Government Bodies

Council approves end of year fund transfers (06/30/09)
The Le Mars City Council last Tuesday cleaned up its finances in preparation for the end of the fiscal year. That meant transferring $2 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money for the current year and $2 million for last year to make two years of bond payments...

Officials ready for emergency after training (06/29/09)
How would local health officials respond to a statewide outbreak of meat contamination? A training exercise covering that hypothetic scenario indicated Floyd Valley Hospital along with Plymouth County community health and emergency management would do well...

July 4th parade keeps patriotic theme alive (06/29/09)
For the fourth year in a row, Le Mars and Plymouth County will have a patriotic Fourth of July parade and ceremony, arranged by a group of citizens from the community. "Our parade might be short on distance, but it's long on the patriotic spirit!" said Wayne Thieman, who is working with Don Law, and others on plans for Saturday's event...

A mom with a message: Porterfield visits Washington D.C. (06/16/09)
"I'm not a lobbyist," Barbara Porterfield said. "I'm a mom." Even so, the rural Plymouth County woman just returned from Washington D.C. where she spoke to legislative officials about her family's plight to get affordable health care. Porterfield, a medical transcriptionist, had health coverage through her company until its ownership changed a few years ago...

Ethics board clears school in election concern (06/12/09)
Le Mars Community School District didn't cross a legal boundary by sending out a letter sharing the pros and cons of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) last year. That's the verdict of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. The board recently released its decision regarding a complaint that the school district had illegally used taxpayer dollars for political purposes during the ISL election...

County Veteran Affairs office to offer more hours (06/12/09)
Changes are ahead for the county Veteran Affairs office. Jim Henrich, Plymouth County supervisor chairman, read a letter describing those new requirements to the board during its Tuesday meeting. Legislation passed this year requires Veteran Affairs offices to be open a certain number of days depending on the county's population...

Plymouth Energy hearing for grain dealer license postponed (06/11/09)
The Merrill ethanol plant has another 2 1/2 months to make their financial system comply with state standards. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) temporarily revoked Plymouth Energy's license to purchase grain as a dealer in early May because of "deficiencies" in the company's financial system and accounting with grain transactions, according to Rich Wahl, of the IDALS...

Sheriff's office catches copper burglar (06/11/09)
After a string of break-ins around northwest Iowa, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office caught one suspect in the act of breaking in to steal copper wire. The sheriff's deputies stopped a burglary in progress Monday at the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) site south of Hinton on Highway 75...

LCS board hears request to sell Camp Quest property (06/11/09)
A Le Mars resident is asking the Le Mars Community School Board to consider selling property it owns east of Le Mars. Clark Goodchild asked the board to consider selling the property known as Camp Quest for several reasons. As he has passed by the property in the last few years, Goodchild said he sees it "as one big liability," referring to the terrain and condition of the facilities...

New law pushes for gender balance on boards (06/10/09)
Gender will matter when it comes to appointing board members in the future. A law signed by Gov. Chet Culver last month says that all boards, commissions, committees and councils with appointed members across Iowa will need to have a gender balance among members on and after January 2012...

Motor Inn to close door on Chrysler dealership (06/10/09)
The word came down late Tuesday afternoon from federal bankruptcy court -- Chrysler is clear to cut ties with 789 franchise dealerships, including Motor Inn of Le Mars. The judge's order stated that franchises can no longer act as authorized Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers, effective immediately, according to a story from the Associated Press...

Plymouth County 4-H establishes foundation (06/08/09)
The Plymouth County Extension Council has announced a new Plymouth County 4-H Foundation is being established. The nine-member Extension Council along with the Plymouth County 4-H & Youth Committee is organizing the 4-H Foundation that will offer long-time 4-H supporters and friends of 4-H a way to give back to an organization that has influenced them...

Special law enforcement project set for weekend (06/05/09)
Drive safe this summer. Buckle up and obey traffic laws. That's the message of a special law enforcement project that involves agencies from the three-state area, including the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. Stepped up traffic enforcement begins tonight, according to Sergeant David Eral of the Iowa State Patrol...

