Sibley, Iowa — A Sibley man has died as the result of an accident on Tuesday morning, December 15th, 2015.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office reports that about 7:15 AM, a pickup driven by 33-year-old Patrick Webb of Sibley was eastbound on 170th Street, a mile east of Sibley.
They report that due to icy conditions on the Highway 60 overpass, Webb lost control of the vehicle and slid into the path of a semi truck driven by 60-year-old Edward Wood of North Sioux City, SD.
Webb was taken to the Osceola Community Hospital by the Osceola County Ambulance where he was pronounced dead. Wood was not injured.
Damage to the pickup was estimated to be $15,000. Damage to the semi was estimated at $3500.
Northwest Iowa — The annual Iowa State University farmland survey finds the value of an acre of Iowa farmland dropped three-point-nine percent compared to last year, while farmland values in northwest Iowa bucked that trend.
Iowa State University extension economist Wendong Zhang says that means the average acre of land is worth 310 dollars less.
He says it is the first two-year drop in land values since 2000, and values have now fallen almost 13 percent from the historically high 2013 values.
He says the decline is lower because of the previous years of higher commodity prices.
Zhang says that our area here in northwest Iowa is the only area of the state that didn’t see farmland values drop. In fact, in October an 80.5 acre tract near Boyden sold for a record price of $21,900 per acre.
Zhang says the drops in land value in other parts of the state the last two years could be expected.
Zhang says many are looking to what will happen with interest rates to see what might happen in the next year with land values as he says the predictions are that commodity prices will stay at their current level.
Rock Valley, Iowa — A farmer from the Rock Valley area is trying his hand at a new kind of farming — shrimp farming.
Dalton Van Zanten and his wife Rachel run a shrimp growing operation right in the middle of Rock Valley. He tells us about his operation, called “Van Shrimp”.
He says the shrimp farm idea came from his dad, and after a little research, Dalton and Rachel got the ball rolling this summer. Van Zanten says they’re still really just getting started. He says it wouldn’t be possible without his wife.
He says after that he feeds the shrimp. He also says that right now they’re still ramping up their operation, and when he’s not at the shrimp farm, he also raises hogs.
According to Van Zanten, their shop is right behind the new gun shop in Rock Valley. He says it’s not right on the street, but if you take the alley behind Rick’s Electric, you’ll see their sign. Their address is 1512 Main Street.
Van Zanten says they are really still in the beginning stages of shrimp farming. He says that it takes about two years to get the good bacteria established in the tanks, which create the appropriate environment for raising shrimp. That means right now, they don’t have enough volume to sell the shrimp to grocery stores or meat markets. However, that is a long-term goal he says. But for right now, they’re selling shrimp directly to the public.
He says that it takes the shrimp from 120 to 140 days to mature. He says he’s selling shrimp now, and will have some more in a month to a month and a half. Eventually they hope to have a situation where they can sell shrimp continuously, but for right now there are waiting periods during which no shrimp are available. He says he sells shrimp at about 25 grams. He says that’s 20 to 25 shrimp in a pound.
By the way, Van Zanten says his favorite way to eat their shrimp is just boiled with the head and shell still on for extra flavor, and then just peel them and eat them. He says their shrimp is so sweet it doesn’t even need butter. But he says many people do like to dip them in melted butter too.
Van Zanten encourages people to check his Facebook page to stay up to date on when they are selling shrimp, and to call if you have any questions.
Sheldon, Iowa — According to Sheldon United Fund spokesperson Cindy Runger, over $1700 was given to the Sheldon United Fund in the last week, but the fund still needs a big boost to finish on goal.
The drive continues until the end of the month. The goal this year is $31,000. The funds are now at $21,188, which is $1715 more than last week’s total.
The fund drive is now 85% finished, but the funds are still only at about 68% of goal. If donations were keeping up, the total should be over $26,000 by now.
Nearly $10,000 has yet to be raised. Since donations have been so slow, to finish on goal, the drive now needs to average over $4,000 per week through the rest of the year.
Contributions may be left at any of the four Sheldon banks, or you can also send them to PO Box 41, Sheldon, IA 51201. Essays explaining each organization are available at the banks.
Each week we’re mentioning a few of the organizations that benefit from your donations. This time the list includes:
Family Crisis Centers of Northwest Iowa
Foster Grandparent Program
Girl Scouts
His Little Ones Preschool
Love In the Name of Christ (Love, Inc)
The United Fund will be assisting 25 different organizations in Sheldon and the surrounding communities this year, and they thank you for your contribution.
Sheldon, Iowa — Those who suffer from diabetes are receiving some extra help this holiday season from Taco John’s in Sheldon.
Taco John’s manager Dawn Culver says this is the 20th year Taco John’s is offering Nachos Navidad during the holidays and donating a portion of the sales. She says that over the years, the group of Taco John’s restaurants of which Sheldon’s restaurant is a part, has supported a variety of charitable causes.
She says it has been a good promotion for the Tex-Mex franchise restaurant. She tells us what’s on an order of “Nachos Navidad.”
She says the promotion also includes a limited-time-only classic dessert.
Culver says twenty five cents from every Nachos Navidad and Apple Grande sold in their group of Taco John’s restaurants goes toward the American Diabetes Association. Culver invites everyone to help defeat diabetes and get some Nachos Navidad or Apple Grande to enjoy.
