Fire and Rescue Department Issues February Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department released its February monthly report. During the second month of the year, the local fire and rescue department responded to a total of 38 calls, of which 14 were fire calls, four rescues, 15 investigations, four requests for services, and one mutual aid call to Merrill.
County Supervisors To Hear County Attorney Report
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room. They have scheduled a public hearing regarding an amendment for the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. County Attorney, Darin Raymond is scheduled to address the county governing board to offer an informational update regarding the county attorney’s office work load. The supervisors will hear from Neal Anthony as he wishes to discuss road options and traffic control at the truck wash located at 31877 County Road C-38. County Engineer Tom Rohe will appear before the county board of supervisors to submit quotes on pickup trucks. Rohe will also discuss a motor grader purchase.
City Council To Take Action On Public Improvements For KNS Fourth Addition
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council will gather today at noon at the council chambers. The city council will hold a public hearing to decide whether to vacate an easement. During the February 2nd city council meeting, the council set today’s date to hear public comments regarding the vacating of 6 and a half feet of a 15 feet utility easement on Lot 8, Block 2, of the Plueger Industrial Park located at 800 Prospect Street S.W. Red Shed Enterprises, LLC, anticipates constructing a building within the vacated easement. There are currently no utilities within the easement. Consent items include the request to close Central Avenue from 1st Street North to Plymouth Street and from Plymouth Street to 1st Street South for Ridiculous Days scheduled for July 10th. Primebank has informed the city council of its intentions of scheduling a Community Easter Egg Hunt for Saturday, March 27th to be held at Cleveland Park.
As for action items, the city council is prepared to discuss the Fiscal Year 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. A representative from Williams and Company will be attending the meeting to discuss the report. The council will discuss partial approval of public improvements for the K-N-S Fourth Addition. The city council will also discuss the installation of proposed stop signs at 1st Avenue Southeast and 2nd Avenue Southeast, both within the KNS fourth addition. To stay consistent with other avenues approaching 18th Street, these intersections would need stop signs. Currently all north/south traffic is required to stop at intersections with 18th Street.
The city council will also discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 city budget using a levy rate of $11.90. It currently shows total revenue at $22,948,044 and total expenditures of $22,857,910. Floyd Valley Healthcare has a budget of $52,550,000. The city council needs to accept the fiscal year 22 proposed budget and set the hearing on the budget for the March 16th meeting.
Promise Community Health Center To Call Attention To Colon Cancer
(Sioux Center) — March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer often goes undiagnosed until it has spread, but awareness saves lives! With screening, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable
cancers because it is highly treatable if caught early. Promise Community Health Center and Sioux Center Health are excited to announce their partnership together to fight colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum, it is also called colon cancer, for short. Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer. Screening test can find polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer.
Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment works best.
In 2020, Promise Community Health Center was chosen as a partner in a 5-year, $4.4 million-dollar cooperative agreement with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. The goal is to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in 10 of Iowa’s federally
qualified health centers (FQHCs) to 60% by 2025.
Promise Community Health Center routinely screens and identifies patients who are high risk for colorectal cancer and need a follow-up, diagnostic colonoscopy. Often these patients are without insurance or the ability to pay for this procedure.
Sioux Center Health has partnered with Promise Community Health Center to provide these diagnostic
colonoscopies to patients who cannot afford them. Funding from the IDPH agreement can be used for patient assistance so that the colonoscopy is at no cost to the patient. Once a patient is identified as eligible, Sioux Center Health staff and Promise staff work together to help the patient through the process of completing their colonoscopy at Sioux Center Health. The ability to have this at no cost is a potentially life-saving opportunity for members in our communities to get the screening they need.
Sioux Center Health and Promise Community Health Center are ready to raise awareness and fight colon cancer together for our communities!
Tyson To Administer COVID-19 Shots At Iowa Plants This Week
(Waterloo, IA) — Tyson Foods says it’s offering free, onsite COVID-19 vaccinations to frontline workers at its seven Iowa plants this week. The doses are being provided in conjunction with local health departments as food processing workers are now eligible for vaccination. A congressional investigation into the meatpacking industry’s COVID-19 response is targeting Tyson’s Waterloo plant, where there were numerous deaths after a virus outbreak.
Fundraiser Brings In $1.4 Million For UI Children’s Hospital
(Iowa City, IA) — The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital has more than one-point-four million dollars in additional funding after a weekend fundraiser. Students took part in the Annual Dance Marathon which happened over 24 continuous hours. The school says its fundraiser is the third largest Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon in the country.
Armstrong Official Charged With Corruption Pleads Guilty
(Estherville, IA) — Emmet County prosecutors say one of the five Armstrong city officials charged in a corruption case has agreed to plead guilty. Former city clerk Mary “Kate” Staton had been accused of theft and tampering with records. She entered her plea Monday in Emmet County District Court. Her sentencing date hasn’t been set. The five current and former Armstrong city officials face a total of 20 charges after the corruption investigation that lasted several years. The mayor and police chief were also arrested.
Madison County Jury Finds Man Guilty Of First-Degree Murder
(Winterset, IA) — A Madison County jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding a man guilty of first-degree murder last week. Twenty-seven-year-old Jerome Moyer the Third of Norwalk will be sentenced to life in prison though a sentencing date hasn’t been set. Moyer was reportedly angry when 23-year-old Roseanna Otto didn’t want to return to a relationship with Moyer in May of 2019. In addition to her three daughters, at the time of her death, Otto was a caregiver for her grandmother. Moyer fled after he killed her and was arrested the next day in Dubuque. He said he was on his way to see his parents in Wisconsin before giving himself up.
Parents Of 3-Month-Old Child Charged With Endangerment, Neglect
(Newton, IA) — Charges of child endangerment and neglect have been filed in Jasper County against the parents of a three-month-old child. The charges were brought against Stormy and Jessica Agan after a doctor discovered the child had several broken bones. When the child was brought to a doctor last November for a broken arm, an examination turned up a broken rib and a broken bone in one leg that has already begun healing. Investigators say the injuries were “highly specific fractures from non-accidental trauma.” The couple’s hearings are on the docket for next Monday.
State Fair Board Considers Cutting Avenue of Breeds
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa State Fair Board may cut the “Avenue of the Breeds” attraction. The board is considering the move because of pandemic-related financial losses. The 2020 Iowa State Fair was cancelled due to coronavirus. “Avenue of the Breeds” showcases more than 100-animals during the Iowa State Fair.
Davenport Man Sentenced In Federal Drug Conviction
(Davenport, IA) — A Davenport man will spend more than a decade in federal prison on a number of drug charges. Fifty-two-year-old Shelby Miller will also serve eight years of supervised release once he completes his prison sentence. A federal jury found him guilty last August on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth and crack cocaine.
Youngstown State Coach Banned From Sidelines After Hitting UNI Player
(Cedar Falls, IA) — Youngstown State University has banned one of its coaches after he hit a University of Northern Iowa football player who had run out of bounds during Saturday’s game. The incident happened late in the second quarter of the game U-N-I won 21-0. Panthers wide receiver Quan Hampton had just caught a first-down pass when he ran out of bounds on the Penguins’ sideline. Video shows coach Tim Jones lowering his shoulder into Hampton and knocking him down. Johnson is the director of player personnel for Youngstown. He has apologized for his actions.
