Get Branded 360 Wins Mid-size Population City “Open 4 Business” Competition
(Le Mars) — A Le Mars business was selected as a finalist for the Iowa Mainstreet “Open 4 Business” competition. The contest was held yesterday and businesses from across the state submitted their ideas for growth and expansion to qualify for a grant. Get Branded 360 with owners Tom and Lori Schuch won the Medium-size city population category. They will now compete
at the State finalists competition scheduled for August. Get Branded 360 was awarded with a $8,000 state grant. Each of the state’s 54 Main Street organizations could submit one business to represent their program. The contest is designed to help local Main Street programs provide financial and technical support for business retention, expansion, and recruitment efforts
that improve Main Street districts. Mary Reynolds, Le Mars Main Street Coordinator says,”We are delighted that the Schuchs were selected as the winner of the medium population category. They had a strong 15 minute presentation via Skype with the judges in Des Moines,”A year ago, The Browns Musical Family with their Century Theater was among the state finalists and were awarded a total of $18,500 in city and state grants.
Governor Reynolds Declares Plymouth, Sioux, and Lyon Counties As Disaster Areas – – Mid-Sioux Opportunity Offers Assistance
(Remsen) — Following her visit to northwest Iowa last weekend to see the flood damaged area,Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds declared Lyon, Sioux and Plymouth Counties as disaster areas which allows families affected by the flood eligible for some state assistance. Individuals suffering losses of personal property or having structural damage to their personal residence may
contact Mid-Sioux Opportunity of Remsen. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program may provide up to $5,000 of assistance, reimbursement and/or vendor voucher, for covered items to households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Iowa Disaster Case Management program is to
address serious needs to overcome disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse conditions. Mid-Sioux Opportunity can be contacted by calling (800) 859-2025.
Western Iowa Dairy Alliance To Hold Dairy Month Open House
(Le Mars) — June is Dairy Month and the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance will hold its annual open house this evening at a Lyon County dairy farm. The public is welcomed to visit the working dairy farm and view the milking of the cows, as well as see the entire farm’s operation. Scott Schroeder serves as the Executive Director for the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance. He says due to
the recent flooding, there have been a few changes to the program.
Schroeder asks the public park at the Lester Community Hall, and you will then be transported to the farm via a shuttle bus. The annual event has proven to be popular attracting several hundred, if not thousands, of visitors. Schroeder offers an explanation as to why people enjoy seeing a dairy farm.
The open house for the dairy farm begins at 4:00 p.m. and will continue until 8:00 p.m. Summit Farms is located at 1334 Dove Avenue, about a mile north of Lester, Iowa, and nearly a mile and a half north of Highway 9.
Silver Carp Invades Cherokee Lake
CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say floodwaters from the swollen Little Sioux River have carried an invasive fish into a Cherokee city lake.
The silver carp from Asia – also known as jumping carp – have landed in Spring Lake Park in Cherokee, thanks to a broken overflow line.
City conservationist Nick Livermore says that, as filter feeders, the carp “can really hurt the bottom of a food chain in a water
system.”
State authorities say that when the fish are startled by boat motors, they can jump 10 feet (3 meters) out of the water, striking and injuring boaters, anglers and skiers.
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Mason City Caretaker Arrested For Sexual Assault
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Mason City caretaker is accused of sexually assaulting two of his clients.
Cerro Gordo County Court records say 19-year-old Wasfie Alshara is charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse. He remained in jail Thursday morning. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
The records say Alshara raped one of his clients on Nov. 21 and
sexually assaulted the other in a group home on June 8.
The records also say Alshara worked for an unidentified company that provides caretaking services.
