(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to Armel Acres trailer court shortly after midnight for a mobile home that was reporting smoke. The fire department responded to 37 Oak Street at about 12:13 a.m. Wednesday morning. When they arrived at the scene, Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says there was a small fire detected underneath the mobile home.
Schipper says the fire was caused by an electrical heating tape.
Schipper says fortunately, there was little damage to the mobile home.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department were on the scene for nearly an hour and a half. The Le Mars Police Department and the Le Mars Ambulance also responded to the scene of the mobile home fire.
County Road Construction Projects To Continue
(Le Mars) — Although summer is coming to an end, county road construction projects are continuing, that’s according to Plymouth County engineer Tom Rohe. Rohe offered an update of the construction projects to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. He says paving is about to begin on three miles between Highway 3 and County road C-38 on county road K-42.
Rohe says, for the most part, construction projects have been on schedule. However, he says there are a few exceptions.
City Officials To Inspect Sidewalks
(Le Mars) — The City of Le Mars has begun a process of inspecting the public sidewalks within the City of Le Mars. Personnel are looking for severely cracked, heaved, severe spalling, separation, missing portions, or any condition that would make the sidewalk unsafe for the walking public. If a sidewalk is found to be defective, it will be documented and the property owner will be notified of the defective sidewalk and that it needs to be replaced. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the sidewalks that abut their property in a safe and hazard free condition. The inspection process by the city is expected to take several months. The City of Le Mars is asking that property owners inspect the public sidewalks that abut their property and to make the necessary repairs or replacement if they are found to be defective. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the office of Code Enforcement at City Hall, 712-548-4972.
School District To Unveil Annual Report
(Le Mars) — In the coming weeks, residents living within the Le Mars Community School District will receive the school’s report card, or otherwise known as the annual report. Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner reviewed the assessment statistics with the school board during its regular monthly meeting held Monday evening. Dr. Webner says the assessments were generally pretty good.
Webner then examined the specific grades and categories with the assessments.
Dr. Todd Wendt reminded the school board that it wasn’t that long ago when the Le Mars school district averaged below 80 percent proficient in all categories. Today, all classes have scored above 80 percent proficiency for reading…mathematics…and science, and some classes have scored above 90 percent proficient.
Le Mars School District Qualifies For Dividend Payment From Insurance Policy
(Le Mars) — In other action during the school board meeting, Rob Bixenman with Perspective Insurance, formerly the Bixenman Insurance Agency and American Bank Insurance reported to the school board that the school district qualified for a dividend from its insurance coverage with EMC.
Bixenman says the amount Le Mars Community school district received of the insurance dividend far exceeds the amount received in past years. He says the school’s best dividend prior to this year was around $23,000 to $24,000.
Branstad And Six Other Midwest Governors Write Letter To EPA
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad, along with governors from six other midwestern states sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy asking the Obama Administration to remove a significant regulatory obstacle that is preventing large-scale availability and use of E15 and mid-level ethanol blends.
Branstad said, “Today, bi-partisan Governors from around the Midwest are joining together to strongly urge the EPA to act now to correct the unfair treatment for E15. EPA has the authority to resolve this regulatory hurdle to give more Americans the choice of a cleaner-burning, lower-cost, higher octane, renewable fuel and we hope they do so immediately.”
Currently, more than 300 fuel stations across the U.S. offer drivers the choice of E15, and that number is growing as a result of the USDA Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership and industry efforts such as “Prime the Pump.” However, the existing number of E15 stations is only a fraction of the more than 150,000 fuel stations nationwide. Fuel station owners consistently report that the greatest obstacle to offering E15 is the inequitable Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulation of E10 and E15. Unbalanced RVP treatment makes it difficult for retailers in a conventional fuel area to offer E15 year round as a registered fuel.
Gov. Branstad and the six other Midwestern Governors are strongly urging EPA to take immediate action to establish a volatility regime that allows a uniform gasoline blendstock to be suitable for blending both E10 and E15 year round. Those other governors that joined Branstad by signing the letter addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency include: Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN), Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R-ND), Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R-SD), Gov. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Gov. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Gov. Jay Nixon (D-MO).
