Gehlen Catholic Salutes Area Veterans With Program
(Le Mars) — Area veterans were thanked for their service during this morning’s Gehlen Catholic annual Veterans Day Program. The program featured music from the Gehlen Catholic instrumental band, as well as singing from Gehlen students. Veterans stood when each military branch of service was
recognized and honored during the singing of the respective anthem, and the parading of the specific military banner.
Members of the Wasmer Post #241 American Legion served as the color guard for today’s program, and they also
demonstrated the proper method to fold an American flag, giving an explanation for what each of the 13 folds represent.
Mark Morehead presented a skit entitled “Why I choose to fly my flag.” Gehlen Catholic students read the names of those veterans with a Le Mars connection featured on the Wall of Honor. The American Legion Auxillary presented a certificate for the Poppy Poster contest winner, Braden Bollin. Commander of the Wasmer
Post #241 Dan Pleuger read the names of the top essays submitted for “What the flag means to me.” Kate Bonderson was the winner in the 6th grade division, and Elizabeth Hitchler’s essay was selected as the winning 5th grade entry. Here is Hitchler’s winning essay.
Gehlen Catholic 5th Grader, Elizabeth Hitchler won the essay contest of “What the Flag Means to Me.”
Gehlen Catholic 6th Grader, Kate Bonderson was the 6th Grade Winner for writing an essay about “What the Flag Means To Me.”
Veterans Day is scheduled for next Sunday, November 11th.
Iowa Wesleyan University On The Verge Of Closing
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) – A private school in southeast Iowa is on the verge of closure despite a recent enrollment increase.
The Hawk Eye reports that Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant needs to raise more than $2 million for its spring semester and at least $4.5 million to stay open for another year.
If the university fails to raise the funds, current seniors hoping to
graduate in the spring would have to transfer to another university at the end of the fall semester.
University officials are searching for additional funding sources and partnerships. Officials are also meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, higher education partners and regional business and community leaders to look into alternatives to closure.
The board of trustees will discuss the university’s future during a
closed meeting Nov. 18.
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Single Mother Claims Share Of Powerball Jackpot
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – A single mother from the small Iowa community of Redfield has claimed her share of a nearly $700 million Powerball prize.
Iowa Lottery officials confirmed Monday that Lerynne (lah-RINN) West was one of two winners of a $688 million jackpot drawn Oct. 27. She’ll share the prize with someone who bought the other winning ticket in New York City.
West opted for the cash option, which will pay her an immediate $198.1 million, minus taxes.
West said she dreamed of winning a jackpot, but “once you have won, you realize the responsibility and the impact you can make, and all the frivolity goes out the window.”
The 51-year-old worked for a health insurance organization, but says she retired last week.
West overcame odds of 292.2 million to one to win.
Candidates Make Last Minute Campaign Stops Across The State
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is flying around the state holding rallies at eight airports before ending the tour Monday night at a final stop in Sioux Center with controversial U.S. Rep. Steve King.
A Reynolds campaign spokesman confirms King, who’s been embroiled in controversy over comments about race and immigrants, is invited to appear with Reynolds at the final stop of the day in Sioux Center.
Democrat Fred Hubbell and his running mate Sen. Rita Hart have seven stops planned as they continue to drive around the state before ending their day at an election rally in Des Moines. Recent polls have shown an extremely tight race but giving Hubbell a slight edge.
