City Council Approves Police Department’s Phase 2 Project
(Le Mars) — During the city council meeting held earlier this week, council members gave approval for the Phase 2 construction project of the Le Mars Police Station. Phase 2 will construct a classroom and fitness training area, and include an area for lockers. The project is estimated to cost $1,216,661. The timetable for the project includes a pre-bid conference scheduled for November 16th with bids due on November 30th and the council to award the winning bids on December 7th. The project will be funded through the Local Options Sales Tax. Construction will occur during the winter months, with completion of the project scheduled for spring of 2022. Councilman Clark Goodchild inquired about the costs of the project and wanted to know if the construction costs are set. Mayor Dick Kirchoff followed up with Goodchild’s inquiry, and wanted to make certain there would not be any surprises with the project.
Floyd Valley Healthcare November “Hot Shot” To Watch Hockey Game
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare will send its first “Hot Shot” of the new ice hockey season to watch the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday evening. Ann Cole-Nelson, Communications and Marketing Manager with Floyd Valley Healthcare, talks about the “Hot Shots” program and the first pediatric patient for this year’s hockey season.
Teen Accused Of Killing Another Teen In Fort Madison
(Fort Madison, IA) — A 17-year-old in southeast Iowa is accused of shooting a 15-year-old to death. Fort Madison police are holding Dimari Meredith on a murder charge. The murder victim’s name has not been released.
Missing Manchester Man Declared Dead
(Manchester, IA) — A northeast Iowa judge and jury have declared a Manchester man who’s been missing for nearly eight years legally dead. Brian “Farmer” Burns was 55 when he was last seen on December 19th of 2013 at his home northwest of Manchester. He was reported missing by a family member a few days later. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in locating Burns, but he was never found. A jury trial was held in Delaware County District Court Thursday with his brother, Randy Burns, appearing with his attorney to petition for the legal declaration of death. Sheriff John LeClere says even though Burns has been declared legally dead, his case will still remain open.
Iowa Other States Seek Year-Round E-15 Sales
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds is part of a bipartisan group of eight Midwest governors asking the Biden Administration to let gasoline with a 15 percent blend of ethanol be sold in their states year-round. A federal appeals court this summer struck down a 2019 rule allowing year-round E-15 sales nationwide. The governors say under the Clean Water Act, they can authorize E-15 sales within their states’ borders all year long. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte (MAWN-tee) Shaw says the future of the ethanol industry depends on getting higher blends into the marketplace.
Students Not Going To College Biggest Issue For State Schools
(Cedar Falls, IA) — A Board of Regents staff member says a drop in people going to college is one of the big factors behind a five-year decline in enrollment at the three state universities. Analyst Jason Pontius (Pont-tee-us) says there’s been a six-year period of a five percentage point decline in the number of high school students who decide to go to college. Pontius says a drop in international students and a smaller sophomore and junior class recently have also hurt enrollment. He says U-N-I, I-S-U, and the U-I all schools saw an increase in first-year students this fall and that is a good sign. Pontius says if that growth continues, the schools can bring enrollment back up again.
