Several People From Le Mars Appointed By Governor To Serve On Boards And Commissions
(Des Moines) — Several people from Le Mars and the surrounding area have recently been appointed by Governor Branstad to serve on various state boards and commissions. Wayne Marty of Le Mars has been tapped to serve on the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation. Roger Claypool also of Le Mars will serve on the College Student Aid Commission. Patrick Schmitz of Kingsley and executive director with the Plains Area Mental Health Clinic of Le Mars will serve on the state’s Mental Health Risk Pool Board, pending Senate confirmation. Jody Still Herbold of Kingsley was appointed to the Northwest Iowa Regional STEM Committee. Earlier this spring, Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars was appointed to the Board of Dentistry, while Dr. Allison Schoenfelder of Akron was asked to serve on the state’s Board of Medicine.
Fire Fighters Issue June Report and Initiate Fund Raising Campaign
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to 21 calls during the month of June, according to the department’s monthly report. Five times the fire department was called to battle a fire, and twice for rescue calls. The local fire department conducted five investigations which include clean up from accidents, odor investigations and illegal burning. The Le Mars Fire Department had nine requests for services. You may have noticed in your mailbox a letter from the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department asking for donations. The donations help keep the fire and rescue department fully equipped and trained. Last year, the donations was able to supplement portable radios, fire coats, fire pants, boots, helmets, and self-contained breathing apparatus masks. Several firefighters were able to attend valuable training seminars. This year, the goal is to raise at least $20,000 in order to purchase uniform additions, protective clothing, emergency lights, wrenches, hose adapters and additional training for all members. The fire department thanks you for your support.
Auditions For “The Woman In Black” Scheduled For Tonight
(Le Mars) — Auditions for the next community play are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow evening. Lisa Opheim will be the director for the thriller play entitled “The Woman In Black”.
Listen to
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Opheim says the production of the play will occur in the autumn which will be a kickoff to the haunted Halloween season. She says the play calls for a limited number of actors.
Listen to
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Auditions will take place at the Postal Playhouse beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Nebraska Woman Accused Of Stealing From A Sioux City Couple Reaches Plea Agreement
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska woman accused of stealing more than $150,000 from an elderly Iowa woman has reached a plea deal.
Terry Lockie pleaded guilty Monday in Woodbury County District Court to one count of dependent adult abuse. A first-degree theft charge has been dismissed.
The plea agreement means a five-year prison sentence has been suspended and the 65-year-old Lockie will be on probation for two years. Her attorney says Lockie may also lose her certified public accountant license.
Lockie, of Homer, Neb., owns an accounting firm in nearby Sioux City. Court records say Lockie had power of attorney for an elderly woman who was suffering from dementia. The records say that between 2008 and 2010, Lockie took money from the woman’s accounts and put it in her own account.
Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty To Fort Dodge Bank Robbery
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man is facing up to 10 years in federal prison for helping another man rob Citizen’s State Bank in Fort Dodge earlier this year.
U.S. Attorney Sean Berry says 26-year-old Christopher Anderson pleaded guilty to being an accessory to bank robbery.
Prosecutors say Anderson drove 43-year-old Michael Clayton to a location near the bank in Fort Dodge on Feb. 7. When Clayton returned to Anderson’s car, he was holding a bag and urged Anderson to drive fast.
Anderson drove Clayton to Omaha, Neb., to elude authorities. Anderson was given $1,000 for his help.
Clayton is being held without bail, and he could face up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be tried in August for bank robbery.
Wellmark Blue Cross – Blue Shield To Pass On Insurance Exchange
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The chairman of Iowa’s leading health insurer says the company will not participate in the state’s new health exchange during 2014.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield CEO John Forsyth said Monday that the insurer will enter the online insurance marketplace in 2015. He said the decision to delay was not financially motivated, but based on concern that implementing the exchange would be bump in year one.
Sunday was the deadline for insurance carriers to file to be included in the Iowa exchange.
Under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, all states must have a health exchange, with enrollment starting Oct. 1 and coverage on Jan. 1.
Iowa’s insurance commissioner is expected to soon release more information on the exchange participants.
John Deere Employee Dies From Forklift Accident
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A John Deere employee hurt in a forklift accident in Waterloo has died from his injuries.
Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service says 54-year-old Stan Delagardelle died Saturday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Delagardelle, of Cedar Falls, was struck by a forklift June 25 at the company’s service parts operation in Waterloo.
The funeral home says Delagardelle was a supervisor at the facility. Additional information about the accident was not available.
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Coralville Company To Add 120 Jobs
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – A company that won the contract to help consumers navigate the Affordable Care Act says it will add 120 jobs to its call center in eastern Iowa.
General Dynamics Information Technology said Monday the new jobs at its Coralville location were part of an expansion in which thousands are being added nationwide to staff the government’s around-the-clock call center to help implement the law, also known as “Obamacare.”
Vice President Mark Meudt said calls about the law started coming in last week and are expected to increase in October, when residents can start enrolling in health care plans that are subsidized by the new law. He says it will be a “huge undertaking” and involve millions of calls.
The Coralville location already operates a call center to help Medicare patients.
Iowa To Promote Tourism With Semi Trucks And Trailers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa tourism destinations are being featured on state tractor-trailers as part of a new promotional effort.
Gov. Terry Branstad announced the campaign Monday. Nine trucks from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division have been wrapped with images promoting Ames, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Iowa City, Newton, Sioux City and Waterloo.
Images on the trucks include a Cedar Falls bike trail, the Fun City Waterpark in Burlington and the Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo. The trucks will feature the billboards for 18 months. The roughly $50,000 cost was shared by the state and the cities.
Branstad is encouraging residents to take a trip in Iowa. He says there are lots of wonderful and fun things to do.
