Dr. Mark Stelzer Retires
(Le Mars) — Long-time Le Mars surgeon Dr. Mark Stelzer has put down his scalpel as he has entered retirement this week. Stelzer worked out of the Floyd Valley Healthcare for 36 years, and later today the hospital is holding a retirement open house at the Conference Rooms between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00
p.m. The public is invited to attend the open house reception.
Josh’s Ride To Give Away Another Bike On May 5th
(Le Mars) — A group of local people wanting to make certain young handicapped children have the opportunity to own and ride a bicycle have formed an organization known as Josh’s Ride. Beth Meyer explains how the organization got its start.
Three years later, Meyer says the organization is getting set to award its 20th bicycle to another handicapped individual. Meyer says the bicycle will be awarded to the family on May 5th at the Le Mars Community football stadium, Jim Lorenzen Field.
Meyer says the adaptive tri-cycles and bicycles have been specifically designed for the handicapped children.
Meyer says all of the tri-cycles and bicycles have been gifted to children within the Le Mars and Plymouth County area.
The Josh’s Ride organization leader says they feel blessed at the response and support of local people wanting to help and contribute funds to secure bicycles for the handicapped children.
Meyer says there are several ways people can contact the Josh’s Ride organization if they want to volunteer, or help contribute funds.
Josh’s Ride will take place on Saturday, May 5th beginning at 1:00 p .m.
Details of Finance Director’s Sexual Harassment Are Released
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An agency director fired by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds had been accused of harassing female employees for years by routinely making crude sexual comments and pressuring one to go into his hotel room during
work travel.
Bowing to pressure after keeping the document secret for a month, the governor on Thursday released a March 21 letter addressed to her that laid out detailed allegations against Iowa Finance Authority Director David Jamison.
Reynolds fired Jamison on March 24 for what she called “credible” allegations of sexual harassment.
The letter was released to The Associated Press with redactions to shield the complainant’s identity. The woman wrote that Jamison has been sexually harassing women in the office for years and that the behavior was “escalating and has to stop.”
She said Jamison constantly talked about how her breasts and pressured her to go to his hotel room during two trips.
Jamison didn’t return a message seeking comment.
Iowa DNR Director Retires
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The director of Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources is stepping down next week.
Chuck Gipp announced his retirement Thursday in a news release. He submitted a resignation letter dated April 2 to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. His retirement begins Tuesday.
Gipp has been director for six years. He previously served nine terms in the Iowa House, including as majority leader.
He says in the letter that running the DNR was “the crowning
achievement” of his public service career.
Gipp says he plans to spend more time with his family in Decorah.
Deputy Director Bruce Trautman will take over as acting director.
The DNR oversees environmental regulation, state parks and natural resource stewardship programs in Iowa. Some DNR programs have seen significant cuts, and a proposed budget backed by Republicans would spend less on the agency next year than when Gipp became director six years ago.
Funeral Home Director Charged With Insurance Fraud
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Federal prosecutors say a former southwestern Iowa funeral home director has been charged in an insurance fraud investigation.
Prosecutors said in a news release Thursday that 43-year-old Michael Dean Kirsch, of Shenandoah, has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct- influencing enterprise and more than 10 counts of theft.
Officials say an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau that began in December 2016 showed Kirsch sold funeral insurance to people intended to cover funeral expenses, but instead used the money for his personal use.
Court documents show Kirsch’s Iowa license has been suspended and that he has paid restitution of nearly $33,000 to eight people.
Governor Reynolds Signs Concussion Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill requiring schools to adopt return-to-play rules for students who may have concussions.
The Republican governor signed the bill on Thursday. The new law received bipartisan support from both legislative chambers.
Schools will be required to adopt medical review protocols. Those
protocols were first developed in 2013 by the associations that oversee high school athletics in Iowa. Most schools already followed the protocols, but they have been optional until now.
Legal liability will be limited for schools that choose to have a
health care provider present at games. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says the law is expected to result in “minimal” costs for schools.
