Construction On Highway 3 Continues
(Le Mars) — Due to contractors not being able to meet road specifications, Highway 3 from Business Highway 75 to the Highway 75 by-pass will remain closed to the general public for at least another week. Le Mars City Administrator, Scott Langel says the road was completed, but it did not meet the specifications for smoothness.
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Langel says the two contractors must absorb the additonal costs for the repairs, neither the state nor the city of Le Mars will be asked to pay for the extra work. He says originally, the contractor had until this past Monday to complete the project. Langel offers a timetable as to when the project may possibly be finished.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/August 2012/Langel 3 hwy2.mp3{/audio}
2011 Fair Queen Prepares For College
(Des Moines) — A teenager from northwest Iowa is preparing for college after wrapping up her run as Iowa State Fair Queen this week. Eighteen-year-old Paris Schnepf of Granville will attend the University of Iowa this fall to pursue a degree in music therapy. Her decision has led to some good natured teasing in the Schnepf household as her sister, Sterling, will be a junior this year at Iowa State.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/August 2012/Schnepf1.mp3{/audio}
Music therapy involves the use of music to help individuals cope with special physical, emotional, cognitive or social challenges.
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Schnepf said of her career goals. The Spalding Catholic High School graduate sings and plays several instruments including the piano, alto saxophone, mandolin and guitar. As Iowa State Fair Queen, Schnepf collected a $2,800 scholarship. This week, Paris helped crown the 2012 Iowa State Fair Queen, 17-year-old Abrah Meyer of Readlyn (REED-lin). Paris’ sister, Sterling, is the 2012 Iowa Pork Princess.
Iowa National Guard Unit Set To Go To Afghanistan
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – A farewell ceremony is being planned for about 60 Iowa Army National Guard members who will be headed overseas to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
A news release from the Iowa National Guard says the ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 28 at the Freedom Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1034th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is being called to active duty for the mission. The soldiers will receive extra training at Fort Hood, Texas,
before leaving the United States.
Branstad to Hold Educational Townhall Meetings
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he will hold 14 meetings across Iowa to hear what people think about how the state should change its kindergarten through high school education
system.
Branstad will be joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds for the meetings, which the governor says will help him prepare his election reform proposal for the 2013 legislative session.
Branstad pushed for an ambitious education agenda in the 2012 Legislature, but most of his proposals failed to pass. Those failed plans included tougher requirements for teachers and new tests for students.
The meetings begin Tuesday in Pocahontas and continue until a Sept. 13 gathering in Council Bluffs. Meanwhile, Iowa Democratic State Senator, Herman Quirmbach of Ames is criticizing the governor on his townhall meetings. The Senate Education Committee chairman says for the second year in a row, Branstad has scheduled the majority of the education townhall meetings when most parents and other employed Iowans are unable to attend. Quirmbach says if Branstad would re-schedule the meetings for the evening hours more people would have a chance to be heard, and the governor would get a broader range of feedback.
