The Wright County 151stMonitor year Number 30 Thursday, July 23, 2020 $1.00 per copy Official newspaper of Wright County www.clarionnewsonline.com Supervisors Grassley finally hits Wright establish speed limit near County on 99 County Tour Agribusiness Park By Bridget Shileny Wright County Monitor Editor By Bridget Shileny As of Monday morning, the U.S. Senator Chuck Wright County Monitor Editor state tracker puts the county’s Grassley (IA-R) greeted people At the Monday morning case count at 415. McGrath last Thursday with elbow or meeting of the Wright County noted though that she received fist bumps. Grassley, who was Board of Supervisors, Jeremy a press release that morning that originally scheduled to be Abbas, Assistant to the test results have been backed up in the county in mid-March, County Engineer, presented at the state level, so she expects finally made his way to Wright two resolutions for the board the case count to rise, though not County last week as part of to consider. The first was to massively. She added that she his whirlwind tour of the state establish a speed limit on Clay was on a meeting last week with during a two-week recess from Avenue in the Agribusiness hospitals and other healthcare the Senate. Wright County was Park. The board approved a 25 entities about handling the his 27th county visited in two mph speed limit on the road flu season with COVID still weeks with two more planned between 320th Street and 330th a major concern. McGrath later last week. Street. They also approved a explained that flu vaccines The senator made his stop stop sign at the intersection will be heavily pushed, and at Prairie Energy Cooperative of Clay Ave and C-56 (320th providers will have to decide west of Clarion in the shop Street). what to test for (influenza, building. There was plenty of Sandy McGrath gave the COVID, etc) should people space for social distancing, and update from the Emergency fall ill. Discussions continue Grassley wore a mask the whole Operations Center on with the county schools about time. About 30 people were COVID-19 in Wright County. continued on page 5 present at the meeting, most of those Prairie Energy staff along with representatives from other electric cooperatives. Grassley spoke briefly and then took questions. He said that the stop was part of his 40th U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (left) stopped in Wright County last week on his 99 County Tour. annual county tour, and despite He held a Q & A at Prairie Energy Cooperative in Clarion. Before the meeting, Tim Marineau the coronavirus pandemic, “I (right), Prairie Energy General Manager, gave the senator a brief history about the company. want to be out there with the Photo by Bridget Shileny people.” Regarding his legislative the condition that they pass the with EPA Administrator carbon emissions, Grassley said priorities, he noted that the funds on to an approved rural Andrew Wheeler to discuss oil that the presidential election senate will be working on the development project at zero refinery waivers, which biofuel will determine what happens. coronavirus stimulus package interest. The cooperative is advocates say hurt farmers by He said that Joe Biden will when the recess ends. He required to guarantee repayment undermining demand for corn- move towards no fossil fuels. explained it would not be as to the USDA. based ethanol. Grassley said, The senator added, “I’d rather big as earlier legislation, but Marion Denger, Prairie that in the past, some of these let the marketplace make that it too will seek to help small Energy Board of Directors waivers have been illegal. He decision.” businesses, hospitals and the President, emphasized how feels that President Trump isn’t In a one on one question economy. He also explained important the REDLG program always on the same page with period after the general meeting, that President Trump is pushing is to them and noted they Wheeler when it comes to this Grassley was asked about his for a payroll tax cut rather have never had a default. He issue. Grassley hopes that the feelings on schools reconvening than payments to individuals. and others asked Grassley to upcoming relief package will next month and what to make Grassley hopes lawmakers can continue to support it. Tim aid ethanol producers who have about Trump’s threat to defund have it to the president by early Marineau, Prairie Energy been adversely affected by the schools that choose not to open. August before the conventions. General Manager, added that pandemic. He said, “The president wants When taking questions REDLG was used recently Grassley was also asked us to believe that he can push from the audience, most dealt for the ReNewTrients organic about wind energy and other governors and states to open with issues related to utilities fertilizer facility in