Steve Schuster Honored With “Boss Of The Quarter”
(Le Mars) — The owner of a Le Mars Trucking firm was honored this morning as the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce’s “Boss of the Quarter”. Steve Schuster was presented with a plaque acknowledging his honor. Schuster was nominated by Erica Wenzel, Human Resources Director, with the Schuster Company. She says: “when you look up the traditional definition of “boss” – someone dominant who tends to make decisions and give instructions, those are not the first qualities I would use to describe Steve. Although he does those things when needed, his love for the people who work for him are what drives him. He always makes time for his over 300 plus employees, and still carries on his father’s tradition of delivering the mail to everyone each day. Steve has managed to grow Schuster Company during some tough economic times all while keeping the small business atmosphere. He provides benefits that don’t exist at other companies such as longevity bonuses, Christmas bonuses, Company picnics, company golf outing, a bowling night, Halloween Trick or Treat in the office for employee’s children. In 2012
, Steve helped three employees and their extended family members through fundraising efforts while they were dealing with cancer related illnesses. Steve is the first to lead by example, serving as the 2013 Committee Chairman of the Board for the Iowa Motor Truck Association. Steve “thinks with h
is heart”. He is a wonderful leader, not only at Schuster Company, but in the community he loves, and the state he resides in.”
(Steve, Shawn, and Danna Schuster)
Photo submitted.
Gospel Music Festival At Remsen Farm Scheduled For This Weekend
(Remsen) — This coming weekend, gospel music fans will want to attend the 6th annual Country and Gospel Music Festival to be located on a farm near Remsen. Cheryl Juhl and her husband, Mark, serve as the host for the festival. Cheryl highlights the two day event.
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Juhl says the headliner performer comes from Nashville, Tennessee and is familiar with this area, as he has appeared several times at the Old Time Country Music festival held in Le Mars.
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Juhl says the proceeds of the gospel music festival will go to help the church of the Damascus Road.
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The music festival host says statistics show when an inmate is able to attend church, that inmate is more likely to stay away from committing crimes.
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Admission to the music festival is $15 for a one-day pass and $25 for a two-day pass.
USDA Expects Lower Corn Crop
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has slightly lowered its estimate of the corn crop, reflecting late planting in the Corn Belt caused by a wet spring.
Farmers are now expected to harvest 13.95 billion bushels, 55 million fewer bushels than predicted in June. That still beats the 2009 record by about 858 million bushels.
The supply of corn is likely to shrink this summer because of last year’s small, drought-affected harvest of 11 billion bushels and this year’s delayed planting, so prices will likely remain
high.
That’s good for farmers selling grain, but will increase the cost of corn-based feed for livestock producers raising cattle, chickens and pigs.
Food prices aren’t likely to be affected much by the change.
Des Moines Finds High Levels Of Nitrates In Water
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines Water Works has asked customers to reduce water use because of persistently high nitrate concentrations in nearby rivers.
The utility announced Thursday that customers have been told to reduce the time sprinklers are on because of highly polluted water in the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. They’ve also been asked to
water their lawns on odd or even days.
Officials say the record-setting concentrations in the rivers require extensive treatment at a nitrate removal facility that’s operating at maximum capacity. The utility has been using alternate sources of water, but they’re not adequate to meet a customer demand of 70 million gallons per day.
Des Moines Water Works says if water use does not decrease, the utility will be unable to meet the federal contaminant level for nitrate.
Des Moines Man Sentenced 35 Years For Murder 20 Years Ago
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of killing a Des Moines businesswoman nearly 20 years ago has been sentenced to 35 years in prison as part of a plea deal that will likely have him released
this month.
36-year-old David Flores was sentenced Thursday in connection to the 1996 death of Phyllis
Davis.
The sentence is part of a deal with prosecutors that allowed Flores to give an Alford plea. It means he doesn’t admit to the act but he acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him.
Davis was killed after her car was struck by crossfire between rival gangs.
Flores was later convicted for her death based on circumstantial evidence. He was granted a new trial in 2009 after additional evidence and testimony was presented.
Wright County Murder
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man whose 1997 murder conviction was overturned in 2011 has sued Wright County and officials involved in his original prosecution.
The Mason City Globe Gazette says 59-year-old Jose Aguilera filed his federal lawsuit earlier this month. It alleges malicious prosecution, false arrest and conspiracy among its claims and seeks
punitive and compensatory damages for Aguilera.
In December 2011 the Iowa Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Aguilera, who was convicted of second-degree murder in a 1996 shooting near a party in Rowan. The court ruled prosecutors improperly suppressed a state investigative file that bolstered Aguilera’s statements that the shooting was accidental.
Last year Aguilera was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and soon was released from prison.
