Social Issues

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...

Memorial will honor Lauters' lifetime love of museum (10/02/08)
Laura Lauters' passion for the Plymouth County Historical Museum lives on. Lauters, 101, died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 30 at her grandson's home in Fremont, Neb. She will be remembered at an 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday at the the museum. "She used to be a cheerleader," said Judy Bowman, museum administrator. "That's what she was all the time for the museum."...

Gehlen parade set for Friday (10/01/08)
Gehlen Jay fans will take to the streets Friday for the 2008 Homecoming parade to rally their team to "Stuff the Eagles." The parade follows coronation, which will be held at noon in the Gehlen Catholic School gym. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. with participants lining up at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The parade will make its way to Central Avenue and follow that street south to Foster Park...

Le Mars Area Dialysis focus is on fundraising, renovation (10/01/08)
Le Mars Area Dialysis Services is stepping up its fundraising efforts. Currently the not-for-profit group has two main focuses -- one is to continue raising money, and the other is to plan renovation of its newly acquired building in downtown Le Mars...

'Celebrate Maturity' honors the over 90 crowd (09/30/08)
Plymouth County Senior Helpmate program's Celebrate Maturity event honored 10 county residents on reaching the age of 90 or older. The program celebrated those residents' longevity Saturday, Sept. 27 with a dinner and brief program at First Baptist Church in Le Mars...

Local marching bands shine at StarFest (09/30/08)
In a field of 16 schools, the two high school marching bands from Le Mars represented the community well Saturday at the StarFest marching competition in Sioux City. Gehlen Catholic Schools' Marching Jays placed first in Class 1A, at the competition Sept. 27 in the Olsen Stadium...

Open house set for LCS additions, renovation (09/30/08)
An open house at the Le Mars Community Middle and High Schools will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. The open house provides the public an opportunity to tour the new middle school gymnasium, the three new technology enhanced classrooms at the high school, and the renovations that were completed in the high school following the move of the superintendent's office...

Gehlen Catholic celebrates Homecoming 2008 (09/29/08)
Gehlen Catholic Schools' 2008 Homecoming 2008 theme is "Stuff the Eagles." A full week of activities is planned culminating in a coronation ceremony and the football game Friday when the Gehlen Jays host the Marcus-Meriden Cleghorn Eagles. The week began with the Homecoming Liturgy service at 8:45 a.m. today (Monday), with special guests The Rev. Gene Sitzmann and the Rev. Rick Sitzmann, priests who graduated in 1953, the last class at St. Joseph School...

Saggau shares stories of inspiration to motivate students (09/26/08)
"Make good choices" was the message Bernie Saggau shared with Le Mars students in grades four through 12 Thursday. "The freedom of choice is to be what you want to be," Saggau said. "The more education you have, the more choices you have." Saggau, past executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSSA), was invited by Le Mars Community Schools (LCS) to talk about his life experiences to inspire LCS and Gehlen Catholic School students...

Young to be comissioned for ministry in ELCA (09/26/08)
When Marcia Young graduated from high school, she wanted to attend seminary to become a pastor. There was only one roadblock: the Lutheran church was not yet ordaining women as pastors at that time. Instead, she went to college, majoring in business and theology, married and became a mother, and always remained active in her church...

Group wants to address dangerous pedestrian spots (09/26/08)
Colleen Bortscheller spends a lot of time biking. She likes cycling to work or heading to the recreation trail for a ride. But one place she doesn't like to bike is 12th Street Southwest in Le Mars. "I think it's very hazardous, not only for students walking or biking to school, but also adults," Bortscheller said...

Gehlen Catholic opens homecoming week with special mass (09/26/08)
Students, staff, parents and alumni at Gehlen Catholic Schools will start their 2008 homecoming activities with a special Homecoming Mass at 8:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Presiding at the mass will be two priests, both 1953 graduates of the last class from St. Joseph School, Father Gene Sitzmann and and Rick Sitzmann...

Iowa native earned students' trust teaching on reservation (09/25/08)
Maria Valen remembers her former Crow and Cheyenne students fondly, especially this week -- Native American Heritage Week. Valen, a new high school English teacher at Gehlen Catholic School, spent two years prior to coming to Le Mars educating American Indian students in Montana...

School sends message: no bullies allowed (09/24/08)
What may start out as joking or teasing could turn into bullying. Bullying may be physical, verbal or emotional in nature and is seen as an aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength and is typically repeated over time, according to information from the program, "Stop Bullying Now."...

LCS Homecoming parade set for Friday (09/24/08)
Le Mars Community Schools will be parading their school spirit down Central Avenue Friday. The LCS 2008 Homecoming Parade kicks off at 2:15 p.m.. from Eighth Street Southwest heading north on Central Avenue through the downtown area. LCS and Gehlen Catholic School bands will be marching Friday...