Dean Foods ramping up for more volume (06/04/09)
A local dairy plant is adding employees to handle increased production volume. Plant manager Joe Leedom said during a Le Mars City Council meeting he anticipates 15-25 new employees will be hired. "Dean Foods has determined to transfer volume to our plant," Leedom said later. "It's a good-sized addition."...

Republicans redrawn: New Iowa chairman rallies for a sharper, hipper party (06/04/09)
When Matt Strawn spoke about going on the offensive Wednesday in Le Mars, the 35-year-old wasn't talking about the arena league football team he co-owns. He was talking about the Republican party. Strawn, elected chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa in January, sat around a Le Mars Truck Stop table with half a dozen local supporters and discussed how the GOP should emerge from the rubble of its 2008 campaign efforts...

New detour route possible for future Highway 3 work (06/03/09)
A possible solution may be in the works for Le Mars residents concerned about a detour route, once work begins on the Highway 3 widening project in northeast Le Mars. Citizens like Justin Navrkal, of 820 2nd St. S.E., who attended Tuesday's Le Mars City Council, said an influx of heavy trucks and additional traffic would be a danger to children in the neighborhoods along the detour route...

Nevada Senator speaks in Le Mars, denies presidential aspirations (06/02/09)
Republican U.S. Sen. John Ensign, of Nevada, spoke to a small crowd at the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor Monday about the state of the Republican Party, health care, education, but denied intentions to run for president. "When you come to Iowa, there's a lot of speculation," Ensign said, regarding the supposition this visit is an early campaign stop for 2012...

Don't know what to read this summer? Here are some ideas (05/29/09)
A cool glass of iced tea. A hammock in the shade. All that's missing from this picture is the perfect summer read. But do you walk into the library and feel paralyzed with choices? Never fear, the Daily Sentinel is here. We talked with people around town and asked if they had any recommendations for a good book to read this summer...

Court reporters vs. digital recorders: Which will prevail in Iowa courts? (05/28/09)
The court reporter -- almost a fixture in Iowa's courtrooms -- may be replaced by digital recording systems. Facing about $15 million in cuts for the current and next year's budget, officials of Iowa's judicial system are looking at what they can cut...

Community rallies together to build veterans memorial (05/27/09)
In a community of 132 people, a project like the newly-dedicated Oyens Veteran's Memorial is -- by necessity -- grassroots. Brainstormed around a Memorial Day lunch table, designed by locals on their own time, built on the sweat of volunteers and paid for by local donations, the new memorial now stands in the Oyens cemetery...

Memorial Day services honor service men, women (05/22/09)
Plymouth County American Legion and V.F.W. posts will join with others across the United States in Memorial Day services Monday, May 25, to honor the U.S. men and women who served their country in military service with a special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country...

City prepares for Highway 3 detour, hospital will use alternate entrance (05/21/09)
With plans to carry out the Highway 3 widening project in late summer and fall, the community is preparing for the detour of one of Le Mars' major roads. According to plans, if the project is a go, traffic coming into Le Mars will be detoured south on 14th Avenue Northeast past the county law enforcement center...

New road by senior center, parking by planned church get council OK (05/21/09)
Le Mars City Council members approved a roughly $225,000 concept plan that will add parking, sewer lines and a public roadway near Le Mars Senior Center, Floyd Valley Apartments, and the planned new St. Joseph Church. The improvements, City Administrator Scott Langel explained, would involve expanding Yoerger Drive, which runs east from Sixth Avenue Northeast between Floyd Valley Apartments and the existing Gehlen Catholic School parking lot...

Council agrees to suggested Crescent Ridge price guidelines (05/20/09)
The Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation (LBIC) got the go-ahead Tuesday from Le Mars City Council members to market the approximately 60-acre Crescent Ridge property south of Le Mars with a price now set. The land is formerly known as the Winter farm and feedlot...

Council continues backing regional Extension center (05/20/09)
Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff said Tuesday the city is continuing its efforts for location of a regional Iowa State University Extension Center in Le Mars. City representatives have continued to meet with members of the Plymouth County Extension Council on the possibility the center, aware that Sioux City may be moving in a similar direction to have the center housed there...

