Home News Monday Afternoon News, February 4th

Monday Afternoon News, February 4th

Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Issues January Report

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has released its monthly report for January. The fire department responded to a total of 40 calls with 11 fire calls, four rescue calls, twelve times the fire and rescue department acted on accident clean-ups, or odor investigations. The Le Mars
Fire and Rescue Department acted on 13 requests for services.

 

 

Sioux Center Voters To Decide On $24.9 Million Dollar School Bond Measure

(Sioux Center) — Sioux Center voters within the Sioux Center school district will decide Tuesday to adopt a $24.9 million dollar bond measure.
School superintendent Gary McEldowney says the bond issue is to construct a fourth building. He says the existing school facilities are not able to keep up with the growing student enrollment.

McEldowney talks about the plans to expand the school facilities.

The Sioux Center school superintendent says he is “cautiously optimistic” of the chances the bond issue will pass. He says the school board initially delayed the time for voters to cast their ballots on the expansion in order to promote the project.

McEldowney says the size of the structure would encompass 182,000 square feet.

 

 

State Settles With Former Employees That Were Subject To Sexual Harassment

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state of Iowa has tentatively agreed to pay $4.15 million to two executive branch employees who were sexually harassed for years by an agency director who had been a longtime friend of Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Settlement agreements released by the state Monday show the money would go to former Iowa Finance Authority business development director Beth Mahaffey and its current communications director Ashley Jared.
The state appeal board will consider approving the deals Monday
afternoon.
Both women came forward last year to the governor’s office to detail the sexual harassment and hostile work environment they endured under Iowa Finance Authority executive director Dave Jamison.
The deals call for the state to pay $2.35 million in cash and monthly annuities to Mahaffey, 53, who left state employment and moved last year after complaining about Jamison’s behavior. Another $1.8 million would go to Iowa Finance Authority communications director Ashley Jared, 35.

 

 

Veterans Given Notice To Vacate Housing Facility

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than a dozen military veterans have been given a 30-day notice to leave a transitional housing facility in Des Moines.
Station KCCI reports that a Department of Veterans Affairs official dropped off the notice at the 180 Degrees facility last week, but VA officials have declined to discuss the issue.
The VA subsidizes 180 Degrees for each client and says there’s a
dispute between 180 Degrees and the owner of the home, Makar Limited Partnership. Makar said in an email to 180 Degrees that expenses outlined by the rental agreement were not paid by 180, thus breaching the agreement.
Gerald Murphy is managing partner of Makar Limited Partnership, and he declined to answer specific questions regarding the dispute between Makar and 180 Degrees.
Navy veteran Kurt Gabrielson lives at the home and says he has a post-traumatic stress disorder and problems with alcohol. He says that being forced out is “overwhelming.”

 

 

Winnabago Industries Moving Production From Oregon To Iowa

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – Winnebago Industries says it’s shifting to its Forest City, Iowa, campus the production of Class A diesel motorhomes from the company plant in Junction City, Oregon.
Winnebago announced Monday that the change will consolidate product development, supply chain and assembly for the company’s diesel motorhome business.
Winnebago Vice President Brian Hazelton says the strategic decision to move diesel product manufacturing to the former Country Coach facilities

in Junction City years ago did not achieve “our targeted operating efficiency and profitability goals.”
The company expects to begin the transition immediately. Winnebago says the 250 positions in Junction City will be reduced to about 30 and that there will be an increase of about 175 positions at the Forest City campus by the end of fiscal year 2020.