MULTI-GARAGE FIRE
A garage fire last night cause extensive damage. Le Mars Fire Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says they were called to the location, an apartment building at 1377 Holton Drive.
Chief Schipper says the fire spread to adjacent garages.
Firefighters had to battle in very cold conditions
Chief Schipper says the fire was started while someone was working in the garage.
Schipper says this fire is a reminder that people need to promptly notify authorities of a fire as quckly as possible.
Damages to the structure and contents were estimated at 150-thousand dollars.
Le Mars Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff, and the property owner, Adam Brown, assisted at the scene.
GEHLEN CATHOLIC ESTATE GIFT
Gehlen Catholic School announced today that they have received an estate gift worth 3.8 million dollars. It’s the largest estate gift in the school’s history.
In 2023, Paul Brauch left over 250 acres of land to Gehlen Catholic School and All Saints Parish.
Gehlen Catholic Devleopment Director Amy Jungers says school leaders will use a portion of the gift to improve school facilities. The school conducted a feasibility study and master plan with a Sioux City design firm, FEH Design.
An Omaha consulting firm, Steier Group, has been hired to carry out a campign planning study.
As part of this study, members of the Gehlen Catholic community will give feedback to school leaders on five potential projects. These projects include:
Building and campus upgrades and improvements
Renovation and Expansion of Classrooms
A Fine Arts Wing
A Football Field and Track
and a Pickup and Drop-off Roadway
Community response will help school officials prioritize future projects.
The study will begin in mid-February, and last six weeks.
LE MARS ZONING CHANGE
The Le Mars city council approved to first reading a zoning amendment that will include more property in the Parkview Terrace Mobile Home Park.
Two parcels, which border the mobile home park near highway 3 to the south and near city ball fields to the east, will be rezoned R-2 or Apartment District.
The city planning and zoning commission earlier recommended approval of the zoning change.
Three readings of the amended ordinance are required before passage.
SEWER EXTENSION
There will be a public hearing before the Le Mars city council on February 18, to approve plans and specifications and project estimate for a sanitary sewer extension in the city industrial park second and third additions.
These areas currently do not have access to sewer. As Le Mars Industrial Park Second Addition is currently under construction, approval for the sewer line is needed as soon as possible. The council action Tuesday also sets bid opening for the project on March 12. The project is to take place this spring, and be concluded by August 1. The estimated cost of the project is 102-thousand dollars, and will be paid for by Tax Increment Financing proceeds.
SIOUX CITY FIRE LEAVES 40 PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME
Sioux City firefighters remain on the scene Wednesday of a fire that gutted an apartment building Tuesday and left 40 residents without a home. Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Rodriguez says there were 22 apartments impacted.
Rodriguez says there were smoke detectors that helped all of the residents get out safely. He says it will take some time before they can get in and determine a cause.
The local Red Cross and Salvation Army are helping the residents with places to stay.
FEENSTRA LEADS PAID FAMILY LEAVE LEGISLATION
Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra introduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to help small businesses offer paid family and medical leave (PFML) to their employees. This legislation extends and reforms a tax credit for employers that voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of PFML. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Feenstra says this provision expires at the end of the year without action from Congress. He says now the legislation should become permanent.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 41% of employees at businesses with more than 500 employees have access to PFML while just 20% of workers at businesses with fewer than 99 employees have access to PFML.
ERNST PUSHES TO KEEP IOWANS IN THE LOOP
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is supporting the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to protect Iowans’ access to news by requiring automakers to maintain AM radio in their vehicles. This legislation also protects consumers from a separate or additional charge for this technology. During national emergencies, such as the 2020 derecho that devastated large portions of Iowa, AM radio remains a key communication service to relay life-saving information and updates.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT STATEHOUSE TO ENACT ‘PBM’ REFORM
Pharmacists are praising a bill under consideration in the Iowa House and Senate that would set new restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers or P-B-Ms. Critics accuse P-B-Ms of pocketing part of the money that should instead be reimbursing the pharmacies that fill prescriptions. Kate Gainor, executive director of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, says two dozen pharmacies closed in Iowa last year because of P-B-Ms, which she calls powerful middlemen that control drug pricing and reimbursement to pharmacies. Hundreds of pharmacists and pharmacy students are at the statehouse today (Wednesday) to lobby for the bill. Insurance companies say it will lead to higher premiums and increased costs for businesses that buy insurance for their employees — and for Iowans who need medications.
