GUTHRIE CENTER, IOWA – Precision Components is expanding their business into Guthrie Center due to its proximity to their operations in Atlantic.  Midwest Partnership Economic Development along with Guthrie Center Development Corporation and the City of Guthrie Center has been working with the company as they made their decision to purchase the former Bob and Jo’s facility.

Bill Littler, General Manager of Precision Components, says “This will facilitate efficient logistics for transporting equipment and parts needed for the reconditioning process. In talking with local business people and area residents, we felt there were people commuting out of the area for similar jobs that we’d be offering.  It’s our desire to hire local employees that in turn will help strengthen and support the GC community.  Seeing what Guthrie Center has been able to accomplish through the Main Street Program proved to us that this community has strong leadership and a vision towards growing rural Iowa again – that’s something Precision Components wants to be a part of too.”

Sarah Gomez, Executive Director of the Midwest Partnership Economic Development, says “Precision Components will be a great fit to the Guthrie Center community.  They offer high paying jobs and will provide a quality product for a large industry that serves not only Iowa, but the surrounding states.”  Precision Components is expanding into equipment reconditioning. Equipment reconditioning is a process by which they take older model, used equipment and tear them down and re-build them.  Precision Components will replace worn and damaged parts with new, perform safety inspections and then repaint the equipment to make them look new and re-freshed.  The Guthrie Center facility is intended to recondition construction telehandler equipment.  This type of equipment is capable of lifting loads of up to 12,000 lbs with a reach height of over 50 feet.

Jobs Available with Precision Components

Precision Components, the industry leader in replacement parts for the aerial equipment industry, is expanding their services to include aerial equipment reconditioning.  The new location in Guthrie Center, IA is now taking applications and hiring immediately for mechanics, assemblers, painters and sanders.  Experience in electronics, hydraulics, diesel engine mechanics and general knowledge of aerial construction equipment preferred.

Join a growing local company that offers attractive wages, an excellent benefit package and quarterly profit sharing.  Wages range from $13.52 – $20.15 per hour and are based on qualifications and experience.  For additional information and applications please contact the Precision Components HR Department at 712-243-6200 or 641-740-2997 or apply online at www.pcaerialparts.com.

About Precision Components

Selecting where and how to purchase aftermarket parts can be challenging for equipment owners, and the option of buying factory original, new aftermarket, or rebuilt parts only adds to the complexity of the decision-making process. Like all machine purchases, factors affecting parts acquisitions include availability, cost, warranty, equipment age, and owner preference. The hunt typically begins with finding a reputable and reliable supplier, which may be the original equipment manufacturer, and equipment dealer, or third-party vendor. Precision Components offers OEM manufactured or sourced aerial lift replacement parts for JLG, Skypack, Genie and Snorkel machines, always having an assortment of the most commonly used aftermarket parts in the aerial lift industry in stock.

Having more than 120 years of aerial equipment engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance experience, Precision Components is committed to helping their partners reduce their growing repair and maintenance expenses. With a wide variety of replacement parts to choose from, Precision Components strives to help rental companies meet the needs of their clients a the industry. More information about Precision Components can be found on their website.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has approved a plea deal that imposes two years’ probation and a suspended prison term for an Iowa farmer who appeared on “The Bachelor.”
Buchanan County District Court records say the judge accepted the plea agreement Monday between Chris Soules and prosecutors “because it is in accordance with the pre-sentence investigation report recommendations.”

Soules pleaded guilty in November to a reduced charge of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident for the April 2017 crash that killed 66-year-old Kenny Mosher. Soules was arrested after he rear-ended Mosher’s tractor. Soules called 911, performed CPR on Mosher and waited for first responders, but he left the scene before officers arrived.

Soules appeared on “The Bachelor” and “Dancing With The Stars” in 2015.

