Power And Communication Line Construction

Council tables acceptance of Highway 3 project (03/18/10)
The Le Mars City Council put off accepting an engineer's statement to the Iowa Department of Transportation on the completion and owners contract for the Highway 3 widening project. City Manager Scott Langel acknowledged that the city had already, due to state legislative direction, in essence accepted the $721,701 project when the widened portion of the highway was opened last November...

Supervisors to take on mailbox versus road debate (03/18/10)
Are mailboxes sitting too close to county roads? The Plymouth County Supervisors decided Tuesday to look into the matter more thoroughly, after hearing concerns from local farmer Del Kellen. Kellen, who lives and farms south of Le Mars, said there's a problem with sight distance when it comes to rural mail carriers stopped along the K-49 and other county paved roads...

MidAmerican customers may help finance nuclear study (03/16/10)
The 7,184 MidAmerican Electric Company customers in Plymouth County may see a monthly increase in their payment due to a proposed law. The increase would come if Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signs a bill to allow MidAmerican to boost electric consumer payments throughout the state by $15 million to study the possibility of bringing a second nuclear plant to Iowa...

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...

Apartments officially on national historic register (03/04/10)
A building which first was home to a hospital and is now apartments is Le Mars' newest listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Floyd Valley Apartments, at 110 Sixth Ave. N.E. has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. That confirmation was made Feb. 3, 2010, according to Iris Hemmingson, president of the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission...

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...

Ice cream parlor will bring life to historic Le Mars building (02/25/10)

From field to table: Plymouth Oil begins production (02/22/10)
The food-grade corn oil plant just north of Merrill is making liquid gold. After weather and financial delays, the $30 million Plymouth Oil plant is completely constructed and pumping out gallons of crude corn oil, according to Dave Hoffman, chairman of the Plymouth Oil Company board...

County construction means less LOST money for grants (02/16/10)
The Plymouth County Supervisors set aside $100,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) money in their proposed budget to be used for grant requests. That's $80,000 less than last year -- but the county has two new major construction projects to pay for with LOST revenue in the next fiscal year...

Peters pays it forward with Habitat for Humanity homes (02/11/10)
Rob Peters knows how much a Habitat for Humanity house means to a family. He and his three children moved into their home, the first built by Habitat for Humanity in Le Mars, just before Christmas 2006. Now he's even more involved and paying forward what he has received, serving as construction foreman for Habitat houses going up in the Riverside area of Sioux City...

County working to make new disaster hazard plan (02/11/10)
The Plymouth County Supervisors is taking disaster preparation one step further in case of future disaster. The supervisors approved the county's participation in a Local Hazard Multi-Jurisdictional Grant Program Tuesday. "It's a FEMA requirement if we have a disaster and we're going to apply for state and federal assistance this plan has to be done," said Gary Junge, county emergency management coordinator...

TIF: a powerful tool being overused? (02/05/10)
Out of all 99 Iowa counties, Plymouth County is ranked second for using Tax Increment Financing (TIF). About 15.2 percent of the county's taxable valuation is in TIF, according to the Iowa State Association of Counties. TIF is a taxing tool different than regular taxes, according to Plymouth County Auditor Stacey Feldman...

MidAmerican Energy calls for safety, continues storm restoration (01/26/10)
MidAmerican Energy reminds customers to take additional safety precautions as work continues to restore service to thousands of customers impacted by this week's ice storm. Today (Tuesday) MidAmerican Energy reported only one outage in Plymouth County...

Highway 3 west widening, city signs on 2010 project list (01/08/10)
Adding a lane to Highway 3 west of Le Mars will likely be one of the City of Le Mars' top projects in the works in the new year. Le Mars City Administrator Scott Langel sketched out the 2010 priority projects with the Daily Sentinel this week, noting the finalized list is yet to come...

Remembering the decade: At home and beyond (01/04/10)
Ten years ago, as the decade turned, we were waiting to see if the Y2K threat was real. While that turned out to be the biggest non-news event of the Aughts (the first decade of the 2000s), there was plenty of headline material to come, tragedy and triumph alike...

Rewind 2009: The worst of times and the best of times (12/31/09)

The Bridge: When the water's too deep to cross alone (12/22/09)
There are three days until Christmas, and a blizzard is blowing its way toward northwest Iowa. Can you imagine having no warm, safe place to go? That's the reality two Plymouth County women and their children recently faced before they were introduced to The Bridge, a transitional living home in Orange City...

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...

