(LE MARS)–The fees for next year for everything from dog licenses to building rentals will be set by the Le Mars City Council.
City Administrator Scott Langel doesn’t expect to recommend fees the city charges be raised.
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Consultants are studying Le Mars Wastewater Treatment and Water. Langel says water and sewer rates would be tied to major construction.
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The Council reviews the charges the city makes once a year.
Red Cross assistants Kingsley couple
(KINGSLEY)–Fire destroyed a rural Kingsley couple’s home Wednesday morning.
Frances and Linda Hamman of 39697 County Road C-70 were being assisted by the Siouxland Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The fire in the older, two-story wooden home was reported around 9:30 Wednesday morning.
Kingsley fire fighters had assistance from Moville, Hinton and Pierson fire departments. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department provided traffic control.
The Kingsley Fire Department was out on the call for more than six hours.
State program awards $125,000 in marketing grants to 15 projects
The Vision Iowa Board Wednesday awarded just over 125-thousand dollars ($125,000) in grants to help several communities attract tourists.
Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District), Sioux City was awarded nearly 15-thousand dollars.
Vision Iowa spokesperson Jessica O’Riley says the marketing grants are divided among 15 projects.
She says the funding can be used for print, broadcast or online advertising. The maximum grant is 15-thousand dollars ($15,000) and applicants are required to provide at least a 50-percent (50%) match. One of the grants, for just over 42-hundred dollars ($4,200), was awarded to the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society in Clarinda.
O’Riley says the grant will help the attraction target group tours with advertising in a number of regional publications. In Mason City, supporters of the Historic Park Inn Hotel were awarded a marketing grant of 63-hundred dollars ($6,300).
“They’re doing very targeted marketing to preservation magazines…to lure in those architect fanatics to see the Frank Lloyd Wright property,” O’Riley said. The other marketing grants will benefit projects in Des Moines, Waterloo, Iowa City, Osage, Coon Rapids, Fairfield, Waverly and Manning. (News report by Radio Iowa)
Rare bird draws visitors
YANKTON, S.D. (AP) A small bird that winters above the Arctic Circle is drawing a lot of interest at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton.
A Ross’s gull was spotted on Nov. 26 by science teacher Mark Brogie. He says there have been less than 30 recorded sightings of the gull in the Lower 48 states.
The Press and Dakotan reports that it’s the first recorded sighting of the gull in South Dakota.
The bird is easily identified because of its pink breast and belly.
Dozens of bird enthusiasts from several states have traveled to Yankton since word of the sighting spread over the Internet.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Census says Iowans’ household incomes higher
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) U.S. Census data show Iowa household incomes have risen, but so has the percentage of Iowans living in poverty.
According to the Des Moines Register, census reports say the median household income in Iowa climbed less than $1,000 between 2007 and 2009, as the poverty rate was rising nearly a percentage point.
Iowa median household income in 2009 was a little over $48,000, compared with the national figure of a little over $50,200.
Last year’s poverty rate in Iowa was 11.8 percent, compared with 11 percent two years earlier. Last year’s national poverty rate was 14.3 percent.
Iowa State University economist David Swenson told the Register that Iowa’s economy didn’t expand as rapidly as the economies of some other states, “and therefore it didn’t have to contract as sharply.”
Paulsen targets $25M-a-year Iowa Power Fund
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) House Speaker-to-be Kraig Paulsen says the Iowa Power Fund is first on his list of program budget cuts.
According to The Des Moines Register, Paulsen told Des Moines business leaders Wednesday that state lawmakers should consider eliminating entire state agencies and programs.
The Iowa Power Fund costs $25 million a year and was created by Gov. Chet Culver to boost development of renewable energy sources in the state.
Paulsen also says he’d replace the Grow Iowa Values Fund with a program “that puts Iowans to work.”
Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Gov.-elect Terry Branstad, says Branstad is still evaluating ways to cut 15 percent from Iowa’s spending. Albrecht says no final decisions have been made.
Des Moines teacher moves on after assault by teen
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Des Moines teacher says other students need and want help, so he’s forging ahead after being repeatedly punched by a 14-year-old boy.
Patrick Williams teaches history and current events at Lincoln South High School. On Tuesday morning he was attacked by the boy in the front foyer of the school, which Williams say was off-limits to students at the time.
Williams says the boy attacked after a verbal exchange that began when Williams told the boy and two other students to leave the area.
The boy faces an assault charge and could be expelled.
The 44-year-old Williams told The Des Moines Register that the attack didn’t make him feel unsafe at the school.
From his perspective, “There are other students who need and want you and appreciate you.”
Clinton considers weapon-free city buildings
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) The City of Clinton is considering a proposal to declare its properties as “weapon-free zones”
The city’s Rules and Regulations Committee discussed the idea Tuesday.
Police Chief Brian Guy says it’s not just about protecting the public but also protecting city employees.
The Clinton Herald reports that some committee members expressed concern that a ban on weapons could be challenged, but City Attorney Jeffrey Farwell says he believes the city has legal precedent to enact a weapon ban for all buildings owned, occupied or leased by the city.
Exceptions would include police officers and people participating in an event sanctioned by the city, such as historical military re-enactment events in a park.
The committee will discuss the proposal further next month.
Iowan on trade mission to expand pork exports
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa is on a trade mission to China and Hong Kong to expand pork exports.
Representatives of the Department of Economic Development and Iowa’s pork industry will leave this month with a goal of increasing pork exports to the region.
Department Director Bret Mills says China and Hong Kong have “enormous” potential as a trading partner for Iowa.
The trip is scheduled for Dec. 11-18. The delegation will meet with government officials, importers, food service and retail representatives to develop ties with companies and potential business partners.
The trip also includes stops in Beijing and Shanghai.
Judge seals warrant in raid of Iowa player’s home
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) A judge has sealed the search warrant that drug investigators used to raid the home of standout Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and all related materials.
Judge Stephen Gerard on Wednesday granted a request by prosecutor Meredith Rich-Chappell to seal the documents, which would have shed light on how Johnson-Koulianos’ home came under police scrutiny.
Chappell said their public release would hinder an ongoing investigation and Gerard agreed.
Johnson-Koulianos and his roommate were arrested Tuesday after Iowa City police officers raided their home.
Johnson-Koulianos has been suspended from the team and made his initial court appearance Wednesday on possession of marijuana, cocaine and prescription drug charges.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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