Governor Reynolds Will Not Call For A Special Legislative Session
(Le Mars) — The latest state estimated revenue report was issued this morning, and it appears as though the state did not lose as much money as was earlier thought, and as a result, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she will not call for a
special legislative session, but instead will borrow money from the state’s reserves to cover the state’s expenses. The expected shortfall for Iowa’s FY 2017 budget is $14.6 million. Gov. Reynolds will combine $13 million from the state’s economic emergency fund with the $1.6 million ending balance. This is the
final action on the FY 2017 budget, which ended June 30, 2017. The state has $605 million in reserve funds after closing the FY 2017 books. State Representative, Chuck Holz of Le Mars says he is relieved to learn that a special session is no longer needed.
The republican law maker says the first item of business for the state legislature next January is to pay back the money the state borrowed from the reserves.
Several Democrats, especially those seeking the position of governor, have been critical of Governor Reynolds for the state’s shortfall in the budget, and blame her for the problems. Holz says it is unfair to cast all the blame on Governor Reynolds.
Holz says the state may be forced to hold a tighter grip on tax credits, in order to make certain there is enough funding available for all state expenditures.
The Le Mars state representative says the use of tax credits will probably be a controversial topic that will be debated during the next legislative session.
City Council Approves Hiring Of Two Police Officers
(Le Mars) — During the city council meeting, council members approved a plan to hire two replacement police officers, as well as include the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee Police Department as part of the Special Response Team. The S-R-T is a strategic arm of the law enforcement agencies that already consists of members of the Le Mars Police Department and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Sioux county Sheriff’s Office. The replacements will fill the void left after a promotion, and the other to fill a retirement.
Primebank Collects Donations For Hurricane Victims
(Le Mars) — Members of the Primebank staff helped load collected donations into a pick-up truck on Tuesday with the destination, initially going to the Siouxland Red Cross, but with a final destination to help victims that have been hit by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. For the past few weeks, Primebank at Sioux
Center, Le Mars and at Sioux City have collected essentials such as drinking water, diapers, toilet paper, and other items following the disasters brought about by the recent hurricanes.
Le Mars Rotary To Host Regional Conference
(Le Mars) — The Rotary of Le Mars will host the 2017 District 5610 Conference, scheduled for October 13 -14 in the Le Mars Convention Center. Nearly 200 attendees from communities in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, northeast Nebraska
and southwest Minnesota are expected to attend this 2-day informational event.
Two distinguished Rotarians, Rotary International Board of Director Member Larry Dimmitt of Topeka, KS and PDG of District 520 Kelly Atkinson of Salt Lake, Utah Rotary International President’s representative Pamela Stewart will be
highlighting the conference with keynote general session address’s and breakout session leadership.
Breakout sessions on Rotary Foundation, Membership, Public Image, Grants, and many more are to be offered to the attendees. General Sessions will feature Iowa State Senator Bill Anderson, local club welcomes, awards, The Friendship Exchange
and District Governor, Steve Harrington. The attendees will also be offered tours of local Le Mars sites including the Plymouth County Museum, Alley Art, Veteran’s Park and Round Barn. The showcase entertainment of the Saturday evening closing session will be The Browns Family. “The Le Mars Rotarians are
very proud that our member, Steve Harington, is District 5610 Governor and excited that we can showcase our community to Rotarians all across the district,” stated John Schneider, District Conference Chair.
Businesses Encouraged To Enter Dream Big Grow Here Entrepreneurial Contest
(Le Mars) — The economic development organizations in northwest Iowa are once again teaming up to offer the Dream Big Grow Here business grant contest to our region. The Dream Big Grow Here contest is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and
small business owners to fulfill their dreams of self-employment or expansion of their current business. The contest allows entrepreneurs the chance to submit their dreams to start or expand a business, then encourage friends, family, and
customers to vote for them online. The finalists will present their idea to an audience and judges in a pitch-off event for a chance to win thousands in cash
prizes.
From now until September 30th, entrepreneurs in Cherokee, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties can submit their business or startup ideas to www.DreamBigGrowHere.com.
Voting on the submitted ideas will take place October 9th- 20th. During the voting period, the entrepreneur will recruit others to vote for their entry at www.DreamBigGrowHere.com. The top three vote getters will advance to a regional pitch-off competition, along with two additional entrants chosen by a selection committee. Each finalist will have access to the University of Northern Iowa’s Business Concierge Services, as well as receive personalized coaching from the
Small Business Development Center and UNI’s Center for Business Growth and Innovation.
The regional contest will be held the evening of Thursday, November 16th in Orange City, Iowa at the Prairie Winds Event Center. The finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas with first place receiving $4,000, second place receiving $2,000 and third place receiving $1,000 to grow their small
business.
The Northwest Iowa regional contest is sponsored and organized by the economic development organizations that are a part of Iowa’s West Coast Initiative and Northwest Iowa Developers and includes the following counties: Cherokee, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury. To learn more or to enter the contest, please visit www.DreamBigGrowHere.com.
Supreme Court To Hear Speeding Ticket Case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has taken the unusual move of hearing a small claims case stemming from a speeding ticket. The court Wednesday heard a case brought by 67-year-old Marla Leaf, who argued her constitutional rights were violated after an automated camera ticketed her for speeding on a freeway in her hometown of Cedar Rapids. It was
her first speeding ticket, and Leaf says she wasn’t speeding. Her attorney, James Larew, argued Cedar Rapids violates equal protection and due process clauses of the Iowa Constitution in part because it delegates police power to a private, for-profit company. Attorneys for Cedar Rapids say the city’s system abides by state law. After the hearing, Leaf said she pursued the case simply because, “Why should I pay for a ticket I didn’t do?”
