(LE MARS)–A collapse of one wall of a downtown Le Mars building will lead to the removal of all second floor walls.
A Wells’ Dairy official Tuesday said the collapse of a portion of the north outside wall and cave-in occurred as workers for Larry Timmins Construction of Le Mars were attaching beams for a new roof. The building at 115 Central Avenue Northwest is being renovated for the new Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.
Three people were injured including a worker who was freed from debris by Le Mars firefighters.
Wells officials today said the second floor walls of the building will be completely removed for safety reasons.
According to Wells’ information, an evaluation of the existing structure is underway and a determination will be made in the future on how renovation work will proceed.
Performances help fund Postal Playhouse Productions
(LE MARS)–“A Dog’s Life” is a fundraising success for a group of Le Mars volunteers.
The play was presented by the Le Mars Community Theater when seven busloads of about 375 men and women came to Le Mars in May. The effort was in connection with tri-state bank clubs by Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds.
Through Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street, the visitors saw the theater presentation at the Willow Creek Golf Course in May and visited other attractions. The visitors came from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street Vice President Becky Klohs presented a check for 23-hundred dollars to Audrey Scholten of the Le Mars Community Theater.
The theater partnered with the Main Street Committee to present the production, “A Dog’s Life.”
Reynolds says there are plans to do the event in May of next year with a take-off on “Sing Along with Mitch Miller.”
Mother: ‘Bad Accident involving missing child’
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) According to court documents filed this week, Dubuque resident Tamelia Harris reportedly told a social worker there was a bad accident involving her young daughter and said she didn’t have a funeral for the child.
Harris reportedly made the statement to the social worker after police found blood-spattered window blinds, bed sheets and children’s scissors in her home.
Harris is currently being held on a charge of felony neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. Last week, police began a search for Harris’ 20-month-old daughter, Cecelia, after an anonymous tip that the girl was sent to live with someone else. Officers say that while searching for the girl, they discovered what they believe to be the remains of a small child in Harris’ yard. The remains have not been identified.
2 Iowa homeless programs get grants
WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin has announced the award of a total of more than $330,000 in homeless assistance funds for two programs in Iowa.
The Iowa Democrat said Tuesday the grants come from the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance competitive grant program that provides funding for a range of assistance to the homeless. That assistance includes transitional housing, permanent housing and a variety of supportive services.
The largest single grant, for $242,880, goes to the Des Moines YMCA Shelter Plus Care program. Another $88,641 goes to the Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeless in Mason City. FAIR FOODS
New foods for Iowa State Fair unveiled
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Organizers of the Iowa State Fair say this year’s fair edition will feature a number of new food items including something called a “Twinkie log.”
As demonstrated at a preview Tuesday, the “Twinkie log” consists of a frozen Twinkie dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed cashews.
There also will be “Fair Squares” made of crisped rice cereal and marshmallow. They’ll be available for $2 in either peanut butter or plain flavors.
Other new fair foods will include turtle mousse bars, strawberry cream bars and chocolate covered tiramisu.
The 2010 fair runs from Aug. 12 to Aug. 22.
Primaries spur increase in GOP registration
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Republicans have cut in half the Democrats’ huge lead in voter registration in Iowa, largely because of hotly contested primaries last month.
Secretary of State Michael Mauro says voter registration from June 1 show Democrats holding a lead of 102,450. On July 1 that margin had shrunk to 55,134 registered voters.
The numbers show there are now nearly 700,000 registered Democrats and almost 645,000 registered Republicans. Another 749,00 registered without declaring a party. That mean Democrats lost 10,000 registered voters and Republicans gained 37,000. The number of no-party voters dropped by 23,000.
Mauro says the drop in Democratic and no-party registration could be explained by voters crossing over to vote in the Republican gubernatorial or congressional primaries on June 8. PAWLENTY-IOWA
It’s back to Iowa for campaign-minded Pawlenty
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has a campaign date in Iowa.
The possible 2012 White House candidate is lined up for three days of campaign events in eastern Iowa beginning July 31. The Republican is there on behalf of several legislative candidates, including the state House minority leader, Kraig Paulsen.
It will be Pawlenty’s third trip to the important presidential state in the last year. Presidential hopefuls are known for stumping for local candidates to build goodwill ahead of their own bids.
One candidate on Pawlenty’s itinerary is Republican Assemblyman Steve Lukan, who is running for a fifth term.
Lukan said Tuesday that he hasn’t committed to anyone for 2012, but he described Pawlenty as someone who has “the energy and the right markings to go all the way if he decides to do that.”
Pawlenty will spend part of this weekend in New Hampshire, another early state in the presidential nominating process.
$150k claim approved in TouchPlay case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The State Appeal Board has approved a $150,000 claim against the state and the Iowa Lottery Authority over the state’s ban on TouchPlay lottery games in 2006.
The appeal board approved the settlement of a lawsuit filed in Floyd County in 2008 that claimed the state’s decision to ban the video lottery game caused financial harm to businesses and individuals that operated the games.
It was one of several cases seeking about $900 million in damages over the state’s decision to pull the plug on TouchPlay.
The state banned the game after public outrage over its widespread availability. The game, which resembled a slot machine, appeared in about 3,200 bars, restaurants and convenience stores statewide.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the settlement saves the state substantial money over its potential liability over TouchPlay. MICROSOFT SETTLEMENT-LAWSUIT
Lawsuit seeks arbitration in Microsoft case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Attorneys representing 23 states involved in a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. are suing the Iowa attorney who spearheaded a $179.5 million settlement with the software company over attorney fees.
Roxanne Conlin of Des Moines negotiated the 2007 settlement which included $75 million in attorney fees that she split with attorney Richard Hagstrom and the Zelle Hoffmann law firm of Minneapolis.
The lawsuit filed last month in Polk County says Conlin signed an agreement with the Microsoft Litigation Consortium that called for the group to receive 20 percent of attorney fees awarded in the case. The agreement also says disputes were to be resolved through arbitration.
The lawsuit says Conlin has refused to enter into arbitration.
Conlin says in a statement that the lawsuit is without merit.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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