LE MARS – A fear is the focus of classes Floyd Valley Hospital will offer next month.
Kara Hitchler of Floyd Valley Hospital says there is a reason to be afraid of falling. But, Hitschler emphasizes falls are largely preventable.
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People who develop a fear of falling may actually increase their risk of falling because they’re less active.
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For eight sessions beginning May 2nd Floyd Valley Hospital is offering “A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls.”
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New habits and skills are part of the classes.
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To register or get more information call Kara Hitchler at Floyd Valley Hospital at 546-6793.
(SIOUX CITY)–State funding questions are the reason a second acting Clerk of Court is being appointed for Plymouth County.
Charlene Peterson of Le Mars retired as the clerk in March. The acting clerk, Craig Jorgensen of Woodbury County, is also retiring.
Court Administrator Leesa McNeil released information that Deb Fischer is the new acting Clerk of Court for Plymouth County. Fischer was appointed by judges to work in Plymouth County in addition to her position as Clerk of Court in Sioux County. Fischer has been employed by the court system since 1996.
According to McNeil’s information, judges will reconsider whether a clerk may be appointed for Plymouth County in the next few months. Iowa lawmakers have not set court system funding yet for the 2012 budget year.
A public retirement reception for Jorgensen will be held April 28th from 2-4 in the afternoon in the Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City.
LE MARS – A Plymouth County native has been named local sales manager for KLEM Radio. Angie Galles of Remsen will work out of the Le Mars radio station’s offices directing the local sales efforts for Powell Broadcasting.
Powell Broadcasting Director of Sales Dave Grosenheider says he is pleased to have someone of Angie’s caliber and experience taking over the sales management duties at KLEM Radio.
An eight-year radio sales and marketing veteran, Galles has been active in Chamber activities and is co-chair of the annual Remsen Oktoberfest.
Powell Broadcasting General Manager Dennis Bullock says “Angie is a perfect fit for our operation in Le Mars. We are pleased to welcome her to our sales management team. According to Bullock, she joins a dedicated, passionate staff in Le Mars.”
KLEM broadcasts at 1410 on the AM radio band and at 96.9 FM with the addition of an FM translator. The station has provided nearly six decades of service to the area, emphasizing local news, high school sports and announcements.
KLEM’s Powell Broadcasting five sister stations are KSUX 105.7 FM; KSCJ 1360 AM; KOOL 99.5 FM; NEW 102.3 FM; and Y101.3 FM.
SIOUX CITY – A music legend performs in Sioux City next month.
Elton John takes the stage at the Tyson Events Center May 3rd for a one-show only performance at eight in the evening.
He’ll perform his number one chart hits and classic album tracks from a five-decade career.
Tickets for the Elton John concert will be available beginning Monday.
STORM LAKE – Safety is the focus of two days of training in Storm Lake for Iowa State Patrol officers and others who wear a uniform in northwest Iowa.
Vince Kurtz of the Iowa State Patrol says the Advance Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement program helps enhance the officers ability to recognize drivers who under the influence.
Kurtz sees the skills as important for the officers and the public.
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The Iowa State Patrol Safety Educator cites what he describes as a “startling statistic.”
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The alcohol workshop included hands-on training with volunteers.
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The training is offered through the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Christie Vilsack, the wife of Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, has announced she’s taking the first step toward running for Congress by relocating to Iowa’s new 4th District.
Vilsack, a Democrat, announced her decision on Wednesday. She says she’s moving to Ames next month to explore the possibilities. Vilsack has lived in Mount Pleasant, a district that has been represented by Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack.
If she wins in the primary, she will face Republican Rep. Steve King, who has represented the former 5th District for five terms. King has already announced his plans to seek another term. He says he’s looking forward to the race.
Vilsack will face a significant challenge in seeking to represent the 4th District. It’s the state’s most Republican district.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Democratic leaders in the state Senate say they’re offering to meet Gov. Terry Branstad half-way in his call for two-year budgets.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday in a news conference, Democrats called for approving a full budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and a 50 percent budget for the following year.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal says Democrats presented the idea to Branstad in a private meeting Tuesday.
Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says the governor’s position has not changed and he only will accept two-year budgets.
Branstad argues that longer-term budgets make state spending more predictable and bring stability to the state’s finances.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Terry Branstad is indicating he might veto parts of a bill that addressed issues ranging from tax relief to paying lawyers to defend low-income clients.
Branstad told reporters Wednesday he supports the part of the measure that spends an additional $65 million this year on mental health, prisons, community colleges and services for low-income court defendants.
But Branstad says other parts of the bill that create a $60 million tax relief fund, spend $141 million on business incentives and increase the earned income tax credit should be addressed in a separate measure.
Legislative leaders spent weeks working on the bill and House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says a veto would be disappointing.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The state Senate has approved a measure requiring the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to study whether to legalize Internet poker in Iowa and issue a report to the Legislature by Dec. 1.
The Senate backed the plan by a 38 to 12 vote Wednesday, and the bill now goes to the House.
The measure calls for a report on issues such as unregulated Internet poker play, consumer protections, responsible gaming and regulatory recommendations.
Proponents say legalizing Internet poker in Iowa could generate tens of millions of dollars in tax money, but others worry about expanded gambling in Iowa.
The bill also lets casinos hold county referendums on gaming just twice, if approved initially and again eight years later. Current law requires a referendum every eight years.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law requiring that the state treasurer, public retirement systems and the board of regents not invest public funds with certain companies doing business in Iran.
Branstad signed the measure Wednesday. It restricts directly investing state funds in companies that provide power production-related services, mineral extraction activities, oil-related activities or military equipment to the government of Iran. The measure encourages, but does not require, that funds not be indirectly invested in those same areas.
The Legislatives Services Agency estimates the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System has between $11.9 million and $81.4 million invested in affected publically traded companies.
Implementing the law is expected to cost the Iowa retirement system at least $100,000 in the next fiscal year.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Senate has voted to begin the process of shifting responsibility for the state’s mental health care system from the counties to the state.
The Senate approved a measure by a 27-23 vote Wednesday. It sets a date of July 1, 2013, for full implementation of the effort and calls for an interim committee to submit a plan to leaders by Dec. 15.
Gov. Terry Branstad and some lawmakers have called for the change, saying the current system creates disparities in quality and availability of services from county to county.
Branstad compared the plan to the state takeover of the court system from counties in the 1980s.
The bill now goes to the House.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Des Moines police are searching for a driver involved in a hit-and-run that injured a child.
KCCI-TV in Des Moines says the crash happened about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday on a major street, Martin Luther King Parkway, north of downtown. Police say they believe three children ran out into traffic. One child was hit by a vehicle. Police say the driver left the scene.
Officials say the child was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Northern Iowa guard Johnny Moran will be out for 3-4 months following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Panthers spokesman Colin McDonough says Moran was scheduled to have surgery Tuesday but should be ready for the start of next season.
Moran averaged 9.6 points per game and hit a team-high 65 3-pointers in 2010-11.
Moran is set to be Northern Iowa’s lone senior next year.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Submit your news release, photo, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm or by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
