Home News Thursday News, April 5th

Thursday News, April 5th

Floyd Valley Honors Volunteers At Luncheon

(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare honored its volunteers during a luncheon held Wednesday morning. Judy Hawkins serves as the president for the Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary. She says in addition to volunteering their time, the auxiliary members also do fund raising activities for the local hospital.
Most recently, the Floyd Valley Auxilary purchased a new type of wheelchair being used at the hospital.

Hawkins says the hospital’s gift shop, which is operated by the auxiliary members and other volunteers, brings in a large portion of the proceeds. The annual holiday candy sales accounts for another portion.

Hawkins explains some of the other methods which the hospital auxiliary is able to generate funds for the health care center.

The Floyd Valley Auxiliary chair says the luncheon is a nice way for the hospital to show their appreciation for all the volunteers that contribute their time.

Hawkins says the Floyd Valley Auxiliary will present three separate scholarships, two will be awarded to area senior high school students wanting to pursue a career in healthcare, and the third scholarship will be awarded to an individual
already in the healthcare profession, but wanting to expand their education.

 

Rohlfs Named First Floyd Valley “Outstanding Volunteer of the Quarter.”

(Le Mars) — Over 300 people volunteer their time by helping Floyd Valley Healthcare, and one of those volunteers was honored at Wednesday’s luncheon as the “Most Outstanding Volunteer of the Quarter.” Hospital administrator, Mike
Donlin, says Floyd Valley wanted to recognize their valuable volunteers on a more frequent basis, than just during the annual luncheon. The first recipient of the “Outstanding Volunteer of the Quarter” award was presented to Jim Rohlfs of Le Mars. Rohlfs says he started helping at Floyd Valley about eight years ago, and has since devoted a thousand hours to the local healthcare facility.

Rohlfs explains why he started to volunteer at the local hospital.

The volunteer says he feels as though he is making a difference in the lives of the patients and with the staff by assisting at Floyd Valley.

How many more years does Rohlfs anticipate to continue to volunteer at Floyd Valley?

Rohlfs says it may be a couple of years before he reaches the next milestone of 1500 hours. In addition to devoting his time at Floyd Valley, Rohlfs also is a volunteer with the Plymouth County Historical Museum. The theme for the awards luncheon was “Volunteers Plant Seeds of Kindness.” Those people that were
honored during Wednesday’s award luncheon include for giving of 250 hours: Jean Heeren, Jean Fisch, Margaret Grosenheider, Clara Renken, Wuanita Hoss, Mary Campbell, Joann Schleis, Jan Curtis, and Sue Richardson. Acheiving 500 hours were: Jan Curtis, Sue Richardson, Judy Hawkins, Audrey Kindwall, and Kathleen Hawkins. The volunteers reaching 1000 hours included: Lucy Price, Jim Rohlfs, Lois Kessenich, and Vi Schroeder. Two people were honored for devoting a total of 1500 hours of service to Floyd Valley. They were Ardis Johnson, and Liz
Mossengren. Jean Neuroth and Marsha Luksan have devoted 2000 hours, Delores Shuff and Kathy Strain were recognized for their 2500 hours of volunteer service, and devoting 5000 hours to the local hospital are Delores Wenzel and Gerri Jones.

 

 

Le Mars Community School District To Name “Teacher of the Year”

(Le Mars) — Later this morning, we will learn who will be named as the “Teacher of the Year” as the Le Mars Community School District will make the announcement.
The teacher of the year will be the honored guest at the upcoming School District Foundation banquet scheduled for April 25th.

 

 

Sioux City Man Facing Federal Charges

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man arrested on drug and weapons charges after a Sioux City slaying now faces federal charges.
A U.S. District Court record filed Tuesday says 60-year-old Liborio Martinez-Rubio is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and with a firearms crime. The Iowa charges have been dropped.
He was arrested Jan. 11, hours after 26-year-old Javier Cheron was fatally shot. Police say Martinez-Rubio acknowledged ownership of some guns found at the home where investigators think Cheron was shot. Authorities say one of the guns
was among the 79 stolen in 2007 from a Scheels store in Lincoln, Nebraska.

 

 

State Lawmakers Poised To Pass “Sanctuary Cities Bill”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is expected to become the latest Republican-led state to target so-called sanctuary cities by withholding money from local governments that don’t comply with federal immigration laws.
A bill outlining an expansive immigration enforcement plan is expected to receive final legislative approval this week. It comes as President Donald Trump ramps up calls for more stringent immigration enforcement.
Republican lawmakers frame the measure as a public safety policy, but critics say it would essentially allow racial profiling.
Among other things, the legislation would require law enforcement officers to comply with requests from federal immigration agents to hold a jailed person suspected of being in the country illegally. Immigration attorneys say
some of those requests could lead to court challenges.
Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has indicated she’ll sign the bill.

 

 

Additional Farm Goods Added To List Of Tariffs By Chinese

(Le Mars) — Soybeans, Corn, Ethanol, Distilled Dried Grains, Cattle and Beef have now been added to the growing list of farm goods that are exported from the U-S to China to now have a tariff slapped on them. Earlier in the week, Chinese
officials named hogs and pork products that would have a 25 percent tariff penalty. China has been a good buyer of U-S produced farm goods, especially soybeans and soybean products, having purchasing one of every four rows of soybeans that is planted in the United States. China has issued the trade tariffs as a reaction to President Trump’s call for a tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig says its important that farmers and commodity organizations continue to have relations with China. Within the past few weeks delegations from the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Cattlemen Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, and Iowa Pork Producers Association were in China to reiterate the importance of the U-S Chinese trade relations. Naig says China is an important market for Iowa agricultural goods.

Naig says there are some real issues with the Chinese that need to be negotiated and resolved with regards to trade.

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture says the tariffs could easily turn into a trade war, and he says Iowa farmers will be hurt the most.

Naig made those comments while touring the Little Sioux Corn Processing facility near Marcus last week.

 

 

Investigators Looking At Des Moines Woman’s Dead Body

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Investigators have been unable to link any crime to the death of a 71-year-old woman whose body was found in her home on the north side of Des Moines.
Officers sent Friday afternoon to the home of Nancy Heimbaugh found that she’d died.
Sgt. Paul Parizek (puh-REE’-zihk) says her death is still considered suspicious until autopsy lab results return, which could take several more weeks.
Heimbaugh’s husband died a year ago, and Parizek says she may have been drinking and abusing substances since then while spending time with people whose lifestyles weren’t healthy for her.