Real Estate and Mobile Home Property Taxes Are Now Due
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann, is reminding all residents that property real estate and mobile home taxes are due by the end of the month on Thursday. Real Estate and Mobile Home taxes can be paid in the office, online, or by mail throughout the month of September. Property taxes must be paid by September 30th in order to avoid penalty. Taxes are delinquent October 1, 2021.
Office hours are 8:00 – 5:00 Monday through Friday. A drop box is also located in the lower entrance.
Mailed payments must be postmarked by the US Postal Service on or before September 30 to avoid penalty. Online payment of your property tax can be done at www.iowatreasurers.org up until midnight of September 30. Delinquent interest will begin at 12:00am on October 1st.
You may contact the Plymouth County Treasurer’s office if you need any information on property taxes.
Julie Beitelspacher Awarded Chamber’s “Boss Of The Quarter” Honor
(Le Mars) — Retiring bank officer Julie Beitelspacher was honored Tuesday afternoon with the Chamber of Commerce’s “Boss of the Quarter” Award. Chamber Ambassador, Kevin Eekhoff presented the award to Beitelspacher during an open house ceremony held Tuesday afternoon at Primebank in Beitelspacher’s honor. Beitelspacher is retiring from the banking business after working with the financial institution for more than 40 years. Eekhoff read the nomination that informed the gathering of Beitelspacher’s rise within Primebank.
In 1974, when Julie began her career in Primebank’s Bookkeeping Department, little did she realize she was embarking on what would become a lifelong career in banking. Following a break to raise her family, Julie returned to Primebank in 1990 working first in the Bank’s teller area, and then in the Loan Servicing Department. Eventually becoming a Customer Service Representative, Julie is now Vice President and head of Primebank’s LeMars Deposit Department. With responsibilities encompassing both the Bank’s teller area, as well as the Bank’s customer service area, Julie supervises a dozen other employees while also assisting Primebank’s customers with their banking needs.
A very positive and upbeat role model, Julie takes a personal and caring approach in supervising her staff. With communication being key, Julie is always approachable, making herself available to her staff at all times. Supportive not just of her staff but of the entire bank, Julie is often known to show her appreciation through food. Whether it be a potluck, an employee’s birthday, or “just because,” Julie can be counted on for sharing one of her tasty treats.
After over 31 years of service to Primebank, Julie will soon be retiring. While happy for Julie as she embarks on this new chapter in her life, it is also with sadness that Julie’s colleagues and co-workers prepare for her retirement. While others will step in to fill the void created by Julie’s departure, no one will be able to replace her as a boss, a co-worker, and a friend.
For these reasons we choose to honor Julie Beitelspacher with the LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 3rd Quarter Boss of the Quarter award. Our congratulations go to Julie Beitelpacher.
County Supervisors Approve Allocating $2.4 Million To Premier Communications For Plymouth County Rural Broadband Installation
(Le Mars) –– The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors discussed whether to give Premier Communications of Sioux Center money to install high speed broadband internet using fiber-optic cable to rural regions of Plymouth County. The project is estimated to cost around $21 million dollars, of which a 35 percent matching grant of $7.4 million was awarded to Premier Communications through a state grant. Premier Communications will stand the cost of approximately $11 million leaving about $3 million of being unfunded. Premier Communications officials came to the supervisors to request the county to consider funding the extra $3 million. Officials with Premier Communications answered the county board’s questions. Supervisor Craig Anderson indicated he had three of his constituents contact him showing support for the project. Supervisor Mike Van Otterloo asked if the county did not appropriate the entire requested $3 million dollars, would that mean the project would die and Premier Communications would walk away from the proposed project? Supervisor John Meis wanted to make certain the county would be able to utilize funds allocated to the county from the federal government as part of the American Relief Act, which involves nearly $4.8 million for COVID-19 purposes. Supervisor chairman Don Kass identified a possible five different school districts may benefit from the proposed project. The county board of supervisors voted 5-0 in favor of appropriating money to Premier Communications for the installation of broadband internet to Plymouth County rural regions, however at an amount of $2.4 million instead of the requested $3 million dollars. With the allocation, came some stipulations, including the county board could revisit the project in a year’s time and decide if it wanted to complete the project with the approximate $600,000 remaining unfunded. The motion that was approved wanted to make certain the funds would fall into the specifications of approved projects from the federal government’s American Relief Act. Premier Communications C-E-O Doug Boone was asked about his thoughts regarding the county supervisors did not grant the entire requested $3 million dollars?
As mentioned the county supervisors want to make certain the allocation of funds will qualify as part of the conditions with the American Relief Act. Boone says he is confident the funds will meet with the guidelines as stipulated within the law.
Premier Communications are hoping for at least 60 percent of the identified 1300 locations will agree to have the broadband internet connection. Boone says now Premier Communications will have its work cut out for them to convince the rural population to get connected.
Premier Communications expect the complete construction of the proposed rural fiber optic project to be completed within a couple of years.
Benefit Scheduled For Former Le Mars Police Officer Suffering From Cancer
(Le Mars) — Members of the Le Mars Police Department and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office are organizing a benefit fund raiser scheduled for Saturday evening, October 2nd at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The benefit will include a free will meal, auction items, and a dance. The purpose for the benefit is to raise funds for a former police officer now stricken with cancer. Mark Reed was an officer with the Le Mars Police Department for more than 30 years and supervised the K-9 unit for many years. Bob Rohlmiller serves as the present-day K-9 officer for the Le Mars Police Department and tells of Reed’s condition and the upcoming benefit.
