City Council Schedules Public Hearing Following Closed Session
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council met in a closed session this morning to
discuss a possible real estate transfer deal. As a result of the closed session,
the city council has established a public hearing scheduled for noon on Tuesday,
August 16th.
Scott Plendl Wins Beef Show At Woodbury County Fair
(Moville) — The Champion beef exhibitor from the Plymouth County Fair was also
able to win the top beef honors at the Woodbury County Fair. Scott Plendl is a
member of the Kingsley-Pierson FFA chapter. He exhibited a Chianiana (Key-an-nia
-Maine Anjou crossbreed steer weighing more than 1335 pounds. Plendl purchased the
market steer from Dave Trienen of Marcus. Plendl intends to exhibit his champion
market steer at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, and also at the Kansas City
American Royal Livestock Exhibition.
Human Skull That Of Native American
SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in northwest Iowa say a human skull found earlier
this year at the Raccoon River in southern Sac County is that of a Native American
man who died hundreds of years ago.
The skull was found July 11 on a sandbar in the river, and was initially
thought to be that of an adult white man.
But Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure says in a statement that a forensic
anthropologist has determined the skull is that of a 40- to 50-year-old man of
American Indian ancestry who likely died “more than a few hundred years ago.”
McClure says the skull will be returned to the Iowa State Medical Examiner.
Pella Woman Pleads Guilty To Child Endangerment Leading To Death
PELLA, Iowa (AP) – A Pella woman has pleaded guilty in the death of her 13-month-
old daughter, who was left in a bathtub and drowned.
Pella police say 28-year-old Anna Nicole Sothman pleaded guilty Friday in
Marion County Court to child endangerment causing death following a six week
investigation of the death of Elaine Sothman. The conviction includes a penalty of
no more than 50 years.
The investigation began after police responded June 20 to a report of an
unresponsive child in Pella. She died June 23 at a Des Moines hospital.
An autopsy shows she drowned.
Investigators determined Anna Sothman put Elaine in a bathtub of running water
and left her unsupervised for more than 30 minutes.
Anna Sothman was taken to the Marion County jail and will be sentenced later.
Airplane Crash Near Indianola Kills Two
INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people have died in a small plane
crash north of Indianola.
Warren County Sheriff Brian Vos says two people died in the crash a few miles
north of Indianola. It was reported about 11:40 a.m.
The names of those killed haven’t been released. The crash remains under
investigation.
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Trump Critical Of Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) – Donald Trump is accusing President Barack Obama of lying to the
American people about the circumstances surrounding a $400 million payment to Iran.
The White House has insisted the payment had nothing to do with the release
of four American hostages being held in the country. They say the U.S. was simply
returning Iran’s own money in a settlement of a legal claim that went back to the
hostage crisis that ended in 1981.
But the timing has raised eyebrows, especially among Republican leaders,
who claim the money exchange was a ransom payment.
Trump says of the president’s explanation, “It’s just a lie.”
He adds, “You know, at least be truthful.”
Iowa Elementary School Children Reading Level Improves
(Des Moines) — There is some progress in improving the reading levels of students in kindergarten through third grade in the state, but members of the State Board of Education expressed concern today (Thursday) about whether it is enough. The director of the Department of Education’s Division of Learning and Results, David Tilly, talked the board about the progress of the efforts to improve reading levels beginning last fall.
The reading issue is part of the state education reform plan and making sure that all students are proficient readers by the end of third grade. Tilly was asked how the improvement stacks up with what he thought it would be.
Tilly says 65 percent of the districts saw improvement in reading levels, while the other 35 saw declines. Tilly spoke with reporters after the meeting and he says some districts did struggle with the new programs designed to help kids improve.
Tilly says. He says there weren’t any noticeable differences between larger and smaller school districts.
Board of Education members expressed concern that the four percent pace of improvement would mean there will still be around one quarter of the students who are not reading at the proper level in another year. By that time students who are not reading at the proper level will have to go to summer school and won’t be able to advance to the next grade if they don’t improve. Tilly says it is not likely the improvement.pace will pick up dramatically.
Tilly says there is a lot of good work going on — but it’s not just a matter of sitting down with a child and showing them how to read.
Tilly says there are several components to being a good reader.
He says when kids are deficient in any one of those areas it hurts their overall ability to read and they need help in improving. Tilly says this is the first time the state has had the data to get a good assessment of reading levels. He says 97 percent of the K-3 students in the state are now being assessed.
