Library To Remain Closed
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Public Library Board of Trustees met on Thursday to discuss the recent Governor’s proclamation that stated libraries may reopen on May 1. After discussing issues related to social distancing and the health and safety of the staff and public, the Trustees voted to keep the library building closed to the public until further notice. The Trustees did instruct Library Director, Shirley Taylor, to develop a plan to re-open the
building to the public. As part of this plan, Taylor is to determine what services can be made available in the building while adhering to the Governors’ guidelines for social distancing, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures issued by the Department of Public Health.
During the meeting Trustees and City Council members expressed that the current library services offered through curbside pick-up and online resources were working well and positive comments had been heard throughout the community. The Library Board will hold a regular monthly meeting on May
11 at 5:30.
Museum Cancels Annual Meeting – Looking For Directors
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum has the opportunity for interested Plymouth County residents to fill vacancies on our board of directors. Normally, the nominees to the board of directors would be elected at the annual meeting in May, but this year’s banquet, slated for May 14, has been cancelled due to the pandemic. The board will re-set the annual meeting for a date later this year and provide for members to vote on board nominees. The board of directors serve a three-year term. After serving one three-year term, a board member is able to stand for re-election to a second term, but at the completion of that term, the board member must sit out for a year. During normal times, the board meets monthly in the Welcome Room at the Museum, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. Due to COVID-19, the board is conducting most of its business on line.
Representatives from Brunsville and Le Mars currently serve on the board. Since those communities are well represented, board members are especially needed from the communities of Akron, Craig, Hinton, Kingsley, Merrill, Remsen, Struble, and Westfield. However, interested individuals from any community in Plymouth County is encouraged to contact the museum at 546-7002.
According to its by-laws, the Museum may have from 7 to 15 members on its board. Board members work on various committees and projects during the year while also overseeing the fiduciary, policy, and staffing matters of the Museum.
Wayne Schlotfeldt of Le Mars serves as president of the board. Other officers are Grant Hanstein, secretary, and Karen Schroeder, treasurer, both of Le Mars. Also serving on the board are Jo Ellen Cronin and Jason Hansen, both of Le Mars, and Janice Renken of Brunsville. Hanstein will be leaving the board at the end of his term in May.
Two full-time staff members, overseeing the daily operation of the Museum, work closely with the board.
The Museum consists of five floors, all handicapped accessible. No admission is charged at the Museum, but a free will donation is always welcome for the continuing operation of the Museum, housed in the former “Old Central” High School.
Located at 335 First Ave. SW in Le Mars, the Museum serves all parts of the county with its exhibits and programs. Although it receives donations from Plymouth County, the county’s communities, and grants, it is supported primarily by membership fees and donations.
King Says COVID-19 Virus Is Ruining Nation’s Economy
(Le Mars) — Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman Steve King says the COVID-19 coronavirus has taken the bottom out of what was a robust U-S economy.
King joined Democrats, House Agriculture Committee chairman Colin Petersen of Minnesota, as well as Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz at a news conference held at Worthington, Minnesota, on Wednesday to address the situation facing pork producers and the meat processing industry. King says Petersen and Walz are
long-time colleagues and friends of his, and because of that, they can work together on resolving the issue facing pork producers and the employees of meat processing facilities.
King says what is troubling is the fact that thousands of market hogs are needing to be euthanized because the packing plants are closed due to the coronavirus.
King says he is hopeful with the order from President Trump to resume operations at the nation’s packing plants, that producers won’t see the need to euthanize their herds. King says while meat processing plants open, we owe it to the employees that they are safe and protected against being infected with the COVID-19 virus.
The Republican Congressman says the union president at the JBS plant in Worthington was in agreement with King about re-opening the processing plants, but at the same time giving assurance to the employees that they be given personal protective equipment.
Le Mars Farmers Market To Open On May 9th
(Le Mars) — As part of her proclamation, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is allowing local farmer’s markets to again operate, although with some restrictions and guidelines. The Le Mars Farmers Market is planning to open for the season, next Saturday, May 9th. Rob Scheitler is a vendor with the Le Mars Farmers Market.
Scheitler explains what the Farmers Market will look like to start this season.
