School Board Approves Three-Year Contract For Superintendent Steve Webner
(Le Mars) — During the Le Mars Community Board of Education meeting held last evening, the school board approved a three-year contract for school superintendent Dr. Steven Webner. The contract allows for a two-percent increase per year for the three years of the contract. The agreed upon salary for the 2021-2022 school year will be $193,800. Also during the school board meeting, school superintendent recognized the contributions of
the Le Mars Community Board of Education. May is acknowledged as “school board appreciation month” and each of the school board directors were presented with a certificate of appreciation. Webner says people need to remember that school board members are not compensated, and that they devote
several hours for the interest in the school district and the students.
Prior to the start of last night’s board meeting, the school board took the opportunity to tour the nearly completed renovated softball and baseball diamonds.
School board members Scott Kommes (left) Todd Lancaster (center) and David Miller (right) inspect the softball field as they look at the nearly finished construction project of the renovated softball and baseball diamond complex.
School superintendent Dr. Steven Webner explains to Le Mars Community Board of Education members about the renovation construction project involving the softball and baseball complex.
School board members look at the newly constructed concession food stand as part of the softball and baseball renovated construction project.
Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors To Open Bids For Culvert Projects
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a short agenda for today’s meeting. The county governing board will meet at the Courthouse Board Room starting at 9:30 a.m. The county board of supervisors are expected to approve a contract with the Jack Reed H-R services. The supervisors are expected to approve a fiscal year 2021-2022 appropriations
resolution, as well as a transfer resolution, and a deputy resolution. The supervisors will open bids for three different culvert construction projects, and they will hear from County Engineer Tom Rohe.
More People Are Seeking Mental Health Services Due To COVID
(Le Mars) — May is mental health awareness month, and according to a mental health executive in northwest Iowa, there have been an increase of cases, partially due to the COVID-19 virus. Kim Keleher serves as the C-E-O of Plains Area Mental Health clinics of Le Mars. She says because of COVID,
more people are under stress, feeling anxiety, and even having depression issues.
Keleher says the cases have affected all demographics, with middle aged adults between 20 years and 60 years making up the most percentage increase.
But, Keleher says, children and teenagers have also been especially adversely affected because of the disruption of their routine.
The Plains Area Mental Health official says physical health concerns can often lead to mental health issues. She says a person’s physical health, spiritual health and mental health are all inter-related. Keleher believes COVID-19 pandemic may have helped reduce the stigma people often have with
regards to mental health.
Keleher offers a couple of examples of how a person’s physical health may affect their mental health.
Keleher says when an individual feels their behavior begins to impact their daily living routine, such as when an individual doesn’t want to leave their home, not sleeping well, or not wanting to eat, those are signs the individual may want to reach out for some help. Keleher says many times an anxiety issue can be resolved with just a few sessions, and the individual can move on with their lives.
Orange City Prepares For 80th Annual Tulip Festival
(Orange City) — The people of Orange City are preparing for the 80th annual Tulip Festival which is scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Last year the annual festival event was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, but Orange City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Mike
Hofman says people are excited to see the Dutch heritage celebration. Hofman says despite some recent cool weather, the tulips are in full bloom.
Hofman says the residents of Orange City have been busy during the past couple of years upgrading many of the floats that will appear in the parades.
The Orange City Chamber executive says there will be the annual parades and street dancing, and street washing taking place at this year’s tulip festival.
Hofman says there will be something special that will happen with this year’s evening show, Cinderella.
The Orange City Tulip Festival will feature several food vendors, a carnival, car show, a 5-K run, airport breakfast, as well as the traditional wooden shoe carving demonstration.
KLEM radio will broadcast live the Orange City Tulip Festival Parade which will start at around 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. You can also look at the Tulip Festival schedule that is featured on the KLEM website, www.klem1410.com.
Weekly Crop Condition Report Shows Farmers Have Planted 86 Percent Of The State’s Corn Crop
(Des Moines) — Iowa farmers have now planted 86 percent of the state’s corn crop which is ten days ahead of the five-year average. 22 percent of the corn crop has now emerged, an increase of 20 percentage points from last week. Just over two-thirds of the expected soybean crop has been planted,
with six percent having emerged. That represents 15 days ahead of the five-year average. Moisure levels made a slight improvement with topsoil rated as very short of moisture, 27 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and two percent listed as having a surplus of moisture.