WASHINGTON – Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have sent a letter pressing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to follow through on its commitment to rebuild a levee near Hamburg, Iowa, following the floods that devastated the area earlier this year. Following previous floods in 2011, the Corps mandated that the “Ditch 6 Levee” be lowered 8 feet. That levee was overrun earlier this year, contributing to the destructive flooding that left two-thirds of the city of Hamburg under water. After discussions with the City of Hamburg and the State of Iowa, the Corps committed to rebuilding the levee to its original height. It has not yet made good on that promise.

Grassley and Ernst have worked extensively to address communications shortcomings by the Corps regarding flooding and have cosponsored two bills to further address flooding along the Missouri River.

Full text of the letter follows:

“Dear Assistant Secretary James and Lieutenant General Semonite:

We are very concerned about a recent development regarding the Ditch 6 Levee in the City of Hamburg, Iowa. We request that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers immediately begin construction of the Ditch 6 Levee as the Corps designed and to the level of the signed agreement it has with the City of Hamburg and the State of Iowa in June 2019. During the flood of 2019, almost two-thirds of the City of Hamburg was underwater.  A key factor was Ditch 6 levee, which the Corps required to be taken down post the 2011 Missouri River flooding. This levee was overrun in 2019 causing significant loss and damage in Hamburg.

In June 2019, the City of Hamburg signed an agreement with the Corps to rebuild Ditch 6 Levee to a 919 foot-level.  This was the levee height in 2011 prior to being required to be taken down by the Corps. Community and businesses moved forward with repairs and recovery based on the Corps commitment and plan to rebuild the Ditch 6 levee this year to the 919 foot-level.  Businesses have spent close to $20 million in clean-up and repairs for reopening.

City and state officials have had numerous conversations with the Corps Omaha District in June, July, and August about the start of the work for the Ditch 6 Levee.  The Corps confirmed it had funding for its portion of the levee build and that the work could begin once the worksite was dry. On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the city and state were notified by Colonel John Hudson that the Corps no longer had “authority” to rebuild the Ditch 6 Levee to the 919 foot-level and that it will only be built to 911 foot-level, which would be lowering the levee from its current height, as it was no longer an emergency measure.

In May and June, the Corps executed work to build a HESCO barrier in Hamburg to protect it against flooding.  The HESCO barrier was built to a 921 foot-level height.  While the breach of the L-575-B Levee has been closed, much work remains to restore that levee and the hundreds of miles of levees on the lower Missouri River to its full protective levels. With high flows continuing on the river, Hamburg is a heavy rain away from being flooded again.  As a result, the City of Hamburg needs to have the Ditch-6 levee built to 919 foot-level immediately as a first line of defense to a compromised levee system, which the Corps refers to as “delicate” at best.

Building the Ditch 6 Levee to the 919 foot-level is critical to local businesses and the safety of the community.  We expect the Corps to honor the commitment and agreement it made with the community in June 2019.”

Adair County Elections Deputy Josh Nelson reminds residents of Adair County that today (Monday, August 26, 2019) is the first day to file nomination papers with the Adair County Auditor to run for Mayor, City Council, City Park Board or School Board.  Candidate filing deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The City/School Election will be Tuesday, November 5, 2019.  Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 25, 2019.  You may file an absentee ballot request with the Adair County Auditor’s office at any time.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 25, 2019.  The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, November 4, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

SIOUX CITY – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Corrections said today (Monday), that Leandro Edwin Valdez, who was convicted of Robbery 1st Degree and other crimes in Sioux County, absconded from the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility without permission last (Sunday) night. Valdez is a 23-year-old Hispanic male, height 5’4″, and weighs 177 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 12, 2019.

Persons with information on Valdez’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Leandro Edwin Valdez

The Glenwood Police Department reports 33-year old Mary Hughes, of Shenandoah, was arrested Saturday, for OWI 2nd offense, Inmate Assault on Employee of correctional Facility, and three counts of Assault causing bodily injury on a peace officer. Hughes was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge. And, 57-year old David Richey,  of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for possession of a controlled substance and possession drug paraphernalia. His total cash or surety bond was set at $1,300.