(Le Mars) — Life Skills Training Center held its annual meeting and banquet last evening. Retiring board members Bill Peshek and Gary Grage were recognized with a certificate of appreciation. Foundation directors Terri Conover and Andy Schmidt were also recognized for their volunteer work as a board member. This year’s Client Achievement Award was presented to Jennifer Keleher. Keleher was described as a person that is cheerful, and takes pride in personal appearance, always has a smile on her face, willing to do a variety of tasks, eager to learn, gets along well with peers, arrives for training as scheduled, stays focused, and is always in a good mood, and respectful of staff and peers.
Life Skills works with mentally challenged individuals, to assist them to find suitable employment.
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education approved a bid of $99,062 from Nohava Construction of Le Mars to re-roof the Education Service Center. Three bids were submitted for the project, with the other bids at $122,350 by All Elements of Monticello, Minnesota, and $151,000 by Moss Roofing Incorporated of West Union, Iowa. In other action during last evening’s school board meeting, the board approved the recommendation of the Meet and Confer team to allow a 3.24 percent increase in salary pay to support staff and administrators. The total amount would equal $139,003. In that same discussion, the school board approved a staggered pay scale for school bus drivers based on their number of years of experience. Bus drivers with ten years of service will receive an additional .25 cents per hour above the current schedule. Fifty cents per hour will be added to the pay scale for bus drivers with 15 years experience, and for those bus drivers with 20 years of experience will receive 75 cents per hour above the current schedule. Following the action approving the salary increase for the support staff, the school board then discussed the Activities Director position. Dr. Todd Wendt informed the school board that the district would probably be able to save more than $100,000 if the school would not hire a full-time activities director, but instead have the responsibilities be shared by four individuals. Karlton Hector will have supervisory responsibilities of the Activities Director position. He will receive a stipend of 17 percent above his salary base. Others that will share in the activities director position include Barry Borchers, Troy Caswell, and Neal Utesch.
Although the board approved the action of having the Activities Director position be shared, they also added that in the future, when financials are in better shape, they hope to hire one individual to be full-time Activities Director. The school board decided to keep the student fees for next year at the same level as they are for this year. The only exception is the price for adult lunch meals will increase by ten cents to $3.45 per day.
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees are scheduled to meet this evening for their monthly meeting. The trustees will hear a medical report from Dr. Mark Stelzer along with a quarterly financial report from Chief Financial Officer Daryl Friedenbach. Administrator Mike Donlin will review the recent patient satisfaction survey from Press Ganey. Donlin will also offer the trustees a general update, as well as an update on the North Addition. The trustees will review and consider approving capital acquisitions. The trustees will review the bids and award a contract for the Emergency Department renovation project.
(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Foundation, along with the Musson family, have announced that they will be accepting applications for the Steven H. Musson Memorial Emergency Services Grant until May 31, 2016. To be eligible, the applicant(s) must reside and actively engage in emergency care in Plymouth County. This can include: paramedic, first responder, or emergency care technician (EMT). The $500 grant must be used for direct expenses related to pursuing an emergency care training including books tuition, classes, transportation, squad trainings and certifications.
Interested applicants (individuals or a squad) may obtain an electronic version of the brochure including application information from the Floyd Valley Healthcare website at FloydValley.org under Foundation and Giving.
The Steven H. Musson Emergency Services Endowment was established in 2003 by the Musson family to recognize and honor of Steve for his passion for emergency care. Floyd Valley Healthcare recognizes and appreciates the 27 years of steadfast duty, organization, and care he gave. Steve helped start the Le Mars Ambulance service in 1975 and served as co-director until his death in 2002. He also served on the Floyd Valley Hospital Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the decision to expand the Outpatient and Emergency Departments, a vision that was completed in the fall of 2004.
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary will be awarding two $1,000 scholarships to area students on Wednesday. The presentation will take place at the Willow Creek Golf Club at 10:00 a.m. Floyd Valley Auxiliary awards scholarships each year to students in the Floyd Valley Healthcare service area who are pursuing a health related career.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two people have been injured when the vehicle they were riding in crashed into a Des Moines fire station.
Sgt. Paul Parizek said that police responded to the crash around 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O’Keefe said that the vehicle jumped the curb in front of Des Moines Fire Station 4 and crashed into the station’s garage doors.
According to Parizek, one passenger was seriously injured and transported to a hospital. He said that the vehicle’s driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police said that a third passenger fled from the scene before officers arrived.
The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/1TyIsnc ) reports that fire station’s garage windows were broken during the incident.
The crash is under investigation, and Parizek said that charges are pending.
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says the Republican Party must come together and support Donald Trump’s candidacy for president.
The Republican governor said Monday that GOP leaders need to accept that Trump will be the party’s nominee for president and work to defeat Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. He said there’s “some time” to mend internal division within the party over whether to support Trump.
Branstad called himself a “team player” in backing Trump, though he admitted he was skeptical when the candidate campaigned ahead of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. He credited Trump for being an “unconventional candidate” who appeals to voters.
Branstad said he doesn’t agree with everything Trump has said in the past, but he didn’t elaborate.