Veteran’s Home Commandant Removed
(Marshalltown, IA) — The Commandant at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown was fired last week. The spokesperson for Governor Kim Reynold’s office confirmed that Timon Oujiri (TIM-un oh-JURY) was removed from his post on May 5th. The spokesperson says they can’t provide any other details at the
moment. Oujiri was appointed to post in May of 2017.
$135K Settlement Approved For Former State Employee Who Was Sexually Harassed
(Des Moines, IA) — State officials have approved a 135-thousand dollar settlement to a former state employee who alleged she was sexually harassed by her boss at the Woodward State Resource Center, the state-run facility for residents with intellectual disabilities. The State Appeal Board approved the
settlement Monday, but State Auditor and board member Rob Sand voted no. He says the former supervisor who committed the harassment should be held accountable, not Iowa taxpayers. Maria Hernandez had filed a lawsuit accusing Joel Taylor, her supervisor at the Woodward Resource Center, of retaliating against her after she accused him of sexual harassment and
discrimination.
Iowa Attorney General Joins Bipartisan Coalition Sending Letter To Congress
(Des Moines, IA) — Forty-five attorneys general have signed a letter to Congress asking the federal government to fund antitrust enforcement efforts by the state. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is one of those signing Monday’s letter. It says market concentration harms consumers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and others, adding robust antitrust enforcement is “crucial to
the working of a fair economy.” Forty-eight attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Facebook last year for creating an anti-competitive product.
Senator Calls Out House On Mental Health Care And Property Tax
(Des Moines, IA) — The Republican who’s leading the Iowa Senate’s tax-writing committee says House Republicans are tone deaf to the need for property tax relief. Senator Dan Dawson, of Council Bluffs, says the governor’s plan to have the state take over the cost of mental health care is the way to provide the relief. Dawson says the skyrocketing real estate market is going to lead to bigger tax assessments and come home to roost at
some point. The House has balked at going along with Senate Republicans and the Governor on the mental health funding plan — with leadership saying they don’t know enough about the consequences of the plan.
Bill Would Change Sunday Liquor Sale Hours
(Des Moines, IA) — A bill is on the way to Governor Reynolds that would let Sunday alcohol sales in Iowa begin two hours earlier. Senator Craig Johnson of Independence says it would create uniform hours — as a business now has to get a special permit to sell alcohol on Sundays — and can’t sell until 8
a-m. Alcohol sales were not allowed in Iowa on Sundays until 1973, and it wasn’t until 1992 that beer, wine, and liquor could be sold before noon on Sundays.
Iowa City Councilmember Wants Discussion On Abolishing Police Department
(Iowa City, IA) — A city council member in Iowa City wrote an opinion piece in the Cedar Rapids newspaper calling for serious discussion on abolishing the Iowa City police department. Councilmember Laura Bergus (BUR-gus) wrote
that policing relies on a system of force and violence, which she says cannot be undone. Begus says modern policing isn’t a “sustainable model.” Bergus says she wants abolition to be a part of the city’s review of its preliminary plan to restructure its police department. The council is holding a meeting to discuss the plan today (Tuesday).
Coalition Asks Iowa Environmental Council To Overturn Decision For Cattle Feeding Operation
(Des Moines, IA) — A coalition of environmental activists is asking a state board to overturn its approval for a large cattle feeding operation in northeast Iowa. A petition was filed Monday with the Environmental Protection Commission. The cattle feeding operation would be located in one of the Hawkeye State’s most environmentally sensitive areas. The company
Supreme Beef plans to house more than 11-thousand cattle near Bloody Run Creek in Clayton County. That creek is one of just a few designated Outstanding Iowa Waters for their water quality.
Waterloo Man Claims 2 Powerball Prizes – One Worth Millions
(Clive, IA) — A Waterloo man has claimed two prizes he won in Saturday’s Powerball drawing – one worth two-million dollars. Anton Garrett says he bought five Powerball plays on one ticket and one of the plays won 21-dollars. Another was good for two-million. Garrett claimed his prize Monday at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The 48-year-old works at Tyson Foods
in Waterloo as a forklift operation. He bought the winning tickets at New Star Liquor in Waterloo, matching the first five numbers but missing on the Powerball.