Rohlmiller says the money raised during the benefit will go to help defer accrued medical expenses as Reed continues his fight against the brain cancer. Dawn Fifita is a jailer with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and says the local law enforcement agencies are one large family wanting to make a difference with Reed’s recovery.
Stephanie Buhman, Mark’s daughter, tells of her father’s career.
Buhman says the folks in Akron are also participating in the benefit for the former police officer. Stephanie talks about her father’s diagnosis with the brain cancer.
Rohlmiller reviews Reed’s police career as the initial K-9 handler.
Among the many donated items to be sold during the live auction and the silent auction will be three guns. Rohlmiller says an account has been established at the Northwest Iowa Credit Union where donations are being accepted. Dawn Fifita summarizes the thoughts of many, while urging people to attend Saturday evening’s benefit.
The Mark Reed Benefit begins with the meal at 5:30 p.m. and the dance will begin at 7:30 p.m. all to be held at the Le Mars Knights of Columbus Hall, Saturday, October 2nd.
(Photos contributed.)
Bowen Honored With School District’s “Employee Of The Month” Award
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community School District awarded its “Employee of the Month” honors to a Teacher Associate Wednesday morning. Yvette Bowen was presented the honor from Le Mars Community School District Foundation members Janelle Bixenman and Deb Ahlers. A room full of students, school faculty and staff, administration officials, and friends from the community gathered to congratulate Bowen on the honor. Bowen was joined by her husband Derek and their youngest daughter for the awards ceremony. Sue Reed submitted the nomination for Yvette Bowen for the recognition of “Employee of the Month”. Her nomination reads as follows: “She (Yvette) goes above and beyond for every student she assists. I have seen her print papers for them, sit in her off time and help a student copy and paste information for an assignment, and help them use headphones for an assignment, making sure they understand. She has the compassion, caring patience, and flexibility of needing to do her job, and it is always the student she is thinking of. She is always willing to help out, whether it be a teacher or fellow aide with anything they may need. She is one of the nicest, kindest, person I know.”
Grassley Warns Raising Debt Ceiling Will ‘Scare the Heck’ Out of People
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says Democrats who have the majorities in Congress are on their own when it comes to raising the federal government’s borrowing limit. Grassley and all G-O-P members in the U-S Senate blocked a vote Monday night on a bill to raise the debt limit. The Iowa Republican said, “It’s just going to scare the heck out of people of the United States and make the Democrats look bad and they want Republicans to help get it passed.” The legislation that failed included money to keep the federal government operating through early December. Grassley says Republicans would be willing to vote for basic government funding, without a hike in the debt limit. He said he voted to raise the debt ceiling during the Trump Administration when the G-O-P held the Senate majority because Republicans “were spending the money, we were causing the debt and we had a responsibility to do it.” The U-S Treasury secretary said the government could run out of money for Social Security benefits and military pay sometime in October if the debt ceiling isn’t raised.
Iowa Lottery Sales Fall to More Normal Levels This Fiscal Year
(Clive, IA) — The Iowa Lottery’s record sales numbers in the last fiscal year are slowing slowed down in the new fiscal year that started in July. Iowa Lottery C-E-O Matt Strawn says they believed the record sales were brought on by the unique circumstances of the pandemic — and now things are getting back to normal. Strawn says through August 31st, gross lottery sales for fiscal year 2022 are two-point-nine percent ahead of last year and ahead of budget projections. Scratch tickets led the way in the record sales year, while lotto games lagged. Strawn says the new fiscal year is seeing some changes there. He reports scratch ticket sales are up a modest one-point-four percent while Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life are up a combined 30-point-four percent through the end of August. He says the lotto games have seen a boost in sales as recent jackpots climbed.
Iowa Lottery Completes System Upgrade
(Clive, IA) — The Iowa Lottery completed a major upgrade this past weekend to a new operating system. Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says this involves replacing all of the equipment that the lottery has in the field. Neubauer says the machines in some 24-hundred retail outlets were all changed during the upgrade. Neubauer says the new machines are faster and the new tickets they print are easier to read.
Casey’s Buying 40 Pilot Convenience Stores in Kentucky, Tennessee
(Ankeny, IA) — Iowa-based Casey’s General Stores plant to purchase 40 Pilot convenience stores in Kentucky and Tennessee for 220-million dollars. Casey’s says the locations are primarily in the Knoxville, Tennessee market. The purchase must be cleared by the Federal Trade Commission and the Anti-Trust Division of the U-S Justice Department. Casey’s is the country’s third-largest convenience store chain with over 23-hundred locations.
Ernst Asks Questions About Afghan Withdrawal
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Republican Joni Ernst is among the U-S Senators who raised questions during a hearing about the U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan. Ernst told top U-S commanders the withdrawal timeline had little regard for American lives. Ernst asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin if he had expressed concerns to President Biden about shifting from a military to a diplomatic mission for evacuating Americans and Afghans who had been allies over the past two decades of war.
Secretary Of State Celebrates National Voter Registration Day
(Des Moines IA) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate celebrated National Voter Registration Day Tuesday. Pate began the day at a central Iowa high school to emphasize the annual awards his office gives to districts where at least 90 percent of eligible students are registered to vote. Twenty-two Iowa school districts received those awards last year. A record number of Iowans are currently registered to vote — and Pate’s office sent postcards to eligible voters who are not registered to vote. Pate says the mailing went to about 50-thousand Iowans who were shown through a check of driver’s license records to be eligible Iowa voters, but not among those who are registered.
