(SIOUX CITY)–Concrete patching work will restrict traffic to one lane on Highway 75 from just south of Le Mars to just north of Sioux City, starting today.
Dean Herbst of the Iowa Department of Transportation in Sioux City says the speed limit in the work area on Highway 75 will be reduced to 55 miles an hour.
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Herbst says the reduced lane will not be in effect overnight.
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The work by Gus Construction will cost about 300-thousand dollars. Crack filling was completed in the first two weeks of April by the Casey firm. The project is expected to be completed by July 16th, weather permitting.
(DES MOINES)–Ice Cream Days–The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored summer celebration–is an Iowa Road trip choice for the Sunday Des Moines Register.
The June 6th publication lists Ice Cream Days June 16-19th in the Iowa Life section of “Ways to See the State This Month.”
A Le Mars restaurant business, Archie’s Waeside, is featured in part of the “While you’re in the area–Good Eats section.
(LE MARS)–A Le Mars group focused on young people is honoring a law enforcement officer.
The Optimist Club of Le Mars presented Le Mars Police Senior Officer Jay King with the Optimist “Respect for Law” honor. The presentation was part of a family picnic at West Floyd Park for Optimist members and City of Le Mars Police.
Each year the Optimists select an officer to honor for distinguished and dedicated service advancing the respect for law.
King is the Le Mars Police Department D.A.R.E. officer at Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community Schools and will mark 22 years of service to the city of Le Mars on July 1st.
King has completed specialized training in Crimes Against Children, sex crimes and financial crime investigations. He was a Remsen Police Officer prior to joining the Le Mars Department.
Optimist International is an association of more than 2,900 Optimist Clubs around the world dedicated to “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.” Adult volunteers join Optimist Clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. The Optimist Club of Le Mars has many community projects for youth. They include the “Just Say No” program of drug, tobacco and alcohol-free activities.
(LE MARS)–Jolynn Goodchild is a candidate for re-election to the Recorder’s office for Plymouth County. Goodchild has worked in the recorder’s office for 12 years. She says adapting to change is part of the challenges of the job.
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Goodchild says the recorder’s office serves many public functions.
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Goodchild is unopposed in her re-election bid for Plymouth County Recorder in the Republican primary Tuesday. (News report by Dave Ruden)
ELK POINT, S.D. (AP) Businesses in downtown Elk Point are trying to make the best of a complete overhaul of Main Street.
City Administrator Dawn Glover says many proprietors along the town’s main stretch are probably feeling the pinch from the renovation. But she says it has been in the works for some time and is badly needed.
The construction is part of a three-phase renovation of downtown, with streets and sewers being replaced.
Elk Point is footing $1.9 million for the project.
Barb Wurtz, owner of Pioneer Drug and Edgar’s Ice Cream Shop, says pharmacy customers are continuing to get their prescriptions but they’re having to come in through the back door.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) The National Weather Service has confirmed a report of a tornado in eastern Iowa on late Saturday evening.
Officials say a tornado struck Maquoketa on Saturday evening around 7:40 p.m. It traveled just over 2 miles before dissipating.
Another tornado was reported near Goose Lake in Clinton County.
Authorities say buildings were damaged in both areas, including an elementary school and several mobile homes.
Tornadoes and storms tore through portions of the Midwest late Saturday. At least five people died in Ohio. Dozens of injuries and damaged buildings were also reported in Michigan and Illinois.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) With seven Republicans seeking the 3rd Congressional District nomination in Tuesday’s primary election, it could be a while before voters know which GOP candidate will face Democratic incumbent Leonard Boswell in the fall.
That’s because unless a candidate receives at least 35 percent of the vote, a party must choose a nominee at a convention.
The Republican candidates are Jim Gibbons, Brad Zaun, Dave Funk, Scott Batcher, Pat Bertroche, Mark Rees and Jason Welch.
If no candidate reaches the 35 percent threshold, a nominee will be selected at a congressional district convention that will be called by Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn.
Iowa’s 3rd district covers 12 counties in central, southern and eastern Iowa. It includes Des Moines.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll shows Terry Branstad with a commanding lead in the race for the Republican nomination for governor.
The poll, published Saturday night in a copyright story on the Register’s website, shows that 57 percent of likely Republican voters say they expect to vote for Branstad. Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Plaats has the support of 29 percent and Carroll Rep. Rod Roberts has 8 percent.
The three Republicans will compete in Tuesday’s primary, with the winner facing Democratic Gov. Chet Culver.
The telephone poll was conducted Tuesday through Thursday by Selzer Co. of 501 likely primary voters. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Police in Iowa City say at least four people have been cited for violating the city’s new ordinance that limits entry to bars to those ages 21 and over after 10 p.m.
The law went into effect on June 1. Previously, people 19 and older were allowed in Iowa City bars at night.
Authorities say they’re foregoing any grace period to warn offenders.
Four people have been cited and fined $735 for violating the ordinance since it went into effect. Most of the violators were 20 years old.
Some city and University of Iowa officials say setting the minimum bar entry age at 21 would help combat what they called a culture of binge drinking, particularly by college students.
But a group of university students has been collecting signatures in hopes of repealing the law.
(Copyright 2010 by Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Submit your news release, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm.net, by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
