been touched by recovery money? (12/10/09)
More than $8 million worth of federal stimulus dollars has been quietly sliding through the IV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and into Plymouth County's veins. That injection meant some schools could keep a teacher one more year. It meant replacing a worn bridge and repaving some roads. It meant some families will have money to weatherize their homes...

LCS teachers seek 3% package increase (12/08/09)

R-U students meet people from the 1800s (12/08/09)
Nikki Schubert grew up near a small Norwegian cemetery in Holstein and helped her parents maintain it. "I've always been fascinated with the history there -- who were these people?" she said. While Schubert is now a teacher at Remsen-Union High School, those childhood questions remained with her and recently helped spark a social studies class project for her freshmen...

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...

Deadline looming for first look at closure of Mental Health Institutes (12/01/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services will make its recommendation in two weeks as to which of the Cherokee, Independence, Clarinda or Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institutes should close. On Dec. 15, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will present its decision to Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and the Legislature...

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...

LCS board appoints negotiating team, purchases vehicle (11/13/09)
Opening negotiation sessions between teachers and the Le Mars Community School District will be held in December. In a letter to the school board president, the Le Mars Community Education Association (LCEA) notified the board of its intent to bargain, with the first bargaining session for the 2010-2011 master contract to be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7...

Juvenile center's client number down, budget tighter (11/13/09)
Plymouth County juveniles charged with serious crimes are sometimes ordered to go to the Youth Emergency Services Center by judges to await their fates. It costs the county $150 per day, per person to house an individual at the detention center, which rents space on the campus of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute...

Gehlen Catholic hosts Veteran's Day Prayer Service (11/09/09)
Gehlen Catholic School will host a Veteran's Day Prayer Service at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Gehlen Catholic gym. Members of the community, past and present servicemen and women and their families are invited to attend the service. Guest speaker will be Gary Tillman, nurse anesthetist at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Gary and his wife, Elaine, are the parents of Michelle ('98), Jake ('01) Scott ('03) and David, a senior at Gehlen Catholic...

Student takes a seat in the UN (11/03/09)
Along with students from around the world, Sarah Gengler filed into the United Nations' General Assembly Hall -- the meeting place of nations -- and took her seat. Her place card read: United Arab Emirates. The Gehlen Catholic School alum isn't a United Nations (UN) delegate, at least not yet, and she's not from the United Arab Emirates, but she did serve on her university's National Model UN delegation...

Domestic violence: Men can also be victims (10/27/09)
In reported cases of domestic violence, men are more often found to be abusers and women victims -- but that's not always the truth. "Can men be victims? Yes they can," said Cathy Van Maanen, Council on Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence (CSADV) outreach coordinator for Plymouth County...

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...

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...

Food supply low at Christian Needs Center (10/13/09)
The shelves in the food pantry at the Christian Needs Center have some bare spots. Director Jess Larson is hoping donations will pick up again soon so families in need won't have to worry about putting food on the table. "We've seen quite an increase in the people who use our services," Larson said...

Sheriff hopes company can save jail money (10/12/09)
Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo hopes a company that provides jail health care programs can help curb rising inmate medical and prescription costs. Otterloo told county supervisors Tuesday he plans to contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare, of Illinois, at $2,417 a month for its "cost saving" services...

Remsen schools receive money for security (10/09/09)
Remsen schools will be adding $22,490 in safety and security features, thanks to a federal grant. The award, announced recently, will be used at both Remsen-Union Community School and Remsen St. Mary's School. The Remsen Police will be administrating the grant to the schools. The police department partnered with the schools in the grant application...

Men in red shoes to create awareness Saturday (10/08/09)
Twenty-six men will "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" Saturday to raise awareness for Domestic Violence. The male volunteers, wearing women's red heels, will talk to diners about the importance of men being more involved in stopping violence against women from 5-9 p.m. at 4 Brothers Bar & Grill, 1430 Twin Rivers Blvd., Le Mars...

Wal-Mart gives R-U teachers $1,000 in gift cards (10/07/09)
What would you do if someone just handed you a $100 gift card? That's a question 10 Remsen-Union Community School teachers are faced with after Wal-Mart representatives made a surprise stop Tuesday. The 10 Remsen-Union teachers, selected randomly, were presented with a $100 Wal-Mart Teacher Reward gift card to help purchase much-needed classroom supplies...

LCS enrollment, state aid numbers point to cuts (09/30/09)
Le Mars Community Schools budgets for both the current school year and the 2010-11 year will take a hit in state funding. A preliminary report on LCS enrollment for the 2009-10 school year and information received at an Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Employee Relations Conference indicate more cuts will be coming...

Surveillance cameras provide extra security at Hinton school (09/29/09)
Hinton Community School beefed up its security this summer with the installation of video surveillance cameras. Larry Williams, Hinton's interim superintendent, said putting in the cameras is just added safety of the students. "There were no incidents," Williams said. "I think it's to respond to a general situation if you can err on the side of greater safety, there's a tendency to do that."...

On the hunt: Geocachers storm Plymouth County in search of 'treasure' (09/28/09)
You might have bumped into them around town this weekend. People walking around looking down at a hand-held GPS unit in their palm. These 130 geocachers from across the Midwest were in a race against time. Competing in the Plymouth County Hike 'n' Seek Geocache, they had 24 hours to find as many tiny hidden objects at specific coordinates as they could...

Men will strap on women's shoes to create awareness (09/25/09)
Nearly 30 local men will step into women's fancy red heels next month to raise Domestic Violence awareness as they "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes." These male volunteers will be showing off their footwear while emphasizing the importance of men being more involved in stopping violence against women at the Oct. 10 event...

A different kind of scavenger hunt in Plymouth County (09/23/09)
This weekend, Plymouth County will host an outdoor activity that maybe not too many people are familiar with. However, that is likely going to change as the sport of "geocaching" is gaining more and more popularity in the United States. Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton will host the Iowa Geocachers Organization's annual Hike 'n Seek event Friday-Sunday...

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."

County employee bargaining talks begin (09/04/09)
Bargaining employees in two county departments have entered into initial 2009 employee negotiations with the Plymouth County supervisors. The Plymouth County sheriff's department and the secondary road department submitted their first proposals Aug. 25...

Face of the Phonothon: Brannan shares her Life Skills story (09/01/09)
The Annual KC Phonothon for persons with disabilities has benefited a number of Plymouth County residents who receive services at Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars through the years. The 30th annual phonothon this Wednesday will be no different...

Holy rolling for hunger: Pastors cycle across U.S. (08/05/09)
A group of pastors are fighting hunger, but not from the pulpit. Instead of waiting for people to come to church, they're bringing the message to them on a bamboo bicycle built for three. Hitting every corner of the country, three Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) pastors and their support team from West Virginia put thousands of miles behind them to raise awareness of world hunger and how people can respond...

Grant will help provide sexual abuse education (07/13/09)
The Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (CSADV) Plymouth County outreach shared its message of sexual abuse prevention with more than 500 children this past school year. A $6,500 grant received this month from Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Iowa will help CSADV Plymouth County outreach continue educating elementary, preschool and daycare children...

Clerk of courts works to meet public needs after flood (07/07/09)
Despite appearances, the Plymouth County Clerk of Courts is open to the public for business pretty much as usual. After rain water poured through the ceiling and flooded the large office on the third floor of the courthouse mid-June, every file and computer had to be moved out...

Supervisors decline choice of mental health provider (06/03/09)
Those receiving county aid for mental health therapy services will not have the option of going to Moir Counseling for care. The Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday did not approve a contract with Moir Counseling to allow Katy Moir to provide mental health therapy to people receiving county support for those services...

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