Home News Saturday News, January 19th

Saturday News, January 19th

(Le Mars) — Week one of the Iowa General Session is now in the books, and State

Representative Chuck Soderberg of Le Mars says it was, for the most part, ceremonial.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Soderberg new session1.mp3{/audio}

Soderberg has been appointed chairman to the House Appropriations Committee. The committee

is responsible for overseeing all the state’s spending.  He says he wants to make certain

his committee will “hold the line.”

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Soderberg new session2.mp3{/audio}

The state representative says before such action can be accomphished, both chambers of the

Iowa legislature and Governor Terry Branstad must be in agreement.  As appropriations

chairman, Soderberg says he likes the way Governor Branstad handles the state’s finances.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Soderberg new session3.mp3{/audio}

Soderberg says one item not funded at this time is Allowable Growth for school funding.

Bo-Deans Awarded $7.5 Million from State

(Des Moines) —  The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board on Friday awarded

financial assistance to nine companies for job creation and expansion projects, including

one company based at Le Mars.  Friday’s awards will assist in the creation of 318 jobs and

will result in over $212 million in new capital investment for the state. The board also

approved assistance for six innovation start-up projects.

Governor Terry Branstad says Iowa is continuing to see existing Iowa companies choose to

increase their presence in the state, and that’s a good sign we’re on the right track with

our economic development efforts.

Bo-Deans Wafer Company produces wafers and has been in operation in Le Mars since 2006.  The

company was awarded tax benefits to expand its current facility and install an additional

product line. The $7.5 million capital investment is expected to create 11 jobs.

Special School Board Meeting Monday

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is calling a special meeting scheduled

for Monday, January 21st. The board will present their counter proposal for wages and

benefits to the Le Mars Teacher Association contract negotiations.  That meeting is

scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held at the Le Mars Community Education Services

building.

Jam at the Museum Tonight

(Le Mars) — Get ready to jam at Jammin January this evening (Saturday) at the Plymouth County

Historical Museum.  This is an opportunity to show off your best dance moves as the museum

is hosting the popular local band, “The Jammers”.  John Schneider, president of the

Historical Museum says all the proceeds will help defray expenses.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Schneider museum1.mp3{/audio}

Schneider says if you haven’t visited the county museum lately, than you haven’t seen the

museum.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Schneider museum2.mp3{/audio}

In addition to the “main street” display, Schneider says improvements have also been made in

the museum’s basement level, where antique agricultural equipment is on display.

Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Schneider museum3.mp3{/audio}

The museum president says improvements have also been made to the model train set that

features landmarks of Plymouth County.  Jammin January will be held at the old Central Gym

and begins at 8:00 p.m. and will continue until 11:00 p.m.  There is a concession stand that

will open at 7:00 p.m.  Admission is just five dollars a person.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Women’s magazine publisher Meredith
Corp. has cut 60 jobs, half in New York City and seven in Des
Moines. Company spokesman Art Slusark says the remaining layoffs
occurred at other company locations.
The Des Moines-based publisher of Better Homes and Gardens,
Parents and Fitness magazines says the cuts come as it integrates
several companies acquired in recent months. They include
Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachael Ray and FamilyFun brands.
Slusark says the layoffs represent less than 2 percent of the
company’s 3,400 workers.
Meredith added about 300 jobs with the acquisitions and to help
it focus on mobile applications, social media, video and other
online products.
Meredith recorded a special charge of $7 million in its second
quarter to realign the businesses.
The company releases second quarter results on Jan. 24.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s preliminary unemployment rate was
unchanged in December, matching the 4.9 percent recorded in
November.
Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the figure was
seven-tenths of a point under the year-ago figure of 5.6 percent.
Iowa’s rate is significantly lower than the national figure of
7.8 percent in December.
Workforce Development says there were 80,000 unemployed Iowans
in December, compared with a revised figure of 80,200 for November.
The figure was 93,400 in December 2011.