School Board To Convene This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will convene this evening at 7:00 p.m. On the school board’s agenda, the board will discuss the upcoming Le Mars Community School District Foundation banquet scheduled for Wednesday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center. The school board will talk about the Iowa
Association of School Boards Safety Group Insurance Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd at Storm Lake. Senior Awards Night will be held Wednesday, May 15th beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.
Following the Senior Awards Night will be the Graduation Commencement ceremony for the class of 2019. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 19th beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The school board has scheduled a special meeting on Wednesday, May 1st at 12:00 noon for the
purpose of opening bids received for the sale of the church buildings. The school board will discuss and take possible action on several resignations, including: Brittney Kroeger is resigning her TLC CIA position effective June 30th. Science teacher Doug Martin is resigning his position at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Jennifer Hauser is resigning her high school
teacher’s associate position effective at the end of the school year. Neal Utesch is resigning his position as associate high school principal effective at the conclusion of the school year.
However, Neal Utesch, is on the agenda to accept the open principal position at Clark and Franklin elementary schools. Sally Smith is resigning her position as a middle school custodian.
Kathy Dalton is resigning her position as a high school IMC associate effective at the end of the school year. Adam Moss is resigning his assistant girls track coach position effective at the end of the school season, and Kayla Koopman is resigning her assistant softball coaching position effective at the end of the 2018-2019 school season.
The school board will consider the recommendation of the Meet and Confer Committee regarding support staff and administrative contracts for 2019-2020. School superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner will present the proposed infrastructure plan for the 2019-2020 school year for board consideration.
State Senate Passes Industrial Hemp Bill – House Now To Consider The Bill
(Des Moines) — Iowa farmers soon may have the option to grow industrial hemp. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been working on the issue for the past three years. Senator Tim Kapucian (kuh-POOTS-ee-un), a farmer from Keystone, says the effort got “extra momentum” after the new Farm Bill effectively legalized hemp again in the U.S.
A bill approved by the Senate designates two state agencies to oversee the crop and would let Iowa farmers grow up to 40 acres of hemp, starting in the 2020 growing season.
That’s Senator Tom Shipley, a farmer from Nodaway. The hemp plant is a cousin of marijuana.
Smoking it does not make you high, but for decades it’s been illegal to grow it under FEDERAL law. Senator Dan Zumbach (ZUMM-bah), a farmer from Ryan, says hemp can be part of a new era in agriculture.
Senator Kevin Kinney, a farmer from Oxford, says hemp could become a leading commodity in Iowa, behind corn and soybeans.
The plant’s seeds and its stalks can be used to make fabric and paper as well as oil and building materials. The bill that passed the Senate last week is scheduled for debate in the Iowa House this week according to Representative Jarad Klein, a farmer from Keota.
Under the bill, farmers must get a state license to grow hemp. Officials from the Iowa Departments of Agriculture AND Public Safety are to oversee hemp production, to ensure its not being grown as cover for marijuana.
Des Moines Man Arrested After Making Threats To A Quick Trip Convenience Store
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines police say a man is facing several charges after he allegedly threatened to kill everybody at a QuikTrip station.
The Des Moines Register reports Gerald Evans Jr., of Davenport, was arrested Saturday and is being held in the Polk County jail facing charges of making a threat of terrorism, intimidation with a weapon, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and eluding.
Court documents say Evans called 911 several times to say he was driving to the QuikTrip to kill everybody inside – including his girlfriend – and then himself. He told police he had two guns and planned to drive his car into the building.
Police say Evans was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time. He was arrested near the QuikTrip after a short pursuit.
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Waterloo Residents Seeking State Audit On City’s Finances
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Some Waterloo residents are asking the Iowa State Auditor’s Office to conduct complete or partial audit of the city’s financial transactions.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 148 residents signed a
petition earlier this month asking for additional auditing work.
The state office will meet with RSM, which conducted the city audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, to determine whether the firm looked at issues raised by the petitioners.
Jennifer Campbell, a manager at the auditor’s office, said she could not discuss specific concerns raised by the petitioners.
Resident Forest Dillavou, who helped collect signatures, said the
main question concerns transfers of money between various city operating funds.
Mayor Quentin Hart said the auditor’s office hasn’t explained the
exact concerns presented by the petitioners.
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Agriculture Officials Recommend Planting Cover Crops On Flooded Ground
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The federal Natural Resources Conversation Service is providing money to plant cover crops on damaged farmland.
The aid is aimed at recovery work on cropland directly affected by the severe weather in March. The highest priority cropland includes land that can’t be planted with a cash crop and/or can’t be harvested this year.
Experts say cover crops prevent erosion, improve soil’s physical and biological properties, supply nutrients, suppress weeds, improve the availability of soil water and break pest cycles. Cover crops have grazing potential and can help stabilize repair work.
Producers are encouraged to apply by May 17 or June 21 at their local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center. Information also can be obtained online.
One Million Dollar Mega Millions Lottery Ticket Sold At Sioux City
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Lottery says a $1 million Mega Millions ticket has been sold in northwestern Iowa.
The ticket was bought at Fleet Farm Fuel in Sioux City and came
within one number of winning Friday’s $175 million jackpot. The Sioux City ticket matched the first five numbers but missing the Mega Ball number.
Fleet Farm will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for
selling the $1 million-winning ticket.
No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot, so the top prize climbs to an estimated $192 million for Tuesday.
Friday’s winning numbers were: 18-25-43-44-57 and Mega Ball 25. The Sioux City ticket was the only one in the country to win a $1 million prize in Friday’s drawing.
