One area forester tells the Sioux City Journal that the number of trees that were burned by a recent fire in Loess Hills State Forest as "mind-blowing."
The blaze destroyed many trees on April 13 and 14.
More 3,700 total acres in Monona County were burned by the rapidly spreading fire, which began as a structure fire.
Roughly 2,300 of the acres are in the Loess Hills State Forest's Preparation Canyon Unit. It is popular area for hiking, birdwatching and hunting. The forest is just north of the Little Sioux Scout Ranch and it attaches directly to Preparation State Park. The park was largely untouched by the fire.
Woodbury County supervisors yesterday voted to deny bonuses for county attorney support staff. The Woodbury County Attorney’s Office has been short staffed since last year, with a third of its department vacant, according to the Sioux City Journal.
The board initially approved giving 4 percent raises to staff, paying hiring bonuses, creating a summer internship program, giving automatic vacation time, shifting a position to create a new deputy and starting new hires at a wage step equivalent to their experience, to help fill empty positions.
Now, Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis is seeking bonuses for the support staff who have been taking on extra work because of the shortage. Loomis said he wanted give $2,000 bonuses to eight county attorney’s office employees who put in extra work. He proposed paying the bonuses from fines collection money, which he has discretion over.
The board denied the request, stating they did not want to set a precedent and citing a similar request from County Sheriff Chad Sheehan that was also dismissed.
