Legislative Process

Attempt to legalize marijuana for medical use fails again (03/13/09)

Ethanol debate: Is your car ready for E-15? (03/12/09)
Currently, government rules allow non-flex-fuel vehicles to use only 10 percent ethanol in their gasoline. Politicians from Iowa are pushing for that to change. Earlier this week, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, spoke in support of allowing higher blends -- 15 percent...

Senator sees issues with law to put more parents on abuse list (03/12/09)
A bill that could put parents or guardians on the child abuse registry if they allow a child to view pornography is working its way through Iowa legislature. Both the Iowa House and Senate are working on versions of the bill. However, Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, is worried that if this became a law, it might be abused...

Legislators tackle citizens' questions (03/09/09)
From cuts in the judiciary budget to can redemption, Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra answered citizens' questions at a public forum Saturday. Of the about 10 citizens gathered, one woman, who said she worked in the Plymouth County Clerk of Courts office, wanted to know why other departments weren't facing the same cuts...

State funding uncertainties plague LCS budget process (03/06/09)
Even as the City of Le Mars council members and Plymouth County Supervisors certify their budgets, the Le Mars Community School officials, along with districts across the state of Iowa, are faced with the task of preparing a budget for April 15 certification when they don't know how much money they have to work with...

911 calls could alert family, friends (03/04/09)
Would you want to be notified if a loved one dialed 911 in an emergency? A new bill already passed unanimously by the Iowa Senate last week and now in the House could make that notification available. The bill proposes that Iowa residents could designate a friend or relative to be notified if they dial 911 in an emergency...

Eliminating electoral college could impact Le Mars (03/03/09)
Before he was president, Barack Obama shook Le Mars residents' hands. He answered their questions. He stopped at the fairgrounds and spoke in the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Not only that, locals had face time with other major players in the 2008 presidential race. Hillary Clinton. John McCain. Joe Biden...

Judicial system limits clerk of court hours (03/02/09)
The Plymouth County Clerk of Courts office will be closed several Fridays and have limited hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The closings come from Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Termus' order filed Friday. Termus ordered that all Iowa courts and court offices -- including clerk of courts offices -- be closed on the following Fridays: March 20, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22, June 5 and June 19. ...

New S.D. law keeps door open for Greater Hoyt (02/27/09)
A bill currently making its way through the South Dakota Legislature will assure that students from the Greater Hoyt and Greater Scott School Districts in South Dakota will be able to attend school across the state's border in Iowa at Akron-Westfield and West Sioux Community Schools respectively...

Legislator plans forum (02/24/09)
On Saturday, Feb. 28 Representative Chuck Soderberg will be attending the SIMPCO Legislative Forum. It will be held at 10 a.m. at the Siouxland Center for Active Generations located at 313 Cook Street in Sioux City. Soderberg will be discussing various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature...

Bill would close four Plymouth County schools (02/20/09)
An Iowa senator plans to introduce a bill that would force school districts with less than 750 students to consolidate. Senator Matt McCoy, a Des Moines Democrat, is pushing to introduce the bill, which would cut two-thirds of Iowa's school districts...

Legislators plan forums in area (02/17/09)
Representative Chuck Soderberg and Senator Randy Feenstra are planning another local town hall meeting. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the duo will be hosting legislative forums at 9 a.m. in the Brunsville Corner Cafe and 11 a.m. in the Hawarden City Hall. The legislators plan to discuss various issues involving the Iowa Legislature. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern...

Economic downturn means havoc for Iowa budget woes (02/09/09)
Plymouth County legislators Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra said the economic downturn is presenting some real challenges for the Iowa Legislature this year. The two spoke at a 9 a.m. Legislator's Forum Saturday at the Le Mars Public Library...

