School Board To Decide On Starting School At An Earlier Time
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting tonight at the Education Service Center beginning at 6:00 p.m.
School superintendent, Dr. Steve Webner will discuss with board members a preliminary update on the school district’s response and preparation for the COVID-19 virus. The school board will act on at least four different resignations including: Zach Davis as he has resigned his position as assistant boys soccer coach, effective immediately. Gina Smith has resigned her food service position, and Larry Luft has resigned his position as a
part-time custodian at Clark Elementary, effective immediately. Shannon Zenk has resigned from her food service position at the middle school, effective immediately. As for contracts, the board will consider hiring Kasie Schindel as a high school English teacher, Shane Hessenius as a mentor, Tami Dunn as the high school MTSS team, Sherri Permeswaran, as the head individual speech events coach, Emily Vickery as the high school special education teacher, Gina Smith as a teacher associate, Vicki Lalumendre as a teacher associate, Jaimie Fourie as a teacher associate, Jessica Franck as a teacher associate, Bruce Spencer as a teacher associate, Selva Quiles with the food service,
Lexie Landis as the instructor for the flag corp, Summer Schiff as a teacher associate, and Shannon Zenk to move into a full-time position with the food services. The school board will appoint a member to serve as the Iowa Association of School Boards Legislative Action network for the upcoming school year. The school board will also consider a proposal of changing the
start time for the Le Mars Community High School from 8:30 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. during time necessary for COVID mitigation.
Parts Of Iowa Under Drought Conditions
(Des Moines) — The recent U-S Drought Monitor report shows abnormally dry conditions in about 35 percent of the state, with eight west-central counties classified as being in moderate drought. Iowa D-N-R analyst Tim Hall says the state remains in a contrast when it comes to water conditions.
While parts of the state are characterized as dry — Hall says there are two different ways to look at it.
The other type of drought impacts more long-term water needs.
He says not all rain will help get rid of the dry conditions.
Hall says the longer the drought continues, the more you have to
worry about the time it takes to come out of it.
Hall says the rains can also be sporadic this time of year and help one area agriculturally — while leaving another area still in need of rain.
Naig Comments On USMCA And Meat Processing Facilities With COVID-19
(Marcus) — On July 1st, the USMCA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico went into effect. Last week, while making an appearance at Marcus, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the trade agreement will certainly benefit Iowa farmers. He says it has been a long time coming…
Naig is hopeful that this trade agreement will spur on other agreements with other nations around the world.
Naig was also asked about the situation involving meat processing facilities, if conditions has improved from nearly two months ago when so many of the meat processing centers had large numbers of employees infected with the COVID-19 virus?
Naig went on to thank everyone involved with agriculture and delivering food from the farm to the table.
Black Lives Matter Proposes Language For Governor’s Executive Order On Felon Voting Rights
(Des Moines, IA) — Activists in Des Moines are proposing their own language to be contained in the governor’s executive order restoring voting rights for felons. Governor Kim Reynolds hasn’t commented on what she will include in her order. She has promised to issue the order before the November election. A spokesperson for Black Lives Matter in Des Moines says the
governor previously said she would share what would be in the executive order with them in June. Now, the group says it won’t accept the lack of urgency and disregard for disenfranchised Iowans.
IDPH Confirmed 503 New COVID-19 Cases Sunday
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health reports as of Sunday testing has confirmed 503 new cases of COVID-19 in the state. That makes a total of 35-thousand-two cases since the outbreak began. A little over 26 thousand have recovered. One additional death attributed to the virus runs the Iowa toll to 749. Doctors say 527 of those victims had pre-
existing conditions. Fifty-four patients are currently in intensive care.
University Of Southern California Moves John Wayne Exhibit
(Los Angeles, CA) — The University of Southern California is bowing to pressure and moving an exhibit dedicated to legendary action John Wayne – an Iowa native. The decision comes after a public outcry over Wayne’s bigoted remarks to Playboy magazine in an article nearly 50 years ago. He offered derogatory views of African Americans, Native Americans and films with gay characters in that interview. The Wayne exhibit will be moved to the U-S-C Cinematic Arts Library. Orange County, California officials are still considering a resolution to remove Wayne’s likeness from the county airport due to his views.
Man Accused Of Killing College Student Mollie Tibbetts Goes On Trial In January
(Montezuma, IA) — The murder trial for the man accused of killing college student Mollie Tibbetts will start next January and will be moved to Scott County. Christhian Bahena Rivera’s trial was originally set for September, but both the prosecution and defense have agreed to the new date and the change of venue. Tibbetts disappeared last year while jogging in Brooklyn,
Iowa. Her body was found in a cornfield a month later. Investigators say she was stabbed to death.
