(LE MARS)–Thirty-four flags dedicated to men and women who served their country edged the sidewalk leading to the Plymouth County Courthouse for the first time on Memorial Day in Le Mars.
The new flags were dedicated when Wasmer Post 241 of the American Legion in Le Mars presented the annual “Avenue of Flags” program.
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A total of 1,161 flags waved in a sea of red, white and blue on and around the Courthouse block.
The flags were for Clark M. Bolser Sr.; Ronald H. Burkard; Harold L. Buss; “Reinard “Reine” Dreckman”;
Robert Dyslin Jr.; George W. Frerichs; John E. Galles; Robert J. Galles; Ronald R. Hansen; Elmer H. Heien; Virgil T. Hoebelheinrich; Patrick Holton; Merlin Ideker; Pat Kelly; Albert D. Lade; Robert A. Lade; Eugene A. Lee; Wendell J. MaComb; Ronald J. Mullally; Clayton Nemmers; “Hilton “Red” Pecks”; Gordon D. Phipps; Walter J. Phipps; David R. Rohlfsen; Harley Rollinger; Anthony Ruhland; Franz W. L. Schneider; Kent Schwiesow; Leon L. Steele; James C. VanGronigen; Claude M. Webb; Allen H. Wernli; Richard J. Wolf ; and Eugene Zimmer
Le Mars Community School Band members provided marching music for the parade through downtown Le Mars leading to the Courthouse.
The parade marshalls for the Memorial Day Parade were past commanders of the Legion, Larry Baer and Ken Lubben, both of Le Mars.
The tribute to Second Lieutenant Edmund W. Rohde of Le Mars who died in Germany in October 6, 1944 was given by Legion Adjutant Tom Baack. The bomber’s control of the B-17G Flying Fortress was turned over to Lt. Rohde. He recounted information from a Remsen Bell-Enterprise newspaper article in 1951 when another serviceman, Roy Lomanno, traveled to Remsen for the funeral of Rohde who graduated from Le Mars High School.
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The more than 40-year-old display at the foot of the Courthouse steps was freshened. Auxiliary member Marlys Thieman and the family of former Auxiliary member Jean Baer provided new wreaths and crosses marking the conflicts from Civil War to the Global War on Terrorism.
High winds and soggy grounds shortened the display of the Avenue of Flags by a few hours. Wasmer Post 241 members and volunteers retired the flags at one Monday afternoon.
Pawlenty campaigns in northwest Iowa Tuesday
(SIOUX CITY)–A Republican who plans a bid for the Presidency is making three stops in northwest Iowa today.
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty begins his day hosting a coffee with GOP leaders in Sioux Center. The coffee is at Casey’s Bakery at 8:30 this morning.
Pawlenty travels to the Ice Cream Capital of the World at 2:30 this afternoon to visit the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.
The last stop in northwest Iowa is a Sioux City Town Hall at the downtown Sioux City Public Library at seven tonight.
Small plane crashes at Sioux Gateway Airport
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) No one was hurt when a small plane crashed at the Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City.
The crash happened about 8 a.m. Monday.
It appears that only the pilot was on board and he was walking around and talking afterward.
The pilot declined comment and it’s unclear what might have caused the crash.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Evacuation urged for Dunes residents
(DAKOTA DUNES)–A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS BEING URGED FOR DAKOTA DUNES RESIDENTS.
EVERY EFFORT TO RAISE LEVEES IN THE DAKOTA DUNES AREA ARE BEING CONDUCTED BEFORE THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS RAISES WATER FLOW.
THE CORPS WILL INCREASE THE FLOW RATE OF THE MISSOURI RIVER BY THURSDAY AT GAVINS POINT TO 150-THOUSAND CUBIC FEET PER SECOND.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TEAM C INCIDENT COMMANDER JOE LOWE SAYS THEY’RE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO PROTECT RESIDENTS.
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A UH60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER WILL BE ON SITE TUESDAY TO LIFT SANDBAGS AND PLACE THEM ALONG THE RIVERBANK.
