IOWA PORK YOUTH LEADERS
(left to right: Allen, Ostrem, and Langel – picture courtesy IPPA)
Two Le Mars residents have been named to the Iowa Pork Producers Association Youth Leadership Team for 2025. The announcement was made at the Iowa Pork Congress, which was held last week. Calla Langel and Brady Allen were named youth ambassadors. They and the Iowa Pork Queen, Amanda Ostrem of Stanhope, will promote pork production across Iowa in their new roles. Each received a 4-thousand dollar scholarship.
The three scored highest among dozens of contestants who were tested on their knowledge of the pork industry, and measured on their community involvement and experience. Several other contestants were recognized and honored with 200 dollar scholarships. They include Allie Kruse of Cherokee.
Calla is the daughter of Nick Langel and Kari Frerichs of Le Mars. She is a sophomore at Des Moines Area Community College, where she is pursuing an agriculture business degree, and a certificate in agronomy.
Brady is the son of Mark and Alise Allan of Le Mars. He is a freshman at Iowa State University, where he is majoring in animal science. Following graduation Brady hopes to pursue a career in the areas of swine nutrition or genetics.
SPECIAL TOWN HALL MEETING
The Le Mars city council wants to encourage more citizen participation in their council meetings, so they’ve scheduled a special town hall meeting for tonight. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers. The agenda of the meeting is an open discussion.. Citizens can speak to topics of their concern to the city council. The council cannot take action to any proposal made at the meeting, but can put it on a later council agenda.
BILL WOULD REQUIRE CITIZENSHIP STATUS ON IOWA DRIVER’S LICENSES
Iowa driver’s licenses would have to show whether the person is a U-S citizen or legal resident if a bill that’s cleared a House subcommittee becomes law.
Lori Stiles of Johnston is a volunteer with Iowa Canvassing, a group that reviewed voter rolls in 60 Iowa counties and challenged thousands of registrations. She says since people are able to register on Election Day at their polling place, having citizen printed on the back of a driver’s license makes sense.
Stiles, who has been a poll worker since 2008, says while voters are required to show a photo I-D, they are not required to show proof of citizenship during Election Day voting.
Critics say the bill could lead to discrimination and harassment of people who are legal residents, but not U.S. citizens.
Amy Campbell is a lobbyist for Lutheran Social Services which helps refugees resettle in Iowa. She says driver’s licenses are used for so much more than voting.
The Iowa D-O-T issues driver’s licenses and identification cards to citizens and legal residents of the country. Minnesota and four other states along the Canadian border offer enhanced driver’s licenses to serve as an I-D as well as proof of U-S citizenship. These enhanced licenses — which are more expensive than a standard driver’s license — can be used in place of a U-S Passport for re-entry from certain countries, like Canada.
LE MARS STREET CLOSING
The Le Mars Street Dept. has closed part of 18th St. S.W. between 6th Ave. S.W. and 12th Ave. S.W. today, between 7:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. Well’s South Ice Cream Plant will be installing another new crane rail in the freezer which requires them to pull it out of the freezer and across 18th St. S.W. There will be detour signs set up during the hours listed.
The Le Mars Street Dept. closed a part of 2nd Ave. N.W. between 1st St N.W. and 2nd St. N.W. today to take down some ash trees. Road will be open by 3 p.m. this afternoon.
STUDENTS DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL KITS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Le Mars Public Library will host 7th Grade Challenge Program students from Le Mars Community Schools as they share STEM & STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, [Art] & Math) kits with Third grade students from Clark Elementary on Friday, January 31.
Challenge Program teacher, Kathi Oetken, has assigned her seventh-grade class the task of introducing younger students to concepts such as electrical circuits and catapults by using hands on activities and literary resources. On Friday the students will be at the Le Mars Public Library to test their projects with 3rd Grade students from Clark Elementary School.
ACCIDENT LEADS TO ARREST
A two vehicle accident in Sioux County Tuesday evening resulted in the arrest of one of the drivers. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated an accident at the intersection of US Highways 18 and 75, west of Hull. A car driven by 25 year old Vincent Liston of Hawarden was travelling west on 18, and failed to stop at the stop sign at US 75. Liston’s vehicle struck a northbound SUV driven by 62 year old Ordel Harberts of Rock Rapids in the intersection. No one was injured, but both vehicles received extensive damage. Liston was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was jailed in Orange City under several charges, including OWI, driving while suspended, no insurance, and failure to obey a stop sign.
GOV. REYNOLDS INTRODUCES BILL TO REFORM UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Governor Kim Reynolds introduced the Unemployment Insurance Reform Bill to the Iowa House and Senate.
Gov. Reynolds proposes lowering the maximum tax rate to the lowest allowed by federal law 5.4%, cutting the taxable wage base by half, and simplifying the unemployment insurance system by reducing the number of tax tables.
Currently, Iowa has the second-highest taxable wage base in the region and ranks ninth in overall trust fund balance despite being the 32nd most populous state.
Gov. Reynolds’ proposed changes to Iowa’s unemployment insurance tax system are projected to save businesses $974 million over five years.
DEMOCRAT WINS STATE SENATE SEAT
A Democratic candidate has won the state senate seat previously held by Republican Chris Cournoyer, who resigned in December to serve as lieutenant governor. State Senate District 35 covers all of Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott Counties. Cournoyer won the district by a 22 point margin in 2022. President Trump won it last November by 21 points. Unofficial results from yesterday’s special election show Democrat Mike Zimmer finished with nearly 52 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Katie Whittington of Clinton. Zimmer, a retired teacher and coach, is president of the Central DeWitt School Board.