Courier Ida County’s Official Newspaper
Ida County
Vol. 41, No. 25 Ida Grove, Iowa
w ww.idacountycourier.com
Wednesday,, June 22, 2016 Wednesday
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IG Heritage Days is this weekend The Ida Grove Heritage Days is set to get underway this Friday and Saturday, June 24-25. All events are held in the city park or downtown. In case of inclement weather, events will be at the high school. Those attending events are advised to bring their own lawn chairs. There are two new attractions this year. A carnival will set up downtown from 1 to 10 p.m., Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. Laser tag will be held at the city park tennis courts Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carnival coupons and laser tag wristbands are available for purchase at United Bank of Iowa, First State Bank and North Star Community Credit Union. The carnival coupons cost $15 per person per day if purchased before June 24. The cost is $20 per person per day if purchased June 24 or 25. The coupons can be redeemed for wristbands at the carnival ticket booth. Laser tag wristbands are $8 per person if purchased before June 25 and $10 per person if purchased June 25. The annual duck race fund-raiser for Heritage Days and Ida Grove Community Partners is slated for Saturday, June 25, at 2 p.m. at the city park. The grand prize is $500 in Chamber Bucks. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25; 12 for $50; 18 for $75; 24 for $100 or 30 for $125. Contact Vicki Gorden (369-9861), Donna Rasmussen (364-2471) or Zanet Thies (364-2480) to buy tickets. Tickets will also be available the day of the race. Friday 1-10 p.m.—carnival downtown 5-7 p.m.—dinner served by the Heritage Days’ Committee downtown 6:30 p.m.—cribbage tournament at Ida Bowl 5 p.m.—Ida Grove American Legion ishing contest at Cobb Park (check-in starts at 4:30 p.m.) Food will be available at Cobb Park shelter house
7p m crowning of Little Miss and Mr p.m.—crowning Mr. Heritage Days downtown Saturday 9 a.m.—Girl Scouts’ color fun run/walk starting at city swimming pool (for all ages and abilities); $25 entry fee for adults, children under 12 free with a paid adult 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.—Laser tag at city park tennis court 10 a.m.—cutie contest at city park (registration starts at 8:30 a.m.) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.—carnival downtown Noon-3 p.m.—car show at city park (free registration from 10 a.m. to noon) 11:45 a.m.—bike decorating contest for kids at Godbersen Park; judging at 12:15 p.m. and then ride bikes in parade (bikes may be pre-decorated and brought to Godbersen Park) 1 p.m.— Heritage Days’ parade, with Sharon and Gary Godbersen as grand marshals. Contact Ron and Zanet Thies at 712-364-2480 for more information about the parade 2-4 p.m.—Ida County Historical Society will host an open house at Moorehead House Museum in Ida Grove and Stagecoach Inn and barn at Moorehead Park. 2-6 p.m.—vendor fair at city park 2 p.m.—beanbag toss tournament at city park 2:30 p.m.—duck races at city park 3 p.m.—horseshoe tournament 4-6 p.m.—Horn Memorial Hospital 50th Anniversary ice cream social at the hospital, featuring local band Odds and Ends 7 p.m.—beer garden opens at Ida Bowl; Power Play band starts at 8 p.m. ($10 cover charge); food available Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.—ambulance omelet brunch at the Ida Grove Community Hall
O-A/BC-IG okays book purchase, academic goals, handbook revisions ❚ by DEB LOGER
The Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove School Boards approved purchasing social studies’ textbooks, district academic goals and handbooks during their joint meeting June 13 in Ida Grove. The BC-IG board approved purchasing high school social studies’ textbooks and the O-A board approved purchasing middle school social studies’ textbooks. Total cost of the textbooks is $33,283, with costs split per the whole grade sharing proration of 68/32. Both boards approved the 201617 district academic goals for ifth grade reading (O-A increase
reading pro iciency from 73.3 percent to 76 percent and BC-IG from 73.8 percent to 76 percent) and math pro iciency (O-A from 66.7 percent to 72 percent and BC-IG from 78.6 percent to 82 percent). Also, O-A/BC-IGMS increase eighth grade math pro iciency from 78.7 percent to 82 percent; O-A/BC-IGMS increase sixth grade science pro iciency from 87 percent to 89 percent, O-A/ BC-IGHS increase ninth grade science pro iciency from 80 percent to 82 percent and O-A/ BC-IGHS increase 11th grade reading pro iciency from 76.5 percent to 80 percent. Both boards approved the
revised handbooks for the 2016-17 school year. The language changes pertain to 1:1 technology. The BC-IG board approved three change orders for the elementary addition. Change orders approved were number eight for laminate inished end panels and illers, $2,526; number nine for a roof drain, $5,333, and number 11 to add a third color to the bleachers, $530. Other items approved by the BC-IG board included: purchasing art room tables and stools for $16,029; a $46,325 bid from Carroll Glass Company to begin the irst phase of a window (continued on page 2)
