Le Mars Community School Announces Registration Dates
(Le Mars) — It won’t be long before the school bell will ring, calling students back to another year of school. The Le Mars Community School District has announced the dates for registration. On-site registration and payment of fees is scheduled for Monday, August 6 from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday, August 7th from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Everyone will register in the Middle School during those two days. Mail-in registration will be available again this year. Packets will go out in the mail on July 23rd. Middle School orientation is scheduled for Tuesday, August 21st. 6th grade students will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. both students and parents are invited. 7th and 8th grade students and their parents will have orienation also on August 21st from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. will be the open house for all buildings. Freshman orientation will be on Wednesday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the high school commons. The Code of Conduct meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, August 7th, Wednesday, August 8th, and Thursday, August 16.
Fire Department Respond To Ditch Grass Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire Department responded to a ditch grass fire yesterday afternoon. The call came in at about 4:15 p.m. and was located at 30253 county road C-16. Within a few minutes the fire department was able to control and contain the fire.
New Assistant Fire Chief Takes Oath of Office
(Le Mars) — Mike Wise is the new Assistant Fire Chief for the Le Mars Fire Department. He was given the oath of office by Mayor Dick Kirchoff during a ceremony held Wednesday at Fire Station #1. Dave Schipper, the Le Mars Fire Chief says of Wise that he meets the needs of Le Mars.
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The Le Mars Fire Department recently implemented some changes which Schipper believes will help the city of Le Mars, its residents, and business owners see lower insurance rates.
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Schipper also believes the changes may help with the recruitment of new businesses.
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Sioux City Police Arrest Suspect Of Grocery Store Theft
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police have apprehended 18 year old Stanislaus Firecloud for the suspected theft of items stolen from the Select Foods Store located at 1730 Pierce Street. On Tuesday, at about 12:23 p.m. a suspect entered the grocery store and went to the beer cooler and concealed several cans of alcohol then attempted to leave the store without paying for the items. He was confronted by a store employee and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect struck the employee with a pipe-like item. The employee sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
Branstad To Hold Drought Meeting
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad will hold a public meeting next week on the drought conditions plaguing Iowa this summer.
Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and environmental experts in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday.
Branstad’s office says the meeting will focus on coordination between the state and federal levels and potential action to ensure that Iowa’s needs are meet.
The meeting is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Pleasant High School.
The USDA is already streamlining the process for farmers to apply for government disaster help as crops burn up in many states in the widest drought in nearly 25 years.
USDA Streamlines Drought Assistance For Farmers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is streamlining the process for farmers to apply for government disaster help during the widest drought in nearly 25 years.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says more than 1,000 counties nationwide will automatically qualify for disaster assistance if they’re in a severe drought for at least eight weeks or were in extreme drought this growing season.
The department also is lowering the interest rate on emergency loans to 2.25 percent from 3.75 percent. As much as $39 million is available under the program.
In addition, the government will help farmers use part of the land set aside in a conservation program for hay or grazing since the drought is expected to reduce the amount of corn available for feed.
Iowa State To Pass U of I in Enrollment
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University is expected to pass the University of Iowa in enrollment this coming academic year.
Iowa State has trailed the University of Iowa since 1979. Iowa State officials in Ames expect the enrollment to surge past 31,000, topping U of I’s expected total of about 30,800, the same as last fall.
The final numbers won’t be reported until September. U of I executive director of admissions Michael Barron says the two universities aren’t competing for highest number of students and that there’s always been an ebb and flow to enrollment.
Barron says there’s been a resurgence in agriculture, which is an area that’s exclusive to Iowa State.
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Mayor and City Clerk Charged With Theft
SCARVILLE, Iowa (AP) – The mayor and former clerk of the northern Iowa town of Scarville have been charged with theft after a state audit turned up thousands of dollars in missing city funds.
Michelle Hermanson and Jolene Carter were charged on Monday with first-degree theft, felonious misconduct in office and falsifying public documents.
Hermanson and Carter voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities and each posted a $10,000 bond.
State Auditor David Vaudt in June said Hermanson and Carter misspent at least $24,000. Another $12,000 of spending was not supported by documentation.
Phone listings for Hermanson and Carter were disconnected. Online court records don’t list their attorneys.
