Home News Wednesday News, May 11th

Wednesday News, May 11th

City Officials Close 4th Street Southwest For Repairs

(Le Mars) — City officials have announced the closing of 4th Street southwest, just west of 9th Avenue southwest for some street repairs.  That means the access entrance from 4th Street southwest entrance going into Armel Acres is no longer available.  You will need to access Armel Acres from the north off of 3rd Street, or from the south off of 6th Street southwest.  The street will be closed for approximately five days.

Applications Now Being Accepted For Steven Musson Scholarships

(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Foundation, along with the Musson family, have announced that they will be accepting applications for the Steven H. Musson Memorial Emergency Services Grant until May 31, 2016.  To be eligible, the applicant(s) must reside and actively engage in emergency care in Plymouth County.   This can include: paramedic, first responder, or emergency care technician (EMT).  The $500 grant must be used for direct expenses related to pursuing an emergency care training including books tuition, classes, transportation, squad trainings and certifications.

Interested applicants (individuals or a squad) may obtain an electronic version of the brochure including application information from the Floyd Valley Healthcare website at FloydValley.org under Foundation and Giving.

The Steven H. Musson Emergency Services Endowment was established in 2003 by the Musson family to recognize and honor of Steve for his passion for emergency care.  Floyd Valley Healthcare recognizes and appreciates the 27 years of steadfast duty, organization, and care he gave.  Steve helped start the Le Mars Ambulance service in 1975 and served as co-director until his death in 2002.  He also served on the Floyd Valley Hospital Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the decision to expand the Outpatient and Emergency Departments, a vision that was completed in the fall of 2004.

Floyd Valley Auxiliary To Award Scholarships During Chamber Coffee

(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary will be awarding two $1,000 scholarships to area students on Wednesday.  The presentation will take place at the Willow Creek Golf Club at 10:00 a.m.  Floyd Valley Auxiliary awards scholarships each year to students in the Floyd Valley Healthcare service area who are pursuing a health related career.

Le Mars Ambulance Service Acknowledges EMT Week With Fund Raiser Breakfast

(Le Mars) — Next week is recognized as Emergency Medical Technician Week, and to help celebrate the occasion, the Le Mars Ambulance Service will be holding a fund raiser breakfast on Sunday, May 15th at the Fire Station number 2 located at 12th Street southeast.  Le Mars Ambulance Services Director, Bill Rosacker tells us the details of the Sunday breakfast.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2016/Rosacker1.MP3{/audio}

The Le Mars Ambulance Service is fortunate to have at least 20 volunteers to assist with medical emergencies.  However, Rosacker says a common problem throughout the area, state, and nation is finding enough volunteers to staff an ambulance service for small towns.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/May 2016/Rosacker2.MP3{/audio}

P’s Pizza House In Orange City Holds Grand Opening Ceremonies

(Orange City) -– P’s Pizza House is officially open for business, marked with the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening event of their second location in Orange City, IA, on Monday, May 9, 2016.  The new restaurant is located on the east end of the Holland Plaza on Highway 10.
The Grand Opening included welcoming comments from Mike Hofman, Executive Director of the Orange City Chamber, Deb De Haan, Mayor of Orange City, Daryl Beltman, President of the Orange City Development Corporation, and Monica Aalbers, President of the Orange City Ambassadors.
Joe Sitzmann, P’s Pizza House owner said, “We are excited to finally open the doors and look forward to a long-standing relationship with the City of Orange City and the surrounding communities.”
Following the speakers, the Orange City Ambassadors performed the official Ribbon Cutting with Joe & Bobbie Sitzmann and the managers of P’s.
Deb De Haan, Orange City’s Mayor shared “We are very excited to welcome Joe & Bobbie Sitzmann and happy they chose Orange City for their second location.”
Over the past year, P’s Pizza House has worked with Krull Construction, the City of Orange City, D&L Plumbing & Heating, Noteboom Electric, Ryan Installation, Strategic Equipment, and Visser Painting to make this dream a reality.
Sitzmann added, “We were pleased with the turnout for the Grand Opening and had a great evening serving a large crowd and look forward to serving this community.”
Check out their website at www.pspizzahouse.com for images and descriptions of their delicious menu items. In the coming month P’s will be rolling out a new Loyalty Rewards Program, and online ordering will be available later this fall.

Judge Neary Suspends Female Bank Robbers’ Sentences

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has suspended prison sentences for two women who pleaded guilty in connection to a staged Sioux City bank robbery.
Nineteen-year-old Heaven Zevenbergen and 19-year-old Angelica Perez had been sentenced to five years in prison in February after pleading guilty to second-degree theft as part of a plea agreement.
Prosecutors said Perez entered a Security National Bank branch at a Hy-Vee supermarket last August in a disguise, and warned Zevenbergen via a note that she was armed. Prosecutors say Zevenbergen, then a teller at the bank, knew Perez and gave her $10,000.
District Judge Jeffrey Neary suspended the remainder of their sentences Tuesday, and placed them on five years of probation. Neary said the original prison terms were meant to be “shock sentencing,” which is used to deter offenders from future criminal behavior. He said he always intended to reconsider the women’s sentences.

Iowa DNR Wants To Punish Sioux City For Manipulated Water Samples

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Natural Resources Department staff wants the state attorney general’s office to take civil action against Sioux City for illegal sewage discharges into the Missouri River over a more than three-year period.
A department litigation report says that because Sioux City didn’t properly disinfect its wastewater, the city was discharging wastewater high in bacteria. The department says the city violated several Iowa codes and federal permit conditions.
The city attorney didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. Officials have said two city employees tampered with samples at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
The state attorney general can seek higher penalties than the Natural Resources Department. Its penalties are capped at $10,000.

More Parents Seeking Exemptions Not To Administer Vaccines

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The number of parents seeking religious exemptions to Iowa vaccination requires is still climbing despite health officials’ efforts to ease concerns about the shots.
Don Callaghan with the Iowa Public Health Department says “it’s not the trend we want to be seeing.”
A new state report says more than 6,700 Iowa schoolchildren obtained religious exemptions to vaccinations this school year, up 13 percent from the year before and more than four times the number 15 years ago.
Iowa doesn’t make parents cite specific religious teachings for exemptions. The state merely requires a signed statement that immunization “conflicts with a genuine and sincere religious belief.”
About 1.3 percent of Iowa schoolchildren now have religious exemptions to vaccination, compared with a national average of 1.5 percent.

Beef Quality Assurance Workshops Offered To Cattle Producers This Summer

(Le Mars) — May is recognized as Beef Month, and cattle producers across Plymouth County and northwest Iowa will have the opportunity to attend one of four workshops that focuses on Beef Quality Assurance.  Doug Bear, the Industry Relations Director with the Iowa Beef Industry Council says beef quality assurance is when producers and processors are doing the proper and correct things, in order to offer consumers the best quality meat product.  Bear says when beef quality assurance practices are utilized, both the producer and the consumer wins.

Bear says cattle producers participate in an educational workshops focusing on how best to implement best management practices which in turn allows cattle producers to be certified in beef quality assurance.  The Iowa Beef Industry official says more than 95 percent of the nation’s cattle are produced under standards set forth by the Beef Quality Assurance program.  He says cattle producers are taught how to correctly use medications, vaccines, feed, and even the handling of the animal.

Bear says it is the consumer’s interests that helps drive the standards of the Beef Quality Assurance program.

Later this summer, cattle producers can attend a beef quality workshop on June 2nd at the Kent Pruismann feedlot operations near Rock Valley, or another workshop will be offered on July 8th at the Winter Feedlots near Akron.