County Supervisors To Meet
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to convene this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room. The county supervisors have a short agenda for today. County engineer Tom Rohe is scheduled to appear before the county governing board at 10:00 a.m. and will submit two
permits, one from the Southern Sioux Rural Water Association, and one from the Western Iowa Telephone Association. Rohe will also discuss with the supervisors a section 130 project request from Union Pacific Railroad on County Road C-70.
City Council To Have Second Reading For Child Care Zoning
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will meet today at the Council Chambers beginning at 12:00 noon. Although the council has several consent items on today’s agenda, they have only one action item. The city council will vote on a second reading to approve Ordinance Number 948 to amend Chapter 167 allowing child care, child care facilities and adult day services in various
zoning districts. The new ordinance would allow for unregistered child care for R-1 and R-1A zoning districts. Registered or licensed child care, registered or licensed child care facility, or registered or licensed adult care services would be permissive in R-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, and I-1 and I-2 zoning districts.
Library To Hold Writer’s Workshop
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Public Library is excited to welcome author Nicole Baart back to the library on Thursday (June 28) at 3:30-5:30 for a writers workshop.
According to Baart, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a thousand words are priceless. According to USA Today, 82% of American adults dream of writing a book. It seems most of us have a story inside, but many struggle to get those words down on paper. I believe your story is powerful and important, downright priceless to the people who love you most. In this
workshop I’ll help you sift through your stories and begin the process of writing 1,000 words. Hopefully, these words are just the beginning, but whether this exercise is the only thing you ever write or the start of something much bigger, putting even a portion of your story down on paper is an incredible gift and something you (and your loved ones) will treasure.”
Shirley Taylor (Library Director) suggests that now is great time to for the writer’s workshop. “In 2019 we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Le Mars and I know that many people have stories to share. This is a great opportunity to for community members to work with professional writer.”
A critically acclaimed novelist, Nicole’s work has been featured as a Midwest Connections book pick, nominated for a Christy Award, and earned a starred and featured review from Publishers Weekly. Her most recent novel, Little Broken Things, was featured in People Magazine as one “The Best New Books”
this past December.
This event is free and open to the public but registration is requested, online or by visiting the library. This presentation is part of the Adult Summer Reading Program, which is sponsored the Friends of the Le Mars Public Library.
Le Mars School Board Hears Year-end Reports From Middle School and Elementary Principals
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community Board of Education officials heard year-end reports from the Elementary Principals, as well as from Middle School principal Steve Shanks during last evening’s school board meeting. Shanks reported to the school board that Le Mars Middle School students performed
very well on various assessment tests. He distributed to school board members a handout comparing Le Mars Middle School students to the 27 other school districts within the Northwest Area Education Agency. Shanks says Le Mars Middle School students ranked first in 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade Mathematics. Shanks says during Math Bees, Le Mars has also scored well. As for rankings within the Area Education Agency with regards to Reading, Le Mars 6th graders finished third, the 7th graders were top rated, and the 8th graders were second among the 27 schools within the Area Education Agency. In the Science category, Le Mars sixth graders were fourth, the seventh graders finished second, and the eighth graders were third in science. Also during last evening’s meeting, the school board began the process to set priorities for a ten-year facility upgrade program.
School Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner discussed with the board various projects that have been identified as needing an upgrade. Some of those projects included restroom facilities, the future of elementary buildings, baseball and softball dugouts, bus garage extension, and boilers for Clark and Franklin elementary schools.
Rock Valley Officials Concerned About Rising River Levels
(Rock Valley) — Rock Valley city officials have been actively monitoring the rainfall around the area and the current state of the river levels and have growing concerns about the future rising river levels.
City officials have been in communication with communities up stream about their current river and creek levels and morning rainfall, which are expected to raise our river levels.
Rock Valley City Administrator Tom Van Maanen says “At this point we are hearing from the National Weather Service that we can expect moderate increases to the river levels, but we are also aware that Rock Rapids is currently evacuating homes and businesses, and we are aware that there are unmeasured creeks that will also impact us.”
Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo says “We want to be proactive and let citizens know to be aware over the next 12 to 24 hours that the river levels may change, and we may be needing to look at further evacuations,”
The city has taken additional measures through adding more pumps and will be checking the berms in order to make sure they are as prepared as possible.
Rock Valley city officials say they will continue to post updates on their Facebook page and through local media outlets and through school reach communications.
Cities South Of Train Derailment Concerned About Water Quality
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Residents in major cities downstream from a northwest Iowa tanker car derailment say they’re confident their municipal drinking water is safe even as crews try to contain an estimated 230,000 gallons of oil.
Officials in Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, said Monday they’re monitoring the situation and could switch to well water if oil is detected in the Missouri River, which provides most of their water.
But they say they’ve been assured by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources that the oil spilled into the Little Rock River will be contained before reaching the Missouri River.
Others cities, including Sioux City, Iowa, use groundwater and don’t expect problems.
Omaha and Council Bluffs are about 140 miles southwest of where 32 tanker cars derailed Friday in Iowa’s Lyon County.
Officials Announce World Food Prize Recipients
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The World Food Prize is being awarded this year to two men credited with helping reduce by 10 million the world’s number of children stunted from malnourishment between 2012 and 2017.
British economist and food policy researcher Lawrence Haddad and Dr. David Nabarro were named the 2018 winners Monday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington.
Nabarro has worked with the World Health Organization and United Nations on hunger issues.
The World Food Prize was created by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 to recognize scientists and others who have improved the quality and availability of food.
Haddad and Nabarro will receive the $250,000 prize at an Oct. 18 ceremony at the state Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, where the foundation that awards the prize is based.
