Election day is today
Election day has arrived, with polls open across Plymouth County for local and school races. Four city positions, two Floyd Valley Board of Trustees seats, and two initiatives are on the ballot in Le Mars, with voters having their say after a contentious election cycle.
Three seats on the city council are up for election. In Ward 1, incumbent Brian Bruns will run against Jaqueline Perez, while in Ward 3, incumbent Mark Sturgeon will face Dan Dembinski. The at-large seat on the council is a three-way race between Beth Meyer, Derek Conyers, and Lenny Flack. Rob Bixenman, who’s looking for a third term as mayor of Le Mars, will run against Brian Hughes. Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees members Craig Bauerly and Kelli Flack will run unopposed for their seats.
Two ballot initiatives are also set to be voted on. The first, Public Measure RY, asks for an increase to the city’s hotel/motel tax from 5% to the state-maximum 7%, and the second, Public Measure RZ, asks to issue a bond to fund a new firehouse for the city. Measure RZ needs a 60% majority to pass, while Measure RY only needs a simple majority to pass.
Polling locations will be open today from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voter I.D. is required to vote. For your polling location and for more information about today’s elections, visit the Plymouth County website.
KLEM will carry coverage and election results throughout the day over the air and online. Detailed interviews with every candidate up for election are available here.
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Hy-Vee to provide food bank bundles, free kids meals this week
Hy-Vee has announced new efforts to help local communities and food banks, including providing free kids meals during this week.
From now until Friday, November 7th, every Hy-Vee location will provide all children aged 12 and under a free meal from 4-7 p.m.; the same meal can be purchased by anyone for $3. Menu items will change each day, from spaghetti to chili to chicken and noodles. Hy-Vee will also share recipes that can be made for $3 a serving on their social media channels.
Hy-Vee stores will also start offering $5 and $10 food bank donation bundles for purchase. The bags contain items most needed by food pantries, including canned goods and proteins. Stores will deliver purchased bags to local food pantries daily to help manage a projected increase in need,
In a press release, Hy-Vee’s chief merchandising and retail officer Anna Stoermer says the company wants “to support the communities that support our stores” and that they were “grateful for the suppliers and partners who have joined us to help families in need.”
The company recently donated $100,000 to Feeding America in order to maintain food bank inventory levels across the region.
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Recent initiatives help Orange City Area Health patients, residents
The Orange City Area Health Foundation has recently taken part in several initiatives to improve quality of care in northwest Iowa.
Recently, the Foundation worked with Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa to fund the purchase of a Panda Warmer for Area Health’s Birth Center, as well as providing over 500 SleepSacks to be given to families. The Panda Warmer serves as a way to maintain the body temperature of a newborn child, while the SleepSacks help families with safe sleep practices for their newborn. The Foundation also launched a new employee giving program, with new chairs for the Infusion Center being partially funded by the program.
Foundation director Sarah Jungers explained more about the mission of the Foundation to KLEM.
Jungers says that it’s vital that the Foundation supports the local community through health initiatives.
Orange City Area Health recently acquired the da Vinci 5 surgical robot, the first to be installed in northwest Iowa. A open house for the new robot will take place on November 11th.
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Orange City house fire caused by juvenile
A fire that caused severe damage to a home in Orange City over the weekend was determined to be started by a 12-year-old boy playing with rubbing alcohol.
The fire occurred on Sunday afternoon, where the Orange City and Alton Fire Departments, along with Orange City Police and EMS, responded to reports of a house fire. According to a press release, initial observations from investigators were “suspicious” in nature, causing a further investigation with occupants of the home. After interviews, it was determined that a 12-year-old juvenile boy had been playing with fire and rubbing alcohol in a bedroom, which ignited a nearby bed.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, but the house sustained “significant damage” and has been deemed uninhabitable. The 12-year-old was charged with reckless use of fire and has been referred to juvenile court.
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