Site Selection Magazine Again Names This Region As Best In Economic Development
(Le Mars) — For the third year in a row, Plymouth County and the surrounding area have been recognized by Site Selection Magazine as being the number one area for economic development. Mayor Dick Kirchoff presented the award to the city and city council members during Tuesday’s meeting. Neil Adler, the executive director with the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce says Plymouth County is now a part of the Sioux City metro statistical area that also includes Woodbury County
Iowa, Dakota and Dixon Counties, Nebraska and Union County, South Dakota. Adler talks about the award.
Adler says the region has witnessed some tremendous industrial growth during this past year.
Adler says a year ago, Le Mars and Plymouth County alone had $70 million dollars of projects that were a part of the overall criteria used by Site Selection magazine in naming this region best in economic development.
Pictured left to right: Chamber Executive Director Neil Adler, Mayor Dick Kirchoff, Assistant City Administrator Jason Vacera, and City Administrator Scott Langel. photos contributed.
Alzheimer’s Association Calls Attention To Deadly Disease
(Le Mars) — Every 65 seconds somebody new is diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease. Listed at number six, Alzheimer’s ranks as one of the top ten fatal diseases, but officials want people to know it is not necessarily an old person’s
disease. Jill Madsen is the Development Specialist with the Alzheimers Association of Siouxland. She says there are several myths associated with the dementia disease.
Madsen says unfortunately, as of today, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and there isn’t a method to slow down its progression.
The Alzheimers Association of Siouxland hosted a chamber coffee this morning at Le Mars to help call attention of the disease, and to make people aware of a couple of upcoming fundraiser events.
In 2018, Alzheimers Disease and other dementia will cost the nation $277 Billion dollars.
Alzheimers Association held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Chamber Coffee to call awareness of the deadly disease.
Le Mars Chamber of Commerce To Feature Seniors On Main Program
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Chamber of Commerce & The Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission will offer the Seniors on Main Street Program.
A program for folks 55+. Spring session will run from Thursday April 19 through May 24.
The six-week program delves into Le Mars’ founding, the history of downtown buildings, churches, parks and personalities.
For those who attended the Fall session of Seniors on Main Street, this will be new material.
The final session (May 24) will allow the participants to share their history with the community.
Seniors on Main Street is sponsored by Le Mars Chamber of Commerce & The Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission
Cost is $15.00 to attend the six-week sessions. To register contact the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce 712-546-8821.
Republicans Approve Fiscal Year Budget Cuts
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Republicans have finalized mid-year cuts of more than $35 million to the state’s $7.2 billion budget.
The GOP-controlled Senate voted 28-21 Wednesday night for a bill that reduces the budget that runs through June. The Republican-majority House voted for the same plan Tuesday. It now heads to GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The bill cuts about $25.4 million from various state agencies, including nearly $11 million from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. There are also reductions of $4.3 million from the agency that oversees health services and $3.4 million from corrections.
Lawmakers also agreed to take $10 million from a program that helps businesses expand.
A budget panel said last year that state revenue was below projections. The panel improved its outlook recently, but Republicans say they wanted a cushion for the budget.
Republican Strategist Questions Corbett’s Nomination Papers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Republican strategist has challenged the filing paperwork of the only GOP candidate seeking to run against Gov. Kim Reynolds in the upcoming primary.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office says a formal challenge was filed Wednesday against Republican Ron Corbett’s paperwork to be on the June 5 primary ballot.
Corbett submitted petition signatures last week. Craig Robinson, a former political director for the Republican Party of Iowa, claims Corbett’s campaign turned in duplicate signatures that put the former Cedar Rapids mayor below the required signature threshold.
A review board that includes the secretary of state will meet as early as next week to discuss evidence and issue a decision. A Corbett aide says the campaign is confident it has enough signatures.
Reynolds formally launched her gubernatorial campaign this month. Six Democrats and two libertarians are also running for governor.
Meredith Publishing and Broadcasting Company To Lay Off 1000 People
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Magazine and broadcasting company Meredith plans to eliminate 1,000 jobs over the next 10 months as it integrates the operations of Time Inc., which it bought six weeks ago.
Meredith CEO Tom Harty said Wednesday 200 employees have been notified their positions were eliminated. That’s in addition to an announcement last month that 600 jobs in a Time subscription fulfillment center in Tampa, Florida, would
be eliminated with the center’s closure.
Iowa-based Meredith bought Time for $1.8 billion and expects to save $500 million in the first two years by combining operations.
Harty says the company is exploring the sale of Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Money magazines after concluding they have different audiences and advertising targets than Meredith’s traditional lifestyle, food, and women’s titles including Better Homes & Gardens.
Judge Rules Iowa State University Violated Student Organization’s Freedom of Speech
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University’s unconstitutional crackdown on a pro-marijuana student group’s T-shirts will cost state taxpayers nearly $1 million in damages and legal fees.
Court documents indicate a judge approved $598,208 in attorney fees and costs on Wednesday. That amount is in addition to payments the state agreed to in January to settle the case including $75,000 each to Paul Gerlich and Erin Furleigh, the students who filed the lawsuit in 2014 and $193,000 to their
lawyers for federal court appeals.
The $940,000 total doesn’t include work by the Iowa Attorney General’s office, which represented ISU administrators.
The costs stem from a politically-motivated attempt by university
administrators in 2012 to block T-shirt designs that featured the ISU mascot and a marijuana leaf.
Judges found ISU administrators violated the students’ free-speech rights.
