(LE MARS)–United Way fund raising in Le Mars is over three-quarters of the way to the fundraising goal.
The goal of this year’s campaign is 225-thousand dollars. More than 170-thousand dollars has been pledged to the Le Mars United Way. Several campaigns are still running or getting underway.
Board chair for the Le Mars United Way Janelle Bixenman says Le Mars is a generous community and United Way volunteers are confident the people of Le Mars and surrounding areas will come through as they always do. Bixenman says when the goal is successfully reached, this will be the most money ever raised by the Le Mars United Way.
Several large campaigns are currently running or wrapping up with reports soon. They include Floyd Valley Hospital, Le Mars Community Schools, Dean Foods, Primebank, NIPCO, BoDeans Baking Company and Nor-Am.
The Le Mars United Way campaign is underway through December. All contributions support agencies and programs providing services in the Le Mars area. To contribute or learn more about the Le Mars United Way and programs its supports, information is available by calling 712.255-3551.
New cardiology group opens in downtown Sioux City
(SIOUX CITY)–Mercy Medical Center today announced a hospital-aligned cardiology group.
Mercy Cardiology will be led by a Canton, South Dakota native, Dr. “Mick ” Hurley and will be located in the Mercy Heart Center on the hospital’s downtown campus.
Mercy President and C-E-O Bob Peebles says market data indicates the need for at least another nine cardiologists. In addition to Dr. Hurley, three additional cardiologists have joined Mercy Cardiology, are seeing patients at Mercy Heart and accepting appointments.
Peebles emphasized the significance of patients and families being able to receive services locally without the need to travel out-of-town for treatment.
Saturday absentee voting hours offered Oct. 30
(LE MARS)–Voters have a pre-election day option to fill out a two-sided paper ballot this Saturday in Plymouth County.
Auditor Stacey Feldman has announced absentee voting at the Courthouse is from 9 in the morning until five in the afternoon.
Voters are asked to use the north lower level entrance.
More than 25-hundred Plymouth County absentee ballot requests have been received, according to deputy auditor Cheri Nitzschke.
Voting hours for the general election on Tuesday are from 7 am to 9 p.m. All residents of Le Mars will vote in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center.
Iowa Guard troops arrive in Afghanistan
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Some members of the Iowa Army National Guard have arrived in Afghanistan as part of the largest call-up of Iowa troops since World War II.
Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood said some of the 2,800 troops that are part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division, have arrived in Afghanistan.
He says the rest are at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and will depart for Afghanistan soon.
Hapgood says security prevented him from disclosing how many troops have deployed.
The soldiers have been training at Camp Shelby and at Fort Irwin, Calif.
The brigade will perform a full spectrum of operations in a combat theater. Security, supporting and training Afghan National Army and Police units and humanitarian relief missions will also be common.
(COPYRIGHT 2010 BY ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
Branstad reports $530,000 in late donations
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Republican Terry Branstad says he’s raised $530,000 in the last 12 days, bringing his fundraising total to $8.1 million in his campaign for governor.
Branstad released his fundraising totals on Thursday, a day before a Friday deadline. Aides to Democratic Gov. Chet Culver say they are still compiling his financial disclosure information.
Branstad, a former four-term governor, and Culver will face off in Tuesday’s general election.
Branstad says he has $332,286 in reserves heading into the final days of his campaign. IOWA CHIROPRACTOR-TRIAL
Iowa chiropractor’s sexual abuse case goes to jury
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) The case of an Oskaloosa chiropractor accused of sexually abusing patients has gone to the jury after closing arguments.
Jurors started deliberations Wednesday in the trial of Jason Ebelsheiser, who faces seven counts of sexual abuse and a count of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors told jurors expert testimony shows what happened with the patients wasn’t chiropractic treatment. Ebelsheiser testified in his defense on Tuesday, saying he didn’t touch anyone inappropriately.
Ebelsheiser was arrested last year after being accused of abusing women, ages 17 to 46. Ebelsheiser has pleaded not guilty. His attorney has said the contact was incidental or accidental.
Federal ruling means Iowa tribe can transfer land
TAMA, Iowa (AP) The Sac and Fox Tribe now has the ability to put 257 acres of its land into a federal trust.
The Times-Republican newspaper in Marshalltown reports Thursday that the Interior Board of Indian Appeals has rejected an appeal from Tama County on the issue. If the land goes into federal trust it will be exempt from local property taxes. The newspaper reports that the land provides about $7,000 in tax revenue to the county.
The land is made up of four tracts that are next to the Meskwaki Settlement. The county said in its appeal that it is losing increasing tax revenue because the tribe keeps amassing land. But the Bureau of Indian Affairs called the tax revenue loss “minimal.”
Iowa AG announces propane pricing deal
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Attorney General Tom Miller says he’s reached a deal with a major supplier of liquid propane gas that requires the company to give customers a summary sheet detailing charges in an easily understood format.
Miller announced the agreement with Overland Park, Kan.-based Ferrellgas on Thursday. He says the deal ensures the company provides customers with information about pricing, including surcharges and fees, and tells customers how much per gallon they’re being charged.
Miller says his office’s consumer protection division has fielded complaints about the company’s complicated billing practices for years.
Liquid propane gas is a commonly used fuel in rural areas not connected to natural gas lines. Farmers also use propose to dry corn after the fall harvest.
Iowa Gatens to miss 3 weeks with hand injury
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says junior guard Matt Gatens will be out for three weeks after tearing a tendon on his non-shooting hand.
McCaffery said Thursday at the Big Ten media day that Gatens may miss Iowa’s first two games but should be back after that.
Gatens, the team’s leading scorer last season with 12.3 points per game, tore the tendon during practice Tuesday and is scheduled for surgery Thursday.
Gatens was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season, leading the Hawkeyes in free throw and 3-point shooting percentage.
McCaffery says freshman Devyn Marble will take Gatens’ place in the lineup, adding that Marble has come on in recent practices.
Ohio State named top pick in women’s Big Ten
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Ohio State center Jantel Lavender is a unanimous pick as the Big Ten women’s basketball preseason player of the year.
Both coaches and media at the Big Ten’s media day on Thursday also tabbed the Buckeyes as favorites to claim their seventh straight conference title.
Lavender is a three-time Big Ten Player of the year. She averaged 21.4 points and 10.3 rebounds last season. The Buckeyes went 31-5 on the way to regular season and Big Ten tournament championships.
Iowa is a consensus No. 2 preseason pick, while Michigan State was third.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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