Area quilters answer call to Red, White and Blue Challenge (05/20/09)
Local quilters will provide 30 injured military service men and women "hugs" as part of the Red, White and Blue Challenge's American Hero Quilts project. Becky Wiersma, of Le Mars, learned of the project -- providing quilts for injured soldiers at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Hospital in Washington state and other military hospitals -- through quilting friends on the Internet...

Feenstra joins state commission to streamline government (05/19/09)
Sen. Randy Feenstra spent seven years as Hull city administrator. That background will be beneficial in his recent appointment to the Local Government Innovation Commission, he said. "This new commission looks at communities and tries to figure how to create better relationships with the state, county and local governments," Feenstra said. "It's streamlining government."...

Locals back Extension to seek regional office for Le Mars (05/18/09)
Support from community leaders has encouraged the Plymouth County Extension Council to apply for the county to be the site of Regional Extension Education Director's office as part of Iowa State University Extension's reorganization plan. In a restructuring plan announced April 30, Iowa State University Extension will eliminate the 97 county education directors and replace them with 20 Regional Education Education Directors (REED) to serve counties which are grouped into regions...

A man, a stone, a story (05/18/09)
Dale Kunkel will never be able to tell his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the stories of what he saw and how he served in World War II. But today a new stone marks his grave. It tells the story he cannot. On Friday, along with 50 family members and friends, Dale's sons, Ronald and Kenneth, placed a new grave marker on his grave in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars...

It's official: You must mow your lawn (05/15/09)
New city code updates, which range from ruling how big a political sign on your yard can be to how high you can let your lawn grow, will be open to public comment next Tuesday. The Le Mars city code, according to Code Enforcement Officer Jason Vacura, is updated every several years. The updates include changes made at the city level in the past few years, plus changes from Iowa Legislature that affect city rules...

Supervisors look at new construction near courthouse (05/14/09)
A new chapter in the county's quest to solve the space needs issue at the courthouse has begun. The Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday decided to pursue hiring an engineer to put together specifications for a proposed building to potentially be constructed at the site of the old jail in the southeast corner of the courthouse property...

City gets the slip on stimulus dollars (05/13/09)
A rail extension in Le Mars' industrial park won't be paid for with federal stimulus dollars. Tuesday, an announcement from Governor Chet Culver's office listed the recipients of a total of $5 million in rail transportation projects in Iowa. Le Mars' rail spur project didn't make the list...

Quilters respond to Red, White and Blue Challenge (05/13/09)
Area quilters will come together Saturday at the Le Mars Arts Center to show their "hugs" for injured soldiers in the form of patriotic colored quilt tops and blocks. It's the "Red, White and Blue Challenge" which creates quilts to be gifted as "hugs" to injured soldiers at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Hospital in Washington state and other military hospitals...

Court costs will increase if Culver signs bill (05/12/09)
Whether facing a traffic violation or filing for divorce, the costs you pay for the court may increase this month. A bill passed by Iowa legislators is only awaiting Governor Chet Culver's signature -- he has until May 26 to sign -- before the increases take effect...

Out with unhealthy and in with healthy foods in Iowa schools (05/08/09)
Iowa schools have another year to take junk food out of the hands of students. Plymouth County schools are already ahead of that game or close. The Iowa Board of Education in April adopted amended rules in the Healthy Kids Act, a state law passed in 2008 to set nutritional standards for food or beverages sold or provided to students on school grounds during the school day...

Council approves rail spur project, waits on stimulus dollars (05/07/09)
After nearly an hour of discussion, Le Mars City Council members decided Tuesday to accept a $773,582 bid for the rail spur track extension in the city's industrial park -- with a condition. They're waiting to hear on whether federal stimulus money will come through...

Work on Highway 3 and Business 75 move forward (05/07/09)
Moving ahead on roadwork projects this week, the Le Mars City Council members set public hearings on two of them: the widening of Highway 3 East near the Floyd Valley Hospital and curb, gutter and sewer improvement of Business Highway 75. The hearings have been set for noon June 2...

