Chamber And Community School District Announce Employee Of the Month
(Le Mars) — Both the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce and the Le Mars Community
School District on Wednesday honored their “Employee of the Month” during separate
ceremonies. This month’s Chamber “Employee of the Month” is Beverly Van Buskirk
with the Le Mars Daily Sentinel. The Daily Sentinel’s editor, Kim Fickett
nominated Beverly for the honor. The nomination reads: “Beverly has been a member
of the newspaper since January of 1979 where she started as a typist. Over the
years, Beverly has worked her way up the newspaper ladder and has taken on roles
as a composition artist, news writer, Social Editor, and her current role as
Lifestyles Editor. Known by many as the face of the Le Mars Daily Sentinel,
Beverly strives to do her best to cover the news throughout Plymouth County. No
matter the time of day, Beverly can be seen around the county getting the latest
scoop for tomorrow’s edition. Her pleasant personality, dedication to the paper’s
success, and commitment to the people whose stories she shares, are attributes
that should not be overlooked. Outside the newspaper office, Beverly is very
active in St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and enjoys Plymouth County
history. She is an avid lover of music, watching murder mystery reruns, the
Plymouth County Fair, and chocolate. Congratulations go to Beverly Van Buskirk
for being named the Chamber of Commerce October Employee of the Month.
Beverly Van Buskirk, of the Le Mars Daily Sentinel is standing on the left, holding the Chamber’s Employee of the Month Award while Kevin Eekhoff looks on.
(Le Mars) — High School head custodian, Mike Weaver was the other individual
honored today as an “Employee of the Month”. Weaver has been employed with the Le
Mars Community School District for three years. Retired spanish language teacher
Gale Horan submitted the nomination for Weaver. She says that Mike Weaver, from
the immediate start, has done an astounding job of keeping the building efficient,
clean, and in good working order. If there is a problem, he sets to fixing it
immediately. He does all that needs to be done in order for our buildingto be
shiny clean, not only after breaks, but during the entire year. He always sees to
it that all outdoor maintenance (snow, ice, litter) is taken card of in a speedy
fashion. He is congenial and professional with staff and students alike. Mike
Weaver manages his other custodial staff well to see that jobs are done.
Congratulations to Mike Weaver for being named the Le Mars Community School
District “Employee of the Month”.
Le Mars Community Head Custodian Mike Weaver was honored with the Employee Of The Month Award. He is pictured holding the award and is surrounded by his family. photo contributed by Carolyn Vance.
Northwestern College Secures Financial Pledges For Discover Campaign
ORANGE CITY, Iowa—Northwestern College launched the final, public phase of the
Discover Campaign for the sciences with an announcement of a $7 million lead gift
at the college’s Legacy Celebration Banquet held Friday evening, Sept. 30.
President Greg Christy also announced that four other gifts of more than $1
million have been pledged, helping bring the total amount secured to more than
$18.3 million.
At the center of the $30 million Discover Campaign is a $24.5 million facility for
the health and natural sciences. The 61,000-square-foot building will be
constructed on the southwest corner of Northwestern’s campus green and will house
classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices for the departments of biology,
chemistry and nursing.
More than 300 of Northwestern’s 1,260 students are health or natural science
majors pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, nursing, biochemistry, ecological
science, or genetics, molecular and cellular biology. Northwestern also offers
pre-professional tracks in medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and other fields.
The Discover Campaign is raising $5.5 million for an endowment that will fund
science student scholarships and research fellowships as well as maintain the
building. To learn more about the campaign and see floor plans and architectural
drawings of the planned science facility, visit discover.nwciowa.edu.
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Grassley Calls Off Scheduled IPTV Debate With Judge
(Des Moines) — Will the candidates seeking a position for the U-S Senate
representing Iowa debate this fall? Republican Chuck Grassley announced that he
wants to hold only two debates…one on television, and one on radio. A scheduled
debate which was to be featured on state-wide Iowa Public Television has been
called off. Instead, Grassley told KLEM news during a phone news conference that he will debate his Democratic challenger Patty Judge at Morningside College in Sioux City.
Grassley says debates are only one way to tell the constituency your views.
Grassley says his town hall meetings across the state also serve as a means to
express his views.
However, Democratic candidate Patty Judge says Grassley hasn’t been accessible,
especially in Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines.
Judge made her comments during a television interview with KCRG-TV of Cedar
Rapids. The debate which is to happen at Morningside College is scheduled for
October 19th and will appear on KTIV-TV channel 4.
Substitute Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Sexual Relations With Students
IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa substitute teacher and coach has pleaded not guilty to having sexual relationships with students at two northwest Iowa high schools.
The Sioux City Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2dFiqoQ ) that 33-year-old John Tietsort, of Battle Creek, Iowa, entered the plea Monday in Ida County District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee and three counts of lascivious conduct with a minor.
Prosecutors say Tietsort had a sexual relationship last October through June with an 18-year-old female student at Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, where Tietsort was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach. Tietsort is also accused of having a sexual relationship earlier this year with a 17-year-old female student from Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School, where Tietsort also was a substitute teacher.
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Some Iowa Residents May Have Only One Choice For Healthcare Coverage
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s state insurance division says residents in 13
rural counties who want to buy subsidized health insurance under the Affordable
Care Act will have just one option for a provider in 2017.
Medica, a Minnesota-based carrier, is the only health insurer that has agreed
to sell individual policies in the state via the Affordable Care Act’s online
marketplace.
The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/2dKbTWR ) reports that about 55,000
Iowa residents bought individual health insurance policies for 2016 on the
marketplace, and most had incomes low enough to qualify for subsidies, which come
as tax credits.
Counties that will only have Medica as an option include Adams, Buena Vista,
Iowa, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Page, Pocahontas, Taylor, Van Buren
and Wapello.
Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart says he’s worried that more counties
could be served by just one provider next year.
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