Hinton and Oyens Fire Departments Respond to Calls
(Le Mars) — Both the Oyens and the Hinton Fire Departments responded to calls last evening. Shortly after 6 o’clock, the Hinton Fire Department were called to a grass and vehicle fire at 27693 Hedge Avenue. They were on the scene for about an hour and a half. Oyens Fire Department were called to 38238 C-44 at about 8:45 p.m. to fight a corn crib that had caught on fire. Fire fighters were at the scene for a little more than an hour.
Deb Kurth Selected as School Employee of the Month
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District has announced its May Employee of the Month. This month the honor is awarded to Deb Kurth, a fourth grade teacher at the Kluckhohn elementary school. Kurth has been teaching at Kluckhohn for the past ten years. The nomination, submitted by the Kluckhohn staff, says Kurth is a dedicated professional who has touched the lives of many children through her years of teaching. She conducts her classroom in a calm and gentle manner and is able to connect well with students from various backgrounds. She is always concerned about her students and wants to help them make good choices. She models respect in the way she teaches and encourages her students to treat each other with respect. Deb has gone out of her way to help students with what they need. She works well with her colleagues and is a positive influence on others.
Education Station Expands to Sioux City
(Le Mars) — For John MacGregor, opening a 3,000 square foot store in Sioux City, is just the next logical step. MacGregor, who owns the Education Station in Le Mars, will open another location by the same name within the next two months.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Ed Station 1.mp3{/audio}
The store will carry the same inventory as the Le Mars location. MacGregor says that the reason for expansion has to do with keeping things convenient for area teachers.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/May2012/Ed Station 2.mp3{/audio}
Three or four employees will be added to the Education Stations new Sioux City location. MacGregor says that employees are expected to be added in Le Mars as well. Anticipated opening of the store is late June or early July.
State Legislature Ends Session….Finally
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Legislature has adjourned a session in which lawmakers took on some big issues but emerged with little legislation.
It took an additional three weeks past the scheduled adjournment before lawmakers agreed on the state’s $6.2 billion budget and adjourned on Wednesday.
The state will end the year with a large ending balance. That reflects an improving economy, which has boosted tax revenue, and a Republican desire to spend less than the state receives in tax
revenue.
The state also will have hundreds of millions of dollars in reserve.
Governor Terry Branstad called for bold education reform but got an unfunded policy bill. Lawmakers failed once again to find compromise on his property tax reform proposal despite trying up to the final hour.
FEMA Says No to University of Iowa Art Museum
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the University of Iowa’s appeal of its decision not to fund a replacement for its flood-damaged art museum.
State and school officials say they’re disappointed with Wednesday’s decision and will work together on options.
FEMA ruled the museum didn’t have enough flood damage in 2008 to pay for its replacement elsewhere. The university appealed, saying it can’t insure art in the current location.
Under FEMA regulations the building is eligible to be replaced if it’s not feasible to repair it so that it can function at the same level that it had before the flood. State officials say the agency, in its denial, claims the regulations don’t apply because the decision not to insure is a business decision by private
insurance companies.