Iowa House Republicans ask for advice on what to cut (02/06/09)
Over the past year it's become apparent that no simple solution will right the nation's economy. With that in mind, some state legislators are starting a new website where citizens can suggest ways for Iowa's government to cut their budget. Republicans in the House of Representatives launched the website, iowahouserepublicans.com/contact/budget-savings-ideas, last week, and already members of the public posted more than 275 suggestions...

Honey I shrunk the ECO Center? Planners make cuts (01/23/09)
The plans for the environmental learning and meeting center at Hillview Park are showing signs of shrinking. At a special meeting this week, planners of the ECO (Educational Conservation Opportunities) Center worked to cut back on the project due to less money available than anticipated...

Greater Hoyt continues fight to keep district (01/22/09)
An open enrollment agreement between Iowa and South Dakota doesn't solve the Greater Hoyt and Akron-Westfield School districts' problems, the Greater Hoyt board president said this week. "A lot of people have been misled by this cross border agreement, thinking that it is going to be a good solution for us, when in fact it is an agreement that is doomed to fail," Greg Heeren said...

State's cut pulls more than $150,000 from LCS budget (01/14/09)
The Le Mars Community School District could see a potential cut of $157,483 in state aid with the 1.5 percent across-the-board reduction in general fund expenditures authorized by Gov. Chet Culver. That's the news LCS board members received from Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt at Monday's board meeting...

Huitink not ready to hang up his robe yet (01/09/09)
He doesn't change in phone booths or have a sidekick in spandex, but northwest Iowa judge Terry Huitink has created a legacy of justice. Huitink, of Ireton, retired from the Iowa Court of Appeals last month and was honored Thursday at a celebration in the Sioux County Courthouse...

Schools prepare for Iowa Core Curriculum (01/06/09)
Action by the 2008 Iowa Legislature will have all schools in the state of Iowa following the Iowa Core Curriculum at the high school level starting in the 2012 school year. The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, as well as 21st century learning skills (civic literacy, financial literacy, technology literacy, health literacy and employability skills), that all students will be taught before they graduate from high school in Iowa.. ...

2008 in review: Hellos and goodbyes (12/31/08)
Editor's note: This is the second of two stories recapping 2008's top stories in the Daily Sentinel. 5. Iowa begins Smokefree Air Act Indoor smoking, except in people's homes, became a rarity after the Smokefree Air Act went into effect in Iowa July 1. ...

Negotiators propose 1.19 percent raise for teachers (12/16/08)
Members of the Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education bargaining team presented their initial proposals for the 2009-10 master contract to the Le Mars Community Education Association bargaining team members at a 5 p.m. meeting Monday. The board's proposal calls for a 1.19 percent total package increase, or $122,059 spread among the teachers as set forth in the teacher salary schedule in the Master Contract. The proposal also includes no benefit changes...

Legislators predict budget crunching, right-to-work laws to top session (12/12/08)

Community Foundation awards more than $106,000 in grants (12/12/08)
More than $106,000 in Community Foundation grant money was awarded to 26 organizations and groups in Plymouth County at a breakfast meeting Thursday, Dec. 11. The grants were presented by members of the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County. The presentation was postponed from Dec. 9 due to weather and road conditions...

LCS teachers group proposes salary, insurance increases (12/02/08)
Le Mars Community Education Association members are proposing increases in base pay and insurance for the 2009-10 school year. Members of the bargaining team for the LCED met with Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education members Monday to present their initial proposal...

LCS board crunches numbers for 2009-10 (12/01/08)
It was numbers and more numbers as Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education pondered whether to seek an Instructional Support Levy (ISL) or implement a Cash Reserve Levy as a funding source for the 2009-10 budget year. At the Nov. 24 board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt gave the board information on preliminary fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget information. He also outlined various options for the board to consider as they decide whether to pursue the ISL for the next budget year...

SIMPCO and WITCC to host Siouxland Regional Legislative Forum (11/28/08)
The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) and Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) will host the Siouxland Regional Legislative Forum Friday, Dec. 12, at WITCC, 4647 Stone Avenue (Advanced Sciences Building, Room L416-417), in Sioux City...

