Hatch To Visit Le Mars
(Le Mars) — The Democratic candidate seeking to replace Terry Branstad as Iowa’s Governor will make an appearance in Le Mars. State Senator Jack Hatch has announced he will hold a “meet and greet” session this afternoon at the Plymouth County Democratic headquarters located at 115 Plymouth Street Northwest in Le Mars. Hatch is a state senator from Des Moines. Plymouth County Democratic Party Chairman, Clayton Hodgson says “we are excited to welcome Senator Hatch to our community, giving Plymouth County voters the opportunity to hear first hand his plans for the office of Governor. The event will run from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.
The Debate To Debate Continues
(Le Mars) — Will they or won’t they? The debate to hold a 4th District Congressional debate between Republican incumbent Steve King and Democratic challenger Jim Mowrer continues. A scheduled debate is to be held at Buena Vista University at Storm Lake for tomorrow evening. However, Congressman Steve King has indicated he would not attend the debate as long as Jim Mowrer continued to run television advertising, attacking King for his Congressional record, which King says is simply false. But according to an article that appears in today’s Sioux City Journal, Congressman Steve King says he will be in Storm Lake to face his challenger. Two weeks ago when Democrat Jim Mowrer spoke to KLEM news, he addressed the debate issue, saying there was two debates scheduled.
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Mowrer says he believes the reason Steve King doesn’t like to hold debates is because he has nothing to show for his 12 years in Congress.
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Mowrer, who is from Boone, Iowa, says if elected, preserving Social Security would be among his top priorities.
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Le Mars City Council Agrees To Increase Bargaining Unit Salaries
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council decided to table the discussion relating to another access path leading into the North Greenview addition. Councilman John Rexwinkle asked that City Administrator Scott Langel and Fire Chief Dave Schipper draw up a plan that would be feasible serving as an access road to the extended culdasac located near the golf course. Previously, the Public Safety Committee had met to offer suggestions as to how the city could implement a second access road. In other action during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the city council approved a five year tax rebate to Ron Kneip of Kneip Investments. The council also approved a three-year contract with the City Employee Bargaining unit. In that agreement, the city agrees to offer a 2.5 percent increase in pay effective July 1, 2015. Then, beginning on July 1st of 2016, all bargaining unit positions will receive a 2.75 percent increase. The third year, beginning July 1st of 2017, all bargaining unit positions will receive a 3.5 percent increase.
Le Mars To Host Iowa Fire Chiefs Convention
(Le Mars) — This weekend, Le Mars will host the Iowa Fire Chiefs Association annual meeting and convention. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the conference will host up to 80 different fire chiefs from across the state. He says the purpose for the conference is to focus on lobbying and educational issues.
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Schipper talks about the different speakers scheduled to address the confernce.
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Retired Le Mars Fire Chief Wayne Schipper has served on the Iowa Fire Chiefs Association for more than 25 years. During this convention, his work, committment, and dedication to the Iowa Fire chiefs Association will be recognized.
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Dave Schipper says this will be the third time Le Mars will host the annual convention.
Woodbury County Supervisor Sentenced To 30 Days In Jail
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Woodbury County supervisor accused of shooting a gun into the air near his wife has been given 30 days in jail.
44-year-old David Tripp received the sentence Tuesday in district court for domestic abuse assault. He was ordered to report to jail by Friday.
Tripp, a former jailer, was accused in December of firing a gun in the air in the driveway of his home. His wife was nearby but was not hurt.
Tripp said Tuesday he had thought about aiming the gun at himself. His attorney says his client is seeing a psychiatrist after being diagnosed with depression. He is also seeing a counselor for alcohol abuse.
Tripp was elected as a county supervisor in 2010. His term will end in January.
Unemployment Rate Increased Slightly
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The unemployment rate in Iowa edged up slightly in September to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent in August as the state’s labor force grew but the number of workers filing for unemployment also increased.
Iowa Workforce Development figures in the monthly report released Tuesday show the state’s total workforce grew by 4,600 to 1.71 million in September and jobs were added in some sectors including construction. However leisure and hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing sectors cut workers. The result was 77,900 unemployed workers in September, an increase of 1,400 from August.
Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development says global uncertainty is affecting new orders and manufacturing has lost jobs for four straight months but those losses are partially offset by near record employment in construction, health care and finance.
Michelle Obama Campaigns For Democrats In Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Michelle Obama is trying to give Democrats a boost in a key U.S. Senate race, urging college students in Iowa to vote early for Bruce Braley.
The first lady told University of Iowa students that they must help Braley, who’s in a tight race against Republican Joni Ernst.
Braley had once been a favorite to win the seat held for 30 years by retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. But now he’s running even with Ernst, a first-term state senator.
Obama urged hundreds of students to cast ballots Tuesday at a satellite voting location and spend the next two weeks volunteering for Braley. She told them, “for just three hours of your time, you will get six years of an outstanding senator who will carry on Tom Harkin’s legacy.”