Wright renewable energies. He is schools, but Congress would and electric co-ops. Much of the County. considered the “Father of Wind have a say. He really has no discussion revolved around the Other discussion revolved Energy” for authoring the 1993 authority to defund schools.” REDLG program. According around biofuels. Grassley was bill that established the first- He expressed his support for to the Rural Electric Economic asked if he has been working on ever wind energy production children returning to school but Development website, the anything to stabilize the market tax credit. When Ken Kuyper, wants them to be safe as well. REDLG program is a USDA for biofuels. The senator said he executive vice president and From Clarion, Grassley loan program offering zero and Senator Joni Ernst have been general manager of Corn made his way to Humboldt interest loans to eligible working on that. He explained Belt Electric, asked about the where he met with farmers at a borrowers (generally electric that he and Ernst spoke recently feasibility of moving to no Farm Bureau sponsored Q & A. or telephone cooperatives) on Governor stops in Businesses in Clarion and Clarion briefly last week surrounding areas encouraged Last week was a busy one in Wright County for politician visits. On Tuesday, Governor Kim Reynolds, along with Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, made a low-key stop in Clarion. They to apply for microloans stopped in town for lunch as they traveled between engagements in Webster City and Kanawha. The group hit up grounded By Bridget Shileny to apply for the program. where they chatted with the owners, the Solis family, in addition Wright County Monitor Editor The loan program is a joint to customers. Danny Solis said that Reynolds asked how they “The heart of a small town effort combining funds from the have been weathering the last few months. He added that they is their small businesses,” said county and the City of Clarion. In thanked her for making small business grants available, which Steve Simonin, the President April, the Board of Supervisors grounded had received. Solis emphasized, “It was nice of her of the Clarion Economic approved an agreement for to take the initiative to see the impact on local mom and pop Development Corporation Wright County Economic restaurants.” Reynolds and several in her group reportedly (CEDC). He also pointed Development (WCED) to lend dined on burgers, and then were introduced to the owners of out what we all know- many $25,000 to CEDC to provide Purple Ribbon Beef, who supply grounded’s beef and happened businesses are still struggling necessary assistance to small to be having lunch there themselves. Ashley Recknor and her with the economic effects of the businesses who are adversely mom Cindy Hunter happily opened Purple Ribbon General coronavirus pandemic. With that affected by changes in business Store after the governor asked about it. Recknor said the in mind, various national, state, or regulations imposed due to governor and lieutenant checked out their stock and asked about and local entities have sought the COVID-19 pandemic. The The Clarion Fitness Center got a cool new addition thanks to the different Iowa products. The group also took a photo which ways to aid businesses. One same amount was also made the Clarion Economic Development COVID-19 Microloan appeared on the governor’s official Facebook page. Pictured, local option now available is the available to the economic Program. The business received a $5,000 loan for their new left to right, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Purple Ribbon Clarion Economic Development development arms of Eagle air conditioner. Other eligible businesses in the area are now owners Cindy Hunter and Ashley Recknor, and Governor Kim COVID-19 Microloan Program. Grove and Belmond. encouraged to apply for the loan program. Photo provided Reynolds. Photo provided by the Governor’s office Businesses are now encouraged continued on page 2 WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN, WE ARE THERE WITH YOU. Page 2 The Wright County Monitor • Thursday, July 23, 2020 www.clarionnewsonline.com Governor Reynolds orders schools Coffee and community In an effort to get to know the school district better, new Clarion-Goldfield-Dows superintendent Joe Nelson has been making his rounds in the three communities. At last week’s school board to hold in-person classes as meeting, he had said is first priority is to build relationships. As part of that goal, he invited religious leaders from the area to have coffee at the district office last Thursday to introduce COVID-19 spikes across the state himself and hear about their concerns. The conversation was largely about returning to school By Travis Fischer without permission from the currently known to be fighting and COVID.