City Officials Announce Street Closure
(Le Mars) — City public works officials have announced they have closed 1st Street southeast at the intersection of 1st Street southeast and 14th Avenue southeast. Crews are working on the storm sewer intakes. City officials estimate the street will be closed for a week with weather permitting.
Gehlen Catholic And Le Mars Community To Hold Outdoor Graduation Ceremonies
(Le Mars) — Both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community are hoping the weather will cooperate as both schools plan to hold senior graduation ceremonies outdoors on Sunday, June 14th. Gehlen Catholic’s Development Director Amy Jungers says Gehlen will hold its graduation ceremony at the Riverview ballpark complex.
Jungers says people will need to bring their own chairs to the ceremony.
Le Mars Community will hold its graduation ceremonies later that Sunday afternoon beginning at 3:00 p.m. from the new stadium facilities. Dr. Steve Webner, the school’s superintendent tells us of the specific details and restrictions.
Webner says following the graduation ceremonies, the school is asking everyone not to congregate, but rather to leave the premises.
Webner says even though the graduation ceremonies will be held outdoors, they ask everyone to consider wearing a mask or other face covering. Webner says he is excited to be able to hold a graduation ceremony.
Le Mars Community Senior Student Receives State Soil And Water Conservation Districts Scholarship
(Le Mars) — A Le Mars Community Senior has won a $3,000 scholarship through the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Services. Choloe Calhoun submitted her application for consideration. She was initially selected to represent Region 1 of the Conservation Districts of Iowa, but then went on to the state
competition. John Whitaker, CDI Executive Director announced that Chloe was chosen from all the state of Iowa applicants. Chloe will receive $3,000.00 for her 1st Place honor.
Chloe was active with the Student Council, Cross country, track, band, individual speech, large group speech, symphony, honor roll, Thespians, Spanish Club, Calculus Club, English Club, National Honor Society, and tutoring.
Chloe is active with 4-H County Council, Grant Clover Clovers 4-H Club serving most officer positions, 4-H Royalty, YMCA swim team, Le Mars Sesquicentennial Queen, Bible school teacher, and working at the Well’s Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor.
Chloe has chosen to major in food science. One of her goals is to work in the area of research and develop of new foods or meat, with the intention to explore areas of food safety, food quality, product development and meat science. Another goal is to work in a company to provide input to policies that align with sustainable food practices, such as animal well-being or soil
conservation.
Chloe quoted the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, for the definition of conservation, “to plan management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect such as water or wildlife”. Without available water and fertile soil, crops cannot grow to provide food for humans and livestock.
Chloe has family that farms and have provided examples of dams to stop water runoff and provide drinking water for livestock and prevention pasture erosion, and planting filed windbreaks to help with wind erosion.
Pate Says A New Record Was Established For Primary Election
(Des Moines) — Secretary of State Paul Pate — the state’s commissioner of elections — says a record 487-thousand votes were cast in the primary, even though in-person voting was sparse.
Those who DID vote in person on Tuesday were greeted by poll workers wearing masks and gloves. Voters in Johnson, Linn and Emmet Counties also had the option of actual drive-thru voting.
There are normally 16-hundred-81 precincts, but due to concerns about the pandemic and the emphasis on voting early by absentee ballot, precincts were consolidated into 514 polling sites on Tuesday.
House Republicans Approve Restrictions on Felon Voting Rights
(Des Moines, IA) — Republicans in the Iowa House approved legislation to forbid paroled felons who owe victim restitution from voting if Iowans approve a constitutional amendment that automatically restores voting rights.
Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the bill’s chief
advocate. He says “We’re talking about somebody who potentially killed someone, not just some dismissive bill they can’t pay.” Democratic Representative Mary Wolfe from Clinton is a criminal defense attorney. Wolfe says last (Wednesday) night was a strange time to pass the bill as protesters a few blocks from the capitol were calling for criminal justice reform. The
bill goes to the governor, so attention shifts back to Senate Republicans who’ve balked at passing a plan to end Iowa’s status as the only state that bans felons from voting once they’re released from prison.
Iowa Senate Approves Bill Updating Medical Cannabis Program
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Senate is sending Governor Reynolds a bill to adjust Iowa’s medical marijuana program. It will not boost the potency of the cannabis products as significantly as a bill she vetoed in 2019 would have. Senator Rich Taylor of from Mount Pleasant said he’d like to pass a
meaningful bill, and “we’re going to get some real help for some very, very sick people who can be helped by this drug.” But the bill aligns with the recommendations of a state task force — allowing Iowans in the medical cannabis program to buy a 90-day supply of products with a maximum of four- and-a-half grams of T-H-C. That’s the key chemical in marijuana. Senator
Brad Zaun of Urbandale said the bill isn’t perfect, but worth supporting because it also lets doctors recommend a higher dosage. Senators had an often testy debate over this bill before it passed on a mostly party-line vote.
COVID-19 Cases Top 20K in Iowa, 6 Additional Deaths
(Des Moines, IA) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iowa now tops 20-thousand. Sixty additional positive tests brings the statewide total to 20-thousand-15. Six more Iowans have died from coronavirus, increasing Iowa’s death toll to 570. The Iowa Department of Public Health says 314 people are hospitalized with COVID, 116 patients are in intensive care and 76 are on ventilators. More than 12-thousand patients no longer need isolation.
George Floyd Protests Continue in Des Moines, Iowa City
(Des Moines, IA) — It was a sixth day of George Floyd protests Wednesday night in Iowa communities including Des Moines, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
More than a thousand demonstrators in Des Moines marched to the home of Mayor Frank Cownie, demanding police changes and policies for protesting. Cownie addressed the crowd and promised to take steps to address the issues and pass an anti-racial profiling ordinance. The protesters in Iowa City clashed with police on Interstate 80 and officers used tear gas four times before the group finally dispersed. Some buildings were reportedly damaged and vandalized. People in Cedar Rapids gathered in Greene Square for prayer vigil to remember the life of George Floyd and pray for change.
