School Board To Convene This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District Board of Education will meet this evening, and the first item of business will be to hold a public hearing regarding the proposed amendment to the 2016-2017 school budget and consider
adoption of the budget amendment following the hearing. The school board will hear a report from Rob Bixenman as he will present insurance renewal information for the 2017-18 school year for their consideration. The school board will discuss the LCSD Foundation Chamber Coffee scheduled for Wednesday, May 24th beginning at 9:30 and will be held at the Education Service Center in honor of the recipients and the donors of the 2017 LCSD Foundation scholarship program.
The school board will also discuss the employee recognition coffee, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the high school cafeteria. The school board will act upon resignations and contracts. The school board will also decide to grant lease agreements to Northwest Iowa Area Education Agency, and to
Buena Vista University.
Graduates Given Inspiration From Commencement Addresses
(Le Mars) — Graduation ceremonies were held for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community yesterday afternoon. At Gehlen Catholic, math instructor Jill Harpenau was the featured speaker. She talked about how her lessons in math class will help prepare the seniors later in life.
Harpenau told the graduating seniors to always be prepared.
The Gehlen math instructor then told the gathering about how she had always thought that she would be a medical doctor, but that God had other ideas, and thought she would be better as a math teacher. Harpenau urged the seniors to continue with their stewardship and giving.
Harpenau also told the seniors to think about the many different sayings and inspirational quotations from other Gehlen faculty members, and to remember those quotations as they progress through life.
Former Postal Employee Admits To Mail Theft
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former U.S. Postal Service worker in northwestern Iowa has been sentenced to probation for stealing items from the mail he was supposed to deliver.
Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Kirk Baird, of Sergeant Bluff, was sentenced in a Sioux City federal court Friday.
He pleaded guilty in March to one count of theft of mail by a postal service employee. At his plea hearing, Baird admitted that from August to October, he removed cash and gift cards from items in the mail at least 22 times.
Baird had originally faced up to five years in prison without the
possibility of parole.
Tragic Accident Being Investigated In Sioux County
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated a motor vehicle accident that occurred Thursday afternoon, May 18th. That accident happened about a mile west of Orange City on Highway 10. 63-year old Deb Stevens of Paullina was driving a 1998 Honda Accord heading westbound on Highway 10.
Following Stevens, also heading westbound on Highway 10 was 40-year old Keith Scholten driving a 2014 Ford F150 pick-up truck. Justine Van Sloten, age 20, of Maurice was heading eastbound on Highway 10 and driving a 2001 Oldsmobile
Intrigue. Stevens crossed the center of the roadway and struck Van Sloten. As a result of the collision, Van Sloten’s vehicle rolled onto its top on the roadway, and Scholten drove into the south ditch to avoid striking the vehicles.
Stevens and Van Sloten were both trapped in their vehicles and required extrication using the “Jaws of Life” by the Orange City Fire Department. Both Stevens and Van Sloten were transported by the Orange City Ambulance to the Orange City Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Van Sloten was later flown to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then on to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Stevens’ vehicle sustained approximately $5,000 in damage. Van Sloten’s Oldsmobile sustained an estimated $3,000 in damage and the Ford pick-up truck had approximately $50 in damage. The Sioux County
Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Orange City Fire Department, Orange City Ambulance, Orange City Police Department and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Stevens was given a citation for failing to yield half the roadway.
Two Former Iowa Political Leaders Pass Away
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says one of his former Lt. Governors, Joy Corning, has died at the age of 84.
Corning served two terms as lieutenant governor under Branstad beginning in 1990. She had lived with a liver condition for 21 years, but she told the Des Moines Register recently that her health had been failing.
Branstad says he was saddened to hear about Corning’s death. He remembers her as a dedicated mother and excellent role model who fought for quality education.
Corning had the opportunity to say goodbye to her three daughters and nine grandchildren and write her own obituary before her death.
The Register says Corning didn’t even mention her role as lieutenant governor in the obituary she wrote. Her daughters added it at the end.
(Des Moines) — An influential figure in Iowa politics for more than four decades has died.
Former House Speaker Don Avenson of Oelwein, an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1990 and a statehouse lobbyist ever since, died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 72.
Avenson was first elected to the Iowa House in 1972. A couple of years later his Democratic colleagues elected Avenson to be a floor leader. Avenson ultimately served eight years as House Speaker, the legislature’s most powerful post. No other speaker has had a longer tenure.
Avenson was the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor in 1990. Republican Governor Terry Branstad, who won that race, issued a written statement today, calling Avenson a “strong and effective legislator…who cared deeply about…the people of Iowa.” Avenson was the legislature’s top leader during Branstad’s first two terms as governor and Branstad said even though he and Avenson “sometimes disagreed on politics,” Branstad said he knew he could “always rely on Avenson’s word.”
