News

Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon Celebration Days may be more than four months away, but the SCDC is seeking nominations now for a deserving person to be named as Celebration Days 2016 Parade Grand Marshal.

The Parade Grand Marshal is something that was added to Celebration Days about three years ago, according to Chamber Director Allison Cooke.

Cooke says this is a way to honor a member of the community.

This will be the fourth year that the Celebration Days Parade will have a Grand Marshal designated.  It all started in 2013, when the Village Northwest Unlimited Panther Softball Team was selected as Grand Marshal.  In 2014, the surviving World War II veterans in the community received the honor, and last year’s Grand Marshal was Parker Lloyd, The young son of Tyler and Maggie Lloyd, who was battling cancer.  Up until now, the Grand Marshals have been selected by SCDC staff, but this year Cooke says they decided to change things up a bit.

If you’d like to nominate a deserving person to be this year’s Celebration Days Parade Grand Marshal, Cooke tells you how to go about it.

The nomination forms are available from the SCDC, and can also be downloaded by clicking here.  Nomination forms need to be returned to the SCDC by May 27th.

Ashton, Iowa — Earth Day is an annual day set aside to motivate people to take action regarding environmental issues.  Earth Day observations began in 1970, and have grown since then.  This year’s Earth Day is scheduled for this Friday, April 22nd.

One local business creates a product that cleans the environment every single day.  Danny Clayton is the Manager of POET Biorefining’s Ashton facility, and he tells us that the product POET produces is tremendously environmentally friendly.

Clayton says one of the easiest ways you can help protect the environment is by selecting the right nozzle at the gas pump.

He says the Ashton plant produces large amounts of a fuel that is the very definition of environmentally friendly.

Clayton says ethanol not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but has other advantages, as well.

He says POET employees are very proud of what they do to support the environment, as well as area farmers.

Clayton says that using ethanol blended fuel can cut greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 34%, and replaces toxic chemicals that have been proven to cause smog.  He says the POET plant at Ashton, along with the other plants producing ethanol, are providing a positive impact for the environment, as well as drivers around the world.

Northwest Iowa — With planting season upon us, Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz shared some information about implements on the roadway when he visited the KIWA Morning Show recently.

Trooper Kurtz says that, while farm implements need not be registered, there is some safety equipment that is required to operate these implements on the roadway.

In addition to registration not being required to operate implements on the road, he says a valid drivers license isn’t necessary, either.

The Trooper did urge people to use common sense in letting their children drive their farm implements.

Kurtz says that, in our immediate area, you may encounter an implement on any road.  He says the only roads where implements are not allowed are what he calls, “controlled access roads”.

Kurtz says the most important thing for motorists to remember is to slow down, allow yourself plenty of reaction time if you encounter one of these large implements, maintain your patience, and drive with care.