Like father like daughter (05/07/09)
This week, Staff Sgt. Steve Dolph is heading to training for his third tour of duty in Iraq. His daughter, Morgan, a senior at Le Mars Community School, doesn't want to say goodbye. She wants to go with him. The only thing that's standing in her way: basic training...

ISU Extension downsizing, city officials support regional center in Le Mars (05/06/09)
Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff, city council members and city staff pledged their full support Tuesday to Plymouth County Extension representatives for a possible regional Iowa State University Extension office. The action came in the wake of comments by Carol Schneider, Plymouth County Extension director, during the city council meeting...

County residents remain safe, officials ready for H1N1 Flu (05/04/09)
No suspected cases of Swine Flu have presented in Plymouth County, but the first case has been confirmed in eastern Iowa. Plymouth County health officials are prepared if the H1N1 influenza, which was previously called Swine flu, is found here. Deb Steffen, county public health nurse, has been in constant contact with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to stay abreast of what's happening throughout the state...

Fabrication: Artist bends the rules of quilting (05/01/09)
You've never seen quilting like this before. Bright oranges, deep blues, burnt reds. Dreamlike images and stitching that defies straight lines. Jo Alberda's artwork, on display at the Le Mars Arts Center, combines simple designs with intricate and irregular stitched lines that run through and around the image like hundreds of rivers...

New rule would keep sex offenders away from schools, playgrounds (04/30/09)
The 2,000 foot rule wasn't enough. That's according to Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo, who was part of the force pushing for a new sex offender law in Iowa. Now a proposed law would include more restrictions than the current one, which only bans sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, daycare, playground or other place children might gather...

Recreation trail underpass ready for work (04/29/09)
The 9-mile recreation trail around Le Mars is one step closer to completion following a special city council meeting Tuesday. The Le Mars City Council approved an agreement with the Union Pacific railroad for a pedestrian underpass below the railway north of Le Mars...

Courthouse to lose one entrance Friday (04/29/09)
Security. That's the reason, starting Friday, why the lower level east door into the Plymouth County Courthouse will no longer be an entrance. The Plymouth County Supervisors approved the change earlier this month as part of a courthouse security plan recommended by Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo...

Iowa law now effective for same-sex couples to marry (04/27/09)
The Plymouth County recorder and others across the state can today begin accepting applications for gay and lesbian people wanting to marry. The official order allowing same-sex couples to marry was handed down by the Iowa Judicial Branch today (Monday), reflecting a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court...

State offers property tax credit, rent reimbursement for some (04/27/09)
Some Iowa residents may be eligible for state credit on property tax or rent reimbursement. To be eligible, Iowa residents who own their homes must be 65 years or older by December 31, 2008 (or totally disabled and 18 years of age or older by December 31, 2008), and have a total household income under $20,031 for the year of 2008...

Arbitrator will decide fate of LCS teacher contract negotiations (04/24/09)

Opinions divided on biodiesel mandate (04/24/09)
A proposed law that would require all diesel sold in Iowa to contain 5 percent biodiesel has made it partway through Legislature but may not pass this year. Biodiesel is diesel fuel made from animal fats, corn oil and soybean oil. The Iowa Senate passed the measure in a 31-19 vote last week...

City must backpay for signs (04/23/09)
"We're going to have to pay or remove the signs." That was the comment Councilman Ken Nelson offered when Le Mars City Council members agreed this week to reimburse the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Business Highway 75 signs posted just off the Highway 75 bypass...

Seven LCS seniors recognized at Foundation Honors Banquet (04/22/09)
Seven Le Mars Community High School seniors, the top 5 percent of the graduating class of 2009, were recognized for academic excellence at the 14th Annual Foundation Honors Banquet April 17. Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt made the presentation of the students, who he said are not only outstanding students, but also involved in so many activities that make Le Mars Community, in his opinion, one of the the top high schools in the area...

Related subjects

Mailing list

Enter your email address to join our daily headline mailing list: