Weaver Named School District’s “Employee of the Month”
(Le Mars) — The May Employee of the Month for the Le Mars Community Schools was announced today (Monday) during a small award presentation ceremony held at Kluckhohn Elementary School. Retiring elementary guidance counselor,
Wendy Weaver, was given the honor from Le Mars School Foundation director, Larry Petersen. Weaver has been a member of the Le Mars Community faculty for 25 years. The entire Kluckhohn staff nominated Weaver for the honor.
The nomination reads: Wendy has been a valuable resource for principals, teachers, students, and parents. She facilitates our CARE team, pulls in small groups of students, teaches a lesson every other week in the classroom about social skills, and spends an enormous amount of time working one on one with students. She is caring, creative, compassionate, organized, and strives to meet the social and emotional needs of students. The experiences and professionalism of Mrs. Weaver will be greatly missed. Wendy’s husband, Grant Weaver, was also on hand for the presentation. Our congratulations go to Wendy Weaver for being named the May, Le Mars Community School District’s
“Employee of the Month.”
County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann, To Be In Akron On Tuesday
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann has announced she will be in Akron to sign up participants who qualify for a state credit on their house taxes, mobile home taxes, or for rent reimbursements. Sitzmann has scheduled the visit on Tuesday, May 8th from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Sitzmann
was in Remsen today. She will appear at the Akron Public Library on Tuesday, May 8th. To qualify and receive a credit on your real estate taxes, Iowa residents who own their homes must be 65 years or older as of December 31st of 2017, or be totally disabled and 18 years or older, and have a total household income under $22,855 for 2017.
Gehlen Catholic High School Choir Earns Superior Rating At Contest
(Le Mars) — On Friday, May 4, 2018, Gehlen Catholic’s Mixed Chorus competed at the Iowa High School Music Association’s (IHSMA) Large Group Contest at Kingsley-Pierson. 10 mixed choruses competed this year.
The high school mixed chorus received a “I” (Superior) rating in Class 1A once again this year. The choir performed “A Boy & A Girl” by Eric Whitacre & “Hush! Somebody’s Calling My Name” arranged by Mark Hayes.
Gehlen Catholic 7-12 Vocal Music Director, Mrs. Terra Falkena, says while many Iowa High School Association choirs do not compete at State Large Group due to all of the end of the year activities, she is adamant the Gehlen Catholic Mixed Choir does compete. Falkena noted State Large Group is generally one of the only times of the year the choir receives critical feedback. She uses the adjudicators’ feedback to confirm the students are
working hard, singing challenging literature, & provides a foundation for her & them as to areas to focus on in the coming year to become even better.
The choir’s next performance will be Commencement on Sunday, May 20th. They will then depart for their choir trip on Thursday, May 24th.
Absentee Ballots Are Available For Primary Election
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Early voting is underway for Iowa’s June 5 primary.
Monday is the first day Iowans can vote in-person at their county
auditor’s office. Absentee ballots can also be requested via mail by May 25.
They must be returned by Election Day or postmarked by June 4.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he encourages Iowans to vote early. Detailed instructions on how to vote can be found online at www.VoterReadyIowa.org.
The June primary is the first time Iowa voters will be asked to show identification at the polls. Identification won’t be required until 2019.
The voter ID law, signed last year by then-Gov. Terry Branstad,
shortened the time period for early voting. It also eliminated an option for straight-ticket voting for one political party. The Plymouth County Auditor’s office says only one person stopped by the office to cast their early vote for the primary election.
Authorities Release Identities Of Fatal Railroad Crossing Victims
BELLE PLAINE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the names of a woman and boy whose bodies were found at a railroad crossing in eastern Iowa.
The bodies were found by police sent to a Belle Plaine crossing around 5 a.m. Friday. The Iowa Public Safety Department identified them in a news release Monday as 36-year-old Teresa Gerleman and her 8-year-old son, Henry Fields. They lived in Belle Plaine.
Autopsies have been scheduled for Thursday. The department says no more information will be released until autopsy results are available.
Safe Is Dropped On Boy — Killing Him
NORA SPRINGS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 12-year-old boy was fatally struck and killed by a falling safe in northern Iowa
The accident occurred around 4:40 p.m. Sunday at a home in Nora Springs.
Police Chief Jessie Dugan said Monday that Karson Ott and his father, Larry Ott, were loading the safe onto a trailer when the safe fell and struck the boy.
Dugan declined to comment further about what happened.
Weekly Crop Report Shows 40 Percent Of Corn Now Planted
(Des Moines) — Widespread storms delivering heavy rainfall interrupted planting activities and held Iowa farmers to 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 6, 2018, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Iowa growers have planted 40 percent of the expected corn crop, 3 days behind the 5-year average. Two percent of the crop has emerged, 5 days behind both last year and the average. Soybean growers have 11 percent of the expected crop in the ground, 2 days ahead of last year but equal to the average.
Seventy-seven percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 9 days behind last year and 1 week behind average. Thirty-two percent of the crop has emerged, 11 days behind last year.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 7 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 5 percent very short, 11 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. Saturated soil conditions have caused delays in fieldwork and planting activities in the northern two-thirds of the state, while recent rains have failed to eliminate the dry soil conditions in the southern one-
third of the state.
Recent rain and warmer temperatures have revitalized pasture conditions statewide. Pasture condition rated 40 percent good to excellent, an increase of 12 percentage points from the previous week. Cattle have been turned out for grazing in many areas.