According to the governor’s proclamation, farmer’s markets will not be allowed to have common seating, such as picnic tables. Entertainment, children’s activities, contests, or games are also prohibited at farmer’s markets. The Le Mars Farmers Market official says there are also some guidelines pertaining to bags with farmers markets.
In terms of growing conditions, Scheitler says this spring has been better than last year, and he says consumers can expect to find fresh grown produce at the start of this year’s farmers market.
Scheitler says the farmers market will operate on Saturdays to begin with, but later, he anticipates the vendors will add a second day. The hours of the Le Mars Farmers Market will be from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. As we mentioned, the Le Mars Farmers Market will start a week from Saturday on May 9th on Prospect Street behind Cork-It.
Iowa National Guard Assists With Combating COVID-19
(Des Moines, IA) — Nearly 900 Iowa National Guard soldiers are being called to active duty to help in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjutant General Benjamin Corell says 150 of those soldiers are at call centers in Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Johnston, helping determine the spread of the virus through contact tracing. Corell says they are assisting
the Iowa Department of Public Health in their efforts to contact Iowans who have tested positive for the virus in order to help identify other persons and places that may have been exposed. Corell says the information soldiers collect through their conversations is turned over to the state. Guard soldiers are also picking up, transporting and unloading food for the state’s
six regional food banks, distributing COVID-19 test kits and providing support to the Test Iowa sites.
Unemployment Claims Continues To Rise
(Des Moines, IA) — The coronavirus outbreak continues to fuel high unemployment numbers in Iowa. Iowa Workforce Development reports nearly 29-thousand first-time unemployment claims were filed last week – a slight
increase from the previous week. Manufacturing led all sectors in layoffs followed by health care and social assistance and the self-employed. More than 261-thousand unemployment claims have been filed over the past six weeks. The state paid 51-point-four-million dollars in unemployment insurance last week. Federal pandemic unemployment payments went to 153-thousand-951 Iowans last week for a total of 102-million-714 thousand
dollars.
Governor Reynolds: It’s Time For Iowans To Learn How To Manage The Virus
(Des Moines, IA) — The governor’s order that shut down restaurants, fitness centers and retail businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus ended at midnight for 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The governor’s order limiting public gatherings to 10 or less has been lifted for religious services in all counties. Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s time for Iowans to learn how to
manage the virus in the course of their daily lives. Some are expressing concern that residents of the 22 counties where business closures remain in force will travel to the 77 less-populated counties and spread the virus.
The governor says it is time to get life and business back to normal in a safe and responsible way.
Public Universities In Iowa Have Lost Millions Of Dollars
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — The presidents of the three state universities say they have lost millions of dollars as campuses shut down for the coronavirus pandemic. University of Northern Iowa president, Mark Nook, tells the Board of Regents the financial impact of the coronavirus from March through the end
of the summer session is 28-million dollars for the Cedar Rapids school.
Iowa State University president, Wendy Wintersteen, says the impact of the COVID-19 I Ames is more than 88 million dollars in refunds and lost revenue.
University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld says the university will lose a little more than 76 million. The Iowa Board of Regents is creating an advisory board to recommend ways to cut costs across the university system in the wake of the coronavirus loses.
Onboard Fight Forces Spirit Airlines Flight To Land In Des Moines
(Des Moines, IA) — An fight onboard a Spirit Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Detroit forced a plane to land at Des Moines International Airport early Thursday. Witnesses say one passenger got mad when people were speaking loudly while he was trying to sleep. A fight broke out and that passenger was injured, so he was taken off the plane for medical assistance.
He wasn’t arrested because Des Moines police didn’t have jurisdiction – since the fight occurred while the plane was over Nebraska.
Pella’s Tulip Time Canceled, But People Still Come
(Pella, IA) — Organizers of Pella’s annual Tulip Time canceled the event last month, but visitors are still coming. Local officials say they packed the streets of Pella. A spokesperson for the Pella Historical Society is asking visitors to wear a mask, observe social distancing and be patient.
Valeria Van Kooten says there are some long lines outside some stores. City officials are confirming that some of the visitors to Pella are blatantly abusing those rules intended to keep people healthy during the coronavirus pandemic.
