Gehlen Catholic To Celebrate Homecoming Festivities
(Le Mars) — With the theme, “The Birds are Back”, Gehlen Catholic will be celebrating its Homecoming festivities today with the coronation to take place at 12:00 noon, and the parade to begin at 2:00 p.m. KLEM will broadcast the
coronation on a taped delayed basis beginning at 1:00 p.m. and Denny Callahan will broadcast live the colorful parade with all its entries.
Students Participate On Farm Visit Tour
(Le Mars) — Nearly 260 third and fourth grade students from Le Mars Community, Gehlan Catholic, Remsen-Union and Remsen St. Mary’s schools had their classroom located on farms Thursday morning. The elementary students participated on the
annual farms tour which is hosted by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee. The farmers were the teachers for the day, as the students saw a lamb being sheared at the Mark and Lori Loutsch sheep farm, learned from Tony and Shirley Schroeder as to how many hamburgers come from one
market beef steer, found out from Roger Schroeder that hogs offer many medical benefits, and they heard from Scott Thoms from Plymouth Dairy, as to how much milk each cow produces on a daily basis. The one common message that each
farmer shared with the group of elementary students is that their food starts on a farm, and not from a grocery store or supermarket. Scott Thoms says that is an important fact he likes to share with students.
Thoms believes the elementary students have a better understanding and appreciation for agriculture as a result of the field-day tours to the farms.He says he likes to share some of the trivia facts and numbers regarding Plymouth Dairy for anyone that tours the dairy farm facilities.
Stacy Bunkers teaches third grade at Le Mars Community Franklin Elementary School. She says the farm tours serve as an important aspect of a student’s education.
Patty Hatting is a fourth grade teacher at Gehlen Catholic. She too, believes such farm field trips are important for students, especially when the majority of students have never before visited a farm. Hatting says she incorporates farming culture as part of her curriculum.
Following the farm tour, the students had a lunch at Cleveland Park consisting of either a grilled hamburger or pork burger, chips, cookie, milk and ice cream.
Tulip Festival Court Announced
Orange City, Iowa — Orange City’s 2018 Tulip Court was elected on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.
Tulip Court members for the 78th annual Tulip Festival include: Alexa Arends, daughter of Troy and Darla Arends; Josie Maasdam, daughter of Kirk and Becky Maasdam; Haley Smit, daughter of Jason and Kara Smit; Juliana Tien, daughter of
Gale and Cathie Tien; Corinne Wiese, daughter of Robert and Tricia Wiese.
A Queen’s Tea and Pageant will be held on November 13 to crown the 2018 Tulip Queen. The Queen and Court will serve as ambassadors for Orange City’s 78th annual Tulip Festival, set for May 17-19, 2018.
Sioux County Authorities Investigate Hit-and-Run Accident
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on a rural property that occurred at the intersection of 400 Street and Hickory Avenue, about a mile east of Sioux Center. That
accident happened on Wednesday sometime between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. A vehicle turning east on to Hickory Avenue from 400 Street entered the ditch, struck a large pine tree, as well as a small sign on the resident’s property,
and then left the area. Sheriff’s authorities say the sign and the tree sustained about $800 in damage. If you witnessed the accident, or have information regarding the accident, you are asked to contact the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.
Winnebago Tribe Member Sentenced For Casino Theft
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A former Winnebago Tribal Council member has been sentenced to five years’ probation and 150 hours of community service for stealing from the tribe’s casino in Iowa. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nebraska said Thursday that 50-year-old Charles Aldrich was sentenced Monday in federal court in Omaha. Aldrich also was ordered to pay $36,500 in restitution. He had pleaded guilty in June to theft. Aldrich is one of nine former council members accused of a conspiracy to
siphon more than $327,000 from the WinneVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.
Nebraska Escaped Inmate Captured In Iowa
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Officials say an armed Nebraska inmate who escaped in a government vehicle transporting him has been captured in western Iowa.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says deputies found 37-year-old Eric Scott walking near the sheriff’s department in Council Bluffs around noon Thursday and arrested him without incident.
Deputies say a service weapon that belonged to an eastern Nebraska sheriff’s deputy was found in a backpack Scott was carrying when he was arrested.
Investigators say Scott was being transferred by a Dodge County deputy Wednesday when Scott commandeered the car south of Wahoo, pushing the deputy out of the vehicle. The deputy suffered minor injuries.
Scott was serving two to four years for fifth-offense drunken driving conviction when he escaped.
Open Public Records Board Denies Ombudsman Access To Files
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa board responsible for enforcing government transparency has denied the state ombudsman access to an Aug. 25 meeting that open-records advocates say was kept confidential in violation of state law.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Public Information Board is believed to be the first government body in state history to deny the ombudsman access to confidential meeting records by citing attorney-client privilege.
Iowa Ombudsman Investigator Bert Dalmer says the move is an affront to accountability. He says Iowa has safeguards to ensure records the ombudsman obtains aren’t released to others.
The information board met privately Aug. 25 to discuss a case involving a Burlington police officer who fatally shot a woman in 2015. The board later voted in open session without disclosing what was discussed.
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Sheriff’s Deputies Execute Search Warrant At Wrong Address
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa county faces a lawsuit after five of its sheriff’s officers were accused of confiscating and destroying property while executing a search warrant at a wrong address. The Des Moines Register reports that Michael Owings found Van Buren County the officers at his home in June when he arrived with his mother and girlfriend. A lawsuit alleges that Owings told officers they were in the wrong place, and one of them replied, “We own this property.” A judge granted the officers’ request for a search warrant at a Douds, Iowa home, in connection to a drug investigation, but the lawsuit contends that
the correct address was about one-third of a mile from Owings’ mobile home. Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Tedrow declined to comment. —
U-S Attorney For Northern Iowa District Sworn Into Office
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Peter E. Deegan Jr. has been sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. Deegan was nominated by President Donald Trump in July and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week. He took the oath of office Thursday in Cedar Rapids. Deegan was previously an assistant U.S. attorney and the chief of the
northern district’s criminal division. He now oversees a staff of 46 employees, including 25 attorneys and 21
non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district and also defends the U.S. in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Rural Economy Lagging
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new report says low commodity prices and weak farm incomes are continuing to hamper the rural economy in parts of 10 Plains and Midwestern states. The Rural Mainstreet Index for the region fell to from 42.2 in August to
39.6 in September, its lowest level in 2017. The index released Thursday ranges between 0 and 100, with any number under 50 indicating a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey of bankers, says more than half of the bankers reported that they have restructured
farm loans. Nearly 20 percent have increased their collateral requirements. Bankers reported a 2.1 percent increase in farm loan defaults over the past year. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
