Proudly serving Buffalo Center, Lakota, Rake, Thompson and the North Iowa Community School District
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Volume One Hundred Twenty Two Number 10 10 Pages March 6, 2013
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Home of the first consolidated school west of the Mississippi River - 1896
Entered as Periodicals in the post office at Buffalo Center, Iowa 50424 (USPS 069-400)
District plans another significant drop in taxes The North Iowa Community School District plans to cut property taxes for the third year in a row. The School Board will hold a public hearing next Monday, March 11 for its proposed budget, which calls for about a $1 reduction in the tax rate. The board has proposed a tax rate of $10.33264 per thousand in valuation for the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget. The proposal continues a downward trend in the district’s tax rate, which the board has reduced by about $2.40 over the course of three years. The rate in 2011 was $12.71008, which declined 20 cents to $12.50975 in 2012 and dropped by more than a dollar this year to $11.41267. “You want to do the best job you can of keeping your property tax low,” said North Iowa Supt. Cory Myer. He notes that North Iowa’s property tax rate is already one of the lowest in the state, even before next year’s drop. He says things have shaped up well for next year’s budget, as the district’s spending authority and cash on hand are both on the rise. The school district’s financial situation has improved dramatically in the last few years. The district ended the 2009-10 school year with
its general fund balance in the red by about $260,000. At the end of the current fiscal year in June, the school expects to have more than $1 million left on hand. Myer says the school district will collect about $140,000 less in taxes next year, and the district is also estimated to collect $144,000 less in taxes this year, as compared to 2012. Myer points out that districts will oftentimes still collect more in taxes even though they lower their tax rates, due to property valuations increasing more than their tax rates go down. “That’s happens in a lot of places, where people will lower their tax rate, but people still end up paying more in taxes,” said Myer. “For two years in a row, we’re going to lower our tax rate significantly and actually collect less taxes.” Myer says next year’s tax rate may go even lower than the $10.33264 proposal, as that number is based on a 0% increase in allowable growth from the state. If the school receives 2% allowable growth from the state, Myer says the rate could go as low as $10.14648. If allowable growth is 4%, that rate could drop to $9.98422. “If the state gives us more money,
Weaver’s hit in string of burglaries A late night bandit left behind a mess but didn’t find much cash at Weaver’s Leather Store last Wednesday. Tim Weaver arrived at work around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday to discover that the window in the front door had been smashed, and there was glass all over the curb. Inside, he discovered that the cash register and credit card machine had been smashed, along with a few decorations. Tim says the intruder only made off with about $30 in change from the register and a tip jar, as the Weavers don’t leave bills in the cash register at night. The Weavers haven’t noticed any missing merchandise, but with their large inventory, it’s hard to tell for sure. There wasn’t any evidence that anyone had gone in the back room. “They couldn’t have been here too long, because simple things they could have grabbed, they didn’t grab,” said Tim. Buffalo Center Police Chief Matt Holmquist says the burglary took place sometime after 12 a.m. “We’re trying to put together the pieces,” said Holmquist of the ongoing
News Events 53rd annual Gun Show this weekend The annual Wells Gun Traders Show will be held this weekend, March 9 and 10, at the USC Public High School in Wells, MN. Known as the ‘largest gun show in the area”, this event includes over 300 tables along with breakfast and lunch available. The Wells Rifle & Pistol Club members, organizers of the show, invite the public to attend Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and/or on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5, and children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
investigation. He said other burglaries were reported in Ledyard and Elmore that night. “It’s definitely a possibility they could be linked.” Kossuth County Sheriff Steve Kollasch says there have been multiple break-ins recently in his county, beginning on February 19, when a break-in was reported at the Ledyard grocery store. Next came a break-in at the Titonka grocery store on February 23. In both cases, the front plate glass doors were broken, and the suspects took name brand cigarettes. On February 27, someone broke in the front door of the Ledyard community center, which includes the library and legion hall, and took a piece of electronic equipment. Kollasch says the method of entry was the same in all of these burglaries, which is consistent with the break-in at Weaver’s. He says several law enforcement agencies in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota are working together on the investigation, with the aim of making an arrest. LeRoy Weaver says the last time his store was broken into was way back in the 1930’s, when his father got robbed. Authorities eventually caught those responsible, who came from Little Rock, IA. “I think I’ve got the newspaper clipping yet,” said LeRoy. Over the years, would-be thieves have attempted to get in the back door of Weaver’s, but a security bar has kept them out. LeRoy says he always leaves the cash register open, figuring if someone gets in and wants to steal the cash, at least they wouldn’t have to break it. That didn’t work out, however, as the register had been thrown on the floor. The Weavers spent most of the day Wednesday cleaning up the mess, but they got things looking back to normal pretty quickly, as DeVries Lumber had a replacement window on hand which fit the door. “They were here waiting to put it in while the cops were here taking pictures,” said Julie Weaver. “It could have been a lot worse,” said Tim. “They could have left us a bigger mess.”
