Rhonda Justice Honored As School District’s “Employee of the Month.”
(Le Mars) — A long-time Middle School science teacher, who initially had retired, but has since returned to the classroom to offer assistance as a valuable substitute, was honored Monday afternoon as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.” Rhonda Justice retired from teaching after serving 30 years in the school education system, but has helped the school district as a substitute for the last seven years. Three faculty members had nominated Rhonda Justice for the “Employee of the Month” honors. Tami Dunn, 9th grade Science, Gabe Davis 6th grade science, and Ryan Zittritsch with 7th grade
Science says in their nomination of Rhonda Justice say she has been teaching 8th grade science since the first week of the 2017-2018 school year. In her role as a “substitute” teacher, Mrs. Justice went above and beyond the expectations in
order to help the students in her classes get the proper instruction and guidance needed. Mrs. Justice spent many hours of her own time during the evenings and on weekends to assure the 8th grade students at Le Mars Community Middle School were getting the content needed in order to progress properly.
Mrs. Justice has been a strong force in the 8th grade hallway, stepping up to the call when she was needed. She can be seen before and after school working with students to stay caught up when they miss a lesson. She also has made sure that students are being held accountable when they don’t complete work, or when work needs to be corrected, or re-done. Mrs. Justice cares about each of the students that are in her classes, and pushes them to strive for more. Mrs. Justice has well exceeded expectations of being a substitute teacher and shown
great leadership as an instructor, colleague, and mentor to the other teachers in the building. Our congratulations go to Rhonda Justice for being named the December School District Employee of the Month.
Sioux City EMTs To Charge For Services
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Emergency medical technicians might charge patients who receive on-scene care but don’t require transportation to the hospital in a western Iowa city next year.
The Sioux City Council will vote Monday on a proposal to introduce a $186 to $327 fee for services received from paramedics at a scene.
The new fee structure comes as the Sioux City Fire Rescue takes over 911 ambulance services from nonprofit Siouxland Paramedics in January. The nonprofit previously didn’t charge for on-scene care.
Under the proposal, basic on-scene life support will cost $186 and advanced on-scene life support will cost $327.
The city’s fire chief says the move is intended to cut down on the subsidy that is paid by taxpayer dollars for the new division.
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Iowans Turning To Religious Faith Ministries For Health Care
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa residents who face steep health insurance bills are turning to faith-based ministries in which religious Americans help each other pay medical bills.
The arrangements count as coverage under the Affordable Care Act, even though they aren’t exactly insurance.
Some of the groups’ monthly costs are much lower than what insurance would run, but there are limits on the types of bills they will cover.
Outside health policy experts warn that the “health sharing ministries” have little oversight, and plans are not required to cover pre-existing health problems, such as diabetes or cancer. And unlike health insurers, the groups are
not regulated by state officials.
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Judge Rules The State Doesn’t Have To Honor Contract Terms With Nurse Union
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge says the state doesn’t have to honor a contract negotiated with a union representing University of Iowa nurses before the new anti-collective bargaining law was signed.
District Judge Jeffrey Farrell ruled Thursday that the contract with Service Employees International Union isn’t binding because the Board of Regents never voted to ratify it.
The union represents 3,500 nurses and other workers at UI Hospitals and Clinics. The union voted to accept the regents’ last offer in February, days before Gov. Terry Branstad signed the law cutting the ability of most public-sector unions to negotiate benefits and workplace conditions. But the regents then refused to formally approve the contract, which guaranteed two-percent
raises in each of the next two years and flexible schedules.
On Nov. 28, Judge Michael Huppert ruled the state must honor a similar last-minute contract with the Iowa United Professionals union.
Iowa DNR Investigates Three Hunting Accidents
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three hunters have been accidentally shot while hunting deer in Iowa with shotguns. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says an 11-year-old boy was
struck in the hip on Sunday by his 13-year-old brother when a deer ran between them and they both fired. The boys were hunting with their grandfather near Iowa City. On Sunday morning 28-year-old Justin Scroggie of New Market was shot in
the arm when he was mistaken by another hunter for a deer in southwest Iowa. Another accidental shooting in the same area of the state remains under investigation from last Tuesday when 65-year-old John Fish of Villisca was shot in the foot by a 15-year-old boy firing at a deer which ran between them. The DNR says none of the injuries are life threatening.
Correctional Officers Attacked By Inmates
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two eastern Iowa correctional officers were sent to the hospital with injuries after they were attacked by inmates at the Des Moines County Correctional Center. The Des Moines County sheriff’s office says authorities were called to the jail shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday on a report that a correctional officer was pinned down in a maximum security area for male inmates. Authorities say the unidentified correctional officer was attacked by three inmates and was later pulled out of the cell by another staff member. The officer was admitted to a local hospital with unspecified injuries. Authorities say a second correctional officer was also taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the attack. The entire jail remains on lockdown.
