(AKRON)–Two Le Mars men died in a one-vehicle accident about five miles east of Akron early Sunday.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office identified them as 22-year-old Ryan Gilbert Utesch and 27 year-old Jonathon Wade Marshall. A third person in the vehicle, 19-year-old Courtney Darlene Brian of Le Mars, is hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.
Utesch, Marshall and Brian were ejected from the vehicle after it entered the south ditch and rolled several times. The vehicle came to rest against a utility pole.
The accident on Highway Three, near Evergreen Avenue, was reported to law enforcement about 12:30 Sunday morning.
Other details, such as who was driving, are not yet available.
School board hears buildings project recommendation, audit report
(LE MARS)–A financial report and a recommendation for a building project will be presented to the Le Mars Community School Board of Education tonight (Monday).
Jeff Peters of Williams and Company will report on the district’s finances from the 2009-2010 school year. The information is part of the annual audit of the school district.
Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt will report on input received on the proposed Phase II Construction project. The superintendent will also present his recommendation about the project for a new gymnasium as well wrestling; art and band rooms; practice rooms; parking lots; and tennis courts.
The board will also discuss interest in disposing of the Camp Quest property located northeast of Le Mars.
The public meeting begins at 7:30 tonight at the Education Service Center.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
You are hereby notified that the Board of Education of the LeMars Community School District will meet on October 25, 2010, 7:30 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 940 Lincoln St. SW, LeMars, Iowa. Agenda is as follows:
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes (October 11, 2010 – Regular Meeting)
3. Consent Grouping (Claims and Accounts; Quarterly Vendor Report)
4. Reports and Information (Unscheduled Audience; Audit Report; Phase II Construction Project; IASB Orientation to Governance; IASB Annual Convention)
5. Action Items (Resignations; Contracts; Board Policy 407.3; Board of Education/Administrative Retreat; County Conference Board; Camp Quest)
6. Other Business
7. Unfinished Business
8. Adjournment
NEXT REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 2010, 7:30 PM
LeMars Community School District
940 Lincoln St. SW
LeMars, Iowa 51031
(712) 546-4155
BY: Lisa Boehm, Secretary, Board of Education
——————————————————————————–
Le Mars Community School Board of Education
Notice of Meeting
October 26, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Middle School Library, Sheldon, Iowa
I. IASB ABLE Conference
A majority of the Le Mars Community School Board will be attending an Academy of Board Learning Experience workshop titled “Orienting your Board to a New Year of Challenges” in Sheldon, Iowa.
No action will be taken by the Le Mars Community School Board of Education at this workshop.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING, NOVEMBER 8, 2010, 7:30 PM
School van collision injures two
(HULL)–Two northwest Iowa teenagers were injured Friday night when the school van they were riding in was involved in an accident near Hull.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Department reports that a Hull man failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with a school van owned by Unity Christian High School from Orange City. Both vehicles then collided with a combine that had been stopped for the stop sign opposite the pickup. The van was transporting several members of the Unity Christian football cheerleading squad to the game against Central Lyon-George/Little Rock in Rock Rapids. Two passengers in the van were injured and transported to the Sioux Center Hospital. They were identified as 14-year-old Tabitha Zomermaand of Maurice (pronounced: Morris) and 16-year-old Abigail Boer of Sioux Center. Two people in the pickup were also taken to the Sioux Center Hospital. All of the victims suffered minor injuries. The accident remains under investigation. (NEWS REPORT FROM RADIO IOWA)
Census figures will be on the President’s desk
(LE MARS)–Numbers that deterimine how much state and federal funding city government in Le Mars gets will be final soon.
According to City administrator Scott Langel, the 2010 Census Bureau final numbers are to be placed on the President’s desk late in the year. They’re not official until the President signs the report.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/Oct2010/census1102510.mp3{/audio}
If city officials don’t think the numbers make sense there’s action to take.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/Oct2010/census2102510.mp3{/audio}
The 2000 Census put the population of Le Mars at 9,237.
Culvert project closes portion of gravel road today
(LE MARS)–A project to replace a bridge with a culvert will shut down traffic on a portion of a gravel road south of Remsen as of today.
Engineer Tom Rohe reports 260th Street, from Polk Avenue east two miles to Quest Avenue, will be closed until the end of November.
The bridge is being replaced with a precast box culvert. Local traffic will be allowed along this section of roadway from each end.
American Future Fund is a player in elections
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Des Moines Register says that a nonprofit organization that doesn’t have to say where it gets its money is the biggest spender in any U.S. House race in Iowa this year.
The newspaper reports that Iowa-based American Future Fund has spent almost $8.9 million this election cycle. That includes more than $1 million, mostly on television ads, to criticize Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley in his race against newcomer Ben Lange.
American Future Fund was started three years ago by Nick Ryan of Des Moines.
The 32-year-old Ryan managed former U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle’s unsuccessful bid for governor in 2006 and his group advocates conservative, free-market views.
Iowa Falls renewable energy executive Bruce Rastetter says he provided seed money to American Future Fund but won’t say how much.
Biden to attend rally for Braley in House race
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley say’s he’s getting more help from Vice President Joe Biden.
Braley’s campaign said Sunday that Biden will return to Iowa on Friday for a rally in Dubuque that will also include Sen. Tom Harkin.
Braley represents Iowa’s 1st District and is being challenged by newcomer, Republican Ben Lange.
Braley calls Biden “one of America’s strongest voices for middle class families” and says he’s honored by the help.
Friday’s rally will be held at the Grand River Center.
Branstad gets endorsement from Dubuque newspaper
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) Terry Branstad has been endorsed by the editorial board of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald in the race for Iowa governor.
The newspaper says that Republican and former governor Branstad will do more for Iowa in a shorter amount of time than incumbent Chet Culver.
The endorsement also says that Branstad has experience and knowledge in areas like higher education, health care and business.
And it says he’s laying out a comprehensive plan for dealing with Iowa’s commercial property tax rates.
Even so, the newspaper says neither Culver nor Branstad is a perfect candidate.
Gov. Culver gets Des Moines Register endorsement
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Chet Culver picked up the endorsement of the state’s largest newspaper.
The Des Moines Register says Culver has a better vision for sustaining Iowa’s growth and is a better leader than Republican challenger Terry Branstad.
The newspaper noted Culver’s plan for free universal preschool, his commitment to renewable energy and infrastructure improvements.
The newspaper also endorsed Sen. Charles Grassley over challenger Roxanne Conlin.
GOP leaders plan Iowa stops as election nears
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The midterm election is coming up, but a host of Republican visitors are making it feel more like presidential caucus time.
This week, potential presidential candidates visiting the state include former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich also stopped in western Iowa last Friday, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty plans events in the state Oct. 31.
Most of the visits coincide with campaign events with local candidates, especially former Gov. Terry Branstad, who is seeking a return to the office he held for 16 years. The Republican Branstad is running against Democratic Gov. Chet Culver.
Cedar Rapids couple displaced by house fire
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) A house fire has displaced an elderly Cedar Rapids couple.
Fire officials say 73-year-old Richard Kelly and 77-year-old Audrey Kelly were home around 10 a.m. Sunday when they noticed smoke in the basement of their home.
Firefighters determined that the fire was caused by a breach in a chimney flue between the house and the garage. Nobody was injured but the home suffered smoke and water damage.
Fire officials say there were no working smoke alarms in the home. They say chimneys and wood-burning stoves should be professionally inspected and cleaned annually.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Submit your news release, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm or by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