North Iowa Conference 2013 property tax rates Garner-Hayfield ........ 11.16919 North Iowa ................ 11.41267 West Hancock ........... 11.83053 Lake Mills .................13.19025 Osage.........................15.12739 Forest City.................15.74705 Belmond-Klemme .....16.38965
then we collect less in property taxes. If allowable growth is less, then we have to collect more in property taxes,” said Myer. “Every percent in allowable growth for us makes about a 10 cent difference in the tax rate.” Myer says there should be another notable drop in the tax rate after 2017, when the school board plans to have the 2003 school addition paid off. Currently, about $1.20 of the tax rate goes to debt services to pay for that addition. “I would anticipate North Iowa continuing to have a low tax rate and being one of the lowest in the state for the foreseeable future,” said Myer.
Moving day arrives for Thompson Library After several years of planning, the Thompson Public Library will finally move into its new location this Saturday, March 9. Library Director Susan Shaw says this Wednesday, March 6, is the last day the library will be open in its current location. The new library will then open on Tuesday, March 19, at the former location of the Thompson Senior Center. “I’m excited,” said Shaw. “It’ll be fun to have so much more space and to have the meeting room there, too, which the community can use. “The library board has been great to persevere through hiccups and things along the way, and their volunteerism has been enormous,” she added. Shaw says the library plans to have an open house this spring, and they plan to have their annual Easter activities at the new library at the end of the month.
The stars of Footloose at North Iowa High School this spring include, front from left: Jenna Schutter and Brandon Willmert as Vi and Reverend Shaw Moore. In back are Kory Hobbs, who plays Ren McCormack, and Morgan Kahler as Ariel, the Moores’ daughter.
Footloose coming to North Iowa March 22-23 North Iowa High School will present Footloose for two nights only, March 22 and 23, as its 2013 spring musical production. Auditions were held in early February, and the following students have been cast in the starring roles: Kory Hobbs takes the lead role as Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago. Nicole Flynn will play his mother, Ethel McCormack. Brandon Willmert is Reverend Shaw Moore, the minister of Bomont. Jenna Schutter will play his wife, Vi Moore, and Morgan Kahler will play their teenage daughter, Ariel Moore. Jessica Adams is Lulu Warnicker,
Ren’s aunt, and Nick Kahler will portray her husband, Wes Warnicker. Morgan Hassebroek will play the gym teacher, Coach Roberta Dunbar. Other cast members include Maddie Arnevik as Eleanor Busby, Jessica Wubben as Rusty (Ariel’s best friend), Joy Miller as Urleen (Ariel’s friend), Katelin Frerichs as Wendy Jo (Ariel’s friend), Caleb Ricke as Chuck Cranston (Ariel’s boyfriend), Jami Goetz as Lyle (Chuck’s buddy), and Connor Smith as Travis (Chuck’s buddy). Tanner Weaver as the cop, Maria Mayland as Betty Blast (owner of The Burger Blast), Troy Kettwick as Willard Hewitt (Ren’s friend- a
country boy), Aleah Brown as Principal Sally Clark, Dakota Brass as Jeter (Ren’s friend), Austin Paden as Garvin (Ren’s friend), Zach Myer as Bickle (Ren’s friend), Lucas O’Connor as Cowboy Bob (lead vocalist at the Bar-B-Que), and Makeila Shortenhaus and Chloe Enright as Cowboy Bob’s Band. Playing high school students will be: Logan Eichenberger, Zach Meyer, Austin Paden, Dakota Brass, Jami Goetz, Connor Smith, Tanner Weaver, Macie Emery, Ashley Huntington, Megan Mokelstad, Chelsey Roth, Madi Blodgett, Madison Stenerson, Sydney Main continued on page 10
Lakota plans ahead with Santa fundraiser
The Lakota Community Club sponsored a spaghetti dinner on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Lakota Fire Station. There was nice weather that day, and a good-sized crowd came out for the meal of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and drinks. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support Lakota Santa Claus Day in December.
Maggie Engelby greeted the incoming guests as they placed their donations at the spaghetti dinner in Lakota on Sunday, Feb. 24. Maggie is the daughter of Brad and Denise Engelby of Ledyard.
Enjoying their meal at the Lakota Community Club’s spaghetti dinner on February 24 are, from left: Genevieve and Burdette Hoeppner of Buffalo Center and Paul Koppen of Lakota.