Home News Monday News, May 20th

Monday News, May 20th

Commencement Ceremonies Held Sunday For Le Mars Schools

(Le Mars) — Sunday was graduation day for many area schools, including Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community. 32 seniors accepted their diplomas at Gehlen Catholic, while 156 Le Mars Community seniors were congratulated.
Laurie Kellen was the featured speaker during the Gehlen Catholic commencement ceremonies. The Gehlen teacher encouraged the senior class to pursue their dreams, and she is grateful that she has been able to pursue her dream as a teacher.

Kellen urged the graduating seniors to explore the world, but don’t forget about home.

Kellen also suggested to the class of 2019 to remain faithful and loyal to your religious beliefs.

Kellen summarized her speech and gave advice to the graduating seniors all within her last statement.

At Le Mars Community, Senior Keegan Pippett delivered the commencement address. Pippett informed his fellow senior classmates how they all have become amazing people.

Pippett says we must be open to change, but advised his fellow classmates to be true to themselves.

In his address, Pippett says amazing people don’t need to have everything.

Pippett concluded his address by suggesting to his classmates to thank those people responsible for making them amazing people.

 

 

Senator Joni Ernst Visits Good Samaritan Society Of Le Mars

(Le Mars) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst made a visit to Le Mars Saturday morning.
The Republican Senator was given a tour at the Good Samaritan Care Center of Le Mars where she met with some of the residents. Following the tour, Ernst sat down with Karen Mousel, administrator for the Le Mars nursing care facility, and with Tom Syverson, Operations Director with the Good Samaritan
Society overseeing many of the regional care facilities.

The Good Samaritan officials discussed with Senator Ernst three areas of concern. Mousel says they are constantly facing the shortfalls of Medicaid with their residents, which often times ends up costing the family, or the care facility money.
Mousel also informed the Senator the challenge to find employees with the work force shortage. Mousel says the greatest need are for certified nursing assistants, and with the dietary and housekeeping staff.

The Good Samaritan Society officials discussed the recent merger of Good Samaritan Society with the Sanford Healthcare Center based in Sioux Falls. Another topic of discussion focused on rural health care, and how tele-health and tele-medicine are assisting with health care needs in the rural areas. Ernst told the nursing care officials she is a supporter of tele-health care, and tele-medicine in which health care can be extended to remote rural areas. Ernst told reporters she was impressed with the Le Mars nursing care facility, and said she has had family members reside at Good Samaritan Society nursing care facilities.

 

 

Ernst Addresses Trade Issues During Le Mars Visit

(Le Mars) — While visiting Le Mars, Senator Ernst answered questions from the local media. She was asked about the Trump Administration’s actions on Friday lifting the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from Mexico and Canada, and whether that would clear the way for the Senate to ratify the USMCA trade agreement. Ernst says the trade agreement would first need to
pass the House of Representatives.

Ernst offers what she believes will be the timetable for the Mexico and Canada trade agreement.

Continuing on the topic of trade and tariffs, Senator Ernst was asked about the actions taken by President Trump saying he would rachet up the tariffs to 25 percent on all goods coming from China?

 

 

 

Ernst Hopes Democrats Will Support A Disaster Relief Bill Scheduled For A Third Vote This Week

(Le Mars) — Twice during the Congressional session, a disaster relief bill has failed to gain support in the Senate for relief assistance for people adversely affected by the flooding. Another attempt to pass the disaster assistance bill comes up for a Senate vote this week. Senator Ernst was asked if the Democrats would support the measure, and if the third time would
be the charm for families, businesses, farmers, and others affected by the floods.

 

 

Trump Maintains Rural Support Despite Trade Tariffs

MADRID, Iowa (AP) – Donald Trump won the presidency by winning rural America, in part by pledging to use his tough negotiating skills to take on China and put an end to trade practices that have hurt farmers for years.
While the prolonged fight has been devastating to an already-
struggling agriculture industry, there’s little indication Trump is paying a political price. But there’s a big potential upside if he can get a better deal – and little downside if he continues to get credit for fighting for the farmers caught in the middle.
It’s a calculation Trump recognizes heading into a reelection bid
where he needs to hold on to farm states like Iowa and Wisconsin and is looking to flip others, like Minnesota.

 

 

Multiple Killings Reported At Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police have released the identities of two people killed in a weekend shooting in Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids Police said two 18-year-olds, Matrell Eugene Johnson and Royal Ceiz Abram died as a result of the shooting early Saturday morning. A 19-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting and she remained hospitalized Sunday.
The shooting happened around 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Iowa Smoke Shop on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids.
Investigators believe the victims were in a vehicle in the parking
lot at the store when someone approached them firing a gun.

 

 

Television’s “Bachelor Star” Faces Sentencing For Fatal Traffic Accident

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) – A judge has refused to delay sentencing for a northern Iowa farmer who appeared on ABC’s “The Bachelor” and who was involved in a fatal crash.
Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Soules pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to a reduced charge of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident. His lawyers had sought the sentencing delay, citing the prosecution’s lack of response to a motion regarding a pre-sentence investigation. The judge denied the request
last week and said the sentencing will be held Tuesday as scheduled in a Buchanan County courtroom in Independence.
Soules appeared on “The Bachelor” and “Dancing With The Stars” in 2015.
He was arrested after he rear-ended a tractor on April 24, 2017, killing 66-year-old Kenny Mosher. Soules called 911, performed CPR on Mosher and waited for first responders but left before officers arrived.

 

 

Henry County Sheriff Anxious For New Jail

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) – One eastern Iowa sheriff is looking forward to moving into a new jail this fall because it is a significant upgrade over the current eight-bed facility.
The Burlington Hawkeye reports the new Henry County jail will be able to hold 108 inmates, and it will be much more secure than the current jail.
Sheriff Rich McNamee says the new jail will allow staff to better
monitor prisoners and it includes cells for medium and maximum security prisoners.
Before McNamee was appointed sheriff in 2013, voters had twice
rejected jail referendums in 2005 and 2006. In August 2017, 85 percent of the voters supported the $9.1 million bond issue needed for the new jail.
McNamee says he expects to move into the new facility by October.

 

 

Barge Traffic Is Halted Due To Floods On Major Rivers

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Historic flooding has left parts of the Mississippi River closed for business.
The river is a main conduit of shipping everything from agriculture products and construction material to petroleum and coal. Flooding also has affected shipping on the Missouri River and other waterways that feed into the Mississippi.
The shipping woes come at a time when farmers would normally be sending soybeans, corn and other grain from more than a dozen states in the Mississippi River basin down the river. And fertilizer shipments that normally travels up the river to communities from St. Louis to St. Paul, Minnesota, still haven’t made it through.
The interruption is hitting an agriculture industry that’s already
suffering, including from trade disputes that have helped drive down commodity prices.

 

 

Mother Graduates From College After 35 Years

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Nearly 35 years after she started, one Iowa mom is receiving her college degree from Loras College this weekend.
Karen Leisen told the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald she always focused on her goal of finishing college as she was raising her nine children.
Leisen mostly took one class per semester and finished her school work at the dining room table after her kids were asleep.
College officials say the 76-year-old Leisen is likely the oldest
graduate in the school’s history.
Leisen says she got to meet some real nice young students along the way as she took classes.