COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Iowa representatives have been assigned to the U.S. House committees that write tax and spending plans.
The week-long voting for speaker pushed back the process of committee assignments in the U.S. House. Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull is now a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion will remain on the Appropriations Committee. Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant is on the House Ag Committee, which will be writing the next Farm Bill. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire is now on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. That committee oversees the wide range of issues in congress, including public health and telecommunications.
TOTAL MOTORS PURCHASE
A Le Mars auto dealer has purchased a Sheldon auto dealer.
Total Motors announced today that they have purchased Ron Drenkow Motors in Sheldon. The Sheldon firm began 58 years ago, and currently sells Chrisler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Ford brands. Total Motors sells Chevrolet and GMC brands,.
A joint news release says Ron Drenkow Motors will continue to operate under that name in Sheldon, with their current employees. Steve and Sheila Drenkow says ‘We are extremely excited that another family-owned dealership will be taking over the business and supporting the Sheldon Comunity”.
Scott Taylor, owner of Total Motors, says “We are excited to join the Sheldon community and continue the great legacy that the Drenkow family has created over the last 58 years.”
This will become the third location owned by Total Motors. They also operate at Vollmar Motors in Holstein.
The ownership change will take place in February.
YMCA DIRECTOR
A Le Mars resident is the new Chief Executive Director at the Le Mars YMCA.
Jacque Perez has lived in Le Mars for a number of years, but until now has worked in South Sioux City.
That’s part of why she took on the job in Le Mars.
Perez says what she likes about YMCA is that they serve people of all ages.
YMCA is flexible in their programming, serving the needs of their clients.
The Le Mars Y improved their facilities to serve a wider variety of people.
In the future just want to expand their clientele.
One of their immediate needs is help at the pool.
TEACHER PLEA
A former Wynot, Nebraska teacher had pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City to attempted enticement of a minor. 39-year-old Andrew John Heller of Sergeant Bluff was arrested last July in Sioux City by the FBI and Sioux City Police, who were conducting an undercover investigation to identify subjects engaged in human trafficking in Sioux City. Heller, a middle school teacher and high school baseball coach in Wynot, contacted an undercover phone number, responding to a website ad offering sexual services in exchange for money.
Heller was since resigned his teaching position. He will remain in custody pending sentencing and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
REYNOLDS – EDUCATION FUNDING
Governor Kim Reynolds says state funding for small public schools in rural areas will remain stable if the legislature approves her plan to set up state-funded accounts for parents who send their kids to private schools. Reynolds discussed details of her school choice bill during an interview with Radio Iowa. Reynolds estimates about 107 million dollars of state funds would be deposited in accounts for low income parents enrolling children in a private school this fall. She’s also recommending that legislators provide 190 million dollars more to public K-through-12 schools in the next academic year. The governor says she will change opponents’ minds about her plans, but Reynolds says if children aren’t thriving in a public school, their parents should be help to enroll them elsewhere. Thursday, Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the governor’s school choice bill. The legislation is now eligible for debate next week in the House and Senate.
WINTER ROADS
While the snow has ended, the cleanup continues. Six to nine inches of snow cover northwest Iowa, and clearing that much snow is a big task. The Iowa DOT this morning says Iowa 60 from Sheldon to Seney in Plymouth County, remains completely snow and ice covered. The rest of the area has partially covered roads. The situation is more difficult on rural paved roads and gravel roads. Schools in the area have late starts this morning because of the clogged roads.
SPORTS COMPLEX
A new sports complex in Sioux Center has announced its grand opening. The American State Bank Sports Complex at Open Space Park will officially open Friday, January 20 at 1 pm. The 8 million dollar project is an indoor turf facility, and is a joint venture between the city of Sioux Center and Dordt University. Construction of the sports complex was aided by a CAT grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Iowa Economic Development Director Debi Durham will be on hand to help celebrate the grand opening. Tours of the facility will follow a ribbon cutting today. The facility is located adjacent to the Sioux Center Athletic Field.
EMS APP
Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg says the State of Iowa will be testing a smart phone app that could improve emergency response times in rural Iowa.
Gregg says the system could be adapted to address the lack of ambulance services in rural Iowa.
In Jerusalem, the Hatzalah E-M-S app is used by 62-hundred trained volunteer medics who respond on specially equipped motorcycle ambulances.
The Hatzalah model is being used in some areas of the United States, but mostly in urban areas.
REYNOLDS – EDUCATION FUNDING
Governor Kim Reynolds says state funding for small public schools in rural areas will remain stable if the legislature approves her plan to set up state-funded accounts for parents who send their kids to private schools. Reynolds discussed details of her school choice bill during an interview with Radio Iowa. Reynolds estimates about 107 million dollars of state funds would be deposited in accounts for low income parents enrolling children in a private school this fall. She’s also recommending that legislators provide 190 million dollars more to public K-through-12 schools in the next academic year. The governor says she has illusions she’ll change opponents’ minds about her plans, but Reynolds says if children aren’t thriving in a public school, their parents should be help to enroll them elsewhere. Yesterday (Thursday), Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the governor’s school choice bill. The legislation is now eligible for debate next week in the House and Senate.
