ICE CREAM DAYS
There’s two more days packed with activities at Ice Cream Days in Le Mars. The day kicks off with the I-Spy Ice Cream Scavenger Hunt. This goes on today and tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m. This is Margaret Catton.
Prize winners will be announced 3 pm Saturday. The public library’s Kids Funfest is from 2 to 4 pm.
One of the highlights tonight is a fun run at 6-30.
At the Postal Playhouse, the Le Mars Youth Theatre will put on a play Friday and Saturday nights at 7.
Also this evening are the carnival, golf, axe throwing, pony rides, and bunnies.
There’s a full day of fun Saturday as well, starting off with the Ice Cream Days parade at 9 a.m.
FUND ESTABLISHED TO HELP 5 YEAR OLD ACCIDENT VICTIM
A fund has been set up to help cover medical expenses for a five-year-old girl who was struck by an S-U-V while she was riding her bike in Ruthven. The hit-and-run happened Sunday night and the girl was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The five-year-old’s great aunt says the child had a punctured lung and internal bruising and doctors were concerned about a head injury. The girl, who has stitches on her face and an ankle injury, has been released from the hospital. The Palo Alto County Sheriff says 22-year-old Laticia Whiting of Estherville fled the scene after hitting the girl. Whiting was arrested late Sunday night in Spirit Lake.
NORTHWEST IOWA COUNTIES SEEK TO LURE COLLEGE GRADS BACK
Iowans who grew up in four northwest Iowa counties may be eligible for incentives to return to the area after they earn a college degree. Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation represents Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties. Curt Strouth, the foundation’s C-E-O, says the “Homegrown Talent” initiative will offer scholarships of up to six-thousand dollars over four years. The payments will go directly to the student loan provider. The Iowa Lakes Corridor Foundation will host a golf tournament in Spencer on August 5th as its first fundraiser for the project.
TWO MORE BABIES TURNED OVER THROUGH SAFE HAVEN LAW
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says two babies were turned over to the state last month as part of the Safe Haven Law. A baby girl born May 15th, and a baby boy born May 26th were given up and will be placed with a foster family until permanent families are determined. H-H-S says there have been three babies turned over this year and a total of 70 babies have been turned over in the more than two decades since the law was created. The Safe Haven Law allows parents who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old can turn the child over to hospitals or fire stations with no questions asked.
RED CROSS PUTS OUT PLEA FOR DONORS OF BLOOD, PLATELETS
Today is World Blood Donor Day as the American Red Cross works to make up from critical shortages of all types of blood and platelets. Josh Murray, spokesman for the agency’s Nebraska-Iowa region, says the day serves as a way to both thank donors for their contributions and to urge others to donate a pint.
Summertime is often a slow time for donors, but Murray says the last month has been particularly difficult, with record travel numbers, graduations and severe weather.
All blood types are needed, he says, particularly type-O. Plus, through June 30th, blood donors will get a 15-dollar e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Find a blood center by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.
REGENTS INCREASE TUITION, GIVE PRESIDENTS RAISES
The Board of Regents approved tuition and mandatory fee increases at the three state universities today (Thursday), while also giving raises to the presidents of the schools. Undergraduate in-state tuition will increase three percent at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, and a two percent increase for the University of Northern Iowa.
The Board of Regents staff says the tuition increase was needed after the Regents requested an increase of 14-point-eight million dollars in general funding from the Legislature and was given 12-point-three million dollars. Margrett says state funding is one of the issue the universities must address to keep college affordable.
Undergraduate tuition will increase by 270 dollars at the U-I and I-S-U, and 168 dollars at U-N-I. Mandatory fees are going up three percent at U-N-I, two percent at the University of Iowa and one-point-three percent at the University of Northern Iowa. Tuition and fees for undergraduate students are going up at different rates. The Board of Regents approved raises for the three university presidents after approving the tuition and fee increases for students. Regent David Barker read the proposed increases.
The contract of U-N-I president Nook was extended to 2027 and extended his deferred compensation package that pays 100-thousand dollars annually. The Board also extended the 155-thousand dollar annual deferred compensation contributions for Regents Executive Director Mark Braun for two years, and extended his contract for six years. The increase moves Wilson’s annual salary to 760-thousand dollars, Wintersteen’s moves to 710-thousand dollars, and Nook’s to 397-thousand-110 dollars. Braun’s salary is 154-thousand-300.
