Home News Chistie Vilsack Visits LeMars

Chistie Vilsack Visits LeMars

(LeMars) — Congressional Democratic candidate and former First Lady of Iowa, Christie Vilsack was in LeMars this morning getting a tour of some of the economic development projects within the area.  Vilsack met with Floyd Valley Hospital Administrator, Mike Donlin and LeMars Business Industry Corporation Executive Director Neil Adler, and Mainstreet Coordinator, Mary Reynolds.  Vilsack toured the new dialysis center, and later was given a tour through the LeMars Industrial Park.  Vilsack is promoting her idea for stimulating the economy of rural Iowa communities by promoting her Vision 20/20 plan.  Vilsack says the idea is to help build a deteriorating infrastructure system.  

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Vilsack says it would consists of major projects that would use at least $20 million dollars, such as highways, short rail lines, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.  She says this is needed to help keep Iowa and its small rural communities competitive.

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Vilsack says the other part of Vision 20/20 would be to see at least 20 percent of the federal funding that is allocated to Iowa be spent on rural-based projects.

 

(LeMars) — The LeMars Community School District has announced its employee of the month.  This month the honor goes to Bev Heemstra.  Heemstra is a teacher associate at Clark Elementary.  Heemstra has worked with the LeMars Community School District for eight years. Tonya Schroeder submitted the nomination.  Schroeder writes: “Bev has been one of educational assistants in the preschool room for almost 8 years.  Her loyality and dedication to the pre-schoolers, as well as to me, the head teacher, is above and beyond what you would expect from an educational assistant.  She always tries to keep a positive attitude and does what is in the best interest of the students with the many changes the pre-school room has undergone.  Bev has always wanted to know what she can do to make things run smoothly.  She stays on top of the changes and voluntarily sees work and completes it on her own.  Bev is a hard working, dedicated, compassionate worker, who is an amazing co-worker and friend.  Congratulations to Bev Heemstra as being selected the School District Employee of the Month.

 

(LeMars) — LeMars city officials have announced that city hall and all city offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

(LeMars) — Floyd Valley Hospital is teaming up with Joba’s to present “Jingle With Joba’s”.  The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 17th at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  The  holiday season can be a stressful time when it comes to decorating.  You can learn fast and easy tips to transform your home from season to season.  Experts will teach tips for creating personalized gift baskets, holiday and everyday home decor, and great gift ideas.  You can enjoy warm cider and gourmet holiday treats while learning some great holiday decorating ideas.

 

POCAHONTAS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they are continuing to investigate a house fire that killed a rural Pocahontas woman last week but believe it was caused by a grass fire the homeowner had
started earlier in the day.
      77-year-old Teresa Sefcik died after she was pulled from her burning home last Friday.
     Authorities say the house was engulfed in flames and Sefcik was trapped inside.
     The house was destroyed.
    

 IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Dozens of people sickened after eating salmonella-tainted eggs will receive compensation in the first wave of legal settlements with the Iowa egg producer blamed for last
year’s outbreak.
     Wright County Egg reached financial settlements with roughly 40 salmonella victims represented by Seattle attorney Bill Marler during a September mediation conference in Minneapolis.
     While the settlements are confidential, details of three became public last week when a federal judge in Iowa approved deals totaling $366,000 for children from Texas, California and Iowa who
were hospitalized after becoming sick. The largest payment of $250,000 went to the family of a 3-year-old boy who collapsed and had to spend a week in the hospital.
     Federal officials say at least 1,900 people were sickened during the outbreak that started in July 2010.

 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police are questioning two students after a small, apparently homemade device exploded outside East High School in Des Moines.
     School District spokesman Phil Roeder (RAY’-duhr) says the small blast took place on a sidewalk about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday, just as classes began. No one was injured and no property was damaged.
     He says police told him the homemade device contained gunpowder. He had no further details.
     Roeder says staff members outside the school heard the small explosion and saw four students running away. Roeder says the staff members caught the students and that police are questioning two of them.
     Roeder says the staff members said the blast sounded similar to a car backfiring.