Home News Monday News, June 26th

Monday News, June 26th

Plymouth County Freedom Rock Dedicated on Saturday

(Kingsley) — Plymouth County’s Freedom Rock was dedicated Saturday afternoon in front of the Kingsley Community Center in Kingsley. The boulder is vertical and stands approximately six feet tall. Artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen was on hand for the dedication and explains what he painted on the Freedom Rock. Sorensen says the Kingsley Freedom Rock is the 60th rock he has painted. Sorensen talks about his inspiration for painting the Freedom rocks.

Sorensen is also painting two other Freedom Rocks located within the area of northwest Iowa. He has been painting a rock in Anthon for Woodbury County, and in Holstein for Ida County. Sorensen has the goal to paint a Freedom Rock in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The Freedom Rock artist says he has also received requests to paint Freedom Rocks in other states.

Each Freedom Rock has a theme that pays tribute to American Veterans, but Sorensen says each of the 62 rocks are unique and different.

Sorensen describes the rock that he painted for Plymouth County and the inspiration behind the theme.

Sorensen also featured the Nicolson brothers, Jim and Jack, who grew up in Struble, and who both have long distinguished military careers.

General Nicolson was the featured speaker at Saturday’s dedication ceremony. Nicolson says it is important for the United States to maintain a strong military in order to suppress our enemies.
Also, featured on the Plymouth County Freedom Rock are the various military patches from the National Guard Armory located in Le Mars.

A group of more than 200 people attended the dedication ceremonies on Saturday. Kingsley mayor Rick Bohle explains how Kingsley was able to get the Freedom Rock to be located in their community.

Bohle believes the Freedom Rock will attract people to visit Kingsley.

 

 

Le Mars Community School Board To Hold Meeting Tonight

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will meet this evening, which will be School Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt’s last school board meeting, as he plans to retire on June 30th. The school board will hear reports from Terry Fitzgerald and Rachel Cunningham regarding adoption of American History and World History text books. Also scheduled for the school board meeting will be the elementary and Middle School principals submitting their end of the year reports. The school board is expected to approve three contracts to Lindsey Wheatley, as an IMC Associate, Rachel Hunt and Ellie Ludwigs are being offered contracts as a teacher associate. The school board will begin to identify its legislative issues for the 2018 school year. The school board will consider membership in the Iowa School Finance Information Services, as well as the Iowa Association of School Boards for the 2017-2018 school year. The Le Mars Community School Board will also consider adopting reccommendations for the Educational Program 600 series of the board policy manual.

 

 

Badgerow Building Developer Declares Bankruptcy

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A California-based developer of a 12-story historic art deco building in downtown Sioux City has filed for bankruptcy protection, indefinitely delaying an effort by an eastern Iowa bank to foreclose on it.
The Sioux City Journal reports that Mako One Corp., of Carlsbad, California, has notified the court that it’s filing a Chapter 11 petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of California.
In its petition, Mako lists nearly $1 million in unsecured creditors.
Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust filed for foreclosure on the Badgerow Building in April, saying Mako, its managing partner Bruce DeBolt and two other limited liability companies defaulted on a $6 million bond agreement to help finance work to renovate the building. The bank said it was owed more than $4.4 million.

 

 

Fireworks Retailers Excited About Selling In Iowa

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska fireworks retailers are scrambling into Iowa after that state’s ban ended last month and brushing aside concerns that the new policy could hurt sales for their existing shops along the border.
Retailers say they’re excited to expand into the new market after former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a law last month to legalize bottle rockets, roman candles and other consumer fireworks.
Iowans have traditionally bought fireworks in neighboring states that allow them. Many of the sales take place in Missouri, which offers year-round sales, but also in the Omaha area and South Sioux City, Nebraska.
Many of the Nebraska-based retailers are regional chains that already do business in multiple states.

 

 

Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Fired After Facebook Posting

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Polk County Sheriff’s officer who was being investigated for social media postings deriding Islam has been fired.
The sheriff’s office tells the Des Moines Register that Sgt. Dan Charleston was fired Friday. Because of possible appeals or litigation, the sheriff’s office declined to comment further.
The investigation was launched after a graphic on Charleston’s Facebook page included “verses from the Quran that inspire terrorists.” The post included a comment from Charleston that read: “No reasoning with this evil ideology.” The posting has since been removed.
A phone listing for Charleston was not working Saturday.
Charleston twice ran unsuccessfully for sheriff. He had been a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years.

 

Body Recovered From Iowa River

TAMA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have recovered the body of a man from the Iowa River, just south of Tama.
First responders were called to the site around 4:35 p.m. Sunday. They soon found a body that later was identified as that of Rodney Keraghan.
An autopsy has been ordered . Authorities suspect he drowned.