State Fire Marshal Has Declared A Burn Ban For Plymouth County
(Des Moines) — The State Fire Marshal has declared a burn ban for Plymouth County effective as of 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 1st. Upon investigation, the state fire marshal has determined that conditions in Plymouth County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life and/or property. It is therefore ordered that no person shall engage in open burning in Plymouth County, except as specifically mentioned in Iowa code 100. 40(3) until such time Dave Schipper, Fire Chief for Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, representing each fire department within Plymouth County notifies the State Fire Marshal that the dangerous conditions to life and property no longer exists. Notice is hereby given in pursuant to Iowa code 100. 40(2) any violation of this proclamation order is a simple misdemeanor. The burn ban came at the request of the of each of the Plymouth County Fire Departments Association. Within the last couple of days, Le Mars, Oyens, Akron, Hinton and Kingsley have responded to grass and/or field fires. Conditions are dry, and humidity levels have been low, along with winds that have been strong in recent days, has contributed to the issuance of the county-wide fire ban. Plymouth County joins its neighbor to the south, Woodbury County, of having a burn ban declared.
Life Skills Training Center Staff Member Awarded Chamber Of Commerce “Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — A Life Skills Training Center staff employee was presented the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Employee of the Month” honors Monday afternoon. Libby Peters was presented the honor. Libby was nominated by Life Skills Training Center’s Executive Director, Janice Hill. Hill’s nomination of Libby Peters reads as follows:
“It is with unparalleled enthusiasm that I nominate Libby Peters for the LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce February 2022 Employee of the Month.
Libby joined the Life Skills Training Center (LSTC) family as our Business Manager and accountant in November 2021. Her hire date put her in a precarious position to complete necessary tasks for the upcoming year, and to efficiently, effectively, and accurately close out our 2021 fiscal year. It might seem rather unusual to submit a nomination of this caliber for an employee who maintains such infancy in her time on the job. It is because of the considerable impact that her presence here has had on the functionality of LSTC is the catalyst for the nomination.
In ~60 days of service and with no formal training, Libby dove into an unusual accounting system, learned that system, obtained input from staff and developed a thorough and detailed 2022 annual budget for our non-profit organization. She transitioned our payroll process from a paper check delivery system to ACH direct deposit. She has ensured that we are in good standing with the IRS, and has completed the creation and distribution of our W-2’s. Currently in the works is her diligent effort to seek out the best choice of investment brokers to support LSTC in making the most of our existing funds. To do all of this she has to be incredibly intelligent, self-motivated, and has worked countless hours outside of her traditional 40-hour work week to achieve the level of success she’s had. Her work ethic is unparalleled.
Libby has a keen and accurate eye on the innerworkings of our organization’s strengths and opportunities and has been active in brainstorming ideas for the future growth and development of LSTC. As the Executive Director of LSTC, I am more than grateful for her presence here and confident that we are in incredibly capable hands.
For these reasons I choose to salute Libby Peters with the LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce February Employee of the Month award. Our congratulations go to Libby Peters for being named the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Employee of the Month.”
(photo contributed.)
Le Mars Community School District To Hold Kindergarten Pre-registration
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District will soon be conducting Kindergarten Pre-registration. A parent meeting will be held Monday, March 7, 2022 in the Middle School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is for parents only. Eligible students are children who will be five years old on or before September 15, 2022. Before the meeting, parents should complete the 2022-2023 Kindergarten Pre-registration form foud at lemarscsd.org under “Announcements.” Computers will be available before the meeting from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. for parents who do not have internet access or need assistance filling out the pre-registration form. Parents should also bring their child’s original birth certificate or immunization record to the meeting.
County Supervisors To Hold Public Hearing On Tax Levy
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing during today’s meeting scheduled to be held at the Plymouth County Courthouse Boardroom. The public hearing will focus on the proposed tax levy for fiscal year 2022-2023. Following the public hearing, the county governing board is expected to approve the resolution. County Engineer Tom Rohe will appear before the county supervisors to discuss a construction permit from Premier Communications wanting to do work at Plymouth township near county road C-44. Rohe will also ask for an embargo on Marble Avenue.
