Ida County weighed in above the state’s 2.6 percent unemployment rate as Iowa jobs numbers continue strong despite a nationwide slow-down.
By eight-tenths of a percent, Ida County edged out the state average for employment numbers in the most-recent figures released by Iowa Workforce Development.
Ida County stood at 1.8 percent as the regional leader while neighboring Cherokee County was at two percent, Sac County was at 2.1 percent, Woodbury was at 2.7 percent and Crawford County was at 3.4 percent, the highest in the region.
Despite the heat, RAGBRAI XLIX kicked off Sunday with thousands descending on the route’s first overnight location Ida Grove before heading on to a host of Iowa communities.
Battle Creek residents were among the first Iowans to get a glimpse of the action as riders began rolling in Sunday morning before riders hit Ida Grove around lunchtime.
The city took on a party atmosphere Sunday afternoon with tent communities popping up everywhere from the school grounds to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
The Farmacy Soda Fountain & Coffee House in Ida Grove hosted a soft opening July 19. Those who attended got a sneak peek at the 50s-themed interior and a taste of their drinks and pastries. Brian Lundell, who co-owns the business with his wife Lisa, expressed enthusiasm to join the “wave of young business owners” in town.
Mid-America Publishing and the Ida County Courier sponsored a movie night at King Theatre in Ida Grove and worked to fight hunger in the community with a special promotion.
Moviegoers received free tickets to see “Jurassic World: Dominion” both Friday and Saturday evenings. Visitors were glad to beat the heat on a night out to enjoy a movie, especially with the cost already covered. The event was a big hit for young and old.
When asked what he was most excited about for “Jurassic World,” Max Hahn was eager to see more of a certain on-screen velociraptor.
Mid-America Publishing and the Ida County Courier helped fight hunger in the community while hosting a booth in the commercial building at the Ida County Fair.
The booth, open Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, held a raffle for $400 worth of chamber bucks. These can be spent at participating businesses in Ida Grove. Winners will be announced in two weeks.
With RAGBRAI coming in a matter of days, the Ida County Conservation Board turned its attention to plans for the arrival of the event and thousands of visitors. With Ida Grove planned as an overnight stop for RAGBRAI this year, Moorehead Park will see its north playground closed for the public over the course of the event. The park will host reserved primitive campers. Additionally, some parts of the park will be off limits to the general public. This is being done in the interests of safety and crowd management. The public will be able to visit the Conservation Center from 2 to 6 p.m.
A Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) will go before Galva-Holstein voters. During the regular July meeting, the Galva-Holstein board voted to go ahead with a PPEL vote. If passed, the levy issue will generate up $1.34 per each $1,000 of assessed value and is a continuing levy. The levy issue would be in place for 10 years. Board members unanimously approved the resolution. After the meeting, Superintendent Adam Bisenius said the district currently has a levy for 67 cents per $1,000 of valuation. This would generate double that levy and is necessitated by a number of areas.
The University of Iowa College of Nursing brought its recently released mobile unit to Ida Grove on Wednesday to host education sessions for first responders, EMTs, Paramedics, nurses and physicians. The clinical scenarios focused on traumas and medical conditions that may occur during RAGBRAI. The simulator is able to recreate scenarios and minic various conditions, such as heart rate and pulse.
The Ida County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, July 12 at 9 a.m. in the courthouse. Board members in attendance were Chair Raymond Drey, Creston Schubert, and Rhett Leonard. County Engineer Jeff Williams discussed ATV laws, and the board decided to follow state regulations. The supervisors asked Williams to apply a cold mix patch to areas of the Moorehead Park road prior to RAGBRAI. Williams then presented the Fiscal Year 2023 County Assistant Engineer Employment Agreement with Colin Ryan, annual salary of $110,000, to begin August 22.
