Supervisors Expected To Approve Library Services Agreement During Weekly Meeting
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are expected to approve the library services agreement and funding allocation for the fiscal year 2019-2020 when they convene for their weekly meeting this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room. The county governing board is also expected
to approve a road vacation and will set the date for a public hearing.
County Recorder, Jolynn Goodchild will submit her quarterly report to the county supervisors, and County Engineer, Tom Rohe will offer an update on construction projects. The county board of supervisors will also hold a close session following the completion of the agenda items.
Optimism Club Tells Students To “Just Say No To Drugs And Alcohol”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Optimist Club hosted an assembly for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students Monday afternoon at the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium. The purpose for the assembly is to encourage students to “Just say No” to drugs and alcohol. Both Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic students participated in the program. Mike White, a martial arts instructor, was the featured speaker during the program. He tells of his message to the students.
He told the students that he used to be bullied at school, but he found martial arts gave him confidence and self-esteem.
Five years ago, White was the speaker at that time for the same program. He compares the students from his first speaking appearance to yesterday’s students.
White demonstrated various martial arts techniques for the wide-eyed students.
Sophie Pauling is a fifth grader at Kluckholn school and was the winner of the t-shirt contest for the assembly. Pauling says she got her inspiration for the t-shirt through a class subject she was studying.
The Optimist Club distributed t-shirts with the winning design and slogan to each student.
Plymouth County 4-H Members Celebrate National 4-H Week
(Le Mars) — Monday marked the start of National 4-H Week, and here at Plymouth County, there are more than 420 members involved in the youth organization, making Plymouth County among the top five Iowa counties for membership. Ann
Schoenrock is the co-coordinator with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for Plymouth County and oversees the 4-H and Youth activities.
She offers two explanations about the youth organization.
Schoenrock says the four H’s in 4-H stand for Head…Heart…Hands…and Health and the program is teaching youth how to use each component to their full potential to help guide them throughout their school years, and ultimately with their future careers. 4-H was at one time thought of as a
rural youth organization, but Schoenrock says that perception is changing.
The local 4-H and Youth Coordinator says the lessons learned through 4-H, such as public speaking, leadership development, and other skills, will benefit the members throughout their entire lives.
Schoenrock says when 4-H members enter into college, their professors immediately recognize their skills over other classmates.
Schoenrock says each day this week, activities are being planned with area 4-H members as they acknowledge and celebrate National 4-H Week.
For additional information about the Plymouth County 4-H program, those interested can contact the Plymouth County Extension Office at 546-7835.
Grassley’s Grandson Picked As Iowa’s Speaker Of The House
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa House Republicans have chosen Rep. Pat Grassley to head their leadership teams as Speaker-Select of the Iowa House.
The grandson of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley was chosen by the GOP House caucus on Monday. He takes over as speaker after a vote of the full House in January.
Current Speaker Linda Upmeyer announced last week she would step down as speaker but serve the remainder of her current House term through the end of 2020.
Grassley, a 36-year old farmer from New Hartford was first elected to the House in 2006. He operates a family farm with his father and grandfather, who also served in the Iowa House from 1959 to 1975.
Rep. Matt Windschitl was chosen majority leader and Rep. John Wills speaker pro tem.
UFCW Sues The USDA
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The union representing workers at pork processing plants has sued the federal government to challenge new rules finalized in September that allow companies to set line speeds and turn more food safety tasks over to company employees.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and local unions in Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas have joined with nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen to file the lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota.
The lawsuit alleges that the new rules announced in September by the U.S. Department of Agriculture violate the Administrative Procedure Act because it is not backed by reasoned decision-making and should be set aside.
A USDA spokeswoman says the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
Man Accused Of Shooting Two People At Parking Lot Wants Trial To Be Moved
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of fatally shooting two 18-year-olds in a vehicle in a business parking lot wants his trial moved out of Cedar Rapids.
Linn County District Court records say an Oct. 25 hearing is
scheduled to hear the request from 26-year-old Andre Richardson. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the May 18 slayings of Matrell Johnson and Royal Abram. Police say two others also were hit by bullets in the parked vehicle at the Iowa Smoke Shop in Cedar Rapids.
Richardson’s lawyer says extensive media reports of the slayings and subsequent investigation have made it impossible for Richardson to get a fair trial before an impartial jury in Linn County.
Richardson’s trial is scheduled to begin May 4.
State Approves Payment To Parents Of ISU Student Who Committed Suicide
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state panel that signs off on legal settlements for the state of Iowa has approved payment of $315,000 to the parents of an Iowa State University student who died by suicide in November 2015.
A jury in August found the state partially liable for the death of
Dane Schussler.
The lawsuit alleged the state failed to provide adequate mental
health services.
Schussler had received counseling at the university for anxiety and depression before he was found dead on railroad tracks in Ames.
The Iowa attorney general’s office recommended no appeal and payment of the jury verdict. It was approved by the Iowa State Appeal Board on Monday.
State Approves To Settle With Women From Juvenile Detention
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state of Iowa has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by two women once held at a state-run juvenile home for nearly $700,000.
The Iowa State Appeal Board has agreed to the settlement which pays Laera Reed and Paige Ray-Cluney more than $170,000 each and their lawyers more than $340,000.
The women were held at the Iowa Juvenile Home at Toledo until former Gov. Terry Branstad ordered it closed in 2014 after allegation surfaced that some girls were held in seclusion cells.
Iowa then sent Reed and Ray-Cluney to the Copper Lake School for Girls in Wisconsin where they claim in court documents they were held in isolation cells and subjected to other treatment that led to suicide attempts.
Iowa taxpayers will pay the settlement from the state’s general
fund.
Wisconsin officials in June agreed to pay $1.95 million apiece to
Reed and Ray-Cluney to settle a lawsuit filed against the state for their treatment at the Copper Lake facility.
Sentencing Scheduled For Daughter Who Stole From Mother
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A Nov. 25. sentencing has been scheduled for an eastern Iowa woman accused of stealing from her mother.
Dubuque County District Court records say 51-year-old Corenna
Marshall, of Sherrill, pleaded guilty Sept. 30 to felony dependent adult abuse-exploitation. Prosecutors dropped two counts of fraudulent practices in return. The plea deal also calls for two to five years of probation and for Marshall to pay restitution. The deal is not binding on the judge,
however.
Authorities say Marshall held a power of attorney for her mother,
Jeanne Marshall, of Dubuque. Investigators say bank records show that more than $21,000 was transferred to Corenna Marshall’s account from her mother’s account. Court documents say Corenna Marshall put her name on her mother’s
property but used her mother’s account to pay a loan on the property.
