Home News KLEM News Update – August 22, 2010

KLEM News Update – August 22, 2010

(SIOUX CENTER)–Auditions are planned next month for membership in the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra.

With more than 80 members, the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra presents three concerts as well as the annual Concert for children.

The group of adults of all ages as well as gifted students ranging in age from middle school through college is entering its 25th season. The concert performances are titled, “A Season of Celebration.”

The Winter Pops Concert January 22nd of next year will include the high school show choirs from Le Mars Community; M-O-C Floyd Valley; and Sheldon High School.

Auditions are Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th in the Music Building on the Dordt College Campus. Information is available from the Symphony’s administrative assistant by calling 722-6230.

(SIOUX CITY)–Nominations are being accepted for the Western Iowa Tech Community College’s annual alumni award.

Nominations are reviewed by representatives of the Western Iowa Tech Community College faculty and employees as well as members of the Foundation Board and Alumni Board.

The nomination form can be found on the Western Iowa Tech Community College website. The deadline for the public to submit nominations is September 10th.

(AMES)–Conservation information is part of the field day at the Iowa Lakes Community College student farm, west of Emmetsburg, Thursday.

Families are invited to attend and see the Iowa Learning Farms’ new Conservation Station mobile learning center.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor theĀ  field day focusing on cover crops from 5-30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The student ag farm is one-half mile west of the intersection of Highways 4 and 18, three miles west of Emmetsburg.

(SIOUX CITY)–“Mortar Matters” is the theme for a preservation workshop in Sioux City next month.

The Center on Sustainable Communities is hosting two nationally recognized experts on stabilization and preservation of historic masonry buildings for the one-day workshops in Sioux City and Des Moines.

Topics include historic masonry, stucco, terra cotta, and chinking; problems of moisture damage and evaluating contractors.

Project partners for the September 24th masonry workshop include the Sioux City Preservation Commission.

The workshop is at the Masonic Temple in Sioux City from 9 a-m to 4 p-m.

Youth get more than $134,000 at Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa agriculture foundation has given away more than $134,000 in scholarships and awards at the state fair.

The Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement presented 97 scholarships worth more than $117,000. The group also distributed 90 performance awards valued at more than $17,000.

The cash went to youth who participated in 4-H and FFA beef, swine, sheep and poultry projects on Saturday.

The Iowa State Fair runs through Sunday in Des Moines.

Flood effects on Maquoketa River could last years

DELHI, Iowa (AP) An Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist says last month’s flood along the Maquoketa (muh-KOH’-kuh-tuh) River could threaten the long-term health and beauty of one of Iowa’s premier streams.

Heavy rains pushed the Maquoketa to record levels and washed away an earthen portion of the Lake Delhi dam in eastern Iowa.

While flood debris can be removed, the DNR’s Dan Kirby says sedimentation will be a chronic problem.

Nearly a month after the dam failed, the river still runs a muddy brown color. That’s preventing biologists from documenting the amount of rocky river bottom that has been covered with silt.

Mike Jacobs of Monticello regularly fishes the waters below the dam. Jacobs doubts that the river will bounce back to its former condition in his lifetime.

Information from: The Gazette, https://www.gazetteonline.com/

Iowa woman hospitalized after pit bull attack

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) A 63-year-old Newton woman is recovering from severe arm injuries after being attacked by a pit bull.

Cora Vande Heiden says she was walking home from an errand Friday when three dogs surrounded her, and one attacked.

The dog latched on to her arm, leaving severe cuts and puncture wounds. She was in fair condition after surgery.

The dogs’ owner, Beth Audus, says she threw herself between her dog and Vande Heiden and was also attacked.

Police arrived and euthanized all three pit bulls and another dog owned by Audus.

Audus says the dogs who weren’t involved in the attack shouldn’t have been put down. She says they “weren’t that aggressive, just excited.”

The dog owners were cited with failure to vaccinate and license the animals and allowing them to run free.

Sheriff worries about new UI tailgating rules

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) The local sheriff is worried that new, stricter tailgating rules at the University of Iowa might mean more inmates in the jail on gamedays.

University officials have announced a “Think Before You Drink” campaign aimed at curbing excessive drinking at Hawkeye football games this fall. Police working around the stadium also plan to step up enforcement of open container and public urination laws.

But Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek (puhl-KRAH’-bek) says he’s “not real thrilled” with the new rules.

Pulkrabek is concerned that more gameday arrests could tax jail capacity.

The sheriff’s office is developing a comprehensive plan for the jail to follow on gamedays.

Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, https://www.press-citizen.com/

Iowa gets its first African-American female judge

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An assistant Polk County attorney has been chosen as Iowa’s first African-American female judge.

Romonda Belcher-Ford was selected by Polk County’s district judges from a pool of 20 applicants.

The 42-year-old has worked in the Polk County attorney’s office for 15 years. She currently represents the county auditor and recorder and Polk County General Services.

The North Carolina native moved to Iowa to attend Drake Law School after getting her undergraduate degree from Howard University in Washington.

Belcher-Ford says she’s “truly elated” about her new job and that it’s something she’s always wanted to do.

She has to take the bench within 30 days of her appointment.

The state’s first black judge was William W. Parker, who was elected in Waterloo in 1963.

Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com

Medical foster home for vets opens in Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE, Iowa (AP) A Cambridge couple are renovating their home to care for veterans who would otherwise be in nursing homes.

Scott and Marilyn Olson are opening a medical foster home in partnership with the Veterans Administration. They are the first in Story County to do so, although other medical foster homes are already operating in Iowa.

Veterans pay medical foster homes for room, board and other services. Jan O’Briant of the Des Moines VA says the average cost is about $1,900 a month, compared to $3,000 to $6,000 in a nursing home.

A VA medical foster home coordinator and VA staff make regular visits to provide services and make sure veterans receive proper care.

Briant says the VA aims to place 4,000 veterans in medical foster homes in the next decade.

Information from: The Tribune, https://www.amestrib.com

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