New airport funding requests being made (12/03/09)
Le Mars City Council approved an application this week for $204,476 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) money to house that snow removal equipment for the Le Mars Airport. This application, for Fiscal Year 2011, comes following a FY 10 application for $120,000 in similar federal dollars for snow removal equipment for the airport...

Merrill Fire Department to build a fire station that fits (12/02/09)
To fit a new fire truck in the door at the Merrill Fire Station, the truck has to be cut down in size. "For the last engine we bought, downsizing it cost us an extra $30,000," said Merrill Fire Chief Bill Merchant. That's the problem the Merrill Fire Department is working to fix by building a new fire station...

Finish date uncertain for Highway 3 bridge (11/30/09)
A Highway 3 bridge near Westfield is still under construction although the expected mid-November completion date has come and gone. "We're hoping we can get it open in the winter, but it's not likely," said Dwight Jenkins, Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) construction tech. supervisor...

Family brings new life to former church (11/25/09)
The former St. Catherine Church in Westfield has a new calling -- to become a family's home. In September, Chris and Joni Vondrak purchased the former Catholic church and along with their children Emily, 14, Joe, 10, Frankie, 9, and Molly, 6, are working to make it into a home...

Train safety project Tuesday (11/23/09)
Watch the railroad crossings Tuesday. Law enforcement officers will be watching at the tracks in Le Mars for crossing violators during an "Officer on the Train" project with the Union Pacific railroad. Tickets issued to motorists for failing to stop at the red crossing signals will cost a total of $195...

Where do we grow from here? Moving forward with downtown survey results (11/20/09)
People have a lot of ideas for downtown Le Mars, according to recent results of a Main Street Iowa-directed survey and analysis. Requests from the about 350 people surveyed range from general, like add more stores downtown, to specific suggestions, like bring in Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant...

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...

New ruling gives county green light on annex building (10/23/09)
The Le Mars Board of Zoning Adjustment reversed its earlier decision Thursday and approved variances allowing the county to move forward with plans to construct a courthouse annex building. Zoning board members voted 3-0 to approve a conditional use permit to build in a residential district and within 17 feet 9 inches off Fourth Avenue Southeast instead of 25 feet...

Plymouth Energy seeks $10 million to position for future (10/20/09)

Council delays awarding bid on Blue Diamond Drive, white-topping (10/08/09)
While it appears Steve Harris Construction, is to ultimately be the successful low bidder for two future Le Mars street projects, the Le Mars City Council has delayed awarding bids until a special Oct. 13 council session. The delay is the result of the city's awaiting formal word on its RISE (Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy) application for the Blue Diamond street construction and Harris's acceptance of a start date next year for the white-topping project...

Le Mars firefighters head into the danger zone (10/07/09)
Oct. 4-10 "Stay Smart! Don't Get Burned" In a house fire, the temperature can reach more than 1,000 degrees. Inside, smoke can turn a lit house pitch black in four minutes. Odorless toxic fumes can swirl through the rooms, making anyone inside sleepy, weak and confused...

Road construction in seasonal race against time (09/30/09)
The Highway 3 project in eastern Le Mars is behind schedule, City Administrator Scott Langel said. Officially, the completion date was supposed to be Aug. 31, Langel said. His prediction is the Highway 3 work will be finished in the next week. "It's definitely functional at this point," Langel said. "Everything that needed to be paved is paved."...

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...

City approves adding lights at five intersections (09/17/09)
Five intersections will be somewhat brighter in the near future as the result of action Tuesday by the Le Mars City Council. The new lights will be installed at the intersections of Second Street Southeast and 14th Avenue Southeast, 12th Avenue Southwest and 12th Street Southwest, Lee Drive and Fourth Avenue Southeast, Schafer Avenue and 15th Street Southeast and North Lynn Drive and Seventh Avenue Southeast...

Presbyterian UCC celebrates 125 years of sharing faith (09/11/09)

Singer, songwriter's career grows during CIA service (09/01/09)
Francis Hahn has worn many caps in his lifetime from CIA operative to shoe store repair owner to airport manager. His most fulfilling career -- his music. "I've enjoyed song writing more than anything I've ever done," Hahn said. The Mapleton man sang his tunes on the Church of Jesus stage at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival Monday afternoon...

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...

Are phone books heading for extinction? (08/31/09)
Phone books have been dubbed a "barometer of societal change" according to online magazine "Slate." That adage is proving itself today, with more and more people disappearing from phone books as they switch to cell phones only. "As with most telephone companies, we have seen a decline in the number of listings in the telephone directories," said Stephanie Schifano of Frontier Communications...

Then and now: Remodeled building showcases 4-H projects (07/28/09)
Plymouth County 4-H members entering their 4-H projects got a good look at the new 4-H Display Building on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon. Formerly the Hall of '84, the building has been remodeled to house all the 4-H static entries, from food and clothing, to mechanical arts and visual arts, and consumer management to home improvement...

Smoother ride ahead for rough railroad crossing (07/27/09)
Help is on the way for the Highway 3 railroad crossing next to Fareway. "Rough Crossing" signs went up recently to warn drivers. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad Company (CC) are aware of the situation and working together on a solution...

Repairs will close county roads (07/22/09)
Portions of four county roads will close this week. Bridge replacements with box culverts will close two roads Thursday: 270th Street from Polk Avenue east to Quest Avenue and 200th Street from Hickory Avenue east to Impala Avenue. Asphalt resurfacing will close C-12 from K-22 east to K-30 at Craig and K-30 from C-12 north to the Sioux County line Friday...

Road repair means detour for drivers (07/02/09)
A road resurfacing and bridge replacement will halt traffic on two county roads starting Monday. Plymouth County Engineering Department will close C-16 from K-22 east to Highway 75 for asphalt resurfacing early Monday morning. The road will remain closed through late August...

Ethanol plant grand opening draws curiosity, praise (06/05/09)
Hundreds of visitors donned hard hats Thursday to watch a plant just north of Merrill do its thing: produce ethanol at the rate of 103 gallons per minute. "You read about these things, but you don't actually get to see them up close," said one Le Mars woman, waiting in line for a tour of the Plymouth Energy Ethanol plant during its grand opening...

New detour route possible for future Highway 3 work (06/03/09)
A possible solution may be in the works for Le Mars residents concerned about a detour route, once work begins on the Highway 3 widening project in northeast Le Mars. Citizens like Justin Navrkal, of 820 2nd St. S.E., who attended Tuesday's Le Mars City Council, said an influx of heavy trucks and additional traffic would be a danger to children in the neighborhoods along the detour route...

Floyd Valley Apartments nominated for Historic Register (05/28/09)

Supervisors look at new construction near courthouse (05/14/09)
A new chapter in the county's quest to solve the space needs issue at the courthouse has begun. The Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday decided to pursue hiring an engineer to put together specifications for a proposed building to potentially be constructed at the site of the old jail in the southeast corner of the courthouse property...

City gets the slip on stimulus dollars (05/13/09)
A rail extension in Le Mars' industrial park won't be paid for with federal stimulus dollars. Tuesday, an announcement from Governor Chet Culver's office listed the recipients of a total of $5 million in rail transportation projects in Iowa. Le Mars' rail spur project didn't make the list...

Tour highlights new life for two historic buildings (05/08/09)
(Fourth and final in a series) Two buildings, a former church and a former high school, have been converted to new uses while still maintaining their historical significance in the community. A church building at 401 First St. S.W. is now a residence for Eric Wong, who purchased it from the Assembly of God Church...

Work on Highway 3 and Business 75 move forward (05/07/09)
Moving ahead on roadwork projects this week, the Le Mars City Council members set public hearings on two of them: the widening of Highway 3 East near the Floyd Valley Hospital and curb, gutter and sewer improvement of Business Highway 75. The hearings have been set for noon June 2...

Historic tour offers look at pink granite Victorian home (05/07/09)
(Third in a series) Pink granite from quarries around Sioux Falls, S.D., and a location on the curve of Highway 3 West make the Victorian style home at 11 Sixth Ave. S.W. stand out. The house, now owned by Randy and Berdene Barta and home to Berdene's, a reservation-only dining establishment and the Bartas, is one of five stops on the 2009 Historic Tour of Homes and Churches this Saturday...

Historic tour takes look at cottage home (05/05/09)
(First in a series) A church, two houses, a church converted into a home and sections of the Plymouth County Historical Museum will be spotlighted in the Historic Homes and Churches in Le Mars tour this Saturday, May 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all tours starting at the Plymouth County Historical Museum. The last tour will leave at 4 p.m...

Langel remains "hopeful" for stimulus dollars on rail project (04/22/09)
Stimulus and shovel-ready were once again the words of the day for Le Mars City Council and staff as the city continued its path to completion of a rail spur in the industrial park. The spur will serve IML Container Iowa's new facility and Le Mars Public Storage...

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