Graduation Ceremonies Held Sunday At Outdoor Facilities
(Le Mars) — Graduation ceremonies were held Sunday afternoon for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community. 36 seniors were given their diplomas from Gehlen Catholic school board president Andy Schmidt at the Gehlen baseball field, while members of the Le Mars Community Board of Education handed
diplomas to 149 seniors at the new Le Mars Community Stadium. Both schools had to hold their commencement ceremonies outside, and with respect to social distancing due to the COVID-19 virus. Aside from having winds blowing at speeds with gusts up to 30 mph, the day was near perfect with mostly sunny
skies and warm temperatures for the outdoor ceremonies.
Anthony Vera was the Salutatorian for Gehlen Catholic while Josie Kolbeck was the class Valedictorian. Both gave commencement address speeches.
Dr. Juan Uribe offered the key-note commencement address for the Gehlen Catholic graduating class of 2020.
Later in the afternoon at the Le Mars Community commencement ceremonies, Chloe Calhoun was recognized as the featured speaker.
Calhoun is among seven of the class Valedictorians including: Kara Albrect, Jakob Francksen-Small, Brooke Haage, Kyle Herbst, Sarah Meis, and Paige Washburn. The Salutatorian
for Le Mars Community was Kady Leusink.
High School Principal, Dr. Mark Iverson, presented the class of 2020 and Scott Kommes, school board president, accepted the class and wished the graduates well for their future endeavors. Interestingly, the chosen motto for the Le Mars Community High School seniors was: “The old rules are crumbling and nobody knows what the new rules are. So make up your own
rules.” At the time the senior class chose the quotation by Neil Gaiman, nobody realized how appropriate it would be given the current nation’s circumstances.
At the Le Mars Community Stadium, graduating seniors could only have two members of their family inside, so many other family and friends gathered outside the stadium and watched the ceremonies live from the large television monitor on the school’s giant scoreboard. Many times as a particular senior’s name was called, and that senior walked across the platform stage to
receive their diploma, horns could be heard honking from cars parked outside the stadium, as well as hoots and hollers offering their congratulatory cheers.
Fire Departments Respond To Five Grass Fires Simultaneously
(Le Mars) — Several grass fires were reported Saturday afternoon at about 4:40 p.m. along Highway 60 and Highway 75, prompting the Le Mars, Oyens, Merrill, and the Hinton Fire Departments scrambling. A total of five separate fires were reported, all on the west side of Highway 60 and 75. Le
Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper tells the fires stretched from county road C-12 all the way heading south to SmithCo Manufacturing Company along Highway 75 and County Road C-38.
Schipper believes the fires may have been started as a result of a semi truck and trailer with some type of malfunction.
The Le Mars fire chief talks about how much of an area had burnt as a result of the fires.
Schipper says Oyens fire department was sent to extinguish the fire at county road C-12 while Le Mars handled the fire at 150th Street. However, he realized additional mutual aid would be needed.
The Le Mars fire department also responded to a kitchen fire Sunday afternoon at about 12:20 p.m. The fire was located at a home on Plymouth Street southeast. Apparently, a grease fire had started as a result of cooking funnel cakes. Fortunately, only minor damage was reported. Firefighters needed to ventilate the home to remove the smoke and odors.
Le Mars Arts Center Host Nationally Recognized Water Color Exhibit
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Arts Center is fortunate to be selected as the initial host of a world famous water painting art exhibit. It is all part of the American Watercolor Society’s “Best of International Watercolor.” Nancy Toma is the president of the Le Mars Arts Center and says the American Watercolor Society has been around for more than 150 years.
Toma says 40 different paintings from 40 different artists are featured at the Le Mars Arts Center gallery, including the very best of the submitted competition.
The Le Mars Arts Council president says the exhibit showcases a variety of paintings from portraits to landscapes, and other items.
The Le Mars Arts Center was allowed to open to the public on Friday, and Toma says the art painting exhibit will remain on display through the month of July.
Toma says all artists aspire to be selected by the American Watercolor Society and to be so recognized for the distinction.
Iowa Legislature Wraps Up Unusual Session
(Des Moines) — After ten days, the revived 2020 Iowa Legislative Session has ended and the partisan debates waged in the closing hours are likely to continue through the fall campaign. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says unprecedented is the best word to describe the session.
The legislature’s big policy pieces, Whitver says, were dictated by the times.
The Iowa General Assembly adjourned the 2020 legislative
session on Sunday, June 14 after spending 75 session days doing the business of Iowans. The 2020 session was unprecedented as it was forced to suspend operations in mid-March as the COVID-19 pandemic was making its way into Iowa. After implementing additional safety precautions, the Legislature reconvened on June 3 to complete its work, which included addressing a
handful of remaining policy issues and passing a state budget.
Rep. Tom Jeneary (R-Le Mars) says that despite the pause on session, legislators came together to address Iowan’s priorities and move our state forward:
“Even in the face of a public health pandemic, I am proud that we were able to deliver positive results for Iowa families and small businesses,” said Rep. Jeneary. “We made great strides investing in our schools, increasing access to health care, expanding high-speed internet to under served areas, and passing a responsible budget that values the hard-working taxpayers.”