Consumer tips for holiday shoppers (11/26/08)
The holiday shopping season is by far the busiest time of year for most shoppers and retail stores -- and the season also generates more than its share of consumer problems. Why? Most likely, it's because of the sheer volume of purchases, because many consumers are in a rush, and because people will make more gift returns and exchanges than during other seasons. It's a very important time to be a smart shopper...

Johnson begins term on Board of Regents (11/25/08)
An Iowa State University student and Le Mars Community High School graduate is the newest member of the Iowa Board of Regents. Greta Johnson, a junior political science major and daughter of Carl and Joann Johnson of Le Mars, was appointed to the position by Iowa Governor Chet Culver in October. She began her term immediately...

LCS board hears about potential cuts (11/25/08)
Possible budget cuts for Le Mars Community schools were on the table Monday at the Board of Education meeting. This comes as the board members continue to gather pieces of the puzzle that will help them in preparing the 2009-10 school year budget. At their Nov. ...

School board predicts money crunch, weighs ISL option (11/20/08)
A "mixed bag" is how one board member described the input on the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) received from the Le Mars Community School's District Learning and Instructional Impact Team, (DLIIT) at the board's meeting Monday, Nov 10. The Instructional Support Levy provides a funding source for general fund expenditures through property tax, income surtax and a small amount of state aid...

Feenstra claims seat in Democrat-dominated Iowa Senate (11/05/08)
Republican Randy Feenstra who ran unopposed as Iowa Senator, District 2, hopes to bring his everyday work experiences into government. He joins a Democrat-heavy Senate -- the party maintained control following Tuesday's election. Feenstra said there are main areas he hopes to change in the state government during the next four years...

Soderberg topples challenger Templeton for state representative (11/05/08)
In the two state races affecting Plymouth County, Iowa voters sent the incumbents back to office. Iowa Representative Chuck Soderberg, of Le Mars, earned a landslide win for the Dist. 3 seat over challenger T.J. Templeton (D.), of Le Mars by more than 7,100 votes, a 52 percent margin...

Vote today (11/04/08)
All across the United States, eligible voters will cast their ballot today in the 56th consecutive presidential election. Republican John McCain, a U.S. Senator from Arizona, faces off with Democrat Barack Obama, a U.S. Senator from Illinois as the major party candidates...

Domestic Violence Awareness can protect victims (10/02/08)
This year in Iowa seven women, two men, four children and one bystander were murdered in Domestic Violence incidents. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to celebrate survivors and to honor those who have died at the hands of their abusers...

Kerrey trumpets Obama's ability to bring change in Le Mars stop (09/30/08)
U.S. Senator and former Nebraska governor Bob Kerrey stopped by Le Mars Monday during an Iowa stump tour for presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. Kerrey said he admired both Obama and Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate for president...

Proposed evidence building back on the table (09/24/08)
Storage space is tight for the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo asked the Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday whether he should continue to pursue options to construct a new evidence storage building. "Is this something I should still be looking to budget?" Van Otterloo asked. "I'm just looking for some direction."...

Hinton School Board steps closer to using eminent domain (09/22/08)
Last week Hinton School Board members moved forward to possibly try to obtain agricultural land through eminent domain by scheduling a public hearing in November. "It's a necessary step before we would be able to actually pursue the possible use of eminent domain," said Robert Held, Hinton School Board president...

LCS board OKs allocation of state money for teachers (09/11/08)
An agreement between the Le Mars Community School District and the Le Mars Education Association provides for the distribution to teachers of more than $800,000 in additional state money for the 2008-09 school year. The Educator Quality Basic money is allocated by the Iowa Legislature in an effort to increase the average teacher salaries in Iowa and raise Iowa's ranking in average teacher salary in the United States...

