Ida County was significantly better than the state average with the latest unemployment numbers from Iowa Workforce Development.
Iowa’s unemployment was unchanged to end the year at 3.1 percent, a drop of .8 percent from the previous year while the national rate was at 3.9 percent.
Ida County stood at 2.6 percent, .5 percent better than the state.
Sac stood at 2.4 percent, tying Cherokee while Monona was at three percent, Woodbury at 3.2 percent and Crawford County was at 6.1 percent, the highest in the region.
The Ridge View Group Speech Team attended the District Speech Contest at Manson NWW.
Twelve groups competed.
Receiving a “I” rating:
Reader’s Theatre: “Murder in the Knife Room” with Jake Breyfogle, Levi Albers, Grace Naberhaus, Beth Mentzer, Jackson Struck, Leanna Vincent, Molly Reiss, Brookelyn Cudabeck, Brody Bisenius, Liz Schimmer, Emma Mentzer and Addy Tesch.
Alyssa Dreeszen tells of the State Theatre in Holstein, Iowa dreams. Recently, Alyssa has been in part helped to raise around $70,000. Dreeszen states that a couple who really likes the theatre and has memories of good times there agreed to match $25,000 in donations towards bettering the State Theatre. The money will go to building repairs but hopes are to go into another phase of renovating.
The Ida County Cattlemen and Ida County Pork Producers held their joint banquet Jan. 14, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Hall in Holstein. Backdraft Bar and Grill of Holstein catered the meal and Tiefenthaler Quality Meats of Holstein provided hors d’oeuvres. FFA members from Ridge View and OABCIG helped serve the meal. A full house enjoyed the banquet, entertainment, and socializing.
Martha Boyle and her husband Marty own the oldest business in Holstein. Martha is the fourth generation owner of the business McGuire Auction, now called MACI. Boyle speaks softly and strong heartedly of her Dad, Jim McGuire. She told of her father having to charter a plane, hang out strapped from the plane and take aerial pictures of your farm, then take it to be developed. It used to take 6-8 weeks to sell your farm. Nowadays, Boyle said you have to get it all sold in a few days.
A driver who pulled out in front of a semi was killed when the vehicle was struck by a semi. According to a preliminary report from the Iowa State Patrol, a driver of a 2018 Chevy Malibu was stopped at the stop sign on Highway 59 at the junction with Highway 20 and failed to yield to traffic. The driver entered Highway 20 in front of a westbound semi, registered to Elite Logistics, LLC, of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.
The Ida County Conservation Board met on Monday, Jan. 9 in the Conservation Center at Moorehead Park. Board Members in attendance were Synda Jepsen, chair; Randy Vogt, vice-chair, Dennis Leonard, Sue Knop, and Don Poggensee, as well as ICCB Director Zach Hall.
The board approved the monthly bills, including insurance rate increases, electricity costs, well-pump replacement, chlorine test packets, and Amazon Prime memberships.
The Galva-Holstein Board of Education met in regular session jointly with the Schaller-Crestland Board of Education on Monday, Jan 9 in the Holstein Media Center. Board members in attendance were Grant Aschinger, Tyler Gebers, Don Kalin, Beth Schossow, Jamie Whitmer, Matthew Wittrock and Jeff Witzke, as well as Superintendent Adam Bisenius.
The Galva City Council met in regular session on Jan. 10 with Mayor Wanberg presiding. Council members Freese, Hustedt, Langel, and Wuebker were in attendance.
Nick and Ally Babcock talked with the council about rezoning the proposed area they are thinking of putting a house. Following discussion, it was determined that the area needs to be touching “city” property. They cannot be an island and they will need to hook into the City sewer lines.
The Ida County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in the courthouse. Board members in attendance were Chair Raymond Drey, Creston Schubert and Devlun Whiteing.
County Engineer Jeff Williams was present to discuss utility permits received from Carbon Solutions with regards to road crossings. The Engineer will contact other counties and the County Attorney before further consideration. The supervisors discussed road maintenance issues and staffing.
