Fire Department Issues June Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — June turned out to be a busy month for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department. The local fire brigade responded to a total of 51 calls, according to
the monthly report. There were 26 fire calls, eight rescues, ten investigations,
and seven times the fire department provided requested services. A major factor
was the evening of June 17th when the storm rolled into Le Mars causing several
downed powerlines and toppled trees. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says 20 members of
the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department staffed the fire station for over 13 hours,
for a total of 198 manned hours worked. Schipper says the city disaster plan,
which is managed by the fire department, was implemented in detail for the first
time since the tornado of 1994. Schipper says the plan worked well and got the
community back to operations in less than five hours.
Fire And Rescue Department Kicks Off Fund Raising Campaign
(Le Mars) — Speaking about the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, more than 6000
letters were recently mailed to the residents and businesses in Le Mars and the
rural areas
. It is all part of the fire department’s annual fund drive mailing.
Funds collected are used to help purchase needed equipment and for assistance for
training members.
Sheriff Reminds People That Fireworks Are Illegal In Iowa
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office wishes you and your family a safe
and exciting 4th of July holiday weekend. The 4th of July holiday is a celebration
of our becoming independent as a country on July 4, 1776.
Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo wants to remind the residents of Plymouth
County, fireworks in the state of Iowa are illegal to discharge unless a valid
permit for a fireworks display has been issued by the County Board of Supervisors.
Please refer to Iowa Code Section 727.2 for further information regarding fireworks
laws in Iowa.
For anyone who is traveling this 4th of July weekend, remember to always wear your
seat belt and never drink and drive – instead, call a designated driver to get you
home safely. Not only do you risk your life when you drive impaired, you are
putting the other drivers you share the roadway with at risk, too.
The Plymouth Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!
Eagle Scout Candidate Assists Plymouth County Fair With Sidewalk Project
(Le Mars) — A local boy scout is trying to earn his Eagle scout badge by offering
assistance to the Plymouth County Fair. Jarred Morris is teaming up with the fair
board to improve the fair with such projects as pouring new cement sidewalks, and
widening others. The new sidewalks are being installed to better accomode
handicapped visitors and fair attendees with strollers.
Preparations Being Made For Upcoming Fair
(Le Mars) — In less than a month, “the five best days of summer” otherwise known
as the Plymouth County Fair will take place. Rich Benson is the president of the
fair. He says this year marks the 75th anniversary for the Plymouth County Fair,
and there will be special recognitions and acknowledgments.
Benson says the fairboard will also be selling commemorative souvenir items marking
the special anniversary.
The fairboard president says the fairboard has been busy making some improvements
to the fairgrounds.
Benson says the fair will provide great entertainment and information at a
reasonable admission fee.
The Plymouth County Fair is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 27th and will
continue through Sunday, July 31st.
Iowa DNR Conducts “Operation Dry Water”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than 700 vessels containing more than 2,200 boaters
were stopped as part of Operation Dry Water during the last weekend of June.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources along with partner agencies issued
227 citations or warnings during the Operation Dry Water campaign. While most of
the violations and warnings involved the proper use of safety equipment onboard, 10
arrests for boating while intoxicated were made during the effort.
The operation was intended to draw public attention to the hazards of boating
under the influence going into the July Fourth holiday weekend, traditionally one
of the busiest times for vessels on Iowa waters.
Law Enforcement Officials To Patrol Highways During Long Holiday Weekend
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Those traveling on Iowa’s highways this holiday weekend
should know that state and local law enforcement agencies are out in full force.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says the extra effort began Friday and
will continue through Tuesday morning in an attempt to taken drunk drivers and
speeders off the roads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 164 people were killed
in crashes involving at least one drunken driver over the three-day Fourth of July
holiday last year.
Iowa roadway fatalities are up about 25 percent this year from the same time
last year.
Police Make Arrest On Death Of Iowa Truck Driver
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in Memphis, Tennessee, say they have
arrested and obtained murder indictments for two men suspected in the January
shooting death of an Iowa man traveling through the city.
Lonnie Ludvigson, of Edgewood, Iowa, was driving a truck for a shipping
company when he stopped in Memphis on Jan. 9. Four masked men approached his truck,
robbed him and shot him.
The Commercial Appeal in Memphis (https://bit.ly/298OKLd ) reports police have
18-year-old Devonta Vaughn in custody and 19-year-old DeMarco McKinley was arrested
in Dallas and will be extradited to Memphis.
Police credit a CrimeStoppers tip.
Ludvigson was 48. His mother, Donna Ludvigson, says she’s relieved police have
made progress in the investigation of her son’s death.
Attorney information for Vaughn and McKinley was not yet listed in online
court records.