School board waits on decision about future levy (09/23/08)
The Le Mars Community School board won't decide whether or not to make another try at starting the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) until November. Monday night's board of education meeting was the first opportunity for board members to discuss together the outcome of the Sept. 9 ISL vote...

Students use five senses on area farm tour (09/23/08)
They came by the busload. Students from area schools experienced fun on the farm last week during the annual Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Tour. Children from Le Mars Community, Gehlen Catholic, Remsen-Union and Remsen St. Mary's had a chance to visit four farms to learn about agriculture in Plymouth County. The students were from the third or fourth grades, depending on which school they attend. They were divided into four groups that traveled from one farm to the next...

Orange City woman to step into library director's shoes (09/23/08)
Sue Kroesche enjoys books and library technology. She will put those interests to use along with her experience and education as new director of Le Mars Public Library, effective Oct. 6 pending final approval by the library board of trustees at the end of this month...

Negotiations begin on new Wells' Dairy labor contract (09/22/08)
Negotiations are underway on a contract that impacts about 1,400 hourly manufacturing employees at Wells' Dairy in Le Mars. "A corporate team is sitting down and meeting with an employee team," said Dave Smetter, spokesman for the ice cream and novelty company...

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...

Le Mars native to speak on behalf of National Education Association (09/19/08)
A Le Mars native who is now president of the National Education Association will be speaking in West Des Moines at the end of this month. Dennis Van Roekel, who was elected to the position in July, will be talking at an IowaPolitics.com forum about the November election and answering questions educational issues...

Reflecting on their sacrifice (09/19/08)
A single stone soldier stands at salute. Five black granite slabs, etched with veterans' names, mirror his reflection against the blue sky. After years of planning and work, the Remsen Veteran's Memorial was put up Tuesday in the cemetery on the west edge of Remsen. It will be dedicated in a 1 p.m. Sunday ceremony...

Group seeks people to 'Think outside the car' (09/19/08)
More than half the students at Le Mars schools drive or ride in a car to school every day, according to a recent survey. But a group of locals are looking into other options, and they want your help. Locals are invited to a Safe Routes to School meeting 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Le Mars Convention Center to talk about the possibility of starting a Safe Routes to School program in Le Mars...

The drinking age debate: locals speak (09/12/08)
While a national group is urging university and college leaders to sign onto an initiative calling for a lower drinking age -- 18 years old -- locals aren't gung-ho about the idea. A project known as the Amethyst Initiative, launched this summer, is a group of more than 125 university and college presidents and chancellors urging elected leaders to support debate on the 21-year-old drinking age and reconsider laws related to that rule...

Retirement closes 50 years of education service for Franke (09/12/08)
After more than 50 years of dedicating her life to the education of children, first as a kindergarten teacher and then as a school board member, Marjorie Franke is retiring from her work in the Le Mars Community School District. After receiving a gavel and retirement plaque Monday evening at the Le Mars Community School Board of Education meeting, Franke gaveled her last board meeting to adjournment...

Housing unit numbers rise for Plymouth County (09/12/08)
The number of housing units in Plymouth County increased from 2006 to 2007, according to newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The estimated number of homes grew by about 59 to 10,510 in 2007. In an earlier U.S. Census report on estimated population numbers for communities in Plymouth County, most cities showed a drop in population except for Kingsley and Hinton, which both showed increases...

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...

Voters turn down ISL for Le Mars schools (09/10/08)
Le Mars Community School District voters said "no" to starting an Instructional Support Levy by 49 votes in Tuesday's election. District residents cast 1,880 "yes" votes (49 percent) for the adoption of the funding source for the district's general fund budget, with 1,929 "no" votes (51 percent) cast. The decision needed a simple majority to pass...

Community Foundation accepting grant applications (09/09/08)
Applications for grant funding from The Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County are due Oct. 1, 2008. The foundation is calling for grant applications from all communities in Plymouth County. Areas of emphasis include: Children, Youth & Families, Community Betterment, Health & Human Services, Education, Environment, and Arts & Culture...

Polls open Tuesday for school vote (09/08/08)
Le Mars Community School District voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose two people to fill open school board seats and to decide whether the school should start an Instructional Support Levy (ISL) to bring in more money to pay for teacher salaries, programs and textbooks...

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...

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 election absentee ballots still available (09/02/08)
School board elections for Plymouth County school districts will be Tuesday, Sept. 9. In the Le Mars Community School District, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. where voters will cast their ballots for two director seats, and give a "yes" or "no" vote on the Instructional Support Levy request...

