Supervisors Have Busy Agenda
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a busy agenda for their weekly meeting. The supervisors are expected to re-appoint Brad Cave to a another term for the Local Options Sales Tax Board. They will also name two other people to the L.O.S.T. board to serve Districts 2 and 4. The county governing board is expected to re-appoint James Dennison to the Board of Adjustment for a five-year term. Shelly Thomspon of Life Skills Training Center is on the agenda to address the county supervisors. County Recorder, JoLynn Goodchild will be delivering her quarterly report. County engineer Tom Rohe will be appearing before the supervisors to submit a permit from MidAmerican Energy Company for work in Perry Township. The supervisors will continue their meeting into the afternoon hours. Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo will appear before the county board of supervisors to formally make his budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.
Hospital Trustees To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Hospital Board of Trustees are scheduled to meet this evening. The trustees will hear a medical staff update from newly elected president of the Floyd Valley Medical Staff, Dr. Mark Stelzer. The hospital trustees will make committee assignments, as well as have a review and approval of the governing board’s by-laws. Trustee Bill Rosacker will deliver the Community Health Advisory Committee and board of health quarterly report. The hospital trustees will also discuss the latest developments with the north addition expansion project.
School Foundation To Launch Spring Scholarship Campaign
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District Foundation will kick-off this year’s scholarship campaign for the 2015 spring scholarship program. The school foundation was formed in 1991, and to date, through the gracious contributions from a number of benefactors, has awarded over $690,000 in scholarships. Last year alone, the Le Mars Community School District Foundation awarded 108 scholarships totalling $55,600. The Foundation’s scholarship committee goal is to exceed last year’s scholarships. Already, there have been four new scholarships created that will be awarded for the first time this spring.
School Board Discuss Upcoming Retreat
(Le Mars) — At last evening’s Le Mars Community Board of Education meeting, the school board discussed the upcoming board and administration retreat scheduled for January 26th. During that retreat, the school board will get updates pertaining to Technology Intergration Presentations from Middle School and Elementary School faculty. The school board will take some time to visit about the Iowa Core, as well as have a round robin discussion relating to Teacher Leadership Compensation. The school board also approved the petition of two students wanting to attend Le Mars Community School through open enrollment. The local board of education also approved the contract to hire Scott Eilts.
Le Mars Main Street Organization A Finalist For A National Grant
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Main Street Alley Art project was recently given some good news. It was learned that Le Mars is among 90 finalists for a grant. Le Mars applied for a $125,000 Art Place America grant. More than 1,280 applications had been submitted from across the country. Now, Le Mars Main Street officials will make a full application and receive a personal visit from New York City Art Place staff. Approximately 40 percent of the 90 finalists will receive funding.
Two School Buses Collide At Storm Lake
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two students and two adults have been treated for injuries after a school bus crashed into the back of another in the northwest Iowa city of Storm Lake.
Storm Lake police say the accident was reported around 7:45 a.m. Monday. Police say a westbound Storm Lake School District bus carrying 39 students was halted for traffic when it was struck by a second district bus with 58 students on board. The driver of the second bus was cited for failure to stop.
One driver, an adult aide and one student were taken to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, and a second student was treated at the scene. The other bus driver later drove himself to the hospital for evaluation.
Branstad To Deliver Condition Of The State Address Today
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad will lay out his 2015 budget plans in his Condition of the State address. Branstad is scheduled to address the Iowa General Assembly this morning. Branstad has said enough money was available for a fair and sustainable budget.
Obama To Visit Iowa On Wednesday
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The White House is offering more details about President Barack Obama’s visit to Iowa. A news release says Obama will visit Cedar Falls on Wednesday and speak on the issue of increasing access to affordable, high-speed broadband. The White House says Obama’s speech will be streamed online.
MidAmerican Energy Completes Work On Wind Farms
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy Company has completed work on three additional wind farms as part of an ongoing sustainable energy project. The completion of these wind farms means four of the five farms that comprise the so-called Wind VIII project are now finished. The project is slated for completion by the end of this year.
Veterans Affairs Has New Director At Iowa City
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a new director for the Iowa City VA Health Care System.
The department said in a statement that Judith Johnson-Mekota will be the system’s new director effective February 8. She has served more than 20 years in health care leadership positions, most recently as director of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System.
The Iowa City VA Health Care System provides health care to more than 40,000 veterans and covers 32 counties in eastern Iowa and 16 counties in western Illinois. It has an operating budget of about $182 million and has more than 1,000 employees.
Johnson-Mekota holds a master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Iowa and an undergraduate degree in nursing from Coe College.
