Home News Tuesday Afternoon News, January 28th

Tuesday Afternoon News, January 28th

County Supervisor Mark Loutsch Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election

(Le Mars) — During this morning’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisor meeting, Supervisor Mark Loutsch announced he would not be seeking re-election, and will leave his supervisor position at the end of his term.  Loutsch was first elected in November of 2008. He will have served as a Plymouth County Supervisor for 12 years at the conclusion of his term.

 

 

Huseman To Retire As State Representative Following Conclusion Of Term

(DES MOINES) – State Representative Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia) announced that he will not seek reelection in 2020 and will retire from the Iowa House at the conclusion of his term. Huseman represents House District 3, which is comprised of Cherokee and O’Brien counties as well as portions of Plymouth
and Sioux counties. He was first elected in 1994 and is the longest-serving member of the House Republican caucus.

Huseman served as the longtime Chairman of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee from 2003-2007 and 2011-19. He also served as Chairman of the Ethics Committee (2001-2003) and Natural Resources Committee (1999-2001) during his time in the Legislature.
He currently serves as an Assistant Majority Leader in the Iowa House.

Huseman grew up on the family farm in Cherokee County and attended Aurelia community school. He graduated from Aurelia High School in 1970 and Buena Vista College in Storm Lake in 1974. He recently retired from working on the family farm growing corn and soybeans.

Huseman and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and four grandchildren.

 

 

Former School Superintendent Announces Candidacy For State House District 3

(Aurelia) — The former school superintendent for Alta-Aurelia school district has announced his intentions of running for state representative in District 3. Lynn Evans placed his name for nomination the same day, current House Representative Dan Huseman said he would retire at the end of his term. Evans is running as a Republican. He served as the Alta-Aurelia
school superintendent from 2011 through 2019, and prior to that, he was the school superintendent for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District.
Evans says his reason for seeking the state representative position is “We need candidates to serve in our local, state and federal governments that possess the ability and experience to work with people of differing opinions for the greater good without compromising their basic principles. We need candidates that are focused on ensuring that future generations of Iowans are set up for success.”

 

 

Le Mars Community Board of Education Lobbies State Legislature For School Supplemental Spending Increase

(Des Moines) — Members of the Le Mars Community Board of Education, along with Le Mars Community School Superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner, were in Des Moines Tuesday visiting with state lawmakers in hopes of convincing legislators to increase the school supplemental spending as part of the overall K-12 educational funding.  During the last couple of years, the state legislature has passed measures that offered an increase for school funding, but at levels below what school districts say is needed.  The Le Mars Community school board met with State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars, who represents District 2, which comprises of most of Plymouth County and the northern Woodbury County.

Pictured from left to right: (front row) School board members, Dave Miller, State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary, Todd Lancaster, Mackenzie Lang.  Back row, from left to right: Dr. Steven Webner, Jane Arnold, Kyle Plathe, and Scott Kommes.

(photo contributed.)

 

 

Hy Vee To Purchase Six Former Shopko Locations

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say at least six former Shopko locations across Iowa will reopen as Hy-Vee Dollar Fresh stores. Hy-Vee announced purchase agreements Monday for Shopko buildings in Cresco, Dyersville, Hampton, Oelwein, Vinton and Waukon. Hy-Vee intends to open the
stores by late summer, after some construction work. The sale terms were not disclosed. The Dollar Fresh stores are designed for smaller communities.
Wisconsin-based Shopko filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2019, citing “excess debt.” The company announced two months later that it would liquidate its remaining stores, because executives had been unable to find a buyer.

 

 

Four People Rescued From Burning Building

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say firefighters rescued four people from a fire that erupted in a downtown Dubuque building. The blaze was reported around 12:30 p.m. Monday in a building that contained apartments and businesses. Three people were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. A city news release says some occupants were trapped by smoke on
the building’s upper floors and were rescued by firefighters using ground ladders. The fire started in a first-floor kitchen. Authorities say the flames were knocked down about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived.

 

 

Five People Arrested For Criminal Trespass At Biden’s Office

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines police have cited five people who refused to leave the Des Moines campaign office for Democrat Joe Biden after demanding to talk to him about Medicare for All proposals and his campaign donors. The five were among about two dozen people who’d entered the
building Monday and remained until officers showed up. Police say the five were given summonses alleging criminal trespassing. The Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund says the five were members of the organization or Iowa Student Action. A Biden spokeswoman said Tuesday that she couldn’t immediately comment.

 

 

Cedar Rapids Man Dies From Gun Shot Wound

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Police say a wounded man died at a hospital Tuesday after officers found him shot in the parking lot of a northern Cedar Rapids apartment complex. Officers sent to the scene before 3:40 a.m. found the 22-year-old man, who’d suffered several gunshot wounds. Police say he was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name
hasn’t been released. No arrests have been reported.

 

 

Waterloo Warming Center Forced To Move Due To Fire Code

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A warming center being evicted for not meeting fire codes has found a new spot to serve the homeless in Waterloo. The Waterloo Warming Center announced Tuesday it will be moving to the former Hawkeye Community College Metro Center and open for service on Friday. The overnight
shelter opened Jan. 6 at Jubilee United Methodist Church Freedom Center to provide a safe haven from freezing temperatures. But organizers later were told it would have to close because inspectors found the space didn’t have a
sprinkler system – a requirement for any building serving residential needs.