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Iowa statewide news and notes Wednesday, November 25, 2009
G. Mark Kelm moves on within SNG
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Agri News lost one of its founders earlier this month when G. Mark Kelm relinquished his role as general manager for the agricultural newspaper to focus full-time on his other position within the Small Newspaper Group.
Kelm is vice president of sales and marketing for the Small Newspaper Group's Internet Innovations unit.
Kelm began his Agri News career as a advertising representative when the newspaper formed in 1976. He rose through the ranks to become the publication's general manager.
Kelm said he will miss the friends and friendships he made during his Agri News career.
"Agriculture is a constantly changing industry,'' he said. "The business people and farmers who are involved in it on a day-to-day basis are wonderful people. I will always cherish their friendship.''
Culver calls for state to cut up to $40 million
DES MOINES -- Gov. Chet Culver has asked department heads to find ways to cut up to $40 million in spending over the next seven months, citing the economy and disaster expenses.
Spokesman Phil Roeder says Culver has given each agency director a target dollar amount and asked them to share ideas for spending cuts over the next few weeks.
Culver will decide after Thanksgiving which trims to make.
Charlie Krogmeier of the Department of Management says it likely won't mean job cuts, but job openings might not be filled, and new programs could be delayed.
Iowa was expected to end its budget year with $85 million in its general fund. But calculations by budget officials show the state will have only about $5 million when the year ends in June.
Incumbent Whitead wins House seat in recount
SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Incumbent Rep. Wes Whitead has won a recount in the Iowa House District 1 race.
The recount shows the Sioux City Democrat beating Republican challenger Jeremy Taylor by 55 votes. Whitead finished with 6,148 votes to Taylor's 6,093.
After the Nov. 4 election Whitead held a single-digit lead over Taylor as absentee ballots were counted.
Franklin County elects four to Extension Council
HAMPTON, Iowa -- Four Franklin County residents have been elected to the County Extension Council.
They are Shannon Younge, Jane Schmitt and Merrill Ahrens, all of Hampton; and Ian Plagge of Latimer.
Younge and Plagge will replace Steve Hemm of Sheffield and Howard Brandt of Hampton. Schmitt an Ahrens were re-elected.
Carryover council members include Jack Clark and Sally VanWert of Hampton; Gary Stenzel of Iowa Falls, Carolyn Oleson of Latimer; and Darwin Arends of Ackley.
Monsanto donates $15,000 to Borlaug Center
NASHUA, Iowa -- The Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station has received a $15,000 donation from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company.
The gift is for the Borlaug Learning Center now under construction on the research farm. When completed, the center will be a research and Extension Service education center promoting sustainable ag practices, farming systems, and rural development in northeast Iowa.
Judge orders former Agriprocessors CEO detained
DES MOINES -- A judge ruled last week that a former kosher slaughterhouse manager should remain in federal custody after prosecutors argued he's a flight risk.
U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles issued the detention order a day after a hearing was held for Sholom Rubashkin. He was arrested last week on a bank fraud charge.
Federal agents said that during a recent search of Rubashkin's bedroom, they found passports and about $20,000 in cash and silver coins stashed in a travel bag.
Prosecutors also alleged that Rubashkin, a former CEO at Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville, tried to tamper with evidence when he was released from jail on previous charges of harboring illegal immigrants, document fraud and identity theft. Trial on those charges is scheduled for Jan. 20.
VeraSun closes Dyersville ethanol plant
DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- VeraSun Energy has announced that it has closed its ethanol plant in Dyersville indefinitely.
The company made the announcement earlier this week in an e-mail to producers and grain elevators.
In the e-mail, the South Dakota-based company says the Dyersville plant is closed for both corn deliveries and corn purchasing until further notice. The e-mail also says that the company is negotiating additional financing that should be available next month.
The plant opened in September and was projected to produce up to 110 million gallons of ethanol each year.
Mars Petcare closes Muscatine plant, 47 jobs lost
MUSCATINE, Iowa -- A company that makes pet food is closing its Muscatine plant immediately, eliminating 47 jobs.
Officials with McLean, Va.-based Mars Petcare say the plant doesn't have the design or capability to fit into the company's vision.
Mars Petcare, formerly Doane Pet Care, makes such name brands as Pedigree, Cesar, Whiskas, Sheba and Nutro.
The company also plans to close plants in Birmingham, Ala.; McKenzie, Tenn.; and Butler and Dexter, Mo.
The company says it will help all affected workers as they look for new jobs.
28 horses seized in Carroll County
CARROLL, Iowa -- Authorities have seized 28 horses and two dogs from a property in Carroll County and the animals' owner has been charged with animal neglect.
Carroll County Attorney John Werden says the sheriff's office has received complaints from neighbors and passer-by who expressed concern about the condition of the animals. Their owner, Tom Hall, was charged after the animals were taken from his property near Glidden on Nov. 13.
Records show that seven of the 28 horses needed immediate care for a variety of injuries.
Inspectors say the horses were malnourished and that the pasture where the horses were kept was overgrazed. They also say the only source of water was a small creek, which is often frozen in winter.
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