Le Mars Native and Pioneer Surgeon Dr. Thomas Starzl Dies
(Undated) — The man responsible for making the first liver transplant has passed away. Dr. Thomas Starzl, a Le Mars native, pioneered liver transplant surgery in the 1960’s. He was also a leading researcher into anti-rejection
drugs. Starzl was 90 years of age. The University of Pittsburgh, speaking on behalf of Starzl’s family confirmed he had passed on Saturday. Although unable to attend the ceremony, Dr. Starzl was given the honor of being named as the Le Mars Community Distinguished Alum two years ago during the annual Le Mars
Community School Foundation awards banquet. In a news article, about Dr. Thomas Starzl, it had mentioned that he has several memories about Le Mars, and growing
up in Le Mars. Starzl was once quoted that he carries little pieces of Le Mars with him, and he remembers every little detail. Le Mars Community High School student, Sara Meis, the daughter of Drs. Steven and Jolene Meis did a history report on Dr. Thomas Starzl two years ago.
Plymouth County Pheasant’s Forever Raises $65,000 During Banquet
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County chapter of Pheasants Forever held its annual banquet on Saturday evening. Banquet chairman Chris Andersen says the event garnered nearly $30,000 during the auction. When you include the money raised through sponsorship, the Plymouth County Pheasants Forever was able to earned nearly $65,000 for the evening.
Woman’s Body Found In Car In Creek At Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a woman’s body was found inside a car that had crashed into a Polk County creek.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says a bicyclist spotted the car in
Fourmile Creek a little before 8 a.m. Sunday while passing by on a bike trail.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Brandon Bracelin says the car was on its top in 3 feet of water and couldn’t be seen from the nearby roadway. He couldn’t say how long the car had been in the creek. A recovery crew removed the vehicle from the water.
The woman’s name hasn’t been released.
Newton City Council To Decide On Former Maytag Property
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – A $1.5 million tax rebate to Des Moines Area Community College for the former Maytag headquarters will be discussed at an upcoming Newton City Council meeting.
The Daily News reports (https://bit.ly/2lHQb9K ) that the City Council will discuss the rebate at a meeting Monday. The new rebate would be an extension of one that expired when the headquarters were donated to the college in October.
Developer Reza Kargarzadeh donated the seven buildings that once were part of the Maytag corporate headquarters to the college. The donation of the 472,000 feet of office, industrial and residential space was valued at about $8 million.
Many Legislative Bills Fail To Be Passed Before “Funnel Deadline”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The legislative session is only a couple months old, but some bills have already been deemed dead for the year.
Because of a procedural deadline, bills that haven’t passed at least one committee by last week are done for the session.
That means action likely won’t be taken on bills dealing with professional licensing, the death penalty and a comprehensive medical marijuana program, though some failed proposals can occasionally be resurrected.
Those that cleared the deadline include bills involving guns, abortion restrictions and voter identification.
Both legislative chambers and governor’s office are GOP-controlled for the first time in nearly 20 years, and Republican are trying to pass an ambitious
agenda of conservative-leaning legislation.
