COMMUNITY BETTERMENT FOUNDATION
The second of two sessions to consider improvements in Le Mars parks takes place last night. Dustin Wright, president of the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation, says the Foundation is considering support for projects in specific parks in Le Mars.
The Le Mars Community Betterment Foundation has been involved in a variety of projects, from recreation trails to building renovations
Their priorities will also direct their fundraising to help complete the vision 2045 plan.
The foundation has funded a variety of projects over the years, from extension of the Plywood Trail in Plymouth County, as well as renovations to the Royal Theater, and the Postal Playhouse in LeMars.
AKRON WOMAN ARRESTED
An Akron woman was arrested this week on outstanding Plymouth County Warrants, all drug related. On Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office arrested Staci Lynn Hansen, age 56 of Akron. The first warrant is for controlled substance violation, the second possession of controlled substance 3rd or subsequent and the third for possession of controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense. Hansen was booked into the Plymouth County Jail and held on $35,000 bond.
HOUSE GOP UNVEILS ITS OWN PLAN FOR AEAS
Republicans in the Iowa House have developed an alternative to Governor Kim Reynolds’ proposed overhaul of Area Education Agencies that help educate students with disabilities. House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republican took Iowans’ feedback and developed a plan that provides certainty for special education services. Reynolds unveiled a plan in January that would let schools use a private firm, a different A-E-A or hire more special ed staff in their districts for the next school year. The House GOP bill would start sending state and federal special education funding directly to schools rather than the AEAs — as the governor proposed — but it may only be used for special ed services from the local A-E-A. The plan calls for a study of A-E-A operations that would involve legislators, educators and parents. In a separate bill, House Republicans propose raising the salary for new teachers to at least 50-thousand dollars — as the governor called for — but over the next two years. Grassley said that would give schools time to adjust the pay for current teachers who are making less than that.
AIR AND HIGHWAY TRAVEL BOTH UP IN 2023
D-O-T spokesperson Stuart Anderson says airplane travel set a record for passenger counts at the state’s eight commercial service airports in 2023. There were four-point-six (4.6) million passengers, breaking the four-point-five million record set in 2019. Travel on the state roadways in the last year was one-point-seven percent higher in vehicle miles of travel than in 2022
BILL COMBINES TRAFFIC CAMS, SMART PHONES
A bill to ban traffic enforcement cameras AND require motorists to mainly use smart phones in hands-free mode while driving is eligible for debate in both the Iowa House AND Senate. The bill passed out of the House Transportation Committee on a narrow 11-to-10 vote yesterday (Wednesday). Some committee said the two issues should be separated. Others oppose the ban on traffic cameras. The Iowa Police Chiefs Association expressed concern about continuing to allow motorists to handle a smart phone while driving if they’re talking or using the phone for navigation.
SHERIFF DIES
Union County, South Dakota Sheriff Dan Limoges has passed away at the age of 64.
Sheriff Limoges served Union County for 33 years, being elected to his first term in 1991.
He was consecutively re-elected sheriff every term since then, most recently in November of 2022.
Limoges got his start in law enforcement back in 1985 as a patrol officer for the Alcester Police Department.
He accepted a position with the Union County Sheriff’s Office in 1989.
In addition, Limoges served as the president of the South Dakota Sheriff’s Association in 2005.
He oversaw 10 full-time deputies, the Union County Jail, and the 911 communications center.
COST OF WINTER BLIZZARDS MORE THAN TEN MILLION DOLLARS
The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation says it took millions of dollars to clear the roadways from the double dip of blizzards in early January. Director Scott Marler says the storms also led to millions of click on the 5-1-1 road conditions site.
The storms the second week of January dumped more than 24 inches of snow in some areas to go along with double-digit negative temperatures, and wind gusts of 45 to 50 miles an hour that created whiteout conditions. Marler detailed the D-O-T’s costs for the storm today (Tuesday) for the state Transportation Commission.
Marler says many motorists did head the warnings and stayed off the roadways during the storms. He says the amount of trucks caused problems because once things got slick and they couldn’t move, all traffic backed up and plows couldn’t get in to treat the roadways.
IOWA HOUSE SCALES BACK GOVERNOR’S PLAN TO CUT STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Members of the Iowa House are scaling back the governor’s plan to consolidate or eliminate 111 state boards and commissions. A bill that cleared a House subcommittee this (Wednesday) morning only focuses on the elimination of 49 boards or commissions. A review committee met last fall and made recommendations about streamlining state boards and commissions, but Governor Reynolds’ bill to implement those changes wasn’t released until Monday. House State Government Committee chair Jane Bloomingdale reviewed the commission’s recommendations, developed a plan that focuses on what she calls the obvious changes and sent it to all of the members of her committee on Sunday. Bloomingdale says everyone on the committee — Democrats and Republicans — looked at her list and agreed it’s the place to start.
BEST BURGER SEARCH NOW UNDERWAY
The search is on once again for the Iowa’s “Best Burger.” Iowa Beef Industry Council spokesperson Kylie (KYE-lee) Peterson says they’re accepting nominations from Iowans for restaurants that serve a 100 percent real beef burger on a bun or bread product. Any combinations of ingredients and toppings can be included. This is the 15th year the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Beef Industry Council have sponsored the contest. Peterson says they are going to celebrate that milestone by letting past winners be eligible to be voted for to get into the top 10 and to potentially win the contest. Peterson says you can nominate your favorite burger on their website — iabeef.org
