Aaron Thomas Offers Motivational Address
(Le Mars) — The son of a legendary high school football coach spoke last evening at the Le Mars Convention Center offering inspiration to the nearly 200 attendees. Aaron Thomas is a high school principal at Applington-Parkersburg.
His father was Ed Thomas of Parkerburg. A football coach from a small Iowa community that at one time had four NFL players. Thomas spoke about two devastating days that happened in the small Iowa town. The first was in May 25th of 2008 when a tornado had ripped through the small community and destroyed
the town, killing eight people, and the second was a June morning in 2009 when Thomas’ father was shot and killed by a former student. Aaron Thomas spoke of four lessons he learned from his father.
Thomas spoke about how one’s actions will affect others, and to make certain you carry a positive attitude as a positive attitude is contagious.
Thomas says his father showed the community of Parkersburg how to be a leader and overcome tragedy after the tornado had wiped out the community.
Thomas says the day his father was shot and killed, was the time he knew he had to step up and follow in his father’s footsteps by implementing into action the words of wisdom.
The high school principal says following his father’s death, he had learned about how his father performed acts of kindness to various individuals, without his prior knowledge. Those acts included purchasing football shoes for an individual who’s family couldn’t afford them, or how his father was the first to
offer comfort to a player who had suffered a personal hardship. Aaron Thomas says when his father was shot and killed, Aaron and his family members made the effort to offer comfort to the family of the son who had shot the football coach, and not to cast blame on the family.
Thomas says the tragedy not only affected the Thomas family, but it extended to the Becker family, who’s son was the individual that shot and killed Ed Thomas.
Aaron says the Parkersburg community also helped the Becker family.
Thomas says he never thought he would ever become a public speaker, but the events in his life made him want to pass along his father’s messages. Last evening’s event was sponsored by Northwest Bank of Le Mars.
Le Mars Community Students Walk Away From Class To Participate In National Protest Against School Shootings
(Le Mars) — More than 200 students of the Le Mars Community High School and Middle School walked away from their classes Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to show their support for the national movement calling for an end to school shootings.
Students gathered outside the building around the flag pole. The students stood mostly in silence, although a few chuckles could be heard from a few of the students, and some of the students were seen using their cell phones and texting. The students stood outside for a total of 17 minutes, one minute for
each of the 17 students that died from the Florida shooting that happened one month ago. High school principal Dr. Mark Iverson was among some of the school officials observing the protest. School Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner says students that participated will not face any discipline actions. He says students were instructed that if they participated in the walk-out protest, they would need to follow the protocol, calling for them to stand next to the flag.
Westhoff Receives School District’s “Employee Of The Month” Honors
(Le Mars) — An elementary school physical education instructor was honored Wednesday as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.” Kevin Westhoff has been a part of the Le Mars Community School system for more than 27 years. Westhoff was nominated by the faculty staff of Clark Elementary School. The nominations read: “Kevin joined our elementary staff last year, after teaching many years at the high school level. He immediately jumped in and embraced our elementary students, especially those students needing a positive male role model in their lives. As part of his role at Clark, once a week he leads a kindergarten small group literacy center. He accepted this new assignment with professionalism and flexibility and our students truly enjoy working with Mr. Westhoff.” Another nomination reads: “Since Kevin has arrived at Clark Elementary, he has been willing to help out any teacher who needed assistance. He takes time to talk with the students to teach them proper manners and how to treat others. The games and activities he does in PE are always talked about after class and he makes sure they know the rules.” Still another nomination reads: “He truly cares about each student and wants them to attend, participate, and succeed in his physical education classes.” Our congratulations go to Kevin Westhoff for being named the March recipient of the Le Mars Community School “Employee of the Month.”
Larry Petersen, right, presents the “Employee of the Month” honor to Kevin Westhoff, Elementary Physical Education Instructor.
Kevin Westhoff is surrounded by his family members as they congratulate him for being honored as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.”
Attorney General’s Office To Investigate Why Latinos In Iowa City Are Denied Home Loans
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says he’s concerned about a report showing Latinos seeking home loans in Iowa City were far more likely to be denied than whites.
Miller says the findings by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting seem consistent with an earlier University of Iowa study that documented home loan denial rates for Latinos.
The analysis published last month found that Latinos applying for
conventional mortgages in the Iowa City metropolitan area were nearly four times more likely to be denied than non-Hispanic whites in 2016, the widest disparity in the nation in 2016.
Miller says his office will look into the issue and “consider our
options.” A spokesman declined to elaborate on what those options might be.
The Iowa Civil Rights Commission has said the findings are noteworthy, but that it doesn’t have the funding to investigate.
Traffic Camera Survive During Iowa House Vote
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has shot down an effort to ban automated traffic enforcement cameras in the state, effectively ending the effort this session.
The Republican-controlled chamber voted 55-43 Wednesday against a proposal that would have banned cameras designed to catch cars speeding or running red lights. The House later voted in favor of adding regulations for the cameras.
The bill with added regulations goes to the GOP-majority Senate, which approved similar language last session.
The Senate passed a traffic camera ban earlier this session, but its future was uncertain. House lawmakers from both parties expressed differing views over the implications of a ban.
The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says eight cities operate about 80 related devices. A ban would have reduced revenue for local governments by about $12 million annually.
Heartbeat Bill Advances In Iowa House Committee
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa House Republicans are advancing a legislative effort to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected by adding the measure to a separate bill.
A Republican-led panel agreed Wednesday to approve legislation that would ban the sale of fetal tissue. The heartbeat provision, which would ban abortions as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy, was tacked on during the meeting.
The bill heads to the House Human Resources Committee, which is expected to take up the measure Thursday.
Rep. Shannon Lundgren, a Peosta Republican who led the panel, defended the bill’s change in scope. She argued the Iowa Senate passed a similar heartbeat bill earlier this year.
The House’s heartbeat provision would remove proposed penalties against a doctor who performs an abortion after a heartbeat is detected.
Whitver Elected As Majority Leader
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Senate Republicans have elected Sen. Jack Whitver as their new majority leader.
Whitver, an Ankeny Republican, was elected Wednesday morning during a closed meeting at the state Capitol. He replaces Bill Dix, who resigned from the leadership role and as a senator on Monday.
Sen. Charles Schneider, a West Des Moines Republican, was elected Senate president. Schneider, who will preside over floor activity in the GOP-controlled chamber, replaces Whitver.
Republicans also chose Sen. Amy Sinclair of Allerton to serve as
majority whip. Sen. Jake Chapman of Adel will serve as assistant majority leader.
Dix resigned after the website Iowa Starting Line published video Monday showing the Republican kissing a Statehouse lobbyist at a bar. Republicans haven’t indicated what, if any, legislative rules should be updated to address such behavior.
Police Arrest Man For College Basketball Player’s Stabbing Death
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) – Police in southeastern Iowa have announced an arrest in the stabbing death of a college basketball player in Oskaloosa.
Officials said Wednesday at a news conference that 23-year-old Luke Ryan VanHemert, of Oskaloosa, has been arrested in the May 1 fatal stabbing of 22- year-old Marquis Todd. Police say VanHemert was arrested Wednesday at his place
of work in nearby Pella.
VanHemert has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held in the Mahaska County Jail on $500,000 cash bail.
Todd was a student and basketball player at William Penn University in Oskaloosa. Investigators say officers found Todd with stab wounds after being called for a report of a fight. Police have said there was as minor vehicle accident that happened about a half-hour earlier that led to the stabbing.
