City Holds Open House For Renovated Campground Facilities
(Le Mars) — The city of Le Mars held an open house Thursday afternoon, allowing the public to see the improvements made to the Willow Creek Campgrounds Club House and Shower facilities. Mayor Dick Kirchoff informed the gathering the improvements made were from the Community Betterment 2 program. Kirchoff
says establishing “quality of life” projects helps everyone in a community.
Kirchoff says improving the campgrounds was a project identified back in 2011 and then again in 2014 through the Community Betterment 2 Program. Kirchoff mentioned the success of the Community Betterment Programs, and specifically with the example of the improvement of the Le Mars campgrounds, is derived from cooperation from both the public sector and the private sector.
The Le Mars Municipal park and campgrounds have been designated as an historic area and is listed with the National Registry of Historic Places.
Linda Mayrose serves on the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission and thanked those who assisted with the preservation of the clubhouse.
City Administrator Scott Langel says the city went to great lengths to preserve and maintain the look from when the facility was originally constructed. He says a goal was to locate furnishings that would be consistent with the 1930’s era when the former ranger house, now clubhouse, was built.
Langel says the city went back to the original rock quarry to locate stones to be used for the improvement project.
The city administrator says the completion of the renovation of the campgrounds clubhouse and shower facilities involved many different companies, volunteers, and contractors.
The public had the opportunity to tour the newly renovated facilities. A lunch was served to the viewing public consisting of hot dogs and taverns, chips, ice cream, and beverages.
Le Mars Community School District Dismisses For Summer
(Le Mars) — Thursday, marked the last day of school for the 2017-2018 school year for Le Mars Community students. Classes were dismissed early. An appreciation and recognition coffee was held at the Le Mars Community High School Cafeteria for those faculty and staff members who will not be returning to Le Mars Community next year.
Le Mars Community School District Faculty and Staff Retirements Back row: (left to right) Dawn Richards, Bonnie Lassen, Deb Richarz, Brett Oetken, Joel Jentz, and Darrell Hargens. Front row: (left to right) Florrie Adler, Wendy Williams, Tim Kass, and Tom Smalley.
(South Sioux City) — The owner of the South Sioux City grain elevator damaged by an explosion Tuesday says he will demolish the structure. South Sioux City Police Chief Ed Mahon says Bryce Anderson, owner of the Anderson Farms grain elevator, is discussing options on how to take the remaining shell of the structure down.
Mahon says investigators still fear that the remaining building could collapse, so they don’t want to wait much longer before starting the demolition process.
Grain continues to smolder in the base of the structure this Thursday morning. The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.
Carlin Supports Tax Reform Law
(Sioux City) — Republican State Senators Jim Carlin, Randy Feenstra and Sarah Newswander held a press conference today to show their support of the tax reform package that Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law. State Senator Carlin says the
new law will benefit nearly everyone.
Carlin says the tax reform bill was needed in order to have Iowa remain competitive with other states.
Carlin says seniors will benefit from the bill since a good portion of their fixed income goes for health care medications and prescriptions. The tax reductions will be implemented over a course of time, and certain economic conditions must be met, before the tax breaks can occur. Carlin says he and
his fellow Republicans are confident the state economy will be able to meet that criteria.
Carlin says sometimes you need to “rock the boat” in order to “right the ship”. He says that is exactly what the state legislature and Governor Reynolds has done with this tax reform bill.
Mercy Medical Center To Start A Psychiatric Hospital
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – Mercy Medical Center officials say the hospital would partner with a national health care company in building a 100-bed psychiatric hospital in Clive.
The Des Moines Register reports that Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services would be its partner. Universal Health has more than 350 hospitals and other facilities across the country and in Great Britain. The Clive hospital would be its first Iowa project.
Mercy’s plans for building the hospital were initially reported
earlier this month, but the location wasn’t disclosed. Mercy filed a detailed application Wednesday with state regulators. The $31 million facility could open by 2020, if the state were to approve it.
Supporters say the Mercy project would address a critical shortage of treatment services in central Iowa. It would be the only free-standing mental hospital in central Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Woman Charged With Theft From Non-profit Organization
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A woman has been accused of stealing nearly $65,000 from a nonprofit group she was employed by in Council Bluffs.
Pottawattamie County Court records say 44-year-old Pamela Duffield is charged with theft. Her attorney has declined to comment. Duffield’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 15.
Authorities say she stole client money that was supposed to pay
Children’s Square U.S.A. for child care. She’d worked 19 years for the children’s aid organization and was fired in January 2017 after being accused of forging an employee’s name.
School Nurse Accused Of Having Sex With Student
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa school nurse has pleaded not guilty to a charge that she had sex with a 16-year-old student.
Linn County District Court records say 46-year-old Angela Beik, of Marion, entered the plea last week to a charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Her trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 24
Beik was the school nurse at Linn-Mar High School in Marion and also employed at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Police began an investigation of Beik in March. They’d learned that state officials were checking a report that Beik told fellow St. Luke’s nurses that she’d had consensual sex with the boy. They reported the conversation to officials.
Grain Elevator