Do your duty - vote (09/08/08)
It's the end of a era. With the passage of a new law by the Iowa Legislature, terms of school board members will grow to four years. Each school district in the state has submitted plans with the Iowa Secretary of State as to how they will phase in these new terms...

Hubler issues challenge to King in congress race (09/05/08)
"If you like what you've had for the last six years, vote for Steve King. But if you want change, vote for Ron Hubler." This is the challenge Hubler, democratic candidate for the 5th U.S. Congressional District of Iowa, announced during a short stop in Le Mars Wednesday...

School board candidates share views heading into election (09/02/08)
The Le Mars Community School District has two open seats on the board of education. The election to fill the District 3 and 5 seats will be Sept. 9. Joe Cain and incumbent Dan Smith are running for the District 5 spot, and Mark Hemmingson is running a write-in campaign for the District 3 spot, which no one filed papers to fill. To get to know the candidates more, the Daily Sentinel asked each one eight questions, which are printed below with their answers.

School board members answer questions about ISL (08/26/08)
On Sept. 9, voters in the Le Mars Community School District will decide whether to approve a tax levy that would raise money for LCS teacher salaries, books, programs and transportation fuel. That Instructional Support Levy (ISL) has proved the source of much debate. Two LCS School Board members -- Patrick Murphy and Mark Stelzer -- sat down with the Daily Sentinel editorial staff to talk through some of the questions about the levy...

Sign-up deadline nears for new disaster program (08/07/08)
Sign-up for the SURE, the new USDA disaster program, is underway, and the deadline to participate in this year's program is Sept. 15. SURE is a permanent disaster program that will be specific to each farmer. Unlike previous USDA disaster programs, this one does not require an Act of Congress for it take place...

City accepts fee increase for emergency medical services (08/06/08)
Some ambulance fees are going up but most users won't feel the impact. Le Mars City Council members Tuesday, on recommendation from Bill Rosacker, Le Mars ambulance director, authorized city acceptance of a Wellmark-introduced change in payment for emergency medical services (EMS)...

Senator Harkin plans Le Mars visit (08/04/08)
Senator Tom Harkin will be hosting a Le Mars meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 6 during a cross-Iowa tour. The Democrat plans to visit with local residents about his work in Washington to help Iowa's working families. The public is invited to attend the cafe stop, which will be held at 10 a.m. at Lally's Eastside Restaurant...

Sales tax holiday set for Aug. 1-2 (07/29/08)
Clothes and shoe shoppers on the first two days in August will get a tax break in Iowa. The ninth annual Iowa sales tax holiday on clothing and footwear is set for this Friday and Saturday. Qualified clothing and footwear priced less than $100 will be exempt from sales and local option taxes those two days...

LCS board puts ISL issue to voters (07/28/08)
Le Mars Community School District residents will cast their vote on Sept. 9 on whether the district will participate in the Instructional Support Levy. The school board met at noon Friday to hold a public hearing on the resolution to participate. After hearing from two members of the public, the board unanimously passed the resolution and set the date for the vote...

Deadline to enter school board election nears (07/23/08)
Ten school board positions are up for election this fall in Plymouth County, and the deadline to file papers is only a week away. Candidates wishing to run for seats must turn in nomination papers with a designated number of signatures by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31 to their schools' board secretary...

LCS board sets July 25 hearing on ISL resolution (07/15/08)
The Le Mars Community School Board has set a public hearing on their intent to participate in the Instructional Support Program, a tax levy which would raise money for salaries, supplies and program costs for the school. The hearing will be noon on Friday, July 25, at the Education Service Center located at 940 Lincoln St. S.W...

Smoking in most public places will be extinguished Tuesday (06/30/08)
No Smoking signs started going up last week in preparation for the Iowa Smokefree Air Act which goes into effect Tuesday. Lally's East Side Restaurant, in Le Mars, sported homemade signs Friday telling customers the establishment, which previously allowed smoking, will be smoke free July 1...

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