Plymouth County Supervisors Making Progress On Budget
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have been working on the budget for the next fiscal year. Unlike some neighboring counties that are dealing with financial shortfalls, Plymouth County is in an envious position. Supervisor chairman Jim Henrich explains.
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Henrich says the county has been able to build its cash reserves to the point that the county could meet its expenditures for at least three months. Henrich says he anticipates the cash reserve may be able to grow even more this year. Henrich says the requests that came before the Supervisors have been on target.
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The Supervisor chairman says the big unknown is with the mental health services. Mental health accounts for a major portion of a county’s expenses, and the county is still waiting on the state to learn how much funding will be allocated and appropriated to the counties.
Anderson and Soderberg Host Legislative Forums
(Le Mars) — State Senator Bill Anderson and State Representative Chuck Soderberg will hold a series of legislative forums scheduled for Saturday. The lawmakers want to hear from the public their views on the key issues about to face the legislators as they begin a new session on Monday. The times and locations are at 8:30 a.m. at the Plymouth County Energy headquarters at Merrill, 10:00 a.m. the lawmakers will hold a forum at the Habitue Coffeehouse and Creperie at Le Mars and the last forum is scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon at the Akron Public Library. Anderson says the forums serve as an important tool.
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Registration for Living Healthy Iowa 10-Week Challenge Is Easy
(Le Mars) — Efforts to get Plymouth County in a healthy state of wellness are continuing. A ten-week wellness challenge starts on January 28th and organizers are wanting everyone in Plymouth county to consider participating in the wellness challenge. Carol Schneider of the Plymouth county Extension Service says registration is quite simple.
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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County, Floyd Valley Hospital, and the Le Mars YMCA are the local organizations spearheading the local efforts. Schneider says when you register on-line, be sure to use the Plymouth County code.
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Schneider says once you have registered under the Plymouth County code, you are then ready to submit your team name and members names.
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Once you have registered, Schneider says one of the benefits is a magazine subscription for an entire year. She says the magazines offered are popular magazines often found on magazine racks. For additional information regarding the Living Healthy Iowa ten-week challenge, you can contact Floyd Valley Hospital, the Le Mars YMCA, or the Plymouth County Extension services.
New Farm Organization Created To Educate Producers and Consumers On Animal Care
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group of farmers and industry leaders has announced a coalition aimed at providing Iowa residents with more information on farm animal care.
The Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition announced its launch Thursday. It says it’s designed to help farmers and consumers know more about the latest science-based animal care standards.
An independent team of experts also will offer voluntary on-site evaluations.
IFAC includes farmers from the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Pork Producers Association. It also includes Iowa State University colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture and Life Sciences,
as well as the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Website Addresses Child Abuse
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new Iowa website offers advice on how people can prevent or report sexual or other abuse or neglect of children.
The site was launched by a private group, Prevent Child Abuse Iowa.
The site includes advice and provides links to groups with counselors. The site also has advice for community groups in preventing abuse of children involved with the groups.
The group’s website address is https://www.pcaiowa.org/.
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Des Moines Schools Decide NOT To Hold Classes On MLK Day
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – School officials in Des Moines have reversed a decision to hold classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Des Moines school district unanimously voted Thursday to cancel its plans to hold classes on Jan. 21. Officials had previously announced that students would attend classes on the
holiday to make up a snow day.
A local NAACP youth group criticized the district’s move and collected hundreds of signatures for a petition against the decision.
Another snow day was scheduled for Presidents Day in February.
The district now plans to make up the snow days in June.
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Former Obama Campaign Manager Announces He Will Run For Secretary of State
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Democrat who is the former director of President Barack Obama’s Iowa campaign has announced his candidacy for Iowa secretary of state.
Brad Anderson made the announcement Thursday during a press conference at the Capitol. If Anderson wins the Democratic nomination, he could challenge Republican Secretary of State Matt
Schultz.
Schultz declined to comment, saying he hasn’t decided whether he will seek re-election in 2014.
Anderson says he disagrees with Schultz’s strong support for voter identification. He labeled Schultz’s efforts to track down voter fraud “fruitless investigations” that waste money and
intimidate Iowans from voting.
Anderson says he would tackle voter fraud by installing an electronic voter eligibility check-in system at the polls.
Anderson has garnered support from Democrats like former Iowa governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver.