Karla Less Honored As “Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — During Wednesday’s Chamber Coffee hosted by Northwest Bank, the December “employee of the month” was announced. Karla Less, an employee of Northwest Bank was honored and recognized. Kevin Eekhoff, bank president, along with the entire staff of Northwest Bank submitted the nomination. In that nomination, Kevin Eekhoff says he has known and worked with Karla for more than 25 years. He has found Karla to be very dependable, efficient, and punctual. She is a person who gives much attention to detail and is always willing to take on difficult or special projects. She has repeatedly impressed me through the years that we have known each other. Not only does she produce high quality work for the staff and the customers we serve, she is one of the first impressions of our Bank. When you enter the Main Bank, you will be greeted by Karla who always has a smile and projects a warm, cheerful attitude to all she greets. When you call into the bank she will more than likely be the person you will be speaking to. Karla loves people, works hard and always tries to spread her cheerful demeanor to anyone around her. Eekhoff believes these characteristics represent all that is good at Northwest Bank and he is pleased to nominate Karla Less for this honor, the December LeMars Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month.
Kevin Eekhoff (right) of Northwest Bank presents the “Employee Of The Month” plaque to Karla Less.
Four Accidents Reported In Le Mars On Tuesday Afternoon
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department is busy investigating four accidents that happened on Tuesday afternoon, three of the four occurred within minutes of each other. The first accident was a car that struck a utility light pole in a one-vehicle accident that happened shortly before 3:00 p.m. The accident occurred on Hawkeye Avenue, or also known as Business Highway 75 in front of the Northwest Bank branch office. According to the police traffic accident report, the driver of the vehicle was a 16 year old male who at the time was fighting with his brother, who was in the passenger seat. The vehicle was heading southbound on Business Highway 75 when it left the roadway on the west side of the road, driving across the lawn of the Le Mars Family Dental Center, narrowly miss hitting a fire hydrant. The driver, then overcorrected the vehicle as it crossed over all four lanes of traffic, having the car hit head-on with an utility light pole. The result was the pole was sheared off, snapping the pole at about the four foot mark, and falling across the highway.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, and the Le Mars Police Department all responded to the accident. Traffic was temporarily diverted to Lincoln Street southwest from 12th Street to 18th street southwest. The Sport Utility Vehicle car hit the light pole head-on. MidAmerican Energy crews were dispatched to the scene to restore power to the area. Police estimate the damages of the vehicle to be in excess of $5,000 and the replacement of the pole to be at $3,500. The driver, Takudzwa Mukwindidza of Merrill was given a citation for failure to maintain control of the vehicle.
(Le Mars) — The second and third traffic accidents happened at nearly the same time and were reported at about 3:15 p.m. The second vehicle collision happened at the intersection of 6th Avenue southwest and Hawkeye Avenue. 47 year old Michael Hodgson was stopped at a stoplight facing north, when 69 year old Rosalie Tentinger of Waterloo, Iowa rear ended Hodgson. There were no injuries with this accident.
(Le Mars) — At nearly the same time, the third accident of the day had happened across town. That accident was a result of two vehicles colliding at the intersection of 8th Street southeast and 3rd Avenue southeast. 17 year old Ericka Cockburn of Le Mars was heading eastbound on 8th Street when her vehicle hit a car being driven by 36 year old Laura Hunter of Le Mars. Hunter was crossing the intersection and thought she had enough time to safely pass before the Cockburn vehicle approached. Cockburn hit the rear passenger tire causing the Hunter vehicle to spin 180 degrees. There were no injuries with the accident.
(Le Mars) — The fourth accident happened at about 5:00 p.m. at the intersection of 4th Street southwest and 1st Avenue southwest. 46 year old Kathleen Kjose of Alcester, South Dakota was struck at the intersection by a vehicle being driven by 69 year old Kathleen Feller of Le Mars. The accident was a broadside hit collision. No injuries were reported.
Iowa State Political Science Professor Talks About Campaign Endorsements
(Ames) — How much weight does political endorsements play on campaigns with voters? Iowa State University professor of political sciences, Dr. Mack Shelley says it all depends upon the candidate, and who, or what organization is endorsing the candidate.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/Shelley1.mp3{/audio}
Shelley says when a candidate receives an endorsement from an association, organization, or union, it may mean several volunteers will help with the campaign.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/Shelley2.mp3{/audio}
The Iowa State University political science professor says a campaign’s survival may depend on whether the candidate has endorsements, along with volunteers, or if the campaign has enough funding to sustain the long-haul of a campaign.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/Shelley3.mp3{/audio}
Vandals Strike Webster County Courthouse
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities hope to have the vandalism cleanup completed so the Webster County Courthouse can be reopened for public business by Friday or Monday at the latest.
A vandal or vandals sprayed fire extinguishers early Tuesday morning throughout the third and fourth floors. County Supervisor Merrill Leffler says a fine dust from the extinguishers has covered surfaces all through the building. County information technology director Andy McGill says the dust must be removed from all office computers, lest they suck in damaging material.
No major equipment damage has been reported.
Leffler says the courthouse has no security system. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vandalism. No arrest has been reported.
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University Of Iowa Awards Contracts With Political Consultant
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa has quietly awarded no-bid contracts worth $320,000 to a prominent Republican Party consultant for polling and social media services.
The university obtained a waiver claiming no other firm could perform the polling work, which was then delivered through a subcontractor.
The Associated Press discovered UI’s contracts with former Iowa GOP chairman Matt Strawn’s company through a public records request. The university avoided a policy that normally requires competitive bidding.
Critics say it looks like cronyism between former GOP colleagues and a waste of money.
University spokeswoman Jeneane Beck says Strawn’s company was chosen because it “provided better communication options across multiple platforms” than others. Strawn says his services are adding value.
Former university vice president Joe Brennan says he had no idea Strawn was involved.
