Communities Celebrate Independence Day Activities
(Le Mars) — Several celebrations are scheduled for area communities as we acknowledge our nation’s independence. In Le Mars, a parade is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. and will form at the 8th Street Blvd, then proceed north on Central Avenue, until 2nd Street south, it will then turn west and go to
the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Following the parade, a community picnic meal is scheduled for inside the “Old Central” gymnasium at the museum. At 3:00 p.m. there is a free watermelon feed on the east lawn of the museum, and throughout the afternoon root beer floats will be served inside
the museum’s Miller Lunch Stand.
The Loutsch family will again parade their collection of antique tractors beginning at 12:00 noon. More than 100 tractors will travel the streets of Oyens showcasing the advancements of tractor technology. Following the parade, the tractors will be on display at the Loutsch farm located two miles
east of Oyens on Pioneer Avenue.
The Le Mars Municipal Band will perform a free concert at Foster Park in Le Mars on Wednesday evening. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.
The concert is open to the general public. Following the municipal band’s concert, Sky Show 2018 featuring fireworks and patriotic-themed music will take place at dusk from the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.
Some Iowa Communities Have Banned Fireworks
(Des Moines) — When you think about the Independence Day Holiday, thoughts turn to fireworks. However, Fewer communities are allowing their residents to use fireworks this year, the second Fourth of July holiday since Iowa
lawmakers legalized fireworks sales in the state. Many cities made changes to their fireworks policies after receiving numerous complaints last year.
Marion, in Linn County, is among the communities limiting when fireworks can be used – from noon till 11 p.m. on the Fourth. Marion Police Department spokesman Tom Daubs (dobbs) is hopeful it will mean fewer complaints than
last year.
Waterloo Fire Chief Pat Treeloar (TREE-lor) says local leaders banned the personal use of fireworks after getting about 800 complaints last year. He hopes this will be a quieter Fourth.
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Dubuque are among the other cities NOT allowing personal use of fireworks this year. Cities such as Council Bluffs and Sioux City, like Marion, ARE allowing their use, but for a shorter period of time than last year.
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Clive Library Damaged From Flooding
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – Officials in central Iowa say flooding from heavy rains this past weekend have damaged the Clive Library and the Clive Aquatic Center.
The Polk County Emergency Management Agency said in a news release Tuesday that the library and aquatic center had closed because of damage from storm water. Both have since reopened.
A special flood-debris pickup has also been scheduled for Clive, a
suburb of Des Moines, on Friday for residents and businesses in affected parts of the University Avenue Boulevard neighborhood and the Indian Hills neighborhood.
Waste Management trucks will be in those areas throughout Friday and possibly Saturday morning to pick up debris.
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Authorities Identify Police Officer and Victim In Panora Shooting
PANORA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have identified a man shot and killed over the weekend by a Panora police officer in central Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a news release Tuesday that 26-year-old Joshua Reed, of New Virginia, Iowa, was the man killed Sunday night.
Police say officers were called that night to a Panora apartment
complex, where residents reported a man armed with a knife.
Officers found the man, later identified as Reed, in a hallway and
ordered him to drop the knife. After he refused to do so, police say Officer Rock Armstrong shot him.
Police say Reed was given medical aid, but died.
Armstrong, who has served as a police officer for 17 years, is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Suspended State Trooper Now Fired From Job
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety has fired a state trooper who was on paid leave for 10 months. The department told The Associated Press that trooper Wade Karp was terminated Tuesday for violating rules governing employee conduct. The move comes one week after AP reported
that Karp had been kept on paid leave since Sept. 5, 2017 and collected about $50,000 in salary since then.
