In case you weren’t aware — basically all mail in northwest Iowa has been going to Sioux City for processing for a number of years now.  That includes letters you send to an address across the street — everything goes to Sioux City first.
 
But as a result of a study begun in March, the Postal Service has made the decision to move all mail processing operations from the Sioux City Processing & Distribution Facility (P&DF) to the Sioux Falls Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC). Once the transfer of operations is completed, the Sioux City P&DF will be closed. Local mail delivery will not be affected by the move.
 
Hawkeye District Manager Gail Duba says that given the drastic 20 percent decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced since 2007, the postal service must take action to reduce the size of the mail processing network. Consolidating operations and placing people where they are needed is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation.
 
The postal service understands their employees concern over this move, but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities. The Sioux Falls P&DC has the capacity to handle the additional workload and the postal service can realize significant savings by shifting operations there.
 
The transition will be completed by October of this year. Affected career employees will be reassigned to the Sioux Falls P&DC or to other vacant positions.
 
This move will not cause any changes in local mail delivery says Duba. Letters mailed to local addresses will be delivered the next day, the same as before.
 
There will be no change in service standards for 97 percent of the mail. However, as a result of the consolidation, service to ZIP Codes starting with 505, 514, 686 and 687 will change from overnight to 2-day. Service to ZIP Codes starting with 560, 561, 570, 571, 572 and 573 will improve from 2-day to overnight.

By Scott Van Aartsen
News Director

Judgment

On June 14, 2011, Paul Arthur Davids, age 20 of Sibley, Iowa, was found guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Serious Misdemeanor.  The Defendant shall pay a fine of $940, the cost of this action, and restitution of any court appointed attorney fees, if any.  The Defendant shall undergo a substance abuse evaluation and comply with the treatments recommendations.  The Defendant is placed on formal probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections for a period of two (2) years, with a Deferred Judgment pending successful completion of the probation requirements.  On December 15, 2010, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 319 4^th Avenue, in Sibley, Iowa. Osceola County Deputies located marijuana in the residence.  Davids admitted to smoking marijuana in the residence.  Davids was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Arrest

On Friday June 17, 2011 the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrested Herlindo Perez-Santis, age 35 of Sibley, Iowa. Perez-Santis was charged with allegedly being in public while intoxicated. Public Intoxication is a simple misdemeanor. Perez-Santis is being held in the Osceola County Jail on a $300 cash bond and a detainer has been placed on Perez-Santis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Accident

On June 16, 2011, at 5:40am, Nancy Marco, age 57 of Sibley, Iowa, was driving a 2010 GMC Terrain, southbound on Hwy 60, north of 240^th Street and struck a deer on the roadway.  Marco’s vehicle sustained approximately $5,000 damage.  No injuries were reported. 

Lots of changes for the Christian Reformed Church.
 
They just finished holding their “synod” — the annual meeting where decisions are made for the church.
 
Among their important decisions during this synod:
 
The Christian Reformed Church has decided to recognize the baptism of Roman Catholics.  While recognizing the two faiths have different views on what baptism means, it affirms that baptism only need occur once.  There was some criticism from a Spanish-speaking CRC congregation in California.  They felt that sometimes new members have had a spiritual re-awakening and want to celebrate that with a new baptism.
 
Synod, however, decided to approve the the document as an ecumenical document on baptism and recommend it to the churches for further study and reflection.
 
Among comments that not re-examining the denomination’s view on homosexuality could give young adults an opportunity to splinter from the church, Synod voted on a 93 to 81 vote, not to re-examine the denomination’s biblical and theological position on homosexuality, unchanged since 1973.
 
The denomination has also decided to allow children to take communion.  Or, as they put it, baptized children will no longer be required to make a formal profession of faith before they can take part in the Lord’s Supper.  The opposition argued that it is important that a person understand and have professed belief in the confessional standards of the church before taking communion.  Others said the change is a good way to bring children more fully into the worship life of the church.
 
They also voted not to change baptism.  Some wanted baby dedication without baptism as an option for parents who come from traditions of adult baptism. 
 
By Scott Van Aartsen
News Director

What is up with all the mosquitoes lately? We talked to Brendan Dunphy, who is a research associate at Iowa State University in Ames, at their medical entomology lab.Dunphy says two things affect mosquito populations — temperature and rainfall.

 He says it’s most likely that we are seeing Aedes mosquitoes. He says these mosquitoes for the most part lay their eggs on dry ground.

He says that they have a certain colloquial name.

Some sources say that under optimal conditions, the egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva in less than a day. The larva then takes about four days to develop in a pupa, from which an adult mosquito will emerge after two days. Dunphy says that by the end of two weeks, the adult mosquitoes will surly appear.
He goes on to say that the eggs can lay dormant for up to nine months, even over a winter — so if we have high water levels in area rivers and streams, we will see more Aedes mosquitoes. He says we’re lucky we’re not closer to the flooding Missouri River right now, or there would be many, many, MORE mosquitoes.
He also says we’re lucky in another way — these types of mosquitoes carry far fewer diseases — especially the ones with which we need to be concerned — like encephalitis and West Nile Disease.

By Scott Van Aartsen
News Director

Arrests:

On June 10, 2011, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrested Seth Daniel Stevens, age 21 of Sibley, Iowa, for allegedly Operating While Intoxicated 2^nd Offense, and Aggravated Misdemeanor; Criminal Mischief 3^rd Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor; Driving While Suspended, a Simple Misdemeanor; Failure to File SR-22 Insurance, a Simple Misdemeanor; and Open Container, a Simple Misdemeanor.  An Osceola County Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an alleged equipment violation.  During the course of the stop, Stevens became upset and struck an Osceola County patrol vehicle, causing damage to it.  Stevens was booked into the Osceola County jail on a $4,900 cash bond.

