Home News KLEM News PM Update July 14, 2010

KLEM News PM Update July 14, 2010

(LE MARS)–A business on Plymouth Street in Le Mars is the latest to be awarded a City of Le Mars Facade Grant.

Jim Flaherty State Farm Insurance will receive funds for a total project estimated at about 94-hundred dollars. According to Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street manager Mary Reynolds, the business was awarded a 50 percent grant.

When the improvements are completed, Jim Flaherty State Farm Insurance will be eligible for reimbursement of about 47-hundred dollars.

The facade work is scheduled to begin soon with three local businesses receiving work for the improvements.

Reynolds says the Main Street Design Committee was unanimous in voting to award the project funding and is pleased the business is making the change.

Fredonia township voters consider change November 2

(LE MARS)–A third vote in a decade on election of officers is set for residents of one Plymouth County township.

Residents in all but one of Plymouth County’s 24 townships have voted to have the Board of Supervisors fill vacancies for township trustees or clerks. The exception is Fredonia Township in the Oyens area with a population of just over 300.

Fredonia Township voters decided against the change to supervisors appointment of township officers rather than electing officers in both 2004 and 2006. Auditor and Election Commissioner Stacey Feldman explained the impact of a change when supervisors Tuesday considered a November vote on the issue for Fredonia Township.

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Supervisors unanimously voted to have the appointment election question on the Fredonia Township general election ballot November 2nd.

Sioux City awarded $4.7-million for road access to new industrial area

(AMES)–Access to a new industrial area in Sioux City will be funded, in part, by state transportation funds targeted to economic development.

Iowa Transportation Commissioners Tuesday approved a grant request for the city of Sioux City for up to four-point-seven million dollars. The money will help with financing of construction of more than 16-thousand feet of roadway.

According to Craig Markley of the Iowa Department of Transportation, the funds are for access to more than 400 acres to be developed for industry in the area known as the Southbridge Business Park.

Waterloo seeks funding for new school dress code

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) The Waterloo school board is seeking funds to help families who will need financial assistance to buy clothes for their children under its new dress code.

Solid color tops and bottoms are required, as well as certain footwear, jackets and other clothes. Items not allowed include sleeveless shirts, jeans and sandals.

On Monday, the Board of Education approved submitting grants requesting a total $35,000 to four foundations part of the fundraising effort.

The dress code goes into effect in the fall for several schools, including East, Expo and West high schools. It will start in all other schools a year later.

The district is sending out mailings requesting donations of money and clothing. IOWA-BOY TRAPPED

Iowa boy freed after trapped under slab in river

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) Officials say rescue crews freed a boy whose leg was trapped under a large concrete slab in the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge.

Officials say 14-year-old Joseph Hill, of rural Webster County, was pinned for about 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon. He was laying on his back in about three feet of water along the bank.

Hill’s grandfather, Dean Vogel, of Otho (OH’-tho), says they were fishing and his grandson stepped on the slab while trying to retrieve a fishing line. His leg was caught when the concrete moved and he couldn’t get out of the way.

The teen was taken to a Fort Dodge hospital, where he was treated and released.

Vogel says his grandson suffered cuts and bruises, but no broken bones. IOWA PRISON POPULATION

Iowa prison population on the increase

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Iowa’s prison population is on the upswing following declining numbers dating back to 2007.

Officials on Tuesday said the Department of Corrections had over 8,600 inmates in the state’s nine prisons at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. That compares to more than 8,400 inmates a year earlier.

Corrections Director John Baldwin says a major factor in the increase was a jump in new court commitments, which offset declines in parole revocations and other areas.

The prisons are designed to house a total of 7,400 inmates.

Culver adds Shelby County to disaster list

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Chet Culver has added Shelby County in western Iowa to a disaster declaration because of flash flooding.

The proclamation, issued Tuesday, allows the county to use state resources to deal with the aftermath of the recent storms. The declaration now covers a total of 36 counties.

Eligible residents can seek up to $5,000 in reimbursements for damage incurred for individuals and families whose income is less than 200 percent above the poverty level.

Families seeking assistance through the state must apply within 45 days after a declaration has been made. The earliest declaration was issued on June 1.

More information is available on the state’s Department of Human Services’ website.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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