IOWA 4-H HALL OF FAME
Le Mars resident Pat Lehner was honored Sunday by being inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. Lehner describes what it means to receive this honor:
LE MARS FACILITIES STUDY
The Le Mars Community School Board has hired a consultant to develop a facilities master plan. Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner says earlier this year, the board decided to take this step.
The study will fit in with an ongoing assessment of the district’s facilities
Dr. Webner says ISG was hired to develop the plan. The architecture and engineering firm is based in Mankato, Minnesota.
The district has three elementary schools, Clark, Franklin, and Kluckhohn, plus the middle school and high school. Clark and Franklin Elementary schools date back to the 1930s.
MUSEUM ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNS
Plymouth County Historical Museum administrator Judy Bowman is resigning her full-time position, effective Dec. 31, 2023.
She delivered her letter of resignation to the Museum’s board of directors during the August monthly meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Bowman said her 25 years as the Museum administrator “have been both challenging and rewarding.” “It has been my joy and privilege to see the Museum grow into a great asset for Plymouth County.”
Current staff members, in addition to Bowman, are Marge Dull, registrar, and Chris Ketelsen, business manager. Interviews are underway for an exhibit manager.
The Museum is marking its 40th year in its current location, the former “Old Central” High School. Prior to that, the Museum, which organized in April 1965, was housed in an administrative building near the Le Mars Municipal Airport.
FATAL ACCIDENT
Two SUV’s collided at a rural intersection in Osceola County yesterday morning. Two people died as the result of the collision, and five others were injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident occurred at the intersection of US Highway 59 and a county road, northwest of Melvin, around 9-15 a.m. An eastbound GMC Envoy, driven by 27 year old Dore Canales of Sioux City, failed to yield at a stop sign, and was struck by a southbound Ford Explorer driven by 22 year old Benjamin Richard Gibson of Sibley. Both vehicles left the roadway after impact. The Canales vehicle rolled, and struck a nearby water tower. Both drivers were injured, and transported to local hospitals. Two passengers in the Canales vehicle died in the crash. One was identified as 24 year old Jessica Ricardo of Sioux City, the other, a 9 year old child. Three other passengers in the Canales vehicle were injured. The State Patrol was assisted by Sheldon EMS, Melvin Fire Department, Sanborn Fire Department, Sheldon Police, and Boji Towing.
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FARM BILL DELAY
Iowa Congressman Rand Feenstra says there are a lot issues left to resolve and the chair of the House Ag Committee has told them they will not pass the 2023 Farm Bill by the September 30th deadline.
Feenstra is a Republican from Hull representing the Fourth District. He says the U-S Senate is also working to get its version of the bill completed.
Feenstra says he does have some concerns about what will be in the final bill.
Feenstra made his comments after visiting with members of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce.
ANSWERS SOUGHT FOR USS SIOUX CITY DECOMMISSIONING
The head of the Sioux City Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, Chris McGowan, wants some answers after attending the decommissioning of the U-S-S Sioux City. He wants to know why other littoral combat ships are still in service. McGowan says the U-S-S Fort Worth was commissioned in 2012, six years prior to the Sioux City and is not being decommissioned. He says that is likely because the chair of the House Appropriations Committee is from Texas. McGowan says no one seems to know either why one of the ships is sill under construction.
HIRING TEACHERS
As many Iowa schools start classes this week, the state’s teacher shortage may be easing, according to a source at the University of Iowa’s College of Education. Professor Mark McDermott, the U-I’s Associate Dean for Teacher Education, says he’ll frequently hear from K-12 principals and administrators who are scrambling to fill positions, even days before classes begin, but the demand is lessening. McDermott says he’s gotten fewer calls and emails and says districts are in a slightly better position this year. Iowa has more than half-a-million students enrolled in some 13-hundred schools in more than 320 districts. Administrators routinely contact McDermott as fall approaches, checking to see if any recent graduates are available to fill teaching jobs.
REVISED PIPELINE APPLICATION
Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions has submitted a revised pipeline permit application to utility regulators in North Dakota. Earlier this month North Dakota’s Public Service Commission rejected the company’s application for a 320 mile route through their state. Summit’s revised application moves the proposed pipeline route nearly 10 miles north of Bismarck’s city limits. According to a statement from the company it addresses other concerns cited by the commission. The company says North Dakota landowners have signed contracts giving it voluntary access to nearly 80 percent of the newly drawn route. The Iowa Utilities Board will start its review of Summit’s proposed Iowa pipeline route on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Fort Dodge.
