Supervisors Select Henrich As Chairman
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors met this morning to re-organize and elect a chairman and a vice-chairman for the board for 2016. Once again, Jim Henrich was elected as the chairman of the supervisors with Don Kass being elected as the vice chairman. The supervisors approved the Akron Hometowner, Remsen Bell Enterprise, Moville Record as publisher for the Kingsley Times, and the Le Mars Daily Sentinel as the official newspapers. The county board of supervisors re-appointed all current members to the Compensation Commission. The Supervisors also re-appointed Wayne Schipper to the Veterans Affairs Board for a three-year term, the board appointed Dr. Steve Meis and Debra Ahlers to the county board of health for a three-year term. Amy Oetken was re-appointed to the County Civil Service Commission for a six-year term. The Supervisors also named James Binneboese, Bill Koopman and Melvin Brown to the county zoning board each for a five-year term. Chris Beeck (Beck) was re-appointed to serve on the County Conservation Board for a five-year term.
County engineer Tom Rohe presented a bridge construction project designated for 270th Street for the supervisor’s approval. Rohe told the board he anticipates a March 15th letting date. The supervisors did question Rohe regarding the clearing of snow from the county roads. Many of the supervisors indicated they had received both phone calls as well as letters showing county residents disapproval with the way the county had not cleaned the highways. Rohe responded by saying each snow storm is different. He also indicated that he thought the crews may have to get an earlier start on clearing the county’s roads, so the roads would be cleared before the traffic is able to pack the snow, making it that much more difficult to clear. Rohe indicated to the supervisors he would bring a route map to the next supervisor meeting to share with the board. The county engineer also reminded the supervisors that Plymouth County has more miles of highway to clear than many other counties within the area, which means the clearing of snow takes a bit longer.
2016 Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. From left to right, Don Kass, Craig Anderson, chairman Jim Henrich, Auditor Stacy Feldman, Mark Loutsch, and John Meis.
Fire Department Releases Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its December monthly report. The fire brigade responded to a total of 30 calls during the month of December. Eleven times the fire department were called to fight fires. They performed nine rescues, conducted four investigations, and offered mutual aid to both Merrill and Oyens. The fire department had four requests for services. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says 20 firefighters responded on Christmas Day to a methamphetamine lab clean up.
Tulip Festival To Present “West Side Story”
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Auditions for the 2016 Tulip Festival Night Show, “West Side Story,” are scheduled for three dates in January. Individuals age 16 and up are invited to audition.
Auditions for the Night Show will take place Jan. 12 and Jan. 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. All auditions will take place at the Orange City Town Hall. Those wishing to try out do not need to prepare any material prior to the auditions, but are asked to bring their schedules from February through May.
The cast of “West Side Story” will consist of 35 to 40 people, including Tony, Maria, Riff, Bernardo, Chino, Anita, Officer Krupke, Doc, members of the Sharks and Jets, and many more. Non-singing roles are also available for males in the production.
Tickets for the Night Show will go on sale for $20 each on Monday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Orange City Tulip Festival/Chamber of Commerce office. The show will take place May 18-21 at the Unity Christian Knight Center. Questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510, and more information can be found at www.octulipfestival.com.
Iowa Starts On-line Voter Registration Program
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials have launched an online voter registration system, despite criticism it doesn’t reach every potential voter.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate reiterated at a press conference Monday that the system, launched on New Year’s Day, is intended to compliment the options already available to residents. That includes same-day voter registration at the polls on Election Day.
The new system is available through a website developed in part by the Iowa Department of Transportation, and it’s accessible to residents with a driver’s license or DOT-issued ID.
Some groups say the system excludes roughly 145,000 eligible voters because those people lack DOT cards. Pate says his office wants to address that gap when more funding is available to expand the online system, though it’s unclear when that may happen.
Dairy Farmer Sentenced To Three Months In Prison For Harboring Illegal Aliens
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa dairy farmer has been given three months in prison for employing people who authorities say were in the United States illegally.
Michael Millenkamp was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Millenkamp also was ordered to forfeit $245,000. He’d pleaded guilty to harboring, encouraging and inducing someone living in the U.S. illegally.
Prosecutors say the 48-year-old Millenkamp, of rural Earlville, employed several people residing in the U.S. unlawfully between 2007 and 2011. Some of the employees were allowed to live at one or more of the farms owned by Millenkamp.
—
Missing Canoeist
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) – The search for a missing canoeist has resumed in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County.
Authorities suspended the search Sunday night at Coralville Lake. The search began after a canoe with two people aboard capsized around 2:45 p.m. near Bobbers Grill.
One of the people was pulled from the icy water and taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The other was not found Sunday before the search was suspended until first light on Monday.
