Le Mars Fire Department Host Annual Water Fights
(Le Mars) — Ten different fire departments from ten communities competed Sunday
afternoon for bragging rights in the Le Mars annual Fire Department water fights.
The competition is friendly, and everyone has fun, but the water fights also serve
the purpose to help better the skills of the fire departments. The water fights
consisted of two major events. The first, is what is known as a Leader Line
competition. Two teams consisting of three individuals on each team must start
behind a line. When the whistle sounds, both teams race against each other
carrying a hose that needs to be attached. While one team member is attaching the
hose and turns on the water, the other two are weaving the hose and manevuering
through some obstacles, the second fire fighter makes certain the hose doesn’t
have any kinks that may prevent the water from flowing. The third fire fighter is
at the end of the hose with the nozzle and tries to shoot at a football that is
placed on a standard approximately two feet off the ground. The entire course is
about 50 yards in length. The team that is successful at attaching the hose and
winding through the obstacle course and knocks off the football first with the
stream of water is the declared winner. The teams compete against each other, and
against time.
The second event has a cable holding an empty keg barrel attached to some pullies,
and is above the ground by a distance of approximately 15 feet. The barrell is in
the middle as two teams of fire fighters attack from opposite ends. The team able
to shoot the water accurately at the barrel and have the barrell move to the
opponent’s end is the winner.
Storm Lake was able to capture the top honors in the Leader Line competition,
while in the water fights Sioux Center finished first in the men’s category with
Milford having won second place honors. The Le Mars Fire Department finished in
4th position.
In the women’s category, Le Mars was able to finish in first and second place.
Nita Drecman, Sandra Vanderloo and Lexi Dreckman were the women that brought home
the top trophies.
The fire departments that competed included: Le Mars, Orange City, Sioux Center,
Sheldon, Alta, Storm Lake, Early, Milford, Hull and Akron.
Downtown Has Power Outage Sunday Afternoon
(Le Mars) — As the Le Mars Fire Department was hosting its annual fire department
water fights near the Fareway grocery store Sunday afternoon, at about 12:35 p.m.
some smoke could be seen coming from an area between the Wells Enterprises North
Ice Cream Plant and the Beauty School college. The fire alarm for the north ice
cream plant began to sound, and Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper went to
investigate. At that same moment, much of the downtown area had suffered a power
outage. The cause for the small fire and the loss of power can be contributed to
a squirrel that got entangled with the electrical high line wires. A small area of
burnt grass could be seen beneath the high line wire, along with a dead squirrel.
Fortunately, a MidAmerican Energy crew was at the Le Mars Police Station when the
downtown area lost power, and was able to respond to the scene within minutes.
After checking the electrical power lines, the MidAmerican official then called
for the line to be re-energized. Many of the downtown businesses, including
Wells’ North Ice Cream Plant were without power for a duration of about 20
minutes. Prime Apartment complex had reported people had been stuck in the
elevator during the power outage. KLEM radio was knocked off the air during the
time of the power loss. According to MidAmerican Energy, all the affected areas
of Le Mars was able to have power restored within a half hour.
Students To See Remodeled Science Rooms
(Le Mars) — Students will be returning to school this week, and here in Le Mars,
Thursday marks the first day of back to classes. For Le Mars Community students
taking science courses, they will be greeted with newly renovated classrooms. Dr.
Mark Iverson serves as the principal for Le Mars Community High School. He says
students will definitely notice the difference.
Iverson says the science facilities were from the 1960’s and it was time to
upgrade.
The high school principal says construction actually started before the students
had dismissed last spring. Iverson says a total of three rooms were renovated
over the summer months.
Iverson explains the specific changes noted for each of the three science rooms.
Iverson says the classrooms have been designed and decorated to be more
educational-friendly for the students.
School Board To Convene This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will gather this evening for
their monthly meeting. The local school board will tour the newly remodeled high
school science rooms and participate in a facilities tour beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Members of the L.E.E.P organization are on the agenda to make a financial
presentation to the Le Mars Board of Education. The LEEP representatives will
also report on their plans for the upcoming Menu Masters fund raising event. The
school board will discuss the annual Pride Night which is scheduled for Thursday
beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Jim Lorenzen Field. The school board will also
discuss the new teacher and administrator introduction which is scheduled for 6:30
p.m. on September 12th in the Education Service Center. The school board will
discuss the state convention of the Iowa Association of School Boards which will
be held in Des Moines on November 16-18th. The school board will take action on
one resignation and three contracts. The school board will also consider
approving the contracts for the teachers agreeing to serve as mentors as part of
the Teacher Leadership and Compensation plan. The school board is also expected
to approve two students who wish to open enroll in the Le Mars Community School
District from the Remsen-Union school district. The school board is expected to
appoint Jolynn Sitzmann and Stephanie Feenstra as level one investigators of abuse
by school employees and the Le Mars Police Department as Level II investigators.
State Fair Stabbing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an 18-year-old was stabbed at the Iowa
State Fairgrounds on the fair’s last night.
The Iowa State Patrol says the man was attacked around 10:20 p.m. Sunday near
the southwest corner of the Midway. He was taken to a hospital. His name hasn’t
been released.
No arrest has been reported.
Authorities Seize Neglected Cattle
WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have seized 36 head of neglected cattle from
a farm near Winterset in Madison County.
The cattle were seized Sunday night and taken away for food, water and
medical care. Authorities also found cattle carcasses on the property.
No arrests have been reported. The Sheriff’s Office says charges are pending.
Man Missing In Missouri River
HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have been searching the Missouri River in
southwest Iowa for a man who disappeared after he was swept under a moored barge.
Iowa Natural Resources Department spokesman Kevin Baskins says the man was in
a boat that lost power shortly after it left a Hamburg boat ramp around 2 p.m.
Sunday. The boat drifted for a short distance before it was swept under the barge,
which was moored to the bank.
Baskins says another man in the boat was able to swim under the barge and was
rescued by people on shore. He was identified as 47-year-old Johnnie Fields, of
Shenandoah.
