County Supervisors To Meet Today
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet this morning at the County Courthouse Boardroom. The supervisors will hear from Scott Kovarna as he seeks approval on Kovarn’s Country Addition located in Liberty township.
County engineer Tom Rohe will discuss with the county governing board a gravel contract with Keith Hagedorn Construction. Rohe will also inform the supervisors
about the right of way purchase for a bridge repair project. Frontier Communications and Southern Sioux Water Association are both seeking permits. Frontier is wanting to install cable in Fredonia Township, and Southern Sioux Water Association wants to work in Grant township. The county supervisors are
expected to appoint Kyle Zellmer to replace Tim Vondrak as a Liberty Township trustee. The county board of supervisors will review and possibly approve the county’s semi-annual settlement of funds, and they are expected to approve 2016
wages paid for publication.
City Council To Discuss Comprehensive Plan
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will hold its meeting today beginning at 12:00 noon from the city council chambers. The city council will begin their meeting by holding a public hearing on the airport access easement. As for agenda items, the city council will hear an update from Mary Reynolds regarding
the Sesquicentennial Organizational committee. In action items, the city council will discuss the Le Mars Comprehensive Plan, and encourage people to offer comments and suggestions for the final draft. The city council will discuss the City Energy Management Program. The council is expected to award the paving contract for the Cresent Ridge Paving Project. The council will hold the second reading regarding the proposed increase for the mayor and city council salaries.
The Le Mars city council will discuss the airport’s capital improvements, and they will also discuss the Royal 3 theater. The city council will again discuss and review the proposed city budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1st.
Day Care Provider Sentenced To Five Months In Jail
(Orange City) — A Maurice Day Care provider has been sentenced to five months in jail for the crimes of child endangerment causing bodily injury. 33- year old Dianna Winder was sentenced in Sioux County District Court. The case originated on November 11, 2015, when a 15 month-old child was in Ms. Winder’s day care.
Around 5:00 PM, when the child’s mother picked up her son, it was immediately apparent the child had concerning marks on his face. Ms. Winder suggested an allergy caused the marks. The mother brought her son to the emergency room where medical professionals were concerned the child was hit, and contacted police and social workers, leading to Ms. Winder’s arrest in late December of 2015. Ms. Winder pled not guilty and the case proceeded to a four-day jury trial November 15-18, 2016, after which, the jury returned a guilty verdict on both counts.
During the sentencing hearing, Ms. Winder acknowledged she was sorry this happened to the child, but did not take responsibility for causing the child’s injuries.
Plymouth County Pork Producers Schedule Banquet
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Pork Producers Association have announced they will hold their annual pork banquet on Saturday, February 25th at the Willow Creek Country Club at Le Mars. The evening’s activities will begin with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. with members of the Union Vikings 4-H Club preparing pork appetizes
for guests enjoyment. Dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. The banquet program will follow with the crowning of the 2017 County Pork Queen and Little Miss Pigtails youth ambassador. Entertainment will be provided by ventriloquist David Malmberg
and his cast of characters, including Simon Spencer, America’s grouchiest farmer.
Candidates to compete for the county’s youth ambassador positions are still needed. The Little Miss Pigtails position is for girls 6 to 8 years of age whose parents are pork producers and county/state members. Young women who are high school juniors or seniors are needed to compete for the county Pork Queen title.
To be eligible, parents must be pork producers and county/state members. To enter the contests or obtain additional information, contact Janelle Johnson at (712) 539-3115.
State Legislature Passes Education Spending Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has approved a bill increasing K-12 education spending by 1.1 percent, a move school officials say will result in larger classroom sizes and school district shortfalls.
The House approved the measure late Monday. The Senate already has passed the bill, which now goes to Gov. Terry Branstad.
Before the vote, a group that included school board members, parents and students gathered at the Capitol in opposition to the legislation, which adds about $40 million to a roughly $3 billion education budget. Republican lawmakers say the small increase is all the state can afford.
Pat Murphy serves as the president of the Le Mars Community School Board. He says he is disappointed the state legislature didn’t appropriate more money to education.
Murphy isn’t certain what will be the consequences to the Le Mars Community School District due to the low amount of appropriations on the public education.
The Le Mars Community Board of Education president says he is deeply concerned about the pattern the state legislature has shown for education spending during the past several years. Murphy wonders if the legislature has public education
as its top priority.
County Auditors Oppose State ID Voting Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A key group of election officials plans to oppose legislation proposed by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate that would require voter identification at the polls and make other changes to the state’s election system.
The Iowa State Association of County Auditors confirmed Monday that the group voted Friday to register against Pate’s bill. The group also agreed to form a committee that would suggest changes to the bill.
Rhonda Deters, the association’s president and the county auditor in Grundy County, says the group has several concerns about the legislation. While there has been a focus on the proposed voter ID requirement, the association is also
worried about how technology upgrades would be implemented.
Pate said in a statement he was disappointed by the group’s decision. He called his bill a comprehensive package that calls for more accountability.
