(LE MARS)–A proposal for a new way to pay for some of the Le Mars Community School District’s costs will be considered next week. The proposal may be before voters in September when four Board of Education members are also elected.
The Instructional Support Levy–ISL–has been defeated at four elections by voters of the Le Mars Community School District.
The Instructional Support Levy being discussed now by the Board of Education is a different proposal. That could mean the same amount or less than currently paid by taxpayers.
For example, the discussion at the last Board of Education meeting focused on asking voters only for an Instructional Support Levy from property taxes. Previous proposals turned down by voters combined income tax and property taxes
Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt has projected the potential Instructional Support income could be 950-thousand dollars a year. The board’s discussed asking for half that amount 475-thousand dollars a year for five years.
The district would also drop the current 67-cent property tax levy the PPEL or Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.
The change could move the tax rate, using current property values, from $13.69 down to $13.41.
If the Board of Education moves forward on an election for September 13th at the June 27th meeting, the first revenue from Instructional Support would go into the 2012-2013 school year budget beginning in July of next year.
The June 27th Board of Education meeting at the Education Service Center begins at 7:30 p.m.
Council considers concept of abolishing wards
(LE MARS)–Eliminating election of some Le Mars City Council members from specific areas of the city, wards, will be considered tomorrow (Tuesday).
Council member Ken Nelson raised the idea when new boundaries for the three ward seats were being drawn to reflect numbers from the 2010 Census. Three of the five council members are elected from wards.
Based on research by city staff, including City Attorney Joe Flannery, the city can legally abolish wards. The change would mean all council candidates could live anywhere within the city.
The Council tomorrow considers a proposal to approve the concept of abolishing wards and setting July 5 as the time for public comments. The change could be considered at three Council meetings.
By mid-August candidates will be taking out nomination papers for the November election.
New sunscreen labeling includes more info
(IOWA CITY)–The Federal Food and Drug Administration released its final regulations for labeling sunscreen last week. Marta Van Beek, a Le Mars native is at the University of Iowa’s Holden Cancer Center. Van Beek says there is one notable change.
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(as she says) She says the sunscreens must now have a label that tells you if they protect you from U-V-B rays along with information on U-V-A rays which were already required. Both types of rays are know to cause skin cancer. Van Beek is an associate professor or dermatology. She says it is important to look at the label closely.
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(as she says) Van Beek says not all sunscreens protect you from U-V-A, as historically most sunscreens have protected against U-V-B rays and the protection level is indicated by its S-P-F number. She says you should always choose the best protection available.
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(as she says) “The higher the S-P-F the better, and the reason we recommend that is because really nobody puts on enough sunscreen to get the S-P-F that’s stated on the bottle,” Van Beek says. She says you should put on one ounce, or a shot glass full of sunscreen on exposed areas. You are also better off to toss last year’s sunscreen and buy new for this year.
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(as she says) Van Beek says they recommend that you buy new sunscreen every year, especially if it has been in a car or other area where there are extreme temperatures, as those can make it less effective. And she says they’re hoping the everyone uses enough sunscreen through the season so they don’t have any left over at the end of the summer. The new regulations for sunscreen will be mandatory next summer. (News report by Radio Iowa)
(LE MARS)–A tropical treat topped judges’ choices for the Ice Cream Flavor Creation Contest Saturday.
Primebank’s Julie Beitelspacher and Terri Martin created Cinco DeLada Colada using Wells Blue Bunny Premium Vanilla Ice Cream.
Beitelspacher explains Primebank co-workers were taste testers.
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Martin, calling herself Beitelspacher’s sidekick, joined her co-worker to put the treat together on a tropical-themed table.
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Of the 10 teams competing Saturday, the Primebank entry won $225, a conehat, a trophy and ice cream from Wells in the contest at the Olson Cultural Event Center sponsored by Blue Bunny and First National Bank.
Tropical Treat Wins Ice Cream Flavor Contest**
“Cinco deLada Colada” by Julie Beitelspacher and Terri Martin, Primebank
(a sinful blend of 5 decadent ingredients providing a taste of the Tropics)
56 oz. container of Wells Blue Bunny Premium Vanilla Ice Cream
4 oz. finely chopped fresh pineapple
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup chopped white chocolate
1 Tablespoon chopped Maraschino cherries
1 Teaspoon imitation rum flavoring
Fold all ingredients together by hand into semi-softened ice cream. Do not over mix. Refreeze and serve in a stemmed tropical drink glass. Swirl a small amont of Chocolate Sauce into the glass before placing the ice cream in the dish. Garnish with a slice of fresh pineapple and a stemmed maraschino cherry. Close your eyes and pretend you are embarking on a cruise to a warm tropical destination!
**The recipe provided to spectators tasting their treat
Second place went to Ruth and Sara Alexander of Le Mars for their Carmel Bacon Crunch Ice Cream and third place was won by Carol and Jessica Vanderloo of Merrill with Rhu-B-Orange Ice Cream which was a rhubarb and orange slices ice cream entry.
More roads in Nebraska, Iowa closed for flooding
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) More roads in Iowa and Nebraska have been closed as the Missouri River continues to swell.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has closed a stretch of state Highway 2. The department says all lanes of the highway are closed starting at the Interstate 29 interchange in Fremont County and continuing across the river and state line to Nebraska City.
Iowa has already closed portions on Interstate 29 in Fremont County and around Council Bluffs due to flooding.
Iowa woman dies after being attacked by cow
URBANA, Iowa (AP) A woman has died after being attacked by a cow on her farm near Urbana.
The Benton County sheriff’s office told KCRG-TV that 60-year-old Jean Fee was feeding the cows Saturday afternoon when one of them attacked her. She died at a Cedar Rapids hospital.
KGAN-TV reports deputies stood guard to keep cows from rescuers at they attended to Fee.
Fee was with her 23-month-old grandson when the attack happened, but authorities say he wasn’t hurt.
2 sent to hospital after Cedar Rapids, Iowa, fires
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Fires at two Cedar Rapids apartment complexes sent two people to hospitals and forced 37 people from their homes.
The fire department says the first fire, at an eight-apartment complex, was reported about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and displaced 11 residents. Firefighters helped three residents on the second floor to safety.
The blaze was contained to one apartment, where four people lived. The fire department says one occupant, 33-year-old Crystal Thompson, was taken to a hospital for possible injuries.
The second fire was reported a few hours later at an 18-apartment complex. The fire department attributed it to a pan a stovetop. Twenty-six residents were forced to evacuate, and the fire department says 72-year-old Shirley Kurth was taken to a hospital for evaluation after smoke exposure.
Pilot hurt when planes crashes at Iowa airport
ALBIA, Iowa (AP) The pilot of a single-engine plane has been hurt in a crash near the Albia airport.
Albia police told WHO-TV that Robert Bult was standing near the plane when rescuers arrived at the crash site Saturday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital with cuts and scrapes to his face.
Bult was the only person on board the Cessna when it crashed about 50 years from the runway.
Police say Bult told officers he was flying from Colorado to Iowa City when he experienced mechanical failure and attempted an emergency landing.
Leaders: Iowa budget deadlock won’t end services
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Amid plenty of talk at the Statehouse about a government shutdown, lawmakers acknowledge that even if they can’t reach a budget deal by the time the fiscal year ends June 30, government services won’t end.
There are plenty of questions, though, about how the state will operate.
Although Gov. Terry Branstad has emergency authority to keep government going, Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald notes the state has never begun a fiscal year without a budget. That’s led to uncertainty about how government would operate.
David Roederer, the director of the Department of Management, says state workers will continue to be paid after July 1 if no agreement is in place, but he declines to provide details.
GOP’s Pawlenty waits for payoff from 2012 grind
STRATHAM, N.H. (AP) Republican Tim Pawlenty brings a made-to-order political resume, a methodically assembled campaign operation and plenty of personal hustle to the 2012 presidential race.
Yet it’s an open question about what the former Minnesota governor has to show for after two years of organizing.
Pawlenty lags in most polls and is struggling to get more attention than some Republicans, such as Texas Governor Rick Perry, who are still not officially in the race.
Johnson County wants to change greenhouse rules
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Johnson County officials are considering changing rules for greenhouses to help Amish farmers.
County supervisors say they want to exempt greenhouses from building codes. Farms in Johnson County are exempt from building codes but a farm is defined as a property more than 40 acres.
Mervin Ropp, an Amish farmer in Johnson County, says Amish farms are traditionally more than 40 acres but with increasing land prices more are getting smaller.
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids says Amish farmers want to use greenhouses to grow plants and vegetables to sell but some have been denied building permits.
Fake paramedic gets probation in Black Hawk County
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) A man who posed as a paramedic after showing up a medical emergency at a Walmart in Cedar Falls has been given a suspended prison sentence and placed on probation.
Twenty-four-year-old Christopher Hill, of Waverly, pleaded guilty in Black Hawk County District Court to two counts of committing prohibited acts as a noncertified medical care provider. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says documents outlining terms of her probation were filed last week. Hill must serve five-year’s probation and live in a Department of Corrections residential facility.
Earlier this year, Hill pleaded guilty to similar charges in Bremer County for twice pretending to be a paramedic when he showed up at a car accident and an industrial accident. He was given five years’ probation in the case.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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