City Council To Meet Today With New Council Member
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will begin the year with a new council member. Retired teacher Steve Wick will assume the seat previously held by out-going council member Delana Irhke. The city council will begin with a public hearing regarding the National Electrical Code of 2014. The council is set to hold the third reading of the proposed city code ordinance allowing all terrain vehicles and snowmobiles to operate on city streets. The council is expected to approve new licenses and fees for 2016. The city council is prepared to discuss the annual report from the municipal airport. They will also discuss the housing needs assessment survey, and look back on 2015 as they review the year.
Fire Department Issues December 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.
Floyd Valley Welcomes New Year’s Baby
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare officials have announced the arrival of the new year’s baby. Kenzie Faye Meyer was born this(Monday) morning at 7:58 a.m. Kenzie weighed six pounds – eleven ounces, and was 19 inches in length. Josey Meyer of Le Mars is the mother of Kenzie. The new year’s baby will be welcomed by three-year old older sister, Kandus. Dr. Sheila Holcomb was the attending physician.
Senator Ted Cruz To Visit Northwest Iowa
(Sioux Center) — Republican Presidential hopeful and Texas Senator Ted Cruz is traveling throughout Iowa, making stops today at Onawa, Cherokee, and Sioux Center. Cruz, who has risen in the polls lately to become the top Republican contender, edging out businessman Donald Trump and surgeon Dr. Ben Carson, is scheduled to appear at the DeYager Activity Center in the Campus Center at Dordt College for a town hall meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesday, Cruz is scheduled to make appearances at Rock Rapids, Sibley, Spirit Lake, Spencer, and Storm Lake.
O’Malley Ready To Hit The Campaign Hard For The Next Month
(Le Mars) — Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and a Democratic presidential candidate held a town hall meeting in Le Mars on Saturday evening. O’Malley is currently in third place, for the Democratic party nomination, according to the national polls. O’Malley says he is not worried, and explains his political strategy for the next 28 days.
Listen to
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Iowa Announces On-line Voter Registration System
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.
Tulip Festival Announces Auditions For “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.
Des Moines Water Works Sets Record For Nitrate Levels
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The utility that provides water to 500,000 Des Moines customers says it’s set a record in 2015 for the number of days it operated equipment to remove nitrate from water.
Des Moines Water Works said Monday its nitrate removal equipment ran 177 days last year, surpassing 106 days in 1999.
It cost the utility $1.5 million to run the equipment which keeps tap water below the federally mandated nitrate level of 10 milligrams per liter for drinking water.
Water Works CEO Bill Stowe says upstream farm drainage systems washing fertilizer from farm fields are the largest contributors to high nitrate levels.
Water Works has sued three upstream counties, including Sac, Buena Vista, and Calhoun, blaming them for the nitrate problem.
The counties say there’s no proof farm field 200 miles upstream cause Des Moines’ nitrate problem.
Authorities Find Body Of Missing Canoeist
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy who was missing after his canoe capsized in eastern Iowa.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says Tanner Wymer’s body was discovered Monday morning in Coralville Lake.
Wymer and 51-year-old Michael Felton were in a canoe Sunday afternoon when the boat capsized. The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/1ZKQi2s ) Felton, of Solon, was able to swim to shore. He was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and was listed in good condition Monday.
A search for Wymer, of Iowa City, was suspended Sunday night until the next morning.
Officials say the boat may have capsized when either Felton or Wymer stood up to take a photo. They say wind, waves and the current may have contributed to the incident.
