No Public Comment Submitted For Renovation Of Community Wellness Center
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council held a public hearing on the proposed renovations of the Community Wellness Center, projected to cost between $1.75 and $2 million dollars. No one spoke, and there were no written comments regarding the project. The council approved the project and set the date of January 21, of 2020 for the bid letting, with February 4th as
the date for awarding contracts. City administrator Jason Vacura was asked by the city council as to what would be the deadline for the construction project? Vacura responded by saying he hopes the renovation project would be completed by the winter of 2020. The city council also approved the first reading of the Industrial Sewer User Ordinance which addresses the
measurable amount of discharge of Ammonia Nitrogen in the city’s waste water. The city council also approved a Financial Management Ordinance.
County Supervisors Hear Financial Requests
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard from the Director of Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Dick Sievers on Tuesday during the weekly board meeting. Sievers appeared before the county governing board to make a financial request of $11,500 to be applied for the upcoming fiscal year.
Likewise, Matthew Horihan of the Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault was present and offered information to the supervisors. Horihan asked the supervisors to consider allocating $8,500 to his organization for the fiscal year 2020-2021. The five libraries within Plymouth County consisting of Akron, Merrill, Kingsley, Remsen and Le Mars were present at the meeting to
request $105,000 of funds to be split accordingly among the five libraries.
Non-profit Organizations Benefit From Shop-Save-Give Promotion
(Le Mars) — Congratulations to the non-profit organizations that benefited from the Shop – Save – Give Le Mars Chamber of Commerce promotion.
From l to r: Angel Anderson, Wet Nose Animal Rescue $400 presenting is Jennifer Scholten, Jobas; Annie Laursen, Le Mars Arts Center $135 presenting is Lori Bird, Bling n Fashion; Jim Rahn, Youth for Christ $205, Robin Grosenheider, Hotopps presenting checks and Brenda Nohava, Le Mars Back Pack
Program $550. Unavailable for the photo was Ann Schoenrock, Ply. Co. 4-H which received $240.
Thanks to everyone who purchased a $5.00 Shop*Save*Give card.
(photo contributed)
House of Representatives Debate On Impeachment Continues
(Washington) — The U-S House of Representatives have been debating all morning the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, with discussion falling on party lines. Democrats advocating for passage of the articles of impeachment, while Republicans are supporting the president and saying there is no reason for impeachment, calling the Democrats actions as a “witch-hunt” and saying the Democrats have wanted to impeach the president ever since the 2016 election. Democrats say the president abused his powers
by soliciting the assistance of a foreign power to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. Iowa’s Congressional delegation has also fallen along party lines with Democrats Dave Loesback, Cydi Axne, and Abby Finkenauer all saying they will vote for impeachment of the president, while Iowa’s only Republican Congressman, Steve King says he supports the president, and will vote no on the impeachment articles. King was one of the Republican Congressional members that commented on the articles of impeachment during today’s House Floor Debate.
Cedar Rapids Citizens To Have Tax Refunds
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of people whose state income tax refunds were withheld to pay Cedar Rapids traffic camera tickets would get refunds under a proposed $3 million lawsuit settlement. The City Council learned Tuesday that the city also would stop trying to collect fines and late fees on about 177,000 unpaid tickets issued before Aug. 31 last year.
The council voted unanimously for the settlement of the 2018 lawsuit. The case stems from a December 2017 initiative in which the city sought payments for 221,000 unpaid tickets dating back to 2010. The settlement has no bearing on the current use of traffic cameras.
Des Moines City Council To Disband Odor Board
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Des Moines City Council has disbanded the city’s Citizen Odor Board. The council took the action Monday after concluding the panel was no longer needed after nearly 30 years of recording complaints. It had no enforcement powers. People still will be able to report stenches to the city’s 24/7áodor hotline: (515) 244-0336. If the city gets 10 complaints about the same smell within six hours, it will investigate the source. A city official says an administrative law judge would hear appeals from companies found to be significant odor generators.
Jury Convicts Cedar Rapids Man For Murder
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A jury has convicted a Cedar Rapids man of fatally shooting a man and trying to kill a woman. Ezekiel Phillips was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the Dec. 19 shooting of Tyrice Douglas and Mone Dotson. Dotson testified that Phillips, a former boyfriend, entered her Cedar Rapids apartment and shot
her and Douglas while they were in bed. A medical examiner testified that Douglas survived the shooting but later developed an infection that led to his May 6 death. Phillips’ attorneys says he wasn’t the shooter and there was no physical evidence linking him to the shootings.
