Chamber Agriculture Committee To Celebrate Round Barn’s 100th Anniversary
(Le Mars) — The famous Tonsfeldt round barn, located on the grounds of the Plymouth County Fair, is turning 100 years old this year, and fair-goers are encouraged to help celebrate the round barn’s anniversary.
The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee, the organization that supervises the annual round barn’s agricultural education exhibit, is focusing on showcasing several of Plymouth County’s characteristic and historic barns. The Chamber Agriculture Committee has chosen the theme: “Plymouth County Barns: Landmarks on the Landscape.”
Jordan Sitzmann, Vice President of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Division says, “In honor of the round barn’s century anniversary, we will feature photos of several selected unique and distinctive barns located within Plymouth County. People attending the fair and visiting the famous round barn will see