Supervisors To Meet Today To Discuss Semi-annual Funds Report
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room for their weekly meeting. The county governing board will review and possibly approve an engagement letter from Williams and Company. The supervisors are expected to approve the amended
resolution for temporary amendments to the employee handbook in response to COVID-19. Tim DeBoer is expected to be appointed as the Perry Township clerk to replace Carol Graham. The supervisors are also expected to approve a fireworks permit to Del and Lori Kellen. Also on the agenda will be a report
from surveyor, Dave Wilberding, as he is seeking approval of Kellen Excavating, for a minor subdivision in American Township. Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann is scheduled to appear before the county supervisors to present the semi-annual settlement of funds report. County engineer, Tom Rohe, will appear before the county board to discuss various
construction projects, among them will be a construction project on county road K-49 and removal of a bridge.
School Officials To Convene For Special Meeting To Discuss Start Of School Options
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community school officials, including the board of education, are scheduled to convene this evening for a special meeting to further discuss the options available for “Return to Learn” as school districts prepare for the start of the new school year. School was dismissed last March due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and students and teachers
are anxious for the start of a new school year, although they want to make certain it will be safe for all concern. Le Mars Community, like other school districts across the state, have looked at three different options.
School superintendent Dr. Steven Webner says districts are still waiting for additional instructions from the state.
Webner talks about the decision facing the board of education, but says it may only be tentative due to constant changes from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Education Department.
Webner was asked if there are several students choosing to be “home schooled” instead of attending classes at Le Mars Community this fall, due to the pandemic?
Fair Auctions Will Be Held On-line This Year
(Le Mars) — Even though there isn’t going to be a Plymouth County Fair this year, there still will be the auctions associated with the fair. The traditional three auctions include the quilt auction that benefits Life Skills Training Center, the wood carving, belt buckle and toy truck auction with proceeds helping the Plymouth County Fair, and the 4-H and FFA animal
auction with premiums going to help the 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Bruce Brock with Brock Auction Company of Le Mars, has in the past served as one of the auctioneers for all three auctions. The Brock Auction Company has stepped up to offer assistance so that each of the auctions will take place, although those auctions will be conducted on-line instead of having a live auction.
Brock explains the auctions will take place on-line.
Austin Popkin, an associate with Brock Auction, explains how to submit bids online for the woodcarving auction as well as the Life Skills Quilt Auction.
Brock tells of some of the wood carvings by Blair Smith and Scott Tobin from the Westfield and Akron area that are already featured on the Brock Auction website.
Another wood carving is a bench that will have special features.
The commemorative belt buckles feature The Browns musical family as this would have marked the 20th year the Browns have performed at the Plymouth County Fair. This year’s toy truck honors the employees of Titan Machinery.
We will feature additional comments from Bruce Brock regarding the fair auctions in future news updates.
Iowans Wonder What’s Next After Unemployment Runs Out
(Des Moines, IA) — The last bonus unemployment benefit for Iowans who lost their job during the COVID-19 pandemic is coming this week. Counties and cities across Iowa are looking at what comes next. Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly said the county board is trying to connect people to social service resources now, before evictions, to help avoid homelessness.
7 Fire Departments Battle Blaze At Humboldt Plant
(Humboldt, IA) — The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reports firefighters from seven surrounding communities helped battle a blaze at the Yacht Club Trailers plant Monday morning. The first reports came in shortly before noon. Emergency responders say everyone inside the building was able to evacuate safely and nearby businesses helped while the flames were being
knocked down. A preliminary investigation found the fire apparently started from an electrical problem in the paint room.
Trump Campaign Among Republican Organizations Seeking Dismissal Of Lawsuit
(Iowa City, IA) — The Trump presidential campaign is working with state and national Republican organizations on a request to an Iowa judge to dismiss a lawsuit over changes to absentee ballot procedures. The law signed by Governor Kim Reynolds this year bars county auditors from using the state’s voter database to look up missing information when absentee ballots
are requested. A Latino civil rights organization and a Democratic nonprofit have filed a lawsuit arguing the new law is unconstitutional and it increases the risk of voters being disenfranchised. The suit aimed at the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office would block the law from taking effect.
Both Iowa US Senators Support National Defense Authorization Act
(Washington, DC) — Military service members would get a three-percent pay raise under the National Defense Authorization Act passed last week. Both U-S senators from Iowa supported the passage. Republican Joni Ernst was behind a provision to give National Guard troops hazard pay when they respond
to a situation involving COVID-19. She also backed provisions for proper-fitting body armor for female soldiers and provisions which would make it easier to report sexual assaults in the military. Ernst says it’s important to provide military families “with the resources they need.”
Survey Finds Iowa Health Care Organizations Dissatisfied With State’s Medicaid Program
(Des Moines, IA) — Four years after Iowa shifted its Medicaid program from state-run to one managed by private insurance companies, health care organizations don’t like it much. A survey conducted by the Iowa state auditor’s office finds most think the privatized system hasn’t been good for the more than 650 thousand poor and disabled people receiving the care. More
than half of the respondents are dissatisfied. There have been many complaints that providers have a harder time getting their full payment and access to care has gotten worse for patients