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LEVEES WILL BE BUILT DAY AND NIGHT UNTIL IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE INCIDENT TEAM AND RESIDENTS TO BE NEAR THE RIVER.
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RESIDENTS OF THE DAKOTA DUNES HAVE BEEN PACKING UP THEIR BELONGINGS ALL WEEKEND AND ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST.
THE WATER HAS ALREADY BEGAN LEAKING INTO BASEMENTS IN THE MEADOWS. (Josie Cooper, KSCJ, Powell Broadcasting, Sioux City)
Sandbagging help sought in northwest Iowa
SLOAN, Iowa (AP) Residents of a riverside subdivision near the northwest Iowa city of Sloan are calling for help filling sandbags.
The work at River Woods subdivision is scheduled to begin this (Tuesday) morning at 9 o’clock. Volunteers are asked to bring along shovels and gloves.
Sloan and other Iowa towns along the Missouri River have been preparing for more flooding. Water has already spilled over the banks in several low-lying areas along the river in Nebraska and Iowa.
The Army Corps of Engineers warns that the high water level and flooding issues will likely worsen over the next month as releases from upstream reservoirs reach historic levels.
Woman killed by falling tree was Iowa City woman
SOLON, Iowa (AP) Iowa officials say the woman who died after a tree fell on her tent at Lake MacBride State Park was from Iowa City.
In a news release Monday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources identified the woman as 31-year-old Jennifer Lewis.
Lewis was camping with her sister and some friends when a storm hit Sunday morning. A tree on private property adjacent to the park’s campground in Solon fell on Lewis’ tent. She was the only person inside.
Gunshots ring out after Des Moines street brawl
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gunshots punctuated a street brawl this Memorial Day weekend in Des Moines.
Police say no injuries were reported after the shooting early Sunday morning.
Kayla Vaskis says she was sitting on her front porch when some people gathered on the street nearby and began to fight. Vaskis says she heard a gunshot and saw someone leaning out of a sport utility vehicle, firing a weapon.
The Des Moines Register says police recovered shell casings from the street.
No arrests have been reported.
Man injured in crash at Bussey ATV park
BUSSEY, Iowa (AP) A Melrose man has been injured when his motorcycle crashed at an ATV park near Bussey in southeast Iowa.
The Ottumwa Courier says 39-year-old Shawn Adolphi, was believed to be jumping his motorcycle Saturday afternoon at the Bluff Creek ATV Park when he lost control and crashed. He suffered injuries to his ribs and his head.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says he was wearing a helmet.
He was taken to a Des Moines hospital where he was being treated for what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Pawlenty touts Medicare proposal during Iowa trip
WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in Iowa, outlining key differences between his Medicare proposal and the proposal introduced by Republican Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
During a stop Monday in Waukee, Pawlenty, who’s seeking the Republican presidential nomination, says his plan will change the way providers are paid.
In an interview with The Des Moines Register, Pawlenty says it will pay producers for making people healthier and not just for the volume of patients they see.
The Register is reporting that Pawlenty told ABC’s “This Week” that he would support Ryan’s proposal to privatize Medicare only if his options were Ryan’s plan or doing nothing.
He also has scheduled visits Monday in Boone and Fort Dodge with stops planned in Sioux City Tuesday and Council Bluffs on Wednesday.
Small plane crashes near Newton
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) A small plane has crashed near the Newton airport but officials in Jasper County say no one was hurt.
The Des Moines Register is reporting that the plane crashed about 9 a.m. Monday after it took off from the Newton airport. The plane had one person on board in addition to the pilot.
No further information was immediately available about the cause of the crash.
Iowa birth town of John Wayne celebrates his life
WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) The Iowa town where actor John Wayne was born has celebrated his birth and his legendary screen career.
Wayne was born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset. On Sunday, the town marked the occasion with visitors from across the country.
Re-enactors helped remind people what life was like in the old west so often depicted in John Wayne movies. The cavalry was teaching kids how to get up on a horse.
Tami Boettcher told Des Moines television station WHO that she’s been a big John Wayne fan since she was a little girl, saying he was her one and only idol.
She says that being part of celebration in his honor and see the old west come to life is irreplaceable.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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