MidAmerican Energy has released more details about a plan to add nearly 450 wind turbines across the state. Construction is underway on the projects around O’Brien, Webster, Grundy, Madison, and Marshall Counties. The company says it has reached an agreement with RPM Access, LLC for the acquisition of the approximate 117-megawatt Macksburg wind project site in Madison County. The Macksburg wind project will be constructed by Mortenson Construction, which is based in Minnesota.

The utility has announced the blades for the expansion will be manufactured by a Siemen’s plant located in Fort Madison. Once completed by the end 2015, MidAmerican officials say the new wind projects will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 317-thousand (317,000) Iowa households.

MidAmerican says the wind energy expansion projects will provide more than $3 million in landowner payments each year and more than $360 million in additional property tax revenues over the next 30 years. Construction will take place at no net cost to the company’s customers, and officials say it will help stabilize electric rates over the long term.

Approximately 1,000 construction jobs will be added to Iowa’s economy during the two-year construction period, and approximately 40 new permanent jobs will be added when the expansion is complete.

Republican Congressman Steve King says President Obama has lost the “moral authority to govern” because Obama repeatedly promised Americans if they liked their health care plan, they could keep it.  “Nixon lied and was severely punished for it,” King says. “That set a standard. We severely punish presidents for lying.” King says modern presidents have paid a price for lies or statements that were perceived as lies, like George Bush’s assertion that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear material in Iraq to his father’s decision to break his “no new taxes” promise.

“There’s been a very, very harsh criticism of presidents who were accused of lying whether they told the truth or not,” King says. “This one you can’t peel it off. The ObamaCare brand is branding on Barack Obama dn not only did he sell us ObamaCare with a series of big lies, but he retained…his place in office by repeating them over and over again.” King backed the recent partial government shutdown and has accused the president of being a “narcissist” by closing National Parks and public monuments in Washington, D.C. during the 16 day impasse with congress.

King says over the past 72 hours he’s come to the realization that Obama “had to know” he was lying when he said Americans would be able to keep their insurance.  “I think he is a smart guy. I don’t think he was duped. I think he was part of the duping. If he was willing to dupe the people on ObamaCare and dupe the American people to get reelected and take this vindictive, spiteful, narcissistic position when we call him on it in congress, I think that brand sticks hard and I think that the next three years of his presidency he can’t lead with moral authority any longer,” King says. “He can lead, perhaps, with presidential edict until the people refuse to follow, but he can’t lead with moral authority any longer.”

King says Obama’s lying would have more impact today if Obama hadn’t given employers another year to meet the health insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, as that affects far more people than are being impacted by the individual mandate.

(Radio Iowa)

The Harlan City Council, Tuesday, set a date for a public hearing on the next three phases of the 2014 Sewer Rehabilitation project. City Administrator Terry Cox reported the three phases were combined to help receive bids from contractors. The estimated cost of the project is $650,000. A public hearing will be held at the next Harlan City Council meeting, Tuesday, November 19^th, with bids coming to the city between the 19^th and their first December meeting.

Cox said even though it is three phases, he believes the project will be completed in one fiscal year. The discussion on the 2014 Sewer Rehab project was brought up first at a Public Health and Sanitation Committee meeting on October 25^th. In other business, the Harlan City Council approved the 19^th as the date for a public hearing on the sale of city owned property, 1901 Hawkeye Ave.

Cox also brought up the new Christmas lights around town which came from money from Hotel/Motel Tax and the City and was discussed at a Hotel/Motel Tax Committee meeting last week. Cox said “They were tracking the Christmas lights with the music to go with them. Knock on wood that everything works as we all plan. The tree will be placed about a week ahead of time. If you watch around town, utilities are putting up the lights. If you haven’t driven down Cyclone, all those lights are LED. They are brighter and save 50 percent energy. They look good. So if you drive around town, make sure you go down Cyclones, it looks nice.”

Harlan Municipal Utilities were placing new lights on Chatburn Ave as well. The city is planning a big lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29^th on the square in downtown Harlan.

Towards the end of the meeting, Mayor Gene Gettys read a portion of a letter from Turk Therkildsen that was sent to the Harlan Community School District as well as the city. Therkildsen was a graduate of the Harlan school district in 1955 and has since given many donations to the city including large sums for the Therkildsen Center. The letter announced two more large contributions to both the school district and city….

“So it is with continuing pride in my hometown that I commit $250,000 for the Merrill Field renovations. I am equally proud to commit $250,000 to the C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center in continuing support of an essential community activity center.”

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Officials with the Griswold Schools have announced the district is participating in the statewide Iowa Pride Challenge. The Challenge promotes schools to participate in a community service project of their choosing. The schools that participate are eligible for statewide recognition and grants. Griswold’s service project for the challenge is Caps for Kids.

Caps for Kid’s is a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide children diagnosed with cancer and who are receiving chemotherapy, a signed cap by a celebrity of their choice. Griswold Schools will be playing in an Iowa Pride Game on Friday, November 22nd against Fremont Mills. Students will also give a dollar on Friday to be allowed to wear a hat at school. That money will go to Caps For Kids. Money will also be given at the game for spectators that wear a hat.

Griswold Schools will also be taking part in a Change War the week before the game. The Change War will be a competition between all classes of the high school, middle school, and the elementary to see who can raise the most change. All proceeds from the Change War and money collected during the game to wear a hat will go to Brooklynne’s family.

Brooklynne is a first grader who is battling kidney cancer and currently going through chemotherapy. Also, after every three pointer made, the cheerleaders will be accepting free will donations for Brooklynne. The basketball girls invite everyone to attend the game Friday November 22nd, at 6 p.m.  The cost to attend the game is $1 if you wear a hat, otherwise you’ll pay the regular admission prices of $5 for adults and $3 for students.