Home News Monday News, July 11th

Monday News, July 11th

Motorcycle – Deer Accident

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department along with the Le Mars
Ambulance Service responded to a motorcycle accident Sunday morning at about 9:00
a.m. The accident happened on county road C-16 about five miles northwest of Le
Mars. Apparently, a deer had jumped out in the highway in front of the motorcycle,
causing a collision, and resulting in the motorcycle driver to lose control. The
driver of the motorcycle was suffered injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Also responding were the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office and the Iowa Highway
Patrol. The accident remains under investigation.

 

Tree Falls Causing Power Line To Be Downed

(Le Mars) — Shortly before 5:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department was summoned to 215 4th Avenue southwest where a tree had fallen pulling
with it a power line that extended from the utility pole to the house. There wasn’t
any fire, but when the tree fell, the power line did arch, creating a burnt spot on
the house siding. MidAmerican Energy and Campbell’s Electric were called to the
scene to help install the power line and restore electricity to the residence. No
one was working on the tree at the time, it simply snapped and fell on its own.
Neighbors who heard the tree crack and fall, say it sounded like fire crackers were
being ignited. Fire fighters were on the scene for approximately 45 minutes until
the scene was rendered as being safe.

 

Le Mars Community School Board To Meet

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will convene this evening.
The school board will hear an end of the year report as submitted by High School
Principal, Mark Iverson. The school board will also hear a report from Bruce
Ludwig regarding the results of a clarity Bright Bytes technology survey as given
to students, parents, and teachers. Assistant Superintendent Steve Webner will
present a report to the Board of Education on the preliminary results of the Iowa
Assessments and progress on district student achievement goals. The school board
will deal with the resignations of Verle Matzdorff as he is retiring from custodian
position at Franklin Elementary School. The board will also consider the
resignation of Linda Meis as a teacher associate at Kluckholn Elementary School.
Meis has accepted the position as IMC aide. Other contracts will be offered to
Brandon Anderson as the head custodian of Franklin school, and Cassie Jacobson as
the high school special education teacher. The school board will review the
legislative priorities for 2017 as requested by the Iowa Association of School
Boards. The Le Mars School Board will appoint a member to serve as the Iowa
Association of School Boards legislative action network representative for 2016-
2017. The school board will also consider a request for open enrollment.

 

Langel Comments On City Construction Projects

(Le Mars) — We continue our series of reports visiting with Le Mars City
Administrator, Scott Langel discussing the various construction projects. Those
projects currently in progress, as well as future construction projects. Langel
says the city has many on-going contruction projects, including one involving 12th
Street southeast.

Langle says the project will be done in three different phases.

Speaking of Vander Pol Construction Company, they are the construction firm that is
installing the new water main along Business Highway 75. Langel says that project
has been slower than expected.

The city administrator says Vander Pol ran into a problem with a gas line, and he
is hopeful the problem can be resolved allowing Vander Pol to proceed with the
project. Residents of Le Mars may have noticed barricades on 1st Avenue West and
2nd Avenue west. Langel says the contractor, Knife River, has been busy applying
new asphalt.

Langel says when the parking lot is completed, Knife River will then apply asphalt
on 2nd Avenue west.

Tomorrow, City administrator Langel will talk about some future construction
projects slated for Le Mars.

 

Cherokee Officials Trying To Find Business To Take Over Former Tyson Plant

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Leaders in the northwest Iowa town of Cherokee would love to
see another company make use of the former Tyson Foods plant just outside town, but
they say the food company is making it hard to find a new tenant.
Tyson continues paying $130,000 rent on the building and refuses to allow anyone it considers a competitor to use the building.
Tyson spokeswoman Caroline Ahn says the company has been in talks with three
food companies about the plant. She says those deals fell apart, but it was not
because of competitive concerns.
Cherokee City Councilman Chad Brown says it feels like Tyson is holding the
town hostage because it won’t release the plant.

 

Officials Look For Body That Fell Into Missouri River

BLENCOE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are preparing to resume their search for a man
who fell into the Missouri River.
A man fell into the water around 7:20 p.m. Sunday near Blencoe. Monona County
authorities searched the water and bank until 11:30 p.m. but found no sign of the
man.
The man’s name and other information about the incident haven’t been released.

 

Preparations Being Made On Round Barn Agriculture Education Exhibit

(Le Mars) — In recognition of the Plymouth County Fair celebrating its 75th
anniversary, the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee is proud to
present: “Agriculture: Technical Advances Through The Ages” as part of the overall
agriculture education exhibit of the “aROUND the farm in the BARN” to be on display
in the famous round barn during the Plymouth County Fair, July 27th through July
31st.

Cole Sitzmann, Vice President of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture
Committee says, “This marks the third year for the Chamber Agriculture Committee
and the Plymouth County Fair Board to showcase agriculture in the famous landmark
building”. Sitzmann says, “Visitors to this year’s fair will notice a different
display than what has been featured during the first two years of the ‘aROUND the
farm in the BARN’. In the lower level of the round barn, people will experience a
walk through agricultural history as they will see seven different Plymouth County
farmers share their stories about the various means of advances in technology”.

“Again, this year the agricultural education exhibit ‘aROUND the farm in the BARN’
will feature several “hands-on” interactive exhibits allowing children to learn
more about agriculture,” said Sitzmann.

“New this year will be a model grain distribution system, complete with augers, and
grain elevators. Children will be able to see how exactly a grain system, found on
many farms, moves grain,” said Sitzmann. The Chamber Agriculture Committee
appreciates the work by Lundell Plastics of Odebolt in creating this interactive
exhibit.

The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee wishes to thank all the
sponsors who have donated financial gifts, or in-kind contributions, in making the
“aROUND the farm in the BARN” agricultural education exhibit a success.