Nelson To Step Away From City Council Than Will Seek Re-election in New Ward
(Le Mars) — Longtime city council member, Ken Nelson, issued a news release on Monday saying he will resign from his position as a city council member representing Ward 3, but will seek re-election in Ward 1 this coming November. Nelson says he has enjoyed his 24 years on the city council, and will step away from the council effective July 16th. Nelson says the reason for him to step away from the council is that he recently has sold The Flower House and residence and will be relocating to another home located in Ward 1. Nelson says, “Had we been able to find a single level residence with zero entry, this resignation would not have been necessary. Karen and I found such a house in the First Ward. I plan to run for that seat in the November election. I wish to thank the voters in Ward 3 for their support and encouragement. I have enjoyed working with the administration, department heads, and city employees. I have had the opportunity to work with three mayors and many council people. I hope the voters in the First Ward will appreciate the experience I have gained and will support me in the November election.” Thank you, Ken Nelson
Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors Will Hold A Meeting Today
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will discuss fiber optic cable in rural Plymouth County during their meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse Board Room. Doug Boone and Scott Te Stroete from Premier Communications will appear before the county governing board to discuss and request approval of a resolution. Other items before the county supervisors will be to hold a public hearing for the Bishop Heelan Refunding Bonds and approval of resolutions and documents. The county board of supervisors will also hold a public hearing for approval of the 9-1-1 Address Ordinance. Jason Marienau will appear before the county board to seek approval of LLM Addition in Grant township. County Recorder JoLynn Goodchild will submit her quarterly report, and County Engineer, Tom Rohe will visit with the supervisors about a construction contract for a culvert project, and he will submit a permit request from NIPCO for utility work in Liberty Township.
Her Health Women’s Center Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
(Le Mars) — Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Monday morning for Her Health Women’s Center located at 25 Plymouth Street Northwest. The clinic, according to Kathy Wentz, nursing supervisor is to address women’s health issues, primarily unexpected pregnancies.
Wentz says the clinic also offers classes for men called: “Daddy duty.” Although the clinic held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, the downtown clinic has been operational for nearly a year. Wentz says the word of the clinic’s services is starting to get out and become better known.
Wentz says a physician does oversee and supervises the clinic’s women’s examinations.
The Her Health Women’s Center official says teen-age girls is a common demographic that visits the health center.
Wentz says this week, the women’s health center is involved in a campaign entitled: “Diapers for Donuts.”
Wentz says the Le Mars clinic is open two days a week on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Thursdays between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Is Not Considering Vaccination Requirements For Staff
(Le Mars) — Last week, Trinity Healthcare through its affiliation with MercyOne hospitals announced that all employees, staff, contractors, and vendors would need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by late September. Area hospitals affected by the decision would include the MercyOne hospitals in Sioux City and Primghar. Dustin Wright serves as the C-E-O with Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. Floyd Valley has an affiliation with Avera Medical Center of Sioux Falls. Wright says there has not been any mention of a required vaccination program for Floyd Valley.
Wright says close to 80 percent of Floyd Valley’s staff is already fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Currently, visitors to Floyd Valley Healthcare must still wear a mask or other face covering. Wright says that requirement may stick around for a while longer.
Many people have wondered if they are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, if that also protects them against the many variant viruses that have emerged?
The Floyd Valley C-E-O says the COVID-19 vaccination is still free of charge.
Reynolds Meets With Counterparts From Nebraska, South Dakota
(Sioux City, IA) –The governors of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota say they’re taking steps to address the shortage of workers in the region. The governors met in the Sioux City Monday for the 17th Tri-State Governors’ Conference and spoke to more than 200 business leaders. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says the state wants to be a partner with businesses and wants to help Iowans retrain, reskill, match them up with the opportunities that exist across the state. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says she, Reynolds and Nebraska’s governor were criticized for the way they dealt with the pandemic, but Noem says their approach should be a selling point to get potential workers to move into the region.
State Troopers From Iowa Helping In Southwest Texas
Sioux City, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says 29 Iowa State Troopers are in Del Rio, Texas, a city on the U-S-Mexico border. Reynolds sent the troopers after the governor of Texas asked for assistance in providing border security and the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed it could handle their troopers’ absences. The state troopers arrived in Texas a couple of days ago and the governor says they’ll be there a total of 16 days. Reynolds says the State of Iowa is covering the costs of the deployment.
Rain Helps Crops Improve
(Undated) — The new U-S-D-A crop report says widespread rain helped relieve some of the stress on crops. Iowa’s corn condition improved slightly to 66 percent good to excellent compared to 62 percent last week. Fifteen percent of soybeans were setting pods — which is five days ahead of normal. Soybean condition improved to 65 percent good to excellent condition — compared to 59 percent last week.
Elk Horn Man Involved In Stand-Off With Deputies
(Elk Horn, IA) — An Elk Horn man was taken to the hospital for evaluation after a standoff with deputies Monday. Shelby County Sheriff Neil Gross says they responded around 10:35 a-m after getting information from someone who the man told he had materials inside the home to start a fire. Deputies negotiated with the man — and he eventually agreed to come out and talk with them in person. The sheriff says they then noticed the home was on fire and were able to get the man out.
Crisis Teams Available At Marshalltown Schools After Teacher Arrests
(Marshalltown, IA) — Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Theron Schutte (THERE-on SHOO-tee) says crisis teams will be available at both Miller Middle School and at Marshalltown High School this week after the arrest of two Marshalltown teachers in two weeks on sexual exploitation charges. Schutte says he has never seen something like this before in his education career. Forty-two-year-old Miller Middle School English teacher Adam Edgington was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee last Thursday. Edgington’s body was discovered Friday near Nevada (nah-VAY-dah) with what the Story County Sheriff’s Office says appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Marshalltown High School instructor Mark Esquivel was arrested on June 30th on the same felony charge.
State Fair Looking To Fill Temporary Positions
(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa State Fair is trying to fill several positions for workers when the event opens in one month in Des Moines. Spokesperson Mindy Williamson says positions are anything from admission ticket sellers baking cookies. There are some maintenance jobs you could start right away — but most jobs only last through the 11-day run of the fair August 12th through the 22nd. You can apply online at iowastatefair.org, or go to the administration office on the fairgrounds to fill out an application. That office is open 8 a-m until 4:30 p-m every weekday.
Des Moines Woman Exploring Run For Governor
(Des Moines, IA) — A woman who ran for secretary of state in 2018 is taking the first steps toward launching a run for governor in 2022. Democrat Deidre DeJear, was the first black Iowan to be nominated for statewide office by a major party. She lost to Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate. DeJear is a small business owner from Des Moines and says she is starting a listening tour of the state with an event Monday in Des Moines with small business owners and stops in six eastern and south-central Iowa cities this week as well.
Chicago Man Sentenced To Prison For Derecho Fraud
(Chicago, Ill) — A Chicago man who pretended to be a victim of the August 2020 derecho disaster to fraudulently obtain more than five-thousand dollars in FEMA disaster benefits will spend 18 months in prison. Twenty-three-year-old Tavonte Donnell Stewart from Chicago, Illinois had pleaded guilty to one count of Derecho benefits fraud. FEMA paid Stewart the benefits for alleged personal property damage and rental assistance — saying he lived in Cedar Rapids. Stewart spent the funds on jewelry for his girlfriend and to purchase a duplicate identification card for himself from the Illinois Secretary of State. He was also ordered to pay the money back.
