Tony Peyton Honored As “Citizen of the Year”
(Le Mars) — A Floyd Valley Healthcare physical therapist was honored Saturday evening during the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet as the
“Citizen of the Year”. Tony Peyton was given the honor. Peyton has been described as a “humble unassuming individual who has cast a quiet shadow of service over the entire community of Le Mars. His service that he provides has had positive and lasting effect on a wide range of people. He gives his time freely for the wellness of others, using his free time and talents to improve
their health. Tony Peyton spends countless hours volunteering his time as a physical therapist for student athletes in our community. He has been volunteering as a physical therapist for athletic teams for more than 30 years.
After he completes his work at the hospital, Tony Peyton heads over to Le Mars Community High School to evaluate and check on injured athletes, instructing them and their coaches in their care. He also does what he calls as “look sees” free of charge for Gehlen Catholic student athletes at the Floyd Valley Physical
Therapy department as needed and wanted. On average, Tony Peyton covers approximately 30 regular school events per year for the past 30 years. Peyton attends practices, attends all varsity home games and many away games, assesses
the supplies and safety equipment in the training room, and also helps visiting players who may have suffered an athletic injury. Peyton explains why he became a physical therapist.
Peyton estimates he spends on average about 1000 hours per year assisting the student athletes.
By his own admission, Peyton refers to himself as the “conscience of the team”.
We asked the Floyd Valley physical therapist if ever there was a time when a coach would question his judgement regarding a student athlete’s injury?
As for being named as the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” it came as a total surprise. Peyton says he was told by Floyd Valley officials that he needed to attend the chamber banquet, but he didn’t know why he was requested
to attend.
Peyton’s family members were brought in to the chamber awards banquet to witness his award presentation.
(Le Mars) — The Brown’s Family Musical Theater was honored as the Le Mars Chamber “Business of the Year”. The Browns took the desire to establish a home base, tied it to
the driver to own their own facility, realized a dream, and in the process revitalized two historic buildings and created an unique attraction for our community. An attraction that has become an integral part of our growing tourism industry. The Browns family business has helped change the face of downtown Le Mars, and has expanded the awareness of Le Mars to people throughout the Midwest.
Jenny Kayser was presented with a plaque for the Main Street Volunteer of the Year.
Lisa Hodgson was given an award as the United Way Volunteer of the Year.
Recognition was also given to the Chamber’s “Bosses of the Year” and to the “Employees of the Year”. Three board members were also honored as they retire from service from the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. They
included: Peggy Sitzmann, Kevin Eekhoff, and Rob Bixenman. Bixenman and Sitzmann also are retiring from the LBIC Board of Directors.
Le Mars Police Arrest Man On Several Sexual Assault Charges
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police, with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, arrested 56 year old Jerry Owings of 520 7th Avenue Lot G, Friday evening. The arrest was made at about 5:45 p.m. Owings has been charged with two counts of enticing a minor under the age of 16 for sexual
purposes, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, two counts of 1st degree harassment, dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors, two counts of supplying alcohol to a minor, and three counts of providing tobacco to a minor. Owings was transported to the Plymouth County Jail and is being held on
a $20,000 bond.
Pork Plant Fire Determined To Be Unintentional
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a fire that damaged the JBS pork plant in Marshalltown was unintentional.
No injuries have been reported from the Jan. 23 fire, which took
firefighters about three hours to extinguish.
Authorities say staffers had ignited a pressure relief torch to burn off excess gas. Some debris in the area ignited as well, and embers dropped and ignited gas venting around a manhole cover. The flames eventually reached gas in the methane lagoon. Damage was estimated at $500,000.
Fed-Ex Delivery Driver To Keep Job After Rescuing Burning Flag
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The man who disrupted a flag-burning protest in Iowa City with a fire extinguisher last week won’t lose his job.
FedEx said in a statement that Matt Uhrin remains a driver with FedEx Express, and the company has no plans to change that.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports pictures and video of Uhrin rescuing a U.S. flag Thursday spread quickly on the Internet, and he was wearing his FedEx uniform at the time.
Uhrin has declined the newspaper’s request for comment.
Protest organizers say they were trying to make a statement about racial and social injustice and U.S. imperialism by burning the U.S. flag.
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Reynolds Remains Quiet About Her Plans As Governor
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will soon become governor of Iowa, yet it’s unclear how she wants to distinguish herself from Gov. Terry Branstad.
For weeks, the 57-year-old Reynolds has avoided answering questions about specific plans once she’s in charge. It’s an unusual style for a politician, but Reynolds it’s simply a reflection of there being only one governor at a time.
Branstad is waiting to be confirmed as the next U.S. ambassador to China, a process that could take several weeks or longer.
Reynolds does intend to carry out all of Branstad’s legislative
initiatives if he leaves before the legislative session ends. That includes cutting state funding for Planned Parenthood and removing the rights of public workers to bargain for their health insurance.
Regents President Would Like To See Tuition Increase Remain At Cost Of Living Increase
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter says he would like to see tuition at state universities rise no faster than the average income of Iowa residents.
The Des Moines Register reports that Rastetter made the remarks Friday during and after his appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press.” A Register reporter was among those who questioned Rastetter for the segment.Rastetter says any tuition increase higher than the rise in average state
income would dramatically affect Iowa families’ ability to access the public universities.
Rastetter says that’s his personal position, not a board initiative. The board, which oversees state universities, had already agreed to seek a 2 percent tuition increase next fall if the state’s appropriation also rises 2 percent.
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