Home News Thursday News, December 8th

Thursday News, December 8th

Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Receives $1,000 Grant

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire-Rescue Department has received $1000.00 grant from the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), the City’s property and casualty coverage provider.
The ICAP Grant, a special initiative in celebration of the Pool’s 30th Anniversary, provides up to $1000.00 per member for the purchase of select loss control or risk management items.
The Le Mars Fire-Rescue Department submitted an application for the grant in October, and was recently awarded $1000.00 from the Pool. The Fire-Rescue Department used the funds to purchase a drone. Chief Dave Schipper says the
drone can and will be used to search for missing people in a field, river, or other tough access locations. He says it will be used to size up large field fires, as well as visual assessments of roof top fires, and it can be used during train derailments.

Le Mars fire logo

 

City Council Approves Higher Incentive Bonus For Overlay Project

(Le Mars) — During Tuesday’s city council meeting, council members discussed the upcoming proposed project of having an overlay of concrete on Business Highway 75. The project would be completed in four different sections and stretching from Highway 3 or Plymouth Street and going south to 18th Street. The entire paving overlay project is expected to cost $1.6 million dollars. Initially, the proposal called for an incentive bonus of $1,000 per day with a start date of early April. However, Councilman Ken Nelson expressed his concern that the section of project that would include in front of his business, the Le Mars Flower Shop, may not be completed before Mother’s Day. Nelson informed the other council members that Mother’s Day accounts for one-fourth of his annual business, and he can’t afford to have the street closed.

nelson

Fellow councilman Rex Knapp asked the question if the council could increase the amount of incentive bonus pay? Knapp told council members that he didn’t believe a $1,000 per day bonus was much of an incentive for contractors to complete the project in a quick manner.

knapp

The council approved a $3,000 dollar a day bonus with incentive pay for the contractor with the winning bid.

 

Trump Aide Confirms Branstad To Be Named Ambassador Of China

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The likely departure of the nation’s longest-serving governor to accept an appointment as U.S. ambassador to China means Iowa could be led by its first female governor.
An aide to President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that Trump has offered to nominate Republican Gov. Terry Branstad for the ambassadorship, and that the governor is expected to accept.
If Branstad accepts and is confirmed by the Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds would become Iowa’s governor. She would hold the position until Branstad’s term ends in January 2019, and she could run for governor in 2018.
The 57-year-old Reynolds was a first-term state senator when Branstad chose her to run for election as his lieutenant governor.
Reynolds has focused on economic development and education during her six years as lieutenant governor.
Kim Reynolds

Agriculture Groups Favor Branstad As China Ambassador

(Des Moines) — In a speech to Iowa Farm Bureau members on Wednesday morning, U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, himself, a former Iowa governor, says if Governor Terry Branstad accepts the position as U-S Ambassador to China, it
would mean good news to American agriculture.

Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill says Branstad’s appointment would be positive for farmers.

The Iowa Soybean Association says “Iowa and U.S. agriculture will be among the many beneficiaries of Gov. Terry Branstad’s selection as U.S. ambassador to China.
“His enduring relationship with the leaders and people of China, forged over many years of conversation and joint participation in activities here at home and abroad, will advance strong China-U.S. relations at a critical time for both countries.
“The governor and Iowa soybean farmers have long recognized the strategic and significant role China plays for U.S. agriculture. The country of nearly 1.4 billion people purchases nearly 60 percent of global soybean production. About one of every three rows of soybeans grown in Iowa are destined for China. Food
is essential for life and trade relations forged with the people of China by Branstad and soybean farmers will serve both countries well.

It is widely speculated that Trump will announce Branstad’s appointment when Trump visits Iowa on Thursday.

 

Branstad May Need To Leave Masonic Rings At Home

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – If Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad becomes the next U.S. ambassador to China, he may want to leave any Masonic symbols at home.
That’s because the Freemasons group that Branstad belongs to has been banned in mainland China for decades. Branstad accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s offer of the ambassador post Wednesday.
Tim Anderson with the Grand Lodge of Iowa says the group’s belief in freedom of speech and expression probably isn’t popular in China.
Masonic groups often run into trouble in Communist countries because of their secret meetings. Brent Morris, who wrote “The Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry,” says Communist governments generally don’t want citizens meeting in secret.
Branstad isn’t new to China. He has led several trade missions there, and he has known China’s president since 1985 when he visited Iowa.

 

State Declares It Can’t Undo Tickets And Citations

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state of Iowa says it would damage public safety if the state were forced to refund traffic fines and remove wrongful convictions from motorists’ records.
The state made those assertions in documents made public Wednesday as it asked the Polk County District Court to reject an effort to certify as a class action a lawsuit against the state. The lawsuit cites a judge’s October ruling that the Iowa Transportation Department didn’t have authority to issue a
speeding ticket to a 16-year-old driver.
The state is arguing in part that district court decisions aren’t binding to other district courts.
The lawsuit seeks an order barring the department’s officers from issuing tickets. A 1990 Iowa attorney general opinion said the officers’ authority is limited to drunken driving and commercial vehicle regulations.