City Council To Discuss Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council will convene for its meeting at 12:00 noon today at the city council chambers. The council will discuss an overlay project scheduled for Central Avenue south. The city council will also take up discussion regarding an application for the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. The city council will also discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget.
House Passes Ban on School COVID Vaccine Mandates
(Des Moines, IA) — Schools, childcare centers and colleges would not be able to require students to receive COVID-19 vaccines under a bill passed in the Iowa House. The proposed ban would apply to both public and private schools and colleges, and would remain in effect until July of 2029. Supporters of the bill said the state should ensure that coronavirus vaccination decisions are left to parents, while opponents asked lawmakers not to tie the hands of public health officials. The bill passed by a vote of 57 to 36 on Monday. Two Democrats joined Republicans to send the proposal on to the Iowa Senate.
House Votes to End Exit Exams for Teachers
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa House has unanimously voted to get rid of the exit exam college graduates must pass in order to get a teaching license in Iowa. Representative Tom Moore, a Republican from Griswold, was a teacher for 33 years. He’s been trying to get rid of this test for six years and says the exams have no bearing on the graduate’s abilities, their knowledge, or their ability to become a quality teacher. The bill also gets rid of the optional entrance exam for teachers as well. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Des Moines Superintendent Leaving After Contract Not Extended
(Des Moines, IA) — The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district will be stepping down at the end of this school year — a year earlier than expected. Last spring, the Des Moines School Board voted not to extend Superintendent Thomas Ahart’s (AY-hart’s) contract beyond June 2023. Iowa Public Radio reports that Ahart now plans to resign June 30th. He says Des Moines Public Schools are in a really good place right now, considering especially the “record-low funding” they’ve received over the last decade. At the start of school in the fall of 2020, Ahart led the Des Moines district’s defiance of state rules requiring in-person attendance. Republican lawmakers reduced state support for the district in early 2021 in response.
Former Congressman Running for State Legislature
(Van Meter, IA) — Former two-term Republican Iowa Congressman David Young announced he’s running for a seat in the state legislature. Young lives in Van Meter and was elected to represent Iowa’s third congressional district in 2014. He lost his re-election bid in 2018 to current Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne. Young unsuccessfully ran for that seat again in 2020. He’s running for a House seat that spans from West Des Moines to Van Meter and Adel. Young was U-S Senator Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff prior to running for Congress.
Governor Orders Russian-Made Vodka Sales Stopped
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered the state agency that controls wholesale liquor sales to pull vodka made in Russia. Several other states have made the same moves on brand names like Green Mark and Russian Standard. Iowa is one of 17 states that control the sale of alcohol at the wholesale level. Reynolds is also calling for the end to Iowa’s “Sister State” relationship with the Stavropol (STAV-roh-pole) region in Russia.
Des Moines Police ID 35-Year-Old Woman Stabbed To Death
(Des Moines, IA) — Des Moines police have identified the 35-year-old woman found stabbed to death in her apartment early Saturday. K-C-C-I Television reports Randi Light was found dead by officers at about 2:00 a-m. Thirty-three-year-old Clarence Reed of Des Moines has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators say Reed and the victim were in a relationship and lived together in the apartment. They say it is unclear how many times Light was stabbed because of the condition of her body.
Davenport School Board to Vote On Resolution Opposing Vouchers
(Davenport, IA) — The Davenport School Board will vote on a resolution tonight (Monday) that opposes school vouchers. The board will go on record against any program that diverts public tax dollars from public schools to private, religious, or charter schools that aren’t overseen by a locally-elected school board. The move comes as local officials worry about the probable loss of some state funding support. The resolution calls sending public money to private schools an example of “new entitlement programs” and it believes school choice already exists in Iowa.
Iowans Can Get Crash Course In Severe Weather At Storm Spotter Classes
(Johnston, IA) — Iowans who want a crash course in severe weather can be a part of storm spotter classes starting next month. Offered by the National Weather Service, the classes will include a multimedia presentation of information about identifying and reporting severe weather, spotter safety, severe weather climatology in Iowa, thunderstorm structure and threats – and information about Derechos. The free courses last about an hour and the first will be held March 15th in Adel. At least six more will be scheduled – plus several virtual classes.
