School Board To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to meet this evening. During their meeting, the school board is expected to formally adopt a new policy that would prevent Middle School athletes from practicing and participating with High School athletic programs that involve contact sports.
Those sports would include: football, basketball, wrestling, and volleyball. The school board is also expected to adopt the school calendar for 2017 through 2018.
The proposed school calendar would begin classes on Thursday, August 24th and classes would end on May 23rd. During its last board meeting, school superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt had informed the school board that he was approached by a group of people who wanted the school to award an honorary diploma to an individual, who at the time of attending classes, was not able to complete her senior year, and consequently did not graduate with her class. The school board has set aside some time on its agenda to further discuss the issue, and to decide if the Le Mars Community School wishes to acknowledge the individual’s community contributions and award a honorary diploma. The school board will appoint two members to the Meet and Confer team for the purpose of discussing contracts with the support staff and administration.
Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputies Involved With Pursuit And Shooting
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – One person is hospitalized after being wounded in a shootout with Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies.
The Sheriff’s office says deputies were pursuing two suspects south of Sioux City around 3:30 a.m. Sunday before the shooting happened.
Authorities say the suspects started firing at deputies after the chase ended, and the deputies returned fire.
One suspect was wounded and taken to a hospital, but the injuries are not expected to be life-threatening. The other suspect was arrested.
Authorities have not identified the suspects or said why they were being pursued initially.
Wanatee To Have Second Trial In Council Bluffs
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The second trial is scheduled to begin Monday of a Sioux City man charged with murder.
The trial of 48-year-old Elias Wanatee is to be held in in Pottawattamie County District Court in Council Bluffs. A judge had granted Wanatee’s request for a change of venue, citing publicity. Wanatee’s first trial ended in a mistrial in December after jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict.
Wanatee is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 17, 2016, stabbing death of 50-year-old Vernon Mace in Sioux City. There were no eyewitnesses, and police never found the weapon.
Defense attorney Jason Dunn has suggested that Wanatee acted in self- defense.
Plymouth County Pork Producers Announce “Adopt-A-Pig” Program
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Pork Producers in partnership with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County are starting a new program to assist Plymouth County 4-H and FFA members who would like to exhibit swine at the Plymouth County Fair, who don’t have the facilities to house the pigs. Andy Schroeder, a director with the Plymouth County Pork Producers Association, told the gathering about the “Adopt-A-Pig” program.
Schroeder says the plan is open to 4-H and FFA members who are currently in the fourth grade or above. He talks about the plan at the Plymouth County Fair.
Schroeder says the ownership of the pig will remain with the pork producer, however, the 4-H or FFA member will collect the premium from the auction. But he says there is an educational factor built in to the new program.
Schroeder explains the number of hogs that the 4-H or FFA member can identify for the show at the Plymouth County Fair under the “Adopt-a-Pig” program.
The Plymouth County pork producer says an informational meeting will be held on
Tuesday evening, February 28th beginning at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the
Plymouth County Extension Office. Interested 4-H or FFA members wanting to
participate in the “Adopt-a-Pig” program should plan to attend the informational meeting at the Plymouth County Extension office. Questions should be directed to Dan Sheehan with the Plymouth County Pork Producers
Association.
Fundraising Begins For Recreational Trail In Southwest Iowa
GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Organizers have kicked off fundraising for a $1.8 million trail system in southwest Iowa.
The trail would stretch 2 1/2 miles, starting at a trailhead next to
Glenwood Community High School. The location will include parking for 100 vehicles and a pavilion with a restroom and clothes-changing facility.
The trail would run along Keg Creek, then east to the city athletic complex. Officials expect to install three new bridges over Keg Creek, along with three culvert crossings over creek tributaries as part of the trail system.
Officials hope to connect Glenwood’s trail to the Wabash Trace and eventually to the Keystone Trail system across the Missouri River in Bellevue, Nebraska.
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Republican Backed Bills May Be Challenged In Court
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Bills in the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature this session purport to enforce federal immigration laws, but academics say some proposals are redundant and could face legal challenges.
The proposed bills include a so-called sanctuary cities ban that would require state, local and college officials to follow laws related to immigration.
Another proposal would ensure employers don’t knowingly hire people who aren’t in the country legally. A third measure would prohibit Iowa courts from applying foreign law to state cases, which some critics say is anti-Islam.
Legal experts and academics argue that existing federal laws already cover these topics, and adding new legislation could open the state up to lawsuits.
Republicans dispute any argument that Iowa isn’t welcoming to immigrants, and they emphasize that the measures ensure rules are followed.