Mickey and Minnie: Mickey and Minnie Mouse visited folks along the Odebolt Creek Days parade route Saturday. Here, Mickey and Minnie visit with Emmett and his mom, Maggie Neddermeyer. (Courier photo by Deb Loger)
Supervisors discuss engineer, canvas primary election results With the ending of current Ida County Engineer Patrick Mouw’s contract June 30, the Ida County Board of Supervisors discussed using an interim engineer during the 30 days the county will be without an engineer. Jeff Williams, who was approved to replace Mouw, will start on Aug. 1. The board held a phone conference with retired Harrison County engineer Tom Stoner. Stoner came highly recommended to the board. Stoner lives in Polk City. Ideas were discussed during the conference regarding his time with the county, his travel and the current projects the county is working on. The board met with Stoner on June 20 to inalize details, but minutes from that meeting were not available at press time. The board canvassed the June 7 Ida County primary election results. It was noted that the race requirements for the district one seat was not met, with no candidate receiving the 35 percent
needed to gain the nomination by the Republican Party. This race will now move to the Ida County Republican Party convention. Chris Nichols, Horn Memorial Hospital administrator, was present to discuss the medical examiner investigators for Ida County. The board approved using hospital employees Jarod Johnson, Pat Stevens and Stephanie Mefferd as medical examiners. The board is working with the county attorney to draft a contract to be approved at a later meeting. Nichols noted, instead of a one-time payment per year, it may be easier to submit monthly bills when the examiners are utilized. Nichols also discussed the addition of Dr. Curtis Hesse to the medical examiner position currently held by Dr. Carl Toben. Dr. Toben would like to step away from the position. Hesse is currently in the process, through the state of Iowa, to be approved for this position. The board tabled
the approval of Hesse until the state approves him. Mouw discussed the current projects the county is handling, including the wind tower installation, Highway 20, crossroad pipe, gravel road conditions and PCC patching. Mouw noted that 220th Street could see blades for the towers coming through in a few weeks. The process will begin to move quicker, with a process much like an assembly line. Each group will do their part and move to the next tower, allowing the next part of the process to move in and continue work. The board approved the clerk of court report; a contract amendment with American Natural Processors, Inc. for IEDA to change the date to Feb. 28, 2017; an agreement with Siouxland Regional Transit System for $14,873; the Maple River Bank Stabilization upstream of Keystone Avenue and a utility (continued on page 2)
G-H approves new website, administrative salaries ❚ by BETHANY JONES
Inflatables: The inflatables in the city park were a big hit with the kids at Holstein’s Kinderfest Saturday. See page 19 for more pictures. (Courier photo by Mike Thornhill)
Due to a lack of quorum during the June 13 meeting, the Galva-Holstein School Board met on June 16 in Holstein. The board approved administrative salaries that were tabled at the May meeting. Superintendent Jon Wiebers was approved at a salary of 142,030, an increase of 4,030 from last school year. Ridge View High School Principal Bret Warnke was given an increase of 2,300 for a annual salary of 79,300 for the 2016-17 school year. Principal Mike Richard was approved for an annual salary of 92,090, up from last year’s 89,433. Discussion was held on the possibility of the purchase of a new web-
site. Wiebers contacted a company called Bon Fire that would build a new website between 5,000 and 10,000. The cost of the website split evenly between G-H and S-C. The company would host the site and build it, but the school would keep the website up to date. The board approved moving forward with the project. The board approved the 2014-15 audit; the AEA purchasing agreement for food purchasing for the 2016-17 school year and the 2016-17 technology purchase request of 28,176. The technology purchase request includes 15 teacher laptops, 10 desktop computers, 25 Chromebooks, one interactive board, one iPad and three replacement projectors with
boxlight and bulbs for the life of the equipment. Shelley Conover and Kathy Mohr were present to discuss a recent grant they were awarded. Conover teaches at the G-H preschool and Mohr assists at the Wee Wisdom Daycare in Schaller. Each were awarded a 1,000 grant for implementing healthier chocies for their students. Conover initiated giving more water to students throughout the day, including during outdoor time, as well as working with families to decrease screen time at home. Mohr initiated children’s ABC yoga into their daily routine. Wiebers discussed the Excursion vehicle that needs to be replaced. (continued on page 2)