Le Mars Community School To Recognize Additional Donors For the New Football Stadium During Girls Basketball Game
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District will recognize additional donors of the new football stadium. The announcement will take place this evening during the halftime festivities of the girls basketball game.
School Board president, Todd Lancaster, says the school has secured two additional donations or pledges amounting to $100,000 and another one for $150,000.
Jeneary Prepares For Legislative Work
(Le Mars) — The Iowa Legislature is scheduled to go back to work and begin a new general session on Monday. Newly elected State House Representative, Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says he is looking forward to starting his new job and representing the people of the State House District 5 which involves most of Plymouth County and the northern tier of Woodbury County. Jeneary, a retired dentist and former member of the State Dental Board, says he is already watching with interest a bill that is likely to be introduced.
Jeneary will serve as the vice-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
He is also a member of the House Public Safety Committee, Veterans Affairs, and is also a member of the Budget Sub-Committee for Health and Human Services. Jeneary says he is looking forward to serving on the Natural Resources Committee as it relates to his hobbies of hunting and fishing.
The new lawmaker explains the general responsibilities of his other assigned committees.
In past sessions, Iowa’s Public Safety has had to either have budget reductions, or a freeze on the allocated funding. Officials say the public safety has been compromised since additional Iowa State Patrol troopers are needed to enforce the rules of our state’s roads and highways. In addition, some officials say more funding is needed to educate people about drug abuse,
intoxicated driving, driving while texting, seat belt usage, fire safety and investigations, and other programs that fall under the category of public safety. Jeneary says it may be time for the legislature to step up and allocate additional funding for Iowa’s Public Safety services.
Check this website later this morning, we will hear more comments from Tom Jeneary about some specific issues likely to be discussed and debated during the upcoming legislative session.
State GOP Leaders Ready To Modify State Property Taxes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa GOP legislative leaders say they plan to go into the 2019 session challenging the way things are done in state government with several issues including property taxes and picking judges.
Senate Republican leader Jack Whitver said Thursday at a legislative forum hosted by The Associated Press that Iowans expressed confidence in his party by returning it to power again and that means keeping campaign promises.
One of those promises is a thorough review of property taxes during the session which starts Monday.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said at the forum she’s interested in looking at what lawmakers come up with. As a former county treasurer she said she heard for years complaints from business owners and individuals about rising property taxes.
Senate Democatic Leader Janet Petersen says her concern is that local governments including counties, cities and schools aren’t harmed in the process by taking away funding they need.
Ernst Says A Wall May Only Be Needed Along Portions Of The Border
(Washington) — U-S Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa says now that there’s divided government in Washington, it’s up to President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders to find a border security solution that ends the partial government shutdown.
But Ernst says some areas of the border can only be secured with “a barrier of some form.” She says capturing terrorists, drug smugglers, gun runners and human traffickers along the border is a national security priority.
Ernst says she learned in the military that barriers on a battlefield funnel people into areas where they can be apprehended. Ernst told Iowa reporters on a conference call yesterday (Thursday) that she would not support a deal
that ONLY funds more agents and more surveillance along the border, because a wall or fencing is necessary in some areas. The “smartest way to move,” according to Ernst, is to have Border Patrol agents and the Department of Homeland Security map things out.
About 25 percent of the federal government has been shut down since December 22nd. President Trump has repeatedly said he will not agree to reopen the government until congress approves five-point-seven BILLION dollars for a border wall.
……………..
Des Moines Purchases Homes In Flood Area
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The city has spent about $10.5 million to buy 78 homes damaged by June’s flash flooding in Des Moines.
The Des Moines Register reports that most of the residences are
situated along Fourmile Creek in northeast Des Moines, the area hardest hit. Demolition began this week.
The city used money generated from stormwater utility fees rather than relying on state or federal sources, which can slow the process. City officials have said buying the most flood-prone properties and demolishing the homes reduces the chances of more damage or resident injuries in the future.
The average purchase price of the 78 homes was more than $136,000. The city offers were up to 110 percent of the homes’ assessed values.
—
Des Moines Police Investigate Death Of Homeless Man
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police in Des Moines are investigating the death of a man at a homeless camp on the city’s north side.
Police say in a news release that officers responded to the camp
Thursday morning for a report of a dead person and found the body of 69-year-old Charles Michael Childs.
Police say the circumstances surrounding the death are suspicion, and initial investigation has led officers to suspect Childs may have been hit by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident late Tuesday afternoon near the scene.
Workplace Safety Inspectors Fired
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa workplace safety inspectors were fired Tuesday in what they are calling retaliation for blowing the whistle on a hostile environment inside their agency.
The firings of Jason Garmoe and Travis Stein are the latest turmoil at the Division of Labor, which has been rocked by recent personnel turnover and accusations of cronyism and harassment.
The agency accused both men of misconduct that included leaving a state vehicle running for two hours while conducting an inspection – an allegation they call false.
Garmoe and Stein said in interviews with The Associated Press that they were singled out for harsh treatment after providing critical information about agency leaders to state investigators. Both said they feared they would lose their jobs for doing so but were assured that they would be protected.
Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro declined comment.
Woman’s Body Found In Dubuque Home After Fire
SHERRILL, Iowa (AP) – Firefighters have found the body of a woman inside the charred remains of a Dubuque County home.
Firetrucks were sent to the home west of Sherrill about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. The body was found after the blaze was extinguished.
Fire officials identified the woman as 53-year-old Lisa Kloft. An
autopsy has been ordered.
Another resident of the home was taken to a Dubuque hospital and then flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. He’s been identified as 52-year-old John Oglesby. Fire officials say he suffered burns and smoke inhalation but is expected to survive.
The fire cause is being investigated.
