Supervisors Question Conservation Board About Trips
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, during Tuesday’s meeting, questioned County Conservation Executive Director Dennis Sohl about expenditures for two trips that were made by Conservation personnel and youth during the summer. One trip was to Custer County, South Dakota to attend the 2012 Bison Roundup, and the other was a backpacking, hiking and camping excursion to Porcupine Mountain located in Wisconsin. Eight people attended the Wisconsin outing, and Supervisor Craig Anderson asked if the number of people taking the trip was worth the time and expense?
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Anderson wondered if the conservation board was being efficient with the trips.
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Sohl told the supervisors that many times Plymouth county would join other counties to pool resources and vehicles for such outings. Supervisor Don Kass said he would like to see the entire expenditures, including employee salaries, plus he had a concern about the county’s liability insurance as to whether it would cover an accident on the conservation excursions.
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The supervisors did not ask Sohl what were the purpose of the trips, and whether or not it met with educational value. The Plymouth County Conservation Board apparently approved the trips during a summer meeting. The supervisors suggested to Sohl that perhaps future hiking trips may want to focus on the Loess Hills of Plymouth County and western Iowa. The supervisors indicated they may follow up with the issue at a future meeting.
Judge Rules In Favor Of MRHD For Casino Case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has rejected a casino operator’s request to temporarily block the nonprofit group holding the Sioux City casino license from working with another casino developer.
The ruling issued Monday lets Missouri River Historical Development proceed with Hard Rock Casino developer Sioux City Entertainment in trying to establish a land-based casino to replace
the Argosy riverboat casino.
Penn National Gaming, whose subsidiary operates the Argosy casino, had sued Missouri River Historical Development, saying it had violated a contract signed in June. The development group said
the contract wasn’t valid.
Penn spokeswoman Karen Bailey says the judge did not rule yet on the case’s substance, so the company will continue to press for its contractual rights as the company also considers an alternative bid for a land-based casino.
State Officials Ask If Teachers Aides Need Background Checks
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Most teachers’ aides hire by Iowa’s public schools aren’t required by state law to undergo background checks and even when districts do run checks, the process is often
less rigorous as the one required for licensed educators.
The Des Moines Register says federal checks were added as part of the teacher licensing process in 2002. Iowa law was changed in 2007 to require state and national checks on those licensed by the state. But most teacher aides aren’t licensed.
Experts and parents say the case of a woman who spent time in an Indiana prison on manslaughter charges and was hired as a teacher aide in Iowa shows there are gaps in the system.
Rep. Josh Byrnes of Osage says the issue may surface in the upcoming legislative session.
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Schools In Lockdown Due To Bank Robbery
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) – Some schools in northeast Iowa have been locked down as law enforcement officers search for bank robbery suspects.
Officials for the New Hampton, Nashua-Plainfield and Tripoli school districts say Tuesday’s lockdowns are precautionary.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and other officers have been looking for people who robbed the Maynard Savings Bank in Maynard on Tuesday morning.
Officers have been combing the area between Frederika and New Hampton.
