Le Mars City Council Accepts Bids For Asbestos Removal
(Le Mars) — During the Le Mars City Council meeting on Tuesday, the council had received six separate bids for the removal of asbestos from the former Westmar College Kime Science Center. The bids had a range from $117,865 to a top bid of $196,500. The council accepted the low bid submitted by Mid-States Asbestos Removal, Incorporated of Davis, South Dakota. The council also awarded the bid from the Dale Hans Excavating and Utilities, LLC of South Sioux City, Nebraska to complete the Madison Avenue Water Main Extension project. That bid was for $108,012. Construction is expected to be completed by November.
City Receives Notice of Interest Of Purchasing Mock Library Building
(Le Mars) — After 15 long years, the city council has received notification of an interested party in purchasing the former Westmar College Charles Mock Library building. The council, on Tuesday, set up a timeline for other offers and for the public hearing.
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Councilwoman Delana Ihrke wondered about the city’s intentions regarding the property.
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The city acquired the former Westmar College property when the college closed.
Flu Vaccine Clinics Scheduled For Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — Flu season will soon be upon us, and the Floyd Valley Hospital has scheduled a series of clinics throughout Plymouth County. This year’s vaccine covers three strains of influenza. All people six months of age and older should have a flu vaccine. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of sever influenza and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than six months. People with a severe allergies to chicken eggs should not have a flu shot. Others, would include people who have had a severe reaction to flu shots in the past. People who have developed GBS syndrome within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously. Children less than six months of age should not have a flu vaccine and people who are either moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover before getting immunized. The public clinics will start on Friday, October 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hinton Community Center, Wednesday, October 10th at the Le Mars Convention Center from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the Well Aware Community Health Fair. The third clinic is scheduled for Thursday, October 11th at the Remsen Senior Center at Remsen between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Other clinics include : Wednesday, October 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Kissinger Community Center at Merrill; Friday, October 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Akron Senior Center; Tuesday, October 23 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Floyd Valley Hospital Conference Center; Wednesday, October 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kingsley Community Center at Kingsley; and Thursday, October 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Le Mars Senior Center in Le Mars. The cost of the flu vaccine is $25.
Vacera Selected As Chamber’s Employee of the Month
(Le Mars) — Prior to the start of the city council meeting, City Code Enforcement Officer, Jason Vacura was recognized for the work that he does. Vacura was honored as being the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce September Employee of the Month. Vacura is involved with the full array of code related responsibilities to include; ordinances, building codes and state/federal regulations all of which effect life in Le Mars. Since accepting the position in 2005, Vacera has updated every code the city has and has streamlined every review process while standardizing the permitting process. In the nomination form submitted by City Administrator, Scott Langel, he says that Vacera has willingly accepted numerous
other tasks, projects, duties and responsibilities when City Management has requested. The city is very fortunate to have this very talented person on staff, who always displays a nice and positive attitude toward fellow employees and citizens.
FDA Approves Of Blending Aflatoxin Corn
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa agriculture department says federal officials have approved a request for corn contaminated by a poison-producing fungus to be blended with other corn for animal
feed. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the agency’s request to blend corn containing more than 20 parts per
billion of aflatoxin with corn that has lower levels or no aflatoxin.
Farming Ranks As One Of The Most Dangerous Jobs
(Ames) — Farming is a dangerous business with more than 300 deaths associated with farming each year. Iowa State University extension safety specialist, Charles Schwab says agriculture ranks as one of the most hazzardous occupations.
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This week is National Farm Safety Week. A week that is devoted to the awareness of farming and its dangers. Schwab says each year people of all ages from young children to seniors are involved in some type of farm-related injury or fatally. He says the most common type of injuries usually are entanglement with Power-Take-Offs or other rotating machinery equipment, roadway collisions involving farm equipment, electrocution, and grain suffocation. But the deadliest form of farm accidents involve tractor roll-overs that are not properly equipped with roll over protection.
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Conservatives Want To Remove Judge Wiggins
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Social conservatives are adding firepower to what has been a low-profile campaign to oust a member of the Iowa Supreme Court for his role in legalizing gay marriage in 2009.
The Family Leader has announced that former presidential candidate Rick Santorum and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will join a statewide bus tour next week calling for the removal of Justice David
Wiggins, who is up for retention in November.
Biden Appeals To Iowa’s Blue-Collar Workforce
GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden is focusing much of his two-day Iowa trip on blue-collar areas, hoping to improve President Barack Obama’s chances of carrying the state he captured in 2008. Biden campaigned Monday in Burlington and yesterday in Ottumwa before capping the visit with a stop at Grinnell College.
Banker Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former loan officer at an Osceola bank has pleaded guilty to transferring $1.4 million from customer accounts to fund fraudulent loans he approved for clients.
Former Clarke County State Bank employee Paul Coffelt pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud during a hearing in federal court in Des Moines on Tuesday.
Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Coffelt admitted that he submitted false documents to gain approval for loans from the bank’s loan committee under false pretenses between
2006 and 2008. He also improperly approved loans without the committee’s approval or in amounts above what had been authorized.
To pay for the fraudulent loans for his clients, Coffelt arranged 19 money transfers from unrelated accounts totaling $1.4 million. The transfers were discovered after he was fired.
