O’Brien County, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds toured selected sites in northwest Iowa on Tuesday August 6th. The visits are part of her annual 99 counties tour. She visited the Prairie Heritage Center between Peterson and Sutherland mid-afternoon and spent about an hour.
O’Brien County Naturalist Charlene Elyea guided the tour with the governor and Lt. Governor. Displays in the main room of the Prairie Heritage Center were explained and an overview of the development of the nature center was provided. There was discussion of wildlife populations in the area. Some brief discussion of the comeback of the bald eagle and the bobcat to the area brought out some pride.
The tour wandered into the meeting room where pictorial displays of other O’Brien County Conservation assets and projects were discussed. Outside the state leaders overlooked the glacial formations from the newly build observation tower. Several of the outside displays were explained, including that the covered wagon is an original, not a scale model. The bison were out, so from the observation tower, there was an opportunity to watch the family on a typical summer day.
In the hour allotted to the PHC, which is nowhere near enough time, Elyea was able to convey to the governor the historical and geological importance at the site of the Prairie Heritage Center. She was also able to evoke some excitement about the vacation opportunities available in O’Brien County.
Story and photo from our news partner, O’Brien County’s Bell-Times Courier
www.belltimescourier.com
Photo caption: Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and Governor Kim Reynolds visit with O’Brien County Conservation Naturalist Charlene Elyea in the atrium of Prairie Heritage Center. The governor and lt. governor visited the Prairie Heritage Center in O’Brien County as part of the annual 99-county tour.
