Le Mars Community Board of Education To Hold Meeting
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will convene this evening. The school board will begin the meeting by holding two public hearings, the first regarding the sale of a 60-passenger school bus, and the second with the stadium scoreboard, Bids will be opened and the school board is expected to take action. The school board will discuss the recent
state board of education convention. The local school board will also hear a report from Stacy Bunkers and Kelley Johnson about the school district’s implementation of the Eureka Math program. The school board will act upon a contract for Megan Ahrens as a middle school study hall supervisor. School superintendent Dr. Steven Webner will present to the board’s attention a
review of the school’s policy on the 100 and 300 series. The school board will also consider accepting the superintendent’s recommendation of exclusion from the high school with educational programming provided at off-school property setting for a student found to be in violation of Board Policy 502.3.2. The school board will conclude the evening’s meeting by
going into a closed session to discuss the purchase of real estate.
Iowa Association of School Boards Want To Continue Penny Tax
(Des Moines) — One of the priorities of the Iowa Association of School Boards in the new year is to get the legislature to pass an extension of the one-cent sales tax for infrastructure. Atlantic School Board vice president Kristy Pellett talked with other board members about how the tax has helped her district.
She says there are other projects where the fund has helped.
The penny tax is scheduled to end in 2029 and Pellett says they are pushing for an extension now because the tax helps ensure better bond rates for projects.
Pellett says board members are aware of the tight funds in the state, but says this would extend a tax that has proven to be successful and is not creating something new. She says the money generated helps the entire community.
Pellett encourages parents and community members to talk with their school boards to learn more about how the tax is used in their districts. She is encouraging school board members across the state to talk with local legislators about the importance of extending the tax.
IPERS Retirement Fund In Good Financial Condition
(Des Moines) — The annual financial review of IPERS (EYE-perz) — the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System — was completed last week. IPERS C-E-O Donna Mueller (MYOO-ler) says the report shows the pension system had 32-point-three billion dollars in assets on June 30th.
In total, about 360-thousand public employees who are retired — OR — are STILL working are IPERS members.
The other public employees invested in IPERS are city and county employees.
IPERS was established in 1953 to provide pension payments to public employees in Iowa. Investments account for about 70 percent of the benefits paid out, according to Mueller. Actuaries calculate the net investment return in the past fiscal year was nearly eight percent.
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Winter Snow Storm Hits Southeast Iowa
CHICAGO (AP) – A wintry storm is battering much of the central Midwest Monday, with blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures from northeast Missouri into southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois, including the greater Chicago area. The blizzard-like conditions at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend grounded hundreds of flights and forced the closure of
many major highways. The winter storm began in Iowa on Saturday evening. KLEM radio visited with Joe Lancellol with radio stations, KMZN and KBOE of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Fewer Iowans Riding Amtrak
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Amtrak ridership in Iowa has dropped more than 4 percent.
The Des Moines Register reports that 57,955 people boarded Amtrak passenger trains at Iowa’s six stations during the 12 months ending Sept. 30. That’s more than 4 percent down from the previous year and nearly 16 percent less than Iowa’s record ridership year of 2010.
The California Zephyr travels daily eastbound and westbound through Iowa, stopping at Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa, Osceola and Creston.
The Southwest Chief stops in Fort Madison.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari blames the decline on more people driving due to low gasoline prices. He also thinks higher-performing vehicles lead more people to drive themselves.
Iowa rail advocates also note Amtrak has cut its ticket agents at
train stations, making it harder to buy at a depot.
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Two Des Moines Firefighters Injured While Fighting Fire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two firefighters have been injured battling a house blaze in Des Moines.
Firetrucks were dispatched to the house around 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Fire Lt. Chris Clement says the injuries occurred when one firefighter fell through a weakened floor into the house basement, landing atop another firefighter.
Both were taken to a hospital and were released after treatment.
Their names haven’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.
Police Investigate Muscatine Shootings
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Police say three people were injured when someone fired shots into a Muscatine home.
Officers were called to a neighborhood early Saturday to investigate shots fired. Police didn’t find any suspects but located three people with gunshot wounds.
Police say they were injured when the shots were fired into a home.
All were being treated and were in stable condition.
Des Moines Movie Theater Closes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – One of the last one-screen movie theaters in the Des Moines area will soon close.
The Des Moines Register reports the Varsity Theatre in the Drake
Neighborhood will close next month.
Owner Denise Mahon announced Friday on the Varsity’s Facebook page that the theater across the street from Drake University will close after the Sunday matinees Dec. 30. Mahon’s father bought the theater in 1954 with a partner and became sole owner in 1975.
Denise Mahon started running the theater in 2009, when her father died.
Mahon declined an interview request but called it “a very nostalgic day and difficult decision.”
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