Pauling Named Chamber’s “Boss Of The Quarter”
(Le Mars) — A NIPCO executive was presented the honor of “Boss of the Quarter” on Tuesday morning. Kent Pauling serves as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the cooperative utility company. He was nominated by the employees of the Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative. The nomination reads: The staff of Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) would like to recognize the outstanding leadership of our boss, Mr. Kent Pauling. In early 2016, Kent Pauling will retire as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of NIPCO after 41 years of service to this organization.
It would be fair to say that Kent and NIPCO have grown together and the supportive and familiar “team” culture at NIPCO has certainly been perpetuated by Kent. Starting in the accounting department in 1974, Kent rose through the ranks and today manages the operations of nearly 50 front office staff and outside field personnel.
Not one to enjoy recognition, after 41 years of quiet and dedicated leadership to this organization, to pay tribute to a man who cares as much for his NIPCO family as his own seems appropriate as he enjoys his farewell tour of duty. Committed to NIPCO’s Vision to be the “Best In Class” provider of safe, reliable, and economical energy supply and related services for the benefit of our rural electric cooperative members, Kent stands as the epitome of NIPCO’s values. Some of these values reflected in Kent’s leadership include respecting NIPCO employees and our membership, striving for excellence in every way, leading by example, and promoting community involvement.
It is his dedicated, positive attitude, and high ethical standards that motivate his team to come to work every day. We would like to thank Kent for his 41 years of service and to showcase his leadership qualities to our organization with this honor of being named the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce 3rd Quarter Boss of the Quarter.
Puetz Family Honored With Environmental Award
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp presented 95 Iowa farm families with the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The award is a joint effort between the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to recognize the efforts of Iowa’s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality. It seeks to recognize the exemplary voluntary actions of farmers that improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.
This is the fourth year for the award program and to date more than 300 families have received recognition.
One family in Plymouth County received the award this year at the Iowa State Fair; Bob and Lisa Puetz with Cory and Kari Puetz.
Crops Showing Signs Of Maturing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s corn and soybean crops endured the hottest week of the year so far last week but largely remain in good shape.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its weekly crop report released Tuesday says 10 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is mature. That’s three days ahead of last year but nine days behind the five-year average. Seventy-nine percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition.
Farmers report some fields are showing signs of disease stress.
Soybean development is three days ahead of last year but a day behind average with 76 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the first week of September was the hottest week of the year. Temperatures as a whole averaged 10 degrees above normal.
Students Join Faculty With “No Confidence” Towards Regents Decision For New President
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University of Iowa students are joining the faculty in issuing votes of no-confidence in the school’s governing board, days after the hiring of a president with little campus support or higher education experience.
The measures approved Tuesday by the UI Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Government add to the backlash against the Iowa Board of Regents.
Earlier Tuesday, the Faculty Senate voted for a similar measure rebuking the regents for hiring corporate executive Bruce Harreld, despite overwhelming negative feedback. The regents picked the former IBM executive over three candidates who enjoyed wide support.
The UISG resolution said regents showed a “willful disregard for the opinions” of students. The graduate student government said the regents’ actions “portray a board not acting in the best interest of the university.”
Lottery Official Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former lottery security official has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for rigging a computerized Hot Lotto game in 2010 in an attempt to win a $14 million jackpot in Iowa.
Eddie Tipton, of Norwalk, never got any of the money, but a jury convicted him in July on two counts of fraud. The 52-year-old also was accused of trying to get acquaintances to cash the prize for him without revealing his identity.
During a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Judge Jeffrey Farrell told Tipton his violation of trust was the biggest factor in him receiving the maximum sentence on each count.
Prosecutors say Tipton inserted a stealth program into the computer that picks numbers for the game and then bought tickets.
Tipton is appealing and remains free on bond.
Miss Iowa Wins Talent Competition For Miss America Contest
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – Miss South Carolina has won the swimsuit competition and Miss Iowa has won the talent portion of the first night of preliminaries in the Miss America pageant.
Daja Dial of South Carolina won the swimsuit contest on Tuesday night.
Taylor Wiebers of Iowa won the talent portion with a vocal performance.
The new Miss America will be crowned in Sunday night’s nationally televised finale.
Contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are vying for the crown. The U.S. Virgin islands, which competed last year, could not field the required minimum number of entrants this year, pageant officials said. It is eligible for future competitions.
Preliminary competition in talent, interviews, evening wear and swimsuit competition will run through Thursday.
