Ice Cream Days – Day 2
(Le Mars) — This is the second day for Ice Cream Days and Peggy Sitzmann, vice
president of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce tells us there are plenty of events
and activities this evening, and plenty of times when we can enjoy the sweet taste of ice cream.
(Le Mars) — Last evening as part of the Ice Cream Days celebration, the Le Mars Public Library hosted Dr. Rudolph Daniels, Department chair of Railroad Operations Technology from Western Iowa Technical Community College. Dr. Daniels spoke about how railroads, agriculture, and immigration are all connected during the mid to late 1800’s.
Daniels says the railroads acquired large tracts of land on both sides of the railroad tracks as a way to help finance its workers, and selling the land to immigrant families from Ireland, Germany, and even the Scandinavian nations, as a way to help finance the expanding railroad.
The train historian says railroad companies lost out in competition to trucks, simply because the trucks were more convenient, but not more efficient.
In terms of interesting trivia that Daniels has learned through his research of trains is that he says most people probably don’t realize that the old steam locomotives actually had more horse power than today’s locomotives powered by diesel fuel.
Daniels says one reason why so many small towns are located within ten miles from each other is because that would be the approximate distance a steam locomotive engine could travel before needing additional water. Daniels says it was also because railroads wanted to be certain farmers would need only a day’s drive to get access to railroads.
Fired Police Chief Settles Lawsuit
HARTLEY, Iowa (AP) – A former police chief who sued the city of Hartley over his
firing has settled the lawsuit.
The dismissal of Mark Younie’s lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City.
The settlement agreement says the city’s insurance carrier, EMC Cos., will pay
Younie $25,000 on behalf of the city. The city will pay Younie’s attorneys $75,000,
to be split with Younie in accordance with his contract with the attorneys.
Younie was fired in January 2014, and he sued the city in October 2014. He
alleged in the lawsuit that he was fired because he’d filed a grievance alleging a
labor law violation. The city said Younie’s firing was unrelated to the grievance.
—
Casino Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status
ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – An IRS report says that a central Iowa casino owes up to $60
million in back taxes and penalties.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino’s board of directors released a 93-page
IRS report Wednesday that threatens to revoke its tax exempt-status and a letter
protesting federal agency’s actions.
Prairie Meadows has operated as a tax-exempt nonprofit since 1989. Casino
officials learned about the IRS’ plans to take away its tax-exempt status May 12,
following a year-and-a-half investigation.
The IRS audit found that Prairie Meadows is operating more like a business
than “exclusively for social welfare purposes” and that it lacks Polk County
oversight.
The appeal outlines the ways the casino “continues to be a valid social
welfare organization.”
—
