Absentee Ballots Now Available For Special State Senate Seat Election
(Le Mars) — Absentee ballots for the special election for the State Senate District 3 are now available at the Plymouth County Auditor’s office at the Plymouth County Courthouse. The election is scheduled for December 12th. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed out is Friday, December 8th.
The Auditor’s office will be open on Saturday, December 9th from 8:00AM-4:00P.M. for absentee voting as well. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s office is Monday, December 11th from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. The candidates seeking the office of State Senate include Republican Jim Carlin of Sioux City,
and Democrat Todd Wendt of Le Mars.
Chamber of Commerce Announces Winners From “Black Friday -Small Business Saturday” Promotion
(Le Mars) — Several of Le Mars downtown businesses participated in the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Black Friday and Small Business Saturday” promotion which allowed customers to submit their name for a drawing. Each of the
selected winners will receive 50 Chamber Dollars from the business.
4 Brothers — Laurie Bird
Claussens — Krista Peters
Cork It — Marty Weiland
Get Branded 360 — Sherry Beitelspacher
Godfather’s Pizza — Larry Dreckman
Hardware Hank — Torrie Huls
Hotopp Jewelry & Gifts — Pam Falkena
Jobas — Kathy Meis
Le Mars Pizza Hut — Austin Nelson
One Office Solution — Krista Nilles
Pizza Ranch — Emma Taylor
Premier Communications — Jayden Davison
P’s Pizza House — Kendrick Rowe
Sunshine Foods — Teresa Reuter
Education Station — Jennifer Fox
Verizon Wireless World — Tami Woerdehoff
Gehlen Students and Parents To Hear Presentation About The Dangers of Social Media
(Le Mars) — Most people understand the power of influence behind social media, especially when it involves teenagers. On Monday, December 4th, the Reverend Aaron Baart, Dean of Chapel, at Dordt College of Sioux Center will be speaking
to Gehlen Catholic’s 7th -12th grade students and parents. His presentation is entitled: “The Dangers of Online and Digital interactions Facing Our Kids Today.” Reverend Baart will address the various dangers of social media.
Today’s students use a variety of social media platforms. As part of Gehlen Catholic’s efforts to provide a safe environment, in compliance with Virtus, the Diocese of Sioux City’s Safe Environment Program, Rev. Baart will ensure students & parents alike are informed on the dangers of social media.
Therefore, our students can make the best possible choices today & throughout their lives. All of the presentations will be held at Richter Hall at All Saints Parish-LeMars. Baart will speak to the junior high students between 12:50 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. and the high school students between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Parents can attend an evening program that is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Congressman King Offers Explanation Of The House-Passed Tax Reform Bill
(Washington) — The U-S House of Representatives recently passed a tax reform bill that has been promoted to give U-S taxpayers relief. Critics say only the nation’s elite wealthy and corporations will benefit from the new tax package,
while proponents say it will help the middle class. The U-S Senate has yet to vote on its tax reform package. Many people are still confused about the different provisions of the passed tax reform bill. Iowa Congressman Steve King, a republican from the 4th District, voted in favor of the tax program. He offers an explanation regarding the highlights of the bill.
King believes the new tax reform bill will bring U-S dollars back into the American economy, especially those dollars from U-S companies setting in off-shore accounts.
The Iowa Republican Congressman says the tax program has been broken down to fewer categories which he believes will also save taxpayers money by making it simpler.
King claims every tax bracket will see a cut in the taxes. He says the average may be around three to four-point-three percent reduction, depending upon a person’s income level. King says small businesses will also benefit from the passed tax reform bill.
The U-S Senate is expected bring their tax reform package up for a vote, perhaps within the week.
Hunter Dies In South Central Iowa Under “Suspicious” Circumstances
CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) – State and local authorities are investigating what a deputy says is the suspicious death of a hunter in south-central Iowa.
The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 31-year-old Curtis Ross, of Cedar Falls, was found in a remote area of the county on Saturday. He’d been reported missing earlier in the day.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Keith Glosser said Monday that after an autopsy is completed the case likely will be investigated as a homicide. Glosser declined to provide any more specifics about the case but did say that no arrest has been reported.
Fatal Fire Reported At Reinbeck
REINBECK, Iowa (AP) – Firefighters in north-central Iowa say they found a body in a garage after putting out a fire.
The fire was reported a little after 11 a.m. Sunday in the Grundy County community of Reinbeck.
The identification of the body awaits an autopsy. The fire cause is being investigated.
Four Year Old Dies From Farm Accident
SCHLESWIG, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 4-year-old boy has died in a western Iowa farm accident.
An incident report from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and medics were dispatched a little after 3:15 p.m. Sunday to a farm about 4 miles (7 kilometers) northwest of Schleswig. The report says a 911 caller, Cody Segebart, said he’d run a farm wagon over his son.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. He’s been identified as Jason Segebart.
Critics Say School Fails On Mental Health Assistance
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Advocacy groups have filed a federal lawsuit alleging officials representing an Iowa school for juvenile offenders are failing to provide adequate mental health care.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Des Moines by Disability Rights Iowa and the national watchdog organization Children’s Rights.
The groups allege the Boys State Training School administers “dangerous” psychotropic medications without adequate oversight and consent.
The lawsuit says school officials are unlawfully using seclusion rooms and full-body restraints, and don’t have enough mental health professionals at the Eldora facility, which is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Des Moines.
The Iowa Department of Human Services runs the school. Three department officials are named as defendants.
The agency says it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. But it defended the school when Disability Rights Iowa released a report raising concerns earlier this year.
