MenuMasters Raises $44,420 For Le Mars Community Schools
(Le Mars) — 28 different teams competed Saturday evening for the best tasting food and the best theme during the sixth annual MenuMasters event hosted by LEEP, (Le Mars Educational Enhancement Project) and held at the Century Hall at the
Plymouth County Fairgrounds. In the end, everyone had an enjoyable evening with plenty of great tasting food, creative costumes and decor, and with more than 500 attendees. Although separate awards were given, the real winner from the
evening’s events is the Le Mars Community School District. LEEP, through the MenuMasters event, was able to raise $44,420 which will go to the school to help teachers purchase needed textbooks, tablets, computers, and other needed supplies. LEEP was started a few years back when a group of women decided to
raise money to purchase textbooks when they realized the school funding had been reduced due to state budget cutbacks.
Julie Bietelspacher, a founding member of the LEEP organization and treasurer, was honored with the “Legacy of Giving” award. Bietelspaher has been instrumental with the success of the LEEP organization, as well with the annual MenuMasters
fund raising event.
Dr. Steven Webner, superintendent of schools for the Le Mars Community School District, accepted the check on behalf of the school, and he thanked the LEEP organization, the teams of chefs, sponsors, and all the attendees of the MenuMasters for making it another successful and fun event.
Winning the Best Appetizer Award was given to Austin Sitzmann and Tyler Utesch representing EXIT reality with their version of “Shrooms on the House.” Best Side Dish was awarded to Schmidt Farms and Seed Inc. with Adam and Kyle Schmidt
featuring “Maized and Confused.” Chefs Mark Narkon and Mike Jacobsma from ICON Ag and Turf won the Best Main Dish with “Iconic Teri Beef.” The Best Dessert Award was presented to the members of Primebank, consisting of chefs Jordan
Sitzmann, Cole Sitzmann, and Mark Schmidt with “Primebank’s Proper Pick Pastry.”
Primbank was also the winner of the people’s choice for Best Food, having won the award three times during the six years of MenuMasters. Another three-time winner was the team from Floyd Valley Healthcare consisting of Dr. Andrew Geha and Dr.
Paul Parmelee with “Oh Baby…We Deliver, Fresh Doo Due Diapers. The two physicians were representing the O.B. unit at Floyd Valley with Dr. Geha dressed as a very pregnant woman and Dr. Parmelee was dressed as a stork. Their booth
featured balloons that looked like pacifiers. Winning the Judges’s Choice was the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department with their “Backdraft BBQ Smoke Eater Ribs. Chefs included Firefighters Charlie Mohning and Kevin Bolton with assistance by Austin Mohning.
Anderson Says He Will Retire From State Senate To Take A Job At Cherokee
(Sioux City) — State Senator Bill Anderson, a Republican, plans to resign from the state senate to take a job in Cherokee County.
Forty-year-old Bill Anderson of Pierson was an aide to Senator Chuck Grassley for eight years and he’s currently a policy advisor on Congressman Steve King’s staff. Anderson has been a state senator since January of 2011. Anderson told The
Sioux City Journal he will resign from the senate to become the executive director of the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation.
Anderson’s senate district covers Plymouth and Woodbury Counties and includes his hometown of Sioux City. The governor will set the date for a special election to fill Anderson’s seat in the state senate, once Anderson submits his resignation letter. The latest voter registration data indicates there are more than twice as many Republicans as Democrats in the district.
Sioux City Man Arrested For 2nd OWI Offense
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County authorities arrested a Sioux City man last Thursday morning, at approximately 12:15 a.m. on county road K-22 near 240th Street, after a traffic stop was performed. 24 year old Edger Zavala was driving with a
revoked driver’s license, and was found to be under the influence of a narcotic. Zavala was then taken to the Plymouth County Jail and was charged with an QWI, second offense, driving while license was revoked, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Orange City Tulip Festival To Feature “Beauty and the Beast”
(Orange City) — Orange City Tulip Festival Steering Committee hope that you will “be their guest” for the annual musical production during the tulip festival slated for next May. The chosen show will be the production of Disney’s “Beauty
and the Beast.” The Academy award-winning film comes to life in this romantic and beloved take on the classic fairy-tale. Epic scenery, custom built enchanted sets, and professional costumes will make this show one for all ages, and the largest production ever before performed on the Tulip Festival stage. The cast
of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will consist of approximately 35-40 people ages 16 and over. Auditions will be held in January of 2018. The production will be featured at the Unity Knight Center in Orange City, May 16th-18th.
Swastika Found At Drake University
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drake University administrators say someone carved a swastika into a campus elevator and left a racist message outside an African-American student’s dorm room over the weekend.
The Des Moines Register reports that the message was left on a whiteboard on the door of a first-year student. Drake University President Marty Martin called the vandalism “cowardly” Sunday in an email to students and says the markings have been removed. Martin encouraged anyone with information about the vandalism to report it.
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Sexual Assault Cases Being Back-logged At State Lab
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Sexual assault cases move ahead slowly in Iowa because of a testing backlog at the state crime lab.
The Des Moines Register reports that 405 sexual assault cases were waiting for DNA testing at the state crime lab at the end of August. That’s up from the end of 2014 when 265 cases awaited processing.
The delays mean that victims of sexual assault in Iowa may have to wait months for testing before an arrest can be made.
Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper says the delay is the worst part for victims waiting for their cases to be resolved.
At the same time, the lean state budget makes it difficult to fill openings at the lab or add new positions.
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State Agency Collecting Data After Planned Parenthood’s Cut In State Funding
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state agency is collecting data to better understand whether the Iowa Legislature’s move to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers is resulting in less access to reproductive health care.
Iowa Department of Human Services officials have told lawmakers the agency has been compiling data on its state-run family planning program since it took effect in July.
The analysis follows a decision by the Legislature’s Republican majority to forgo federal funding and instead spend about $3.1 million in state money on a family planning program that excludes clinics affiliated with abortion services.
Even before the state’s actions, no federal or state dollars were spent on abortions in Iowa.
Wendy Rickman, a top DHS administrator, says a new work group will meet within weeks to figure out how to interpret the information the agency gathers.
Workshop To Focus on Monarch Butterflies
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – Monarch butterflies will be the focus of a workshop at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near the Iowa-Nebraska border. The workshop will be held at the refuge on Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. After learning about the butterflies, participants will help catch and tag the butterflies. The refuge is located north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required for all vehicles. Participants must register ahead of time by calling (712) 388-4800. More details about the refuge are available online at www.fws.gov/refuge/Desoto .