Questions answered on school levy issue (08/29/08)
Two public information meetings brought approximately 75 Le Mars Community School District residents out to learn about the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) Wednesday and Thursday evenings. A vote on whether to implement the levy will be held on Sept. 9, the same day as school board elections...

Offices closed for Labor Day (08/29/08)
Americans will celebrate the country's 126th annual Labor Day, the three day-weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer. There will be several closings in Le Mars for the day. The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, after the Central Labor Union came up with the idea and planned a demonstration and picnic for that day...

State's site visit team gives LCS favorable review (08/28/08)
A report from the State Department of Education on their April visit to Le Mars Community Schools pointed out a number of strengths for the district, according to Dr. Carl Turner, assistant superintendent. Turner shared the report at the school board meeting Monday...

ISL information meetings time for public questions (08/27/08)
Community informational meetings have been set concerning the upcoming Instructional Support Levy (ISL) election for Le Mars Community Schools. The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 27 and 28, in the district's Education Service Center at 940 Lincoln St. S.W...

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...

Fallen soldier inspires Kinglsey woman's award-winning poem (08/25/08)
"Parents without a child, Sisters without a brother, Friends without friends, A country without a soldier." Those words from a poem entitled "Brave Warrior," written by Jayne R. Vondrak, of Kingsley, won second place in the National/World Events category in the 2008 Iowa Poetry Association Contest...

Initial estimate of student attendance up at LCS (08/25/08)
After the first day of classes at Le Mars Community Schools, the initial student count is up slightly, although the numbers are far from final. Based on a "seat count" Friday of 2,173 students at LCS, Superintendent Todd Wendt said early estimates suggest the enrollment may have increased by roughly 16 students this year...

'Pride Night' promotes school activities Monday (08/22/08)
"Pride Night" will be shining with school colors Monday as students, parents, and fans from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic Schools celebrate their schools and extra-curricular activities students participate in. "Pride Night will kick off the new school year and promote school unity. Pride Night is a great way for Le Mars area residents to show their support for Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community students," KLEM Radio operations director Dave Ruden said. There is no admission charge...

Leaving behind her comfort zone (08/21/08)
When Jaclyn Ver Mulm packed her bags for China this summer, she had two things on her mind: visiting her sister and catching some of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But more was in store for the young woman from Le Mars during her three-month stay in the country...

Hemmingson starts write-in campaign for school board (08/21/08)
A no-man race for a seat on the Le Mars school board became a one-man race Wednesday. Mark Hemmingson, of Le Mars, announced his plan to run as a write-in candidate for the District 3 seat on the Le Mars Community School Board. Hemmingson stepped up after no one filed papers by the July 31 deadline...

Roberta Dirks (08/20/08)
Roberta Dirks, 91, of Akron, died Tuesday, Aug.19, 2008, at the Akron Care Center in Akron. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron. The Rev. Jean Morse will officiate. Private family interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Akron prior to the services. ...

Hinton School Board looks into legal options to obtain land (08/19/08)
Hinton Community School Board members discussed Monday the possibility of using eminent domain to obtain land on which to construct a new elementary school and gymnasium. The school board decided to find out more about steps necessary to obtain 8 acres adjacent to the current school from property owners, Kevin and Annette Held, through eminent domain...

School election absentee ballots available (08/18/08)

When mommy is arrested: Police plan for children on the scene (08/18/08)
Patrol cars pull up to a house, looking for an adult suspect. They enter the house to make an arrest. There, on the couch, an eight year old is reading a book. Suddenly, the plan changes. "Kids are so impressionable," said Le Mars Police Chief Stu Dekkenga. "It's a big deal, removing a parent. You don't want to traumatize the child."...

Remsen students' class schedules start early again (08/14/08)
Remsen-Union and Remsen St. Mary's students grabbed book bags, donned school clothes and headed back to class Wednesday. For the second year in a row, the schools started about a week earlier than other schools. Remsen-Union Superintendent Ken Howard said 78 percent of community members surveyed in January, half-way through the 2007-08 school year, indicated they liked the new schedule...

LCS students ahead of No Child Left Behind curve (08/14/08)
LCS students' math and reading proficiency 2007 In the math area, LCS students exceeded the state proficiency levels as follows: Grade 3-5 Grade 6-8 Grade 11 LCS students also exceeded the state proficiency levels in reading: Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grade 11...

New teachers prepare for first day at Gehlen Catholic School (08/14/08)
Gehlen Catholic Schools are welcoming three new faces to their faculty for the 200-2009 school year. A new Spanish teacher, a math teacher and an English teacher are preparing their classrooms for students' first day next week. Elizabeth Rogers Elizabeth Rogers of Blair, Neb. will start her teaching career at Gehlen Catholic High School this fall. A recent graduate of Northwestern College in Orange City, Rogers will teach high school Spanish levels 1-4...