Doug Martin Honored As “Teacher of the Year”
(Le Mars) — At an assembly of the Le Mars Community Student Body held Thursday at the Le Mars Community Competition gymnasium, Denise Anthony, a member of the Le Mars Community Foundation Board, along with Carolyn Vance of the Le Mars Community School District Alumni Association announced this year’s “Teacher of the Year-Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell Award” recipient.
Doug Martin, was named as this year’s Le Mars Community School District’s “Teacher of the Year.” The student body gave Martin a standing ovation that lasted for a few moments. Martin was pleasantly surprised by the announcement when he stood behind the podium to thank his fellow faculty, administration,
students and guests.
Among the special guests gathered to see the award presentation was Martin’s parents. Several students and faculty members, and administration officials extended their congratulations to Martin for his honor. During an interview with
KLEM radio, the science teacher mentioned that he considers himself as an average teacher, and mentioned he was speechless after receiving the recognition.
Martin, who has been teaching for more 25 years, says his philosophy on education is to allow the student to make the discovery.
A few years ago, the Le Mars Community School District started a robotics club, which Martin assists with the supervision. He says the students have really taken a huge interest in participating with the school’s robotics.
Martin has suffered some health-related setbacks lately, first having a stroke, and then being diagnosed with cancer. Despite that, he enjoys teaching, and doesn’t let anything stand in his way from teaching Le Mars Community students.
Martin was nominated for this award by numerous students (past and present), parents, administrators, and colleagues. The Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell award is co-sponsored by the LCSD Foundation and the LCS Alumni Association. The
award is presented annually to honor outstanding teachers who have dedicated their careers to the education of our children. The presentation of the Decades of Excellence – Crystal Bell Award will be made during the School Foundation Banquet scheduled for April 25th.
Le Mars Arts Center To Host Photography Exhibit
(Le Mars) — A photography exhibit is now on display at the Le Mars Arts Center, and it features several photographs of spoons. Its all part of Le Mars native Brent Herrig’s creative sense. Herrig, a professional photographer, now resides in New York. He says he wanted to showcase different spoons from different chefs he has previously photographed, in an exhibit entitled “Spoons of Inspiration.”
In addition to the 22 photos displaying the spoon exhibit, Herrig also is utilizing the Le Mars Arts Center to showcase another exhibit featuring travel pieces. Herrig says he started out as a photographer when he attended the Le Mars Community High School when he was assigned to take photographs for the
yearbook. Herrig says he soon realized what was originally a hobby, turned into his career profession.
Herrig’s first camera was a single lens reflex Canon AE-1, and although he has now advanced to using digital cameras, he claims he still, on occasion, likes to load up film and use his first camera. The professional photographer says his works usually centers around food in some manner.
Of all his photos, does Herrig have a favorite?
The Le Mars Arts Center will host an open house reception scheduled for Saturday, April 7th between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with Herrig in attendance. Herrig’s photo exhibit will be on display at the Le Mars Arts Center between now and the
end of May.
Mother Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping Three Daughters
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman accused of abducting her three daughters in northwest Iowa, prompting an “Amber Alert”, has pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors.
Clay County District Court records say 26-year-old Danica Arzaga, of Spencer, entered the pleas Wednesday to three counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. The charges had been lowered from felony kidnapping.
She was given two years of probation and a suspended prison sentence of six years.
Authorities say Arzaga took the two 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old from their home in Royal on Sept. 19. The children were found abandoned in Sanborn later that day. She was arrested Sept. 20 in Sioux City.
The children had been removed from Arzaga’s custody and placed in another relative’s care.
Judge Rules Corbett Cannot Run For Governor In Republican Primary
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled that former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett won’t appear as a candidate for Iowa governor on Republican primary ballots.
The decision Thursday clears the way for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who will be the only GOP candidate in the June 5 contest. Six Democrats and two Libertarians are also running for governor.
A state elections panel voted 2-1 last week to reject Corbett’s ballot petition because he fell eight names short of the 4,005 required. Corbett had filed a lawsuit in Polk County district court challenging the decision.
District Judge David May said the panel was correct to not count
signatures that had been crossed-through by the campaign.
Corbett had told reporters he’d “grab my gym bag and head for the locker room” if he lost.
Lawmakers Pass “Sanctuary Bill”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers have approved a bill that bans so-called sanctuary cities by withholding state funds from local governments that don’t comply with immigration laws.
The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate voted 28-18 along party lines Wednesday night for the measure. It follows a 55-45 vote Tuesday in the GOP-led state House, where one Democrat voted for the bill and five Republicans voted against it.
The bill heads to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has indicated she’ll sign it into law.
The primary focus of the legislation is on “sanctuary cities,” a catch- all label for jurisdictions that limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Iowa has no sanctuary cities.
The bill has other provisions that include instructing local governments not to enact policies that prohibit or discourage enforcing immigration laws.
Supporters say the bill is about enforcing the law, though authorities say they already follow immigration laws. Community organizers believe the legislation opens the state to litigation and could lead to racial profiling.
Woman Indicted On Fraud Charges
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman has been indicted on fraud charges for allegedly stealing $175,000 from her now-dead fiancee and his elderly mother.
Robin Ann Bertelli was arrested Thursday on a 35-count indictment and expected to make an initial appearance Friday in Cedar Rapids.
Bertelli is charged with stealing from accounts that belonged to her fiancee – former Navy SEAL Ken Martin Jr. – and Martin’s mother. Bertelli allegedly started a relationship with Martin around 2013 after a prior husband died and lived with his family in Central City, Iowa.
Martin died in 2016 while on vacation with Bertelli in Puerto Rico from what Bertelli told others was an accidental drowning after hitting his head on a rock. He was 57.
The indictment alleges that Bertelli stole checks that belonged to the Martins before and after his death and wrote them payable to herself, forging their signatures.
