SEVERE WEATHER PRODUCES HAIL IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY
There were several reports of large hail in severe thunderstorms which struck Plymouth County early this morning. There were two reports of hail in Hinton around 12:30 a.m. One report indicated 2.5 inch diameter hail, another 2 inch hail. One inch diameter hail was reported in Le Mars.
1.15-inch diameter hail was reported 5 miles west of Kingsley. A 58-miles per hour wind gust was also reported in Sgt. Bluff. Two severe thunderstorm warnings were called for Plymouth County between 1:16 a.m. and 2:45 a.m.
Strong winds hit Storm Lake. Emergency management received reports of powerlines down and trees down. There was also damage reported to buildings in the commercial area on the north side of the city.
LCSD SCHOOL CALENDAR APPROVED
The Le Mars Community School Board approved the school calendar for the 2025-26 year. Under the new school calendar, the first day of school will be August 25, and the last day of school May 21. The Middle School will follow the High School semester system, with the first semester ending before the winter vacation. Total Education hours in the next school year total 1135. The minimum number of hours required by law is one thousand eighty.
The biggest point of discussion was the schedule for parent-teacher conferences. The district has spread out six days for PT conferences from early October to early November. This was done to help families with children in multiple school buildings. One of the board members suggestes that the schedule be shortened. The Superintendent said this was not brought up in staff surveys this year. The matter will be addressed in the survey before the next calendar is formed.
38 IOWA LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR QUALITY CARE
A Le Mars long-term care facility was among 38 honored last week at a national awards ceremony for their commitment to quality care. The facilities received 2024 National Quality Awards from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living and were recognized during the organization’s Quality Summit earlier this month in Atlanta.
Four Iowa facilities received the 2024 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award. They include Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars and Sibley Specialty Care. 34 Iowa facilities received 2024 Bronze awards. They include Accura HealthCare of Aurelia and Cherokee; Floyd Senior Living in Sgt. Bluff; Good Samaritan Society in Holstein; Prairie View Home in Sanborn; and The Heritage at Northern Hills in Sioux City.
BILL CREATES TAX CREDIT FOR RADON MITIGATION SYSTEMS
A House committee has unanimously voted to create a state income tax credit for Iowans who install a radon mitigation system in their homes. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It’s the second leading cause of cancer in smokers and, according to the E-P-A, the entire state of Iowa is at highest risk for elevated levels of radon. Representative Austin Baeth of Des Moines says a radon mitigation system can cost up to two-thousand dollars — and this state tax break of up to a thousand dollars may prompt more Iowans take action.
Baeth says the tax break could make Iowa’s housing stock safer.
Iowans can order a low-cost radon testing kit by calling the Iowa Radon Hotline. Go to www.radioiowa.com to find the number and more information about radon and the state’s Cancer Control Plan.
HOUSE BILLS WOULD ERASE STATE INCOME TAX ON TIPS AND OVERTIME PAY
Bills ready for debate in the Iowa House would implement tax breaks on tips and overtime pay at the state level similar to those President Trump has proposed at the federal level. One bill would eliminate the state income tax on up to 25-thousand dollars worth of tips for Iowans with an annual income under 155-thousand dollars. Another bill would eliminate the state income tax on overtime pay for employees asked to work more than 40 hours in a week — and who would earn pay during overtime hours that’s at least one and a half times their regular hourly rate. These bills on tips and overtime pay got “yes” votes from all the Republicans and Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday.
GOVERNOR TURNED TO PRAYER OVER 2026 CAMPAIGN DECISION
Governor Kim Reynolds says she spent a whole lot of time praying as she weighed whether to run for reelection. Reynolds says it was an internal battle — and God knew what she needed even before she asked. Reynolds, who announced last Friday she would not seek reelection in 2026, spoke this (Thursday) morning at the annual Iowa Prayer Breakfast. Reynolds thanked the crowd for praying for her husband, Kevin, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2023. Kevin Reynolds, whose lung cancer is now in remission, delivered the opening prayer at the Thursday event.
