Wednesday News, July 18

Remsen Issues Water Restrictions

(Remsen) -- Remsen Municipal Utilities is issuing a water restriction starting Wednesday, July 18th until further notice. Remsen citizens are asked to refrain from watering during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Citizens with even numbered addresses can water only on the even numbered days and citizens with odd numbered addresses can water only on odd numbered calendar days.

Heart Failure Determined To Be Cause of Death

(Storm Lake) -- Upon further investigation, the Buena Vista County Sheriff's office is saying last week's presumed drowning of 64 year old Steve McCullough was actually due to heart failure. Drowning was not a factor. It was determined that McCullough did not know how to swim and would not have jumped in the water. It was only seconds after witnesses heard the splash in the water that they went to aid and he was floating and unresponsive.

Plueger Ask Supervisors To Pave Cemetery Road

(Le Mars) -- For the fourth time in recent years, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard from Gene Plueger of Le Mars calling upon the county to pave a stretch of road that passes by the Resthaven cemetery. Plueger says the gravel road leading to the cemetery is too dusty.

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Although the Supervisors again informed Plueger that the road construction budget does not include money for the paving of 150th Street. Chairman Jim Henrich did offer a possible solution.

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County Engineer, Tom Rohe informed the supervisors and Plueger, the cost of dust suppressant is about 75 cents per foot.

Supervisors Approve Mental Health Counselors Contract

(Le Mars) -- The County Supervisors also approved the contracts for two mental health counselors during their regularly scheduled meeting. Katie Moir of the Moir Counseling Service and Mary Buhman of the Buhman Therapy Service were each given a one-year term contract to perform mental health services for PLymouth County.

Branstad Hosts Drought Meeting

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) - Iowa's corn and pork producers are warning Gov. Terry Branstad that tough times are looming for farmers as the drought gripping the state and nation gets worse.

The comments came in a forum Branstad hosted Tuesday in Mount Pleasant to discuss what Iowa climatologist Harry Hillaker called the worst state drought since 1988.

Wayne Humphreys, a Columbus Junction farmer and member with the Iowa Corn Growers Association, showed Branstad corn from his field that he said was deteriorating. He says farmers who have a tough year "will get despondent and withdraw" and develop stress and health problems.

Bill Tentinger of Le Mars and the president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says the drought is causing a spike in feed prices that "may be on the verge of creating a financial disaster for the pork industry."

After the meeting Branstad offered his comments to reporters.

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Livestock Fair Entries Holding Steady To Slighter Higher

(Le Mars) -- The start of the Plymouth County Fair is only a week away, and despite the heat wave, livestock entries are either holding steady, or showing a small increase. Carol Schneider of the Plymouth County Extension Services comments.

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Schneider says this year the Plymouth County Fair will even have dairy entries. Dairy projects had been missing from the fair in recent years, and she says the fairboard has constructed a new barn to house many of the livestock entries.

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Small animal projects are picking up in popularity, especially with 4-H and FFA members living in the urban communities, and Plymouth County is no exception.

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Schneider says Plymouth County livestock entries for the Iowa State Fair, Clay County Fair, and Ak-sar-ben have also increased.

MRHD Applies For Land-Based Casino License

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A nonprofit partner in the Sioux City riverboat casino has voted to solicit proposals for a land-based casino.

The Missouri River Historical Development board voted to take the step on Monday.

Penn National Gaming, the owner of the riverboat, will have to compete with other bidders if it wants to continue its partnership with the nonprofit group, which jointly holds the gambling license.

The group's president, Mark Monson, says he expects four to eight companies, including Penn National, to apply.

The move follows a decision by state gambling regulators to put Woodbury County's state license up for grabs. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission took the action after months of failed talks

between the Penn National and the nonprofit group on a long-term deal.