Home News Wednesday News, November 29th

Wednesday News, November 29th

Hy Vee Donates Money To Gehlen Catholic

(Le Mars) — Hy-Vee of Le Mars made a contribution to Gehlen Catholic last night during the halftime of the girls varsity basketball game between Gehlen Catholic and Trinity Christian. Officials with the supermarket chain presented a check for $2,500 to Rick Kneip, Gehlen Catholic’s Capital Campaign co-chair, and to Gehlen Catholic’s president, Reverend Bruce Lawler. The donation is part of the “We are Many. We Are One” campaign. For the past 4 years, the LeMars Hy-Vee has donated $500 to Gehlen Catholic’s J-Club (athletic boosters) & Fine Arts
Boosters respectively. Prior to December 18th, the LeMars Hy-Vee has donated over $15,000 to Gehlen Catholic School over the past 10 years. Last night’s donation brings Hy-Vee’s donation to over $17,500. Gehlen Catholic parents and employees of Hy Vee, Richard and Angela Buman participated in the event.

 

 

Gehlen Dance Team To Participate At State Competition

(Le Mars) — Speaking about Gehlen Catholic, On Thursday, November 30th, Gehlen Catholic’s Dance Team will compete  at the Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association’s 2018 Team Championships at the Wells Fargo Arena/HyVee Hall in Des
Moines.
Gehlen Catholic Dance Team Moderator, Jackie Heissel of LeMars, stated the team will compete in the Kick & Lyrical categories in Class 1A.
The Dance Team has been preparing since August when school began.  The team has rehearsed from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. in the mornings.
In October, the rehearsals increased from 2-3 times a week to 5 times a week with some rehearsals running 2 or more hours.  The team’s rehearsals do not include the time invested by the dance team members at home.
The 2017-2018 Gehlen Catholic Dance Team is comprised of:
Senior:  • Carlyn Bretey, the daughter of Dr. Keith & Teri Bretey of LeMars, a 4 year veteran;
Juniors:• Alleana Aquino, daughter of Albert & Dr. Ellen Aquino of LeMars, a 3 year veteran;• Sage Goergen, daughter of Dan & Carla Goergen of Granville, a 2 year veteran; • Isabelle Kessenich, daughter of Chris & Dawn Kessenich of Kingsley, a 2
year veteran; • Grace Kreber, daughter of Chad & Jennifer Kreber of Alton, a 3 year veteran;
Sophomore:  • Sydney Logan, daughter of Rick & Tammy Logan of LeMars, a 2 year veteran;
Freshmen:• Olivia Budden, daughter of Austin & Lori Budden of Alton; • Elizabeth Hansen, daughter of Jeff & Jill Hansen of LeMars;• Lillian Kessenich, daughter of Chris & Dawn Kessenich of Kingsley;• Emily Klein, daughter of Jim & Mary Klein of LeMars;• Ella Kreber, daughter of Chad & Jennifer Kreber of Alton;• Karoline Kroll, daughter of Theresa Kroll & Josh Kroll, both of LeMars;
&• Chloe Otto, daughter of Dean & Sarah Otto of Hospers.

 

 

Le Mars Community School Board To Look At 10-Year Facility Upgrade Plan

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School Superintendent wants the Board of Education to start thinking about future goals and needs for the local school district.  Dr. Steven Webner presented to the Le Mars Community School Board during Monday’s meeting the Ten-year Facility Plan.  The last time the plan was revised was in 2012.  Webner informed the school board that they will tour many of the district’s facilities to get a better idea of what is needed.  In the past, the Le Mars Community School District was able to generate approximately
$1,660,000 per year through the one-cent sales tax plan and through the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.  Webner informed the school board that the amount from the state has increased due to the increase of student enrollment.


The school board did not make any decisions, or identify the needs of the school district with the ten-year plan, but Dr. Webner wants the board to start thinking about what will be those needs of the school for the future.

The school board will give additional consideration later in the year when they begin to formulate a new ten-year plan.

 

 

Kemin Industries To Produce Medical Marijuana Cannabis Oil

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa agency will license a newly created company to manufacture medical marijuana in the state by the end of 2018.
The Iowa Department of Public Health says it intends to license MedPharm Iowa to manufacture cannabis oil. The company is owned by Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin Industries, a Des Moines-based global ingredient company.
A company press release Tuesday says MedPharm Iowa will have an agreement with Kemin to contract for a range of services. A manufacturing facility will be located on the Kemin campus.
The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed legislation this year expanding Iowa’s existing cannabis oil program to allow the sale and manufacturing of such oil within the state. It requires the oil to be supplied to the public by Dec. 1, 2018. Smoking marijuana remains prohibited.

 

 

Council Bluffs City Officials Want To Block Proposed Tribal Casino

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Leaders in a western Iowa city say they’ll ask the courts to block a proposed tribal casino that officials in Nebraska also oppose.
The Daily Nonpareil reports the Council Bluffs City Council is organizing to take legal action against a recent National Indian Gaming Commission decision that approved a plan from the Ponca Tribe to build a casino in nearby Carter Lake, Iowa.
Carter Lake is just northeast of Omaha, Nebraska. The tribe has been trying to pursue the project for about 10 years.
The decision was announced during a City Council meeting on Monday. Some council members say the proposed casino would compete with Council Bluffs’ three casinos.
Council members say they will have a strategy for how to move forward within the coming weeks.

 

 

University Of Iowa To Allow Alcohol At Fraternities and Sororities 

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa says it’ll allow some fraternities and sororities to serve alcohol at one event following a ban on such events after the death of a student.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that university officials are testing a pilot program this week for 26 eligible Greek chapters to host one formal party with limits on hard liquor and serving time.
The moratorium still applies to all chapters outside the single event for those that qualify.
Officials say the moratorium and the pilot program are measures being taken to reduce high-risk drinking and to improve the university’s reputation.
The ban has been in place since 19-year-old freshman Kamil Jackowski was found unresponsive while attending a formal in April. There’s no set time for when the moratorium will be lifted.

 

 

Des Moines To Have New Apartment Complex Near Market Area

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An $11 million apartment complex is being planned in Des Moines’ burgeoning Market District neighborhood.
The Des Moines Register reports that local developers have proposed building Connolly Lofts, a 59-unit multi-family building. The four-story building will be located on vacant city-owned land on East Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
Design plans were presented Tuesday to the Urban Review Design Board. The Des Moines City Council is expected to consider a development agreement for the project on Dec. 18.
The building would have a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom market-rate and affordable units. It would also have a rooftop patio and an exercise room.

 

 

Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Child Endangerment

ADEL, Iowa (AP) – An 19-year-old woman whose twins were seen wandering naked near a busy state highway in central Iowa has pleaded not guilty. Jasmine Teed entered the plea Monday in Dallas County. Teed’s charged with two counts of child endangerment. Officers were sent to a house along U.S. Highway 6 in Adel around 9 a.m. Nov. 2. Police say witnesses reported seeing someone herd the unclothed 2-year-olds back in the house after they were spotted near the highway. An officer
entered the house and called out but received no answer. The officer reports finding Teed asleep in a bedroom. Police say the outdoor temperature at the time was 43 degrees.

 

 

Increased Fuel Taxes Help With Additional Road Construction Projects

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Two years after Iowa and Nebraska raised their gas taxes, both states are seeing a flurry of new roadway projects at a time when national infrastructure efforts have stalled. Officials say the extra revenue has allowed them to move forward quickly with overdue bridge repairs and plans for major highway projects. Both states raised their gas taxes in 2015 with support from farm groups, truckers and even some conservative Republicans who champion tax cuts. Iowa passed its 10-cent-per-gallon increase first, in February 2015. A
recent analysis shows the tax has generated an extra $515 million for projects in all 99 counties. Nebraska approved a 6-cent increase in May 2015. The following year, state officials created a program that will funnel $400 million into road and
bridge projects.