Then Feed Just One Packaging Event Scheduled For Today
(Le Mars) — Then Feed Just One…the food packaging event will be held at Gehlen Catholic School both today and tomorrow. Volunteers are still needed to help with packaging the food that consists of rice, dried vegetables, textured soy protein, and vitamins and minerals. The packaged food will
have a destination of Honduras.
National Day Of Prayer
(Le Mars) — Today is recognized as the Day of National Prayer, a day that has been set aside with the thought that everyone, regardless of religion, or church denomination, come together to pray. A program will take place at the Le Mars Convention Center beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Youth On Main Street Learn About Le Mars History
(Le Mars) — On Tuesday, eight students from the Le Mars Community High School made a presentation during the Chamber Coffee held at the Williams and Company offices. The students, along with two others, are all part of the program “Youth On Main Street.” Rich Ziettlow serves as a co-coordinator to the group. He says this is the fourth year for the program that encourages our young people to look at the history of Le Mars.
Although this year all of the participating students are from Le MarsCommunity, in past years students from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholichave participated in the program. Ziettlow says students are given class
credit, or service hours for their participation. Ziettlow says the studentswill visit with local community leaders to learn more about the history ofthe Le Mars.
Ziettlow says its the hope of organizers the students have a betterappreciation for the town of Le Mars and its history after the studentscomplete the seven-month program. He talks how the Youth on Main Streetprogram has developed, and what the students have done to expand the program.
During the Chamber coffee the students shared a presentation that focused on the Plymouth County Fair.
Ziettlow says other communities across Iowa have also adopted a “Youth On Main Street” program modeled after the Le Mars program.
Donlin Updates City Council On Community Betterment Project Funding
(Le Mars) — Earlier this week during the city council meeting, Mike Donlin, the president of the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation spoke before the city council and offered an update regarding the transfer of funds to the city for the Community Betterment Project 2.
Donlin says the money represents only a portion of the total funds collected for the community betterment project.
Donlin says some of the projects are nearing completion, such as the renovation and upgrade of the Le Mars Municipal Park, the shelter house, and expansion of the camping sites. One project slated to begin this summer will be the renovation of the Olson Cultural Events Center in downtown Le Mars.
Republican Lawmakers Still Trying To Finalize Tax Cut Program
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican leaders in control of the Iowa Legislature say they’re still writing a final version of an expansive tax cut bill they plan to vote on within days.
Senate Republicans told reporters Wednesday they’re not sure when a formal bill will be released. Those remarks came shortly before a Senate tax-writing committee had a procedural vote to advance a tax bill without updated details. Senate Republicans say they plan floor votes Saturday.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and other GOP leaders announced a broad tax agreement last Friday that includes cutting individual income taxes, phasing in corporate tax cuts and other measures.
The Iowa Department of Revenue estimates the final tax plan is
expected to cost the state more than $100 million in the budget year that begins in July. That annual cost could quadruple within five years. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says Republicans have budgeted for that spending, an assertion Senate Democrats challenge.
Woman Found In Burned Out Car Determined To Be Suicide
BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they have completed an investigation into the case of a woman found dead in a burned-out car last January and determined her death was a suicide.
The Davis County sheriff’s office and Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation announced Wednesday that an autopsy showed 63-year-old Sharon Moritz died of probable smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. They ruled her death a suicide.
A farmer on Jan. 27 found a burned-out car in Davis County, southeast of the small community of Pulaski. Deputies responded and found human remains inside.
Moritz lived in Northwood, near the Minnesota border, but had family in the Davis County area of southeast Iowa.
Man Pleas Guilty To Cyberstalking
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking in a case involving a minor female he texted over 170 times.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 48-year-old Daniel Lee Stone, of
Solon, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to cyberstalking. In a plea agreement, Stone admitted texting the girl more than 170 times from about Oct. 31, 2016, through Nov. 3, 2016.
In the texts, Stone pretended to be someone else and offered the girl cash and other items if she’d have a relationship with him. Many of the texts indicted Stone was watching the girl and was familiar with her home.
The girl repeatedly asked Stone to leave her alone.
Stone will be sentenced Sept. 12. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Appeals Court Overturns Decision On Former Catholic Priest
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Appeals Court has overturned the conviction of a retired Catholic priest who’d been accused of invading the privacy of several students in a high school restroom.
The students had complained that the Rev. Paul Monahan repeatedly entered the public restroom during a high school track meet in 2016 and looked at their genitals. Monahan’s doctor testified that Monahan’s restroom visits were necessitated by a medical condition.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that the court said in its decision released Wednesday that the students had no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public bathroom. Prosecutors are mulling an appeal.
Monahan had been sentenced in February last year to 30 days in jail, suspended and a year of probation. He also was ordered to register as a sex offender.
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