Powell Broadcasting To Hold Legislative Forum
(Le Mars) — Powell Broadcasting Company, consisting of radio stations KLEM of Le Mars and KSCJ of Sioux City, will host a legislative forum scheduled for Wednesday, December 6th. The forum will feature the candidates seeking the vacant State Senate District 3 seat. The position became open when State
Senator Bill Anderson resigned from his post to accept a position as the Economic Development Director for Cherokee. The live forum will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Democratic candidate Dr. Todd Wendt of Le Mars, and Republican Jim Carlin of Sioux City. Wendt is the former school superintendent for the Le Mars
Community School District. Carlin is an attorney, and currently serves as a Representative to the Iowa House. The candidates will answer questions by KLEM News Director, Dennis Morrice, and KSCJ News Director Terry “Woody” Gottburg.
The forum is not meant to be a political debate, but rather an opportunity for both candidates to introduce themselves to the State Senate District 3 constituency, and to share their thoughts and ideas relating to issues facing the District and the State. The special election is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12th. The legislative forum will air live on KLEM 1410 AM and 96.9 FM,
and KSCJ 1360 AM and 94.9 FM.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary To Feature Goodie Sale
(Le Mars) — As part of the Le Mars Christmas holiday traditions with the Lighted Christmas Parade, and the Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland, is also the annual Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary Goodie Sale. Pat Winter serves as
the chair for the annual event. She says this is the 31st year for the Holiday Goodie Sale. Winter says people can visit the conference room Saturday morning to select their holiday goodies.
Winter says the Floyd Valley Auxiliary Goodie Sale features more than just cookies and candies. She says attendees will also be able to browse over the many gifts from the hospital’s gift shop.
As people look over the many holiday items, the hospital auxiliary will also be serving their famous rolls.
The Floyd Valley Auxiliary volunteer says the price on the selected holiday items depends on the person submitting the item for sale.
Of course, the proceeds from the sold baked goods and gifts are used to help finance various hospital equipment and other needs.
Winter says the hospital auxiliary will also be accepting memberships. She says more than 240 people volunteer to devote their time and talents to Floyd Valley.
The Goodie Sale will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Floyd Valley Healthcare conference room.
Pioneer Village Transforms Into Christmas Wonderland
(Le Mars) — Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland opens this
weekend at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Bonita Davidson has organized the annual event for the last two-plus decades. She says attendees will see several thousand Christmas decorations inside the famous round barn, and this year
additional animation characters have been added to the display.
As with previous years, Century Hall will feature decorated Christmas trees and a variety of entertainment.
That jolly old elf from the North Pole will be at the Pioneer Village, and there will be plenty of food and refreshments to enjoy.
Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland has been listed on the internet as one of the top 10 Iowa Christmas attractions, and Davidson says because of that fact, she has had numerous people from outside Plymouth County contact her about the
winter festival.
The Pioneer Village Christmas opens at 5:30 p.m. and will remain open until 8:30 p.m. It will be open this weekend, Saturday December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd, as well as next weekend, December 9th and 10th.
Another Health Insurance Company Drops Out Of Iowa’s Coverage
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than 200,000 people enrolled in Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program have been formally switched to new coverage following the abrupt exit of an insurance company.
UnitedHealthcare took over coverage Friday for affected patients, after AmeriHealth Caritas effectively withdrew Thursday from Iowa’s health care system for the poor and disabled.
AmeriHealth Caritas announced Oct. 31 it would drop coverage because of failed contract negotiations with Iowa over money.
The state has signed new contracts with UnitedHealthcare and another company, Amerigroup. But Amerigroup said it doesn’t have capacity to take new patients, requiring most AmeriHealth Caritas patients to be switched to UnitedHealthcare.
It’s unclear when patients will have choice again. UnitedHealthcare plans to hire about 400 employees to respond to the addition.
Iowa’s roughly $4 billion program serves more than 600,000 people.
Blank Park Zoo Welcomes New Lion Cubs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is preparing to show off its newest additions – three African lion cubs.
The two females and one male were born Nov. 14, and had their first physical on Nov. 20.
Zoo officials say the cubs were part of a large litter of five cubs, but two others didn’t survive. The cubs don’t have names yet and have been spending time bonding with their mother, Neema.
Officials say the cubs must go through a series of vaccinations over the coming months before zoo visitors will be allowed to see them.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the African lion as “vulnerable” and says populations are declining. Threats include loss of habitat because of human encroachment and poaching.
