LE MARS SCHOOL BOARD
The Le Mars Community School Board of Directors meets tonight in regular session. There will be a hearing on a budget amendment for the 2022-23 school year. The amendment will add 600-thousand dollars to the current budget, but will not cause an increase in taxes. The additional spending is for faculty projects, and increases in property insurance premiums and costs for the school lunch program. The board will also consider approval of resignations and new contracts, among other action items. There will also be consideration of milk and bread bids, and school fees for the next school year; and the list of this year’s graduates for approval. Also, the 2023-24 school infrastructure plan will be presented to the board.
SIOUX CENTER FATAL
A toddler died Saturday in an accident at a farm residence west of Sioux Center. The Sioux County Sheriffs Department says the incident occurred around 6 pm Saturday. 20-month old Walker Maassen was struck by a vehicle in the driveway of his residence on 420th Street, four miles southwest of Sioux Center. The Sheriffs Department reports 30 year old Christopher Maassen drove his SUV onto the property. He stopped to unhook a trailer. When he began to drive away, he struck the toddler. Walker Maassen was taken to Sioux Center Health, where he was pronounced deceased. Sioux Center Fire, Ambulance, Police, and the Iowa State Patrol assisted.
INJURY ACCIDENT
Two people were injured Friday in a two vehicle crash along Iowa Highway 3 near Cleghorn in Cherokee County. The Iowa State Patrol says a vehicle driven by 30 year old Conrad Campe of Meriden collided with a vehicle driven by 21 year old Jocee Roberts of Marcus. An eyewitness said the two vehicles crashed on the west side of Cleghorn when Campe’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck Roberts’ vehicle. Both drivers were injured. Campe was taken to Floyd Valley Health Care in Le Mars, and Roberts was taken to Cherokee Regional Medical Center for treatment.
MEGA PROJECT
A so-called “MEGA” package of state tax incentives — to try to lure a major business development to Iowa — stalled in the House on the final day of the 2023 legislative session. The “Major Economic Growth Attraction” or MEGA program would have been for a project that covers at least 250 acres and involves at least a BILLION dollar investment from a business engaged in research, bioscience or advanced manufacturing. The plan cleared the Senate on a 45-to-two vote Wednesday, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says there were too many unanswered questions. Under the proposed MEGA program, a business based in a foreign country that’s an ally of the U.S. would be allowed to buy farmland for the project. House Republicans were wary of granting foreign ownership of farmland — and Grassley suggests the size of the tax rebate — nearly 93 million dollars over the next seven years — was a concern.