Accidents:

On June 6, 2011, at 7:42 pm, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle that was involved in a rollover accident in Osceola County around 5:00 pm.  Cesar Solis, age 26 of Sibley, Iowa, was driving a 1998 Ford Windstar, southbound on Pierce Avenue, south of 110^th Street when Solis lost control on the loose gravel.  Solis’ vehicle entered the west ditch and struck the embankment causing the vehicle to roll over one time and come to rest on its wheels in a field.  The vehicle, owned by Carrie Hare of Sibley, Iowa, was a total loss.  Solis sustained possible injuries.  Solis was given a citation for Failure to Have a Valid Driver’s License, Failure to Prove Security Against Liability, and Failure to Maintain Control. 

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   On June 10, 2011, at 10:00 pm, Carol Dagel, age 61 of Ocheyedan, Iowa, was driving a 2001 Pontiac Montana, eastbound on Hwy 9, west of Warbler Avenue and struck a deer on the roadway.  Dagel’s vehicle sustained approximately $2,500 damage.  No injuries were reported.

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On June 11, 2011, at 8:15 pm, Conrad Kruger, age 44 of Sibley, Iowa, was driving a 1998 Dodge pickup, westbound on 170^th Street, approaching the Polk Avenue intersection and struck a deer on the roadway.  Kruger’s vehicle sustained approximately $1,600 damage.  No injuries were reported.

A Sibley man has been arrested on drug and other charges after a traffic stop in Sanborn on Saturday.  

 The O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office reports that in the early morning hours of Saturday, they stopped 24-year-old Pablo R. Marchessini of Sibley in the city of Sanborn. 

 He was charged with OWI 1st offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana , a traffic violation of driving with a revoked license and no seatbelt.

 Marchessini was transported to and booked into the O’Brien County Jail. He was released later in the day after posting 10% of a $3,000 bond. The seriousness of the charges ranged from a simple misdemeanor up to an aggravated misdemeanor.

 Marchessini will appear in District Court at a later date.

Karyl S. Koopman, age 81 of Sibley, IA died Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Helping Hands Assisted Living in Brandon, SD.

Memorial service will be 3:00 PM Saturday, June 18, 2011 at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley with Fr. John Vakulskas officiating.

Visitation will be from 1:30 PM to the time of service at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.

Karyl Scott Koopman was born February 5, 1930 to Antone and Lyda (Scott) Koopman, a lifelong resident of Sibley. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1948 and then entered the United States Navy serving 4 years aboard the Gunship USS Purdy. After his discharge he attended Iowa State University, Ames in the Engineering Dept. He was united in marriage to Lois Strouth on September 14, 1955 at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Sibley. They were blessed to celebrate 50 years together. Karyl worked over 30 years at the City of Sibley Power Plant. He especially enjoyed fishing and watching sports and being with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his three children, Kay (Cliff) Kraft of Fort Dodge, IA, Kyle (Kim) Koopman of Aloha, OR and Barb (Dean) Christians of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Heather (Justin) Bass of Fort Dodge, IA, Austin Christians and Christopher Christians of Sioux Falls, SD; and great-grandsons, Keaton and Zachary Bass of Fort Dodge. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Marjorie Poss of Sibley and Myrna Koopman of Omaha, NE.

Karyl was preceded in death by his parents, Antone and Lyda; his wife Lois; infant daughter, Karen; infant granddaughter, Christine Christians; brother, Don Koopman; and sisters, Earlene Johannes and Janene Christiansen; and sister-in-law, Mildred Gosch.

CITY OF SIBLEY COUNCIL AGENDA

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Sibley will meet in regular session on June 13, 2011 at 5:00 o’clock PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall.

 TENTATIVE AGENDA

 1.    Call to Order, Roll Call

 2.    Approve Agenda

 3.    Consent Agenda

              – Approve Minutes from Previous Meetings

              – Approve Bills and Bills Paid in Vacation

              – Approve The Porch on Main Class B Native Wine Permit

              – Appoint Library Board Member

4.    NW Aging Association

              – FY12 Transportation Contract

              – FY12 Dinner Date Stipend Contract

 5.    Resolution for Sale of Real Estate

 6.    Resolution for Sale of Real Estate

 7.    Economic Development Support

 8.    Snow Removal Policies

 9.    Lawn Mowing Policies

 10.  Council Concerns/Committee Updates

11.  Administrators Report

The brand new $120 million Grand Falls casino resort on the state line near Larchwood opened its doors to the public Thursday night.

The casino resort started as a conversation between former Lyon County Economic Development director Glenn Anderson and a businessman from Washington County in 2008. Hurdles included two referendums and obtaining a license from the Iowa racing and gaming commission. The resort was completed in less than a year. 

Lots of thank-yous were offered at the Grand opening presentation at 4 PM Thursday afternoon.

General Manager Sharon Haselhoff thanked the board, the construction crews and the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation — the non-profit that will be re-investing millions of dollars back into Lyon County.

Jeff Gallager of Larchwood, president of the foundation also thanked many individuals who are members of their board as well as the people of Lyon County.

Jim Wells of Rock Rapids, the chairman of the board also thanked the groups that have been involved.

A video was shown chronicling the history of the Kehl family in Iowa gaming and highlighting the games, 97-room hotel, and various amenities. Local dignitaries including the Rock Rapids Mayor and Chamber Director talked about the benefits of the facility including the 700 new jobs and related economic development opportunities.

CEO Dan Kehl also welcomed and thanked everyone.

And then the ribbon was cut. VIP’s enjoyed the resort after the presentation, and then the facility opened to the public Thursday night at 7.