Le Mars YMCA Shows Increase In Attendance & Revenue
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars YMCA has released its quarterly report. Le Mars YMCA Executive Director Todd Lancaster says the local health club has seen an increase in daily attendance.
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Lancaster says the hot, dry, summer helped also increase the attendance at the outdoor swimming pool.
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Lancaster says the usage of the YMCA facilities has seen a sustained rise over the last several years.
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The YMCA executive director says the local facilities and the logo are being upgraded.
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Lancaster further expands on the improvements that either have recently taken place, or will within the next few months.
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Hy-Vee Officials Meet With City’s Planning and Zoning Commission
(Le Mars) –– Officials from the Hy-Vee supermarket chain were in Le Mars on Wednesday afternoon. They appeared before the Le Mars Planning and Zoning Commission during a special meeting held at the city council chambers. Hy Vee officials, along with Roger Athens of the Athens Real Estate office of Le Mars, were requesting the zoning commission to approve a change with local zoning laws from an I-1 Light Industrial District to B-2, general business district. The Planning and Zoning commission approved the request. There is some speculation that Hy-Vee is considering building a new store for Le Mars and it may be situated at 800 Lincoln Way S.W. That address currently has the Children’s Treasure Isle, and in the past it has served as offices for Wells Enterprises. A For Sale sign has been posted in front of the property for several months. Hy-Vee spokesperson Ruth Comber told KLEM news that it is not Hy-Vee’s policy to speak about real estate transactions.
Harkin Says No Such Thing As A “Fiscal Cliff”
(Washington) — Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says the so-called “fiscal cliff” that’s the subject of such concern lately does not exist. Harkin, a Democrat, says there is a “slope,” but no daunting financial end upon which our national economy is teetering. He compares the doomsday predictions about our country’s looming fiscal issues to the Y-2-K scare of a dozen years ago, something that proved completely harmless.
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The basis for the “cliff” is that on or around the first day of January, a series of 500-billion dollars in tax increases and 200-billion in budget cuts will automatically take effect. Harkin disputes reports that forecast a national economic collapse if lawmakers aren’t able to prevent those actions from taking place.
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If the “cliff” isn’t avoided, Harkin remains unconvinced we’re headed for another near-immediate recession.
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A report from the Congressional Budget Office says the combined 700-billion dollars in tax cuts and budget cuts represents about four-percent of the gross domestic product, which could be a large enough leap to prompt a recession.
Branstad Orders Flags To Be At Half Staff
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered flags under state control to be lowered in honor of an Iowa native who was killed on patrol in Afghanistan.
The flags will be flown at half-staff from 5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday for Army Sgt. Joseph Richardson, who died Nov. 16.
Richardson spent most of his childhood in Algona and moved to Booneville, Ark., after the ninth grade.
Richardson’s funeral is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Algona.
Richardson is survived by his wife, Ashley Richardson, as well as his parents, two sisters, a brother and other relatives.
Councilman Illegally Removed From Office
SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) – An appeals court says a southwest Iowa city improperly removed one of its council members over allegations that he skipped too many meetings.
The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Sidney officials did not provide proper notice of the charges against William Clark before removing him. The court says the city overstepped its
authority.
Clark was elected in 2009 to a four-year term. The council voted 4-1 to remove him in 2010 after he missed several meetings, even after he was warned about lax attendance. The mayor also claimed
Clark had committed misconduct at a local bar during a run-in with another council member’s son.
Clark’s attorney says his client will seek reinstatement to the council, but that could be tricky since someone else now holds the position.
