Pre-trial Hearing Set For Today For Jonathon Neunaber
(Le Mars) — A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Jonathon Neunaber for today at 9:15 a.m. Neunaber is accused of killing his mother Esther Neunaber last July at a rural Akron farm. Both his mother and father were found dead inside the home. It is expected the attorneys and judge will schedule a trial date.
County Compensation Board To Recommend Pay Increases
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Compensation Board met on Friday to determine the level of pay increases to be recommended to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. The Compensation Board will recommend to the supervisors a three percent increase for all county elected officials, and a two and a half percent increase in pay for the supervisors. Larry Peterson and John Koley, members of the County Compensation Board are scheduled to appear before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to offer the pay increase recommendations. The supervisors will make the final determination as to the amount of salary increase, if any, when they approve the county’s budget.
School Board To Evaluate Superintendent’s Goals During Meeting
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education are scheduled to meet this evening, and on the agenda, they will discuss the Le Mars Education Association initial bargaining proposal for the 2015-16 master contract to the school board. The Le Mars Education Association is expected to present their contract proposal on January 19, 2015. The school board will discuss Dr. Todd Wendt’s evaluation for the superintendent’s position. The school board will look at the progress on the goals established as part of the evaluation process. Assistant Superintendent, Steve Webner will present to the Board of Education for their review and approval, the district’s application for modified supplemental aid for drop-out prevention programming for the 2015-16 school year.
Remsen To Hold “Old Fashion Christmas” Tonight
(Remsen) — An Old Fashion Christmas is being planned for Remsen later this evening. Santa Claus is scheduled to appear in Remsen and light the Remsen Christmas Tree at the town square at 6:15 p.m. Following the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, Santa will be in the Remsen Museum for photos and to listen to children’s wish list.
Business Builder Seminar Scheduled For Today
(Le Mars) — Another Business Builder seminar is scheduled for today at noon to be held at the Blue Bunny ice cream parlor. This time around, the speaker is Le Mars City Administrator, Scott Langel. The Business Builder sessions are hosted by both the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce and the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for Plymouth County. Tickets are $15 which pay for the luncheon. For additional information, you can contact either the Chamber office at 546-8821 or the Plymouth County Extension office at 546-7835.
City To Start Up New Water Booster Station
(Le Mars) — City water officials have announced the new water booster station located at the 500 block of 24th Street southwest, will start up on Thursday, December 11th at 10:00 a.m. The booster station will replace the present booster built in the 1960’s. Gayle Sitzmann, city water superintendent, says since the two booster stations are over a mile a part, it is conceived that some scouring may occur from changing the flow direction in the main feed pipeline. City water officials will monitor the pressure in several spots in the boosted area, before, during, and after the switch over. Sitzmann says the area most likely to be affected will be south of 12th Street and east of Central Avenue.
Livestock Producers Trying To Comply With New Manure Run-off Rules
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa cattle and hog producers are working to comply with new state rules that are designed to keep animal waste from polluting nearby waterways.
Craig Moss and his family created new concrete drainage systems with grates to ensure rain can leave their feedlot without carrying manure with it.
Moss says his family wants to make sure that fresh water flows around the feedlot and dirty water from the feedlot is directed through terraces into a field.
The new clean water rules increased state inspections and oversight of large feedlots. The state adopted the rules last year to satisfy the Environmental Protection Agency’s concerns about lax enforcement.
Pallet Falls On Woman Worker
UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Iowa authorities say a worker at a beef jerky distribution facility has been critically injured after a pallet fell on her head.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says the woman was hospitalized in Council Bluffs. The accident was reported Saturday evening at the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky facility in Underwood.
Authorities describe her condition as stable. Her identity hasn’t been released.
A Link Snacks spokesman says company officials are investigating the cause of the accident.
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Three Year Old Boy Killed From Being Ran Over By A Skid Loader
MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in eastern Iowa say a 3-year-old boy has died after being run over by a skid-steer loader.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday that Colton Meyer of Manchester suffered fatal injuries in the Friday accident. He was transported from the Delaware County home to an area hospital, where he later died.
Other information about Meyer’s death wasn’t released. Deputies are investigating.
Fewer Enrollment Numbers Mean More Empty School Buildings
OWASA, Iowa (AP) – Across Iowa, many former rural schools are now vacant buildings, and more small schools may feel pressure to close in the next few years.
A budget guarantee that had helped small districts with declining enrollments survive expired last year after being phased out over a decade.
So it may become harder for small schools to stay open. Today, Iowa has 338 school districts. In 1950, there were 4,652 districts.
The idle school building in Owasa is symbolic of the trend because local leaders fought a 1958 law that required all schools to be part of a K-12 district.
Owasa’s school closed after an Iowa Supreme Court ruling in 1967, and the town’s population has declined 60 percent since then.
Doctors Needed For Rural Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An effort to get more doctors in rural Iowa through a state-run loan forgiveness program moved forward this year, though backers say they still need more funding.
The first group of students was awarded funding through the Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program this year. The eight recipients will each get up to $200,000 in loan aid in exchange for working for five years in small town Iowa.
Doctor Brent Hoehns, a family physician in Knoxville who chairs the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, says this kind of investment is needed.
The ultimate goal is to use state and private dollars to provide the loan aid to 20 students each year who commit to rural jobs, which can often pay less than other physician positions.
