Home News Tuesday Afternoon News, September 10th

Tuesday Afternoon News, September 10th

Le Mars Police Department To Offer Police Citizens Academy

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department will hold its second Police Citizens Academy this fall. Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale says they are wanting around 12 people to participate.

Daale says participants will meet twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks and will be shown all the aspects of the duties of a police officer.

Applications are being accepted through September 30th. The Assistant Police Chief says applicants will need to pass a background check.

Scott Pagler of Hardware Hank and Laurie Peters with Floyd Valley Healthcare participated on the inaugural police citizens academy program last year.
Both say it was an educational experience.

Peters talks about some of the activities associated with the Police Citizens Academy.

For additional information regarding the Le Mars Police Citizens Academy, you can contact the Le Mars Police Department.

 

 

Le Mars FFA To Start Alumni Chapter

(Le Mars) – The Le Mars FFA chapter is starting an Alumni chapter. The Alumni chapter will assist the Le Mars FFA Chapter with fundraisers, educational programs and activities. They will also work to encourage and promote agriculture.
Danielle James, LeMars FFA chapter Adviser says “The goal of the Alumni chapter is to increase our networking within the community, which will ultimately lead to increased opportunities for our students.”

James says, “We welcome any former LeMars FFA member who is interested in supporting upcoming generations of agriculture.” Those who would like to support the chapter, but are not alumni, are encouraged to join as an allied partner.
The Le Mars FFA chapter, founded in 1940, currently has 63 active members.
All past FFA members, and interested parties, are invited to attend the inaugural Le Mars FFA Alumni Meeting and Social. September 19, 2019, at 7 p.m., in the Le Mars Community High School Ag Classroom.
“The Social will act as an informational meeting for those interested in the Alumni chapter,” said James. Questions can be directed to Le Mars FFA chapter Adviser Danielle James at danielle.james@lemarscsd.org.

 

 

Vaske Earns Top Honor Of Eagle Scout

(Le Mars) — A Gehlen Catholic student has earned the honor of Eagle Scout after constructing park benches for the Le Mars Outdoor Swimming Pool.
Issac Vaske of Le Mars tells how he chose the project building benches for the top honor in Boy Scouts.

Vaske says he constructed the benches last autumn and into the winter. He says he built a total of four benches each six feet in length. Prior to this idea, Vaske says he had thought of other projects to earn his Eagle Scout badge.

Materials for the construction of the benches were donated. The Eagle Scout says many of the swimming pool’s patrons have complimented him for the much needed benches.

Vaske says he has been a member of Boy Scouts for nearly 12 years. He explains the journey he has taken in order to qualify for an Eagle Scout award.

The honored Boy Scout has not yet scheduled the date for the Eagle Scout recognition ceremony, but he says Boy Scouts have helped him build confidence and develop leadership skills.

Our congratulations go to Isacc Vaske for accomplishing the top honor of Eagle Scout.

(photos contributed.)

 

 

Dream Big Grow Here Announces Business Contest

(Sioux City) — The economic development organization in northwest Iowa are teaming up for the fifth straight year to offer the “Dream Big Grow Here” business grant contest in our region. The “Dream Big Grow Here” contest is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to fulfill their
dreams of self-employment or expansion of their current business. The contest allows entrepreneurs the chance to submit their dreams to start or expand a business, then encourage friends, family, and customers to vote for them online. The finalists will present their idea to an audience and judges in a pitch-off event for a chance to win thousands in cash prizes.

From now until October 6th, entrepreneurs in Cherokee, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties can submit their business or startup ideas to www.DreamBigGrowHere.com.

Voting on the submitted ideas will take place October 9th – 19th. During the voting period, the entrepreneur will recruit others to vote for their entry. The top three finalists will advance to a regional pitch-off competition, along with two additional entrants chosen by a selection committee. Each finalist will have access to the University of Northern Iowa’s Business Concierge Services, as well as receive personalized coaching from the Small Business Development Center and UNI’s Center for Business Growth and Innovation.

The regional contest will be held the evening of Thursday, November 14th.
That evening, the finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas with first place receiving $4,000, second place receiving $2,000 and third place receiving $1,000 to grow their business.

 

 

Medicaid Providers Say They Are Owed $1.4 Million Dollars

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Providers of Medicaid services in Iowa say they’re owed up to $1.4 million by an insurance company that left the Iowa Medicaid program two years ago.
Documents filed with the Iowa Insurance Division show AmeriHealth Caritas could owe as much as $1.4 million to Iowa hospitals, nursing homes and providers of mental health services.
Kim Weber, who leads a company that helps Medicaid patients to stay in their homes, says she’s owed $193,000 and calls the unpaid bills “downright thievery.”
A hospital in Vinton and a nursing home company in Hampton are among Iowa providers that have sued for payment of tens of thousands of dollars.
An AmeriHealth spokesman says the company continues “to diligently work to resolve any outstanding items.”
Providers say they haven’t received help from the Department of Humans Services, which oversees Medicaid. The agency says those with claims should deal directly with the privately run program.

 

 

Clear Lake Snowmobile Races Come To An End

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Organizers have announced the end of a memorial snowmobile race on Clear Lake in northern Iowa.
The organizers of the Jack Helgren Memorial Race say the event has been discontinued after its 10-year run because members of the original organizational group have decided to retire.
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the race is named after Jack Helgren, an area businessman, former snowmobile dealer and avid racer who died in 2009. The two-event featured snowmobile races, a vintage snowmobile show and live music.
The event, historically scheduled in January, was postponed to February this year because of unseasonable temperatures and poor ice conditions. The race was held on the lake ice, and snowmobilers and spectators parked on the ice as well.

 

 

Missing Iowa Woman’s Body Found In Missouri

PINEVILLE, Mo. (AP) – Authorities say dental records and a tattoo support an earlier tentative identification of a body found on a hillside in southwest Missouri.
McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall said Monday the new evidence suggests the body found July 29 near Noel is that of 25-year-old Jessica McCormack, of Noel. Investigators believe she was stuffed into a suitcase that rolled down a hill after being thrown from a moving vehicle.
Hall tentatively identified the body in August. The Joplin Globe reports Hall said Monday dental records and a tattoo on the body’s left wrist made authorities confident the body was McDonald.
Her boyfriend, 37-year-old Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed is charged with kidnapping but is a fugitive. Investigators believe he took McCormack’s three daughters to Iowa and left them with a friend before disappearing.