Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Will Not Meet This Week
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are taking the week off, as there is not enough agenda items to warrant a meeting.
Documentary Movie “Fallen” To Be Featured At Area Locations
(Le Mars) — Next Tuesday, May 15th, is the official day designated to honor fallen law enforcement officers who have given their lives during the line of duty. Several events have been scheduled for the area leading up to the Peace Officers Memorial Day. The Le Mars Police Department has scheduled a
fun run scheduled for Saturday, May 12th to pay tribute to the fallen officers. Around the area will be several showings of the documentary film “Fallen.” Reverend Merrill Muller with the United Methodist Church of Merrill explains why his church and congregation are backing the movement.
On Thursday, the church will feature the movie, “Fallen” and Muller explains the premise for the documentary movie.
Another police officer shooting incident with a local connection was the shooting of then Sioux City Police officer Jill Ohm, originally from Le Mars.
Fortunately both officers survived their shooting incidents, but Muller says the news of both shootings, swept through the area with many people showing their concern and support for the police officer victims. Other police shootings the public may recall involved two officers at Des Moines who were
shot point-blank and killed. A recent incident from about a year ago involved a sheriff’s deputy from Pottawattamie County getting killed when a prisoner escaped while being transported from the courthouse to the jail.
Muller tells where people can view the powerful documentary.
The Wednesday showing will take place at the American Bank of Remsen at both 9:30 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, as mentioned, the movie will be featured at the Merrill United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m., the American Legion Hall at Brunsville will show the movie on Monday evening, May 14th at
7:00 p.m. American Bank of Le Mars has scheduled to feature the movie on Thursday, May 17th at both 9:30 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m. There will be a service of appreciation for Peace Officers held Wednesday, May 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the Le Mars Bible Church. Everyone is welcome to attend any event.
Weaver Honored As Le Mars Community School District “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.”
Shelly Sitzmann To Be In Akron Today
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann has announced she will be in Akron today 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. 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.
Monday Was First Day For Absentee Voting For Primary Election
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Early voting is underway for Iowa’s June 5 primary.
Monday was the first day Iowans could 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. The contested races for Plymouth County is the open seat for state representative being vacated by Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars. Dr. Tom Jenery of Le Mars and Joseph Small of Akron are both seeking the position for the Republican ballot. U-S Congressional seat is between incumbent Steve King and newcomer Cyndi Hanson. The race for the next Iowa Secretary of Agriculture features five candidates from the Republican ticket. They include: Current secretary Mike Naig, Ray Gaesser,
Craig Lang, Chad Ingels, and Dan Zumbach. On the Democratic ballot, three people are seeking the nomination for the U-S Congressional seat. They include: Leann Jacobsen, John Paschen, and J.D. Scholten. There are six candidates running for Iowa Governor on the Democratic ticket. Nate Boulton,
Cathy Glasson, Fred Hubbell, Andrea McGuire, John Norris, and Ross Wilburn all hope to unseat Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. Democrats will need to decide between Deidre DeJear and Jim Mowrer for the position of Secretary of State. There are no Democratic candidates seeking any county level positions
including supervisor, attorney, recorder, and treasurer.
Latest Crop Report Shows 40 Percent Of State’s Corn Crop 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.
Iowa State University Changes Policy On Sexual Violence
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University officials say they’re making changes in how the university responds to reports of sexual violence.
The university has been hit with sexual assault lawsuits alleging that the university mishandled the cases, including one settled Monday for $47,500.
The woman’s attorney, Tom Newkirk, told The Des Moines Register the settlement might have been higher if he and his client had not been satisfied the university is taking action.
Officials say changes include an overhaul of the sexual misconduct policy, the start of a sexual misconduct prevention initiative, and new training for all employees.
The university also has scheduled a public forum Wednesday concerning a recent “campus climate” survey. Among the findings: 11 percent of respondents indicated they had experienced unwanted sexual contact or conduct while at
the university.
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