Rich Ziettlow Honored As Citizen of The Year
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards and banquet Thursday evening. This year’s Business of the Year was presented to Scott Taylor and the employees of Total Motors. The local auto dealership has
expanded its business during the last few years, acquiring both the dealership Dirk’s Motors in Akron and then also acquiring the dealership of Motor Inn.
Total Motors is now expanding its facilities by constructing a new showroom,offices, and service department. Part of the expansion allowed Total Motors to feature new Chevrolet vehicles. Le Mars hadn’t had a Chevy dealership since Nuebel Motors were forced to give up the dealership through the government reorganization of General Motors. Taylor thanked all of his employees for their
assistance with the transition.
The “Citizen of the Year” was presented to Rich Ziettlow. Ziettlow is a dedicated volunteer with the Main Street organization. He serves on the Historical Preservation Board, he has helped with the Alley Art project, the placement of the fiberglass ice cream cones, offering tours of Le Mars to traveling tourists, help organize the Youth On Main Street, as well as the new
“Seniors On Main Street.”
Linda Mayrose was presented the honor of Main Street Volunteer. Three people were recognized as “Boss of the Quarter.” They included Kim Clarey of Primebank, Dr. Tom Jeneary of Jeneary Dental, and Tim Hop, Captain of the Le
Mars Police Department.
Several people were honored as the “Employee of the Month” which included, Susie Plathe of Donegal Insurance, Don Johnson with Hy- Vee, Stacy Wiltgen, Janice Kneip, Robin Ellensohn, Kari Puetz, and Karen Nuebel
with the Gehlen Catholic cafeteria staff. Audra Grosenheider with P’s Pizza House, Brenda Plueger with Floyd Valley Healthcare, Larry Bowers of NIPCO, Jane Grosenheider, Jessica Pottebaum, and Pam Brownmiller with Hotopp’s Jewelry and Gifts. The honor of “Employee of the Month” was also extended to the employees
of the former Timmy’s Catering which included: Alma Willer, Barbara Johnson, Brenda Baldwin, Carolyn Vance, Collette Beitelspacher, Dean Johnson, Jolene Kinney, Judy Schulz, Julia Schulz, Karla Hansen, Lois Hageman, Michael Johnson,
Susan Becker, Theresa Jellema, Vidette “Marie” Sanow, Violet Lane, Marjorie Kovarna, Ann Bunkers, Beau Sudtelgte, Brittany Lambert, Michelle Ten Napel, Robert Hodson, Samantha Ten Napel, Sydney Landis, Audrey Schultz, and Cheryl Clary.
Democrats Host 4th District Congressional Forum
(Le Mars) — Plymouth county Democrats hosted a 4th District Congressional Candidate Forum last evening. Three Democratic contenders seeking to unseat Republican Congressman Steve King appeared at the Le Mars Public Library to introduce themselves to the public and to share their views relating to national issues.
The candidates included J.D. Scholten of Sioux City, LeAnne Jacobsen of Spencer, and Dr. John Paschen of Ames. The three candidates answered questions from nearly 35 people during the hour and a half forum. For many attendees, this was their first opportunity to meet and visit with the three Democratic contenders. The three answered questions dealing with health care, mental health, immigration, and several other issues. Dr. John Paschen says the recently passed tax reform bill is bad for America.
Paschen informed the gathering that the United States needs to focus on its priorities.
Leann Jacobsen is a member of the Spencer city council. She says it was a mistake for Congress to cut the budget, because so many services will be hurt, which ultimely will hurt Americans.
Former baseball player J.D.Scholten says the United States needs to study its military contracts. He says we need to conduct an assessment study on where tax dollars are being wasted, and he points to the military.
Wells Enterprises Employee Honored At Dairy Awards Event
(Washington, D.C.) Brian Kraus, director of food safety and
regulatory compliance with Wells Enterprises, Inc., received the International Dairy Foods Association’s Food Safety Leadership Award this week at Dairy Forum 2018 in Palm Desert, Calif. The award honors an individual, group or organization for demonstrating outstanding leadership in enhancing food safety
within the dairy products industry, and Kraus has been a driving force for excellence in food safety for more than 30 years.
During his tenure with Wells Enterprises, Kraus has built a strong food safety culture throughout the organization and has emerged as a leader for the broader dairy products industry. He has trained more than 60 Wells employees on effective preventive controls in ice cream production and serves as a subject
matter expert and trainer in a number of dairy industry food safety programs.
Kraus is engaged with the industry’s Listeria Research Consortium, a group working to find new and innovative solutions for the control of Listeria monocytogenes, and he is involved in research on the control of persistent Listeria in dairy processing environments.
Man Found In Gravel Pit
DUNLAP, Iowa (AP) – Officials pulled a man’s body from a western Iowa sand pit hours after the dump truck he was driving fell into water in the pit.
Authorities and rescue workers were called Thursday morning to Hallett Materials in Harrison County just south of Dunlap for reports of a missing truck and driver. Sometime later, crews discovered the truck submerged in the sand pit under ice and water.
The driver was trapped inside the truck, where he died. His body was recovered Thursday afternoon.
Officials have not yet released the man’s name. Officials are conducting an investigation into what caused the accident. .
Senate Republicans Propose Cutting Higher Education Budgets
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Senate Republicans have proposed $50 million in mid- year cuts to Iowa’s roughly $7.2 billion state budget, including a reduction of more than $24 million in higher education spending.
A Senate budget committee is expected Thursday to vote on the cuts, which impact the budget year running through June. The full Senate must still consider them before several votes in the House.
Leaders in the Republican-controlled chambers had indicated they would cut beyond the nearly $30 million spending reductions proposed by GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds. They say it’s to avoid extra cuts if future budget projections are
down.
There’s disagreement between Republicans over the reductions, though lawmakers declined to offer specifics.
The Senate plan released Thursday cuts about $19.3 million from Iowa’s three public universities and $5.4 million from community colleges.
