Plymouth County Compensation Board Agrees On Proposing A Four Percent Salary Increase For County Elected Officials
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Compensation Board met yesterday afternoon at the Courthouse Annex building to determine the rate of salary increase for county elected officials. The board listened to each of the elected officials explain their jobs, duties, and responsibilities. In each instance, they informed the County Compensation Board how 2020 was such an
unusual year, because of the COVID-19 virus. Due to the coronavirus, almost each of the different departments encountered a larger work load than the previous year. After nearly two hours of listening to the various elected officials offer their testimony, the compensation board had submitted
suggestions for salary increases ranging from 2 and a half percent all the way up to a ten percent raise. The compensation board then voted and agreed to make one suggestion that would be across the board with each elected official to have the same percentage of increase. Board of Supervisors chairman, Don Kass asked the compensation board to increase the elected
officials salaries, but as for the supervisors, to offer a lower increase than what would be offered to the County Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer, Sheriff, and Attorney. After some discussion, the county compensation board agreed to a four percent salary increase across the board for all county elected officials. The county compensation board did not make a separate percentage pay raise for the county supervisors. Representatives of the
Plymouth County Compensation Board will report to the County Board of Supervisors during its next meeting to submit its proposed salary increase for the county elected officials.
Members of the Plymouth County Compensation Board listens to county elected officials describe their job duties and responsibilities. The County Compensation Board determines the amount of salary percentage increase for county elected officials.
Pickup Truck And Semi Truck And Livestock Trailer Involved In Early Morning Accident
(Le Mars) — An accident happened this morning on county road K-22 between county road C-38 and Highway 3, approximately eight miles west of Le Mars.
The accident involved a pickup truck and a semi truck and livestock trailer.
The accident was reported at about 7:38 a.m. Both vehicles sustained damage, but the victims suffered what was categorized as minor injuries. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, the Le Mars Ambulance, and Iowa State Patrol all responded to the accident.
Kemps Donates Milk Products To Area Food Banks
(Le Mars) — Local milk processor, Kemps, with a plant based in Le Mars, is donating milk products to local food banks. Kemps is partnering with Hy-Vee to help food pantries in western Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This month, and into January, Kemps is donating 500-thousand shelf-stable “Giving
Cow” milk cartons. An additional 66-thousand of the packs will be going to Food Bank of the Heartland, which will distribute to food pantries and shelves across 77 counties in Nebraska, and 16 counties in western Iowa, including the food pantries in Le Mars and Sioux City. The “Giving Cow” packs not only come in a cute, cow-designed package, but the best part is that these single serve, 8-ounce pack of ultra -high temperature pasteurized milk have a shelf life of up to 12 months, while typically fresh milk only has a shelf life of 20 days. Officials with Kemps says according to Feeding America, 80 percent of food banks are serving more people than they were this time last year, with many people visiting food banks for the first time.
Feeding America also projects a six to eight million shortfall in the next 12 months as food banks struggle to keep up the demand.
Le Mars Community School Follows Governor’s Recommendations Regarding “In-Person” Classes
(Le Mars) — On Wednesday, Governor Kim Reynolds made a plea with Iowa school officials to consider having “in-person” classes, saying it is what’s best for the students to enhance their education. Due to the COVID-19 virus, some schools have either chosen or were forced to implement a remote online system
of education. One school district that is doing exactly what Governor Reynolds has advocated is the Le Mars Community School District. Le Mars Community has been fortunate to be able to hold classes within the school buildings and has not needed to convert to either a hybrid system, or all on-line virtual class setting. Dr. Steve Webner is the superintendent for Le
Mars Community, and says ever since the school board advocated a mandatory masks or face coverings to be used by students, staff, and administration, the school has had few problems.
Webner says Le Mars Community has been able to successfully mitigate and control the spread of the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Webner says the mandatory mask mandate has certainly helped with controlling the spread of the coronavirus.
Webner says when the school needed to close last March, he knows the students’ proficiency comprehension was compromised.
The school superintendent says the school was fortunate not to see a spike in COVID-19 cases following the Thanksgiving holiday break, and he is hopeful the COVID-19 rate holds stable following the upcoming Christmas break.
Governor Reynolds says approximately 85 percent of the state’s schools have an “in-person” class setting.
Governor Says Iowa Didn’t Join Federal Case Challenging Election Because It Wasn’t Asked
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa hasn’t joined 17 other states in a federal lawsuit challenging the presidential election because it wasn’t asked. The Texas attorney general filed the suit seeking to stop four states from casting electoral votes for president-elect Joe Biden. Fraud is alleged. Reynolds is a Republican and she says Iowa wasn’t invited by the
group of Republican attorneys general because Iowa’s A-G is Democrat Tom Miller. She says Iowa will receive notification in the future through her office’s legal counsel. Miller said he would have declined to support the Texas attorney general’s suit if approached.
State Penitentiary Inmate Dies From COVID
(Iowa City, IA) — The Iowa Department of Corrections is reporting the death of another prison inmate from COVID-19. The D-O-C says 63-year old-Mark Bailey died from complications of COVID-19 and other preexisting medical conditions Thursday at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Bailey was serving a 20-year sentence at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison for two convictions for second-degree robbery from Polk County. He entered prison on February 28, 2007. Bailey is the twelfth inmate to die of COVID-19.
Study Finds Huge Pandemic Loses In Restaurant Industry
(Des Moines, IA) — A study conducted by the Iowa and National Restaurant Associations confirms the fears about the impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on the industry. The president of the association, Jessica Dunker, says the study shows one-point-four billion dollars in lost revenue — with the average restaurant seeing a 33 percent decrease. Dunker says that’s not the end of
it for the more than six-thousand restaurants, bars, and other venues that serve food and beverages as 88 percent of Iowa operators expect to see an even bigger decrease in sales over the next three months. Dunker says winter will shut off the outside dining that has helped some businesses continue to
operate.
Republican Party Chair Criticizes Call For Recount In Second Congressional District
(Des Moines, IA) — The chair of the Iowa Republican Party is blasting Democrat Rita Hart’s call for another recount in Iowa’s second congressional district race. State officials certified Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa as the winner, by a six-vote margin. Hart plans to ask the U-S House to order a recount of all ballots legally cast in the race. Iowa G-O-P
chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Hart was wrong to skip her legal option to seek a review in state court. Kaufmann says 80 percent of Iowans will say having the outcome in the hands of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not acceptable.