Some of the highlights passed by the Legislature this session include:
A cautious and conservative budget plan: While other states are in bad shape due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa’s budget is in strong position. The Legislature passed a mostly status quo budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that spends less than projected revenue, doesn’t rely on rainy day or reserve funds, and leaves a healthy surplus.
(HF 2642, HF 2643, HF 2644)
Additional investment in K-12 education: Earlier in the session, the House and Senate passed a K-12 education funding plan that provides schools with an additional $100 million next school year. This package includes an increase in general aid while also targeting resources to reduce high transportation costs in rural districts and reduce a long-standing inequity in the school
funding formula by an additional $10/student. Under House Republican leadership, total state investment in K-12 is at an all-time high of nearly $3.4 billion, an increase of almost $1 billion over the last decade.(SF 2142, SF 2164)
Increased access to tele-health for children and adults: During the COVID pandemic, the issue of tele-health and its importance has been pushed to the forefront. Legislation passed this session ensures that Iowa kids can access mental health treatment (with parental involvement) while at school via tele-health. Additional legislation passed by the House this session requires
tele-health services to be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person visits to the doctor.
(HF 2192, SF 2261)
Expansion of broadband internet service: Reliable and high-speed internet has become a necessity in today’s economy. It’s important for both employers and workers but far too often, a steady connection is hard to find in rural areas. House Republicans worked closely with stakeholders to find solutions
and spur broadband development to each corner of Iowa through a number of pieces of legislation this session.
(HF 2442, HF 2520, HF 2575, HF 2641, HF 2643, SF 2196, SF 2349, SF 2400)
Unfortunately, there were some priorities that the House had worked on that didn’t make it to the Governor’s desk which includes:
Child care access and affordability: When the Legislature began session in January, addressing Iowa’s workforce shortage was a top priority. One of the issues that negatively impacts our workforce is a lack of access to affordable child care across the state. House Republicans introduced a wide- ranging package of legislation aimed at addressing these issues that would
reduce child care costs for middle class families, increase access to providers, give incentives to employers to offer and expand child care to their employees, and address the “cliff effect” by easing Iowans off of government child care assistance programs.
(HF 2270, HF 2271, HF 2424, HF 2485, HF 2593, HF 2594, HF 2595, HF 2600, HF 2629)
Emergency medical services (EMS): House Republicans believe that an Iowan’s zip code shouldn’t determine whether or not they live or die when faced with a medical emergency. Legislation passed by the House this session would designate emergency medical services (EMS) as an essential service so that
local governments have the resources and certainty to make long-term investments in EMS infrastructure. This would help local communities fund life-saving emergency medical services for their citizens.(SF 2283)
“While I am disappointed that these priorities didn’t make it to the Governor’s desk, I’ll be working with my colleagues and stakeholders over the interim to find consensus,” commented Rep. Jeneary. “Child care and EMS are critical to the future success of our state and it’s something I hope we can
find resolution on next session.”
While the Legislature has adjourned for the year, Rep. Jeneary encourages constituents to reach out and share their thoughts or get assistance. He can be contacted by email at tom.jeneary@legis.iowa.gov.
Lawmakers Wrap Up Session
(Des Moines, IA) — Lawmakers worked through Saturday night to approve a budget agreement and finish up business in the 2020 session that was delayed for several weeks by the coronavirus pandemic. Republican leaders agreed to
a nearly seven billion dollar state budget that does not change much from last year as revenue is expected to take a hit from the economic fallout of the pandemic. The budget included a typical increase for Medicaid and a cut to Iowa’s public universities. Republicans also approved some changes to
absentee voting that Democrats say could restrict access to mail-in voting. A constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights failed to advance.
Lawmakers Pass Abortion Waiting Period
(Des Moines, IA) — Republicans who control both houses of the Iowa Legislature have voted to establish a 24-hour waiting period for abortions performed in the state. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled two years ago that a 72-hour waiting period was unconstitutional. Republican Representative Shannon
Lundgren, from Peosta, says the 24-hour waiting period may provide an opportunity for the courts to “rectify the terrible situation that they’ve created here in our state.” Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has now appointed a majority of the justices in the Iowa Supreme Court. It raises the
possibility the court might overturn the 2018 ruling that has essentially blocked all legislative attempts to restrict access to abortion. Senator Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel, says the bill sends a clear message to the Iowa Supreme Court that ruling there’s a fundamental right in Iowa’s constitution to abortion is a gross misuse of the power of the gavel.
Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the money the state has spent litigating the abortion issue would be better spent elsewhere. All but one Democrat in the legislature voted against the bill.
Democrats And Republicans Hold Remote Conventions
(Undated) — Iowa’s two major political parties held remote conventions this weekend. Iowa Republican Party delegates cast paper ballots to conduct party business, with results to be announced later in the month. The Iowa Democratic Party used online voting and paper ballots — and announced its
final slate of national convention delegates Saturday. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith says having hundreds gather in person for a state convention just wasn’t feasible in a pandemic. State conventions serve as the kick-off for the General Election campaign, giving activists a chance to
hear directly from their party’s candidates and officeholders. The Republican Party of Iowa will report the results of its balloting and its national convention delegate slate in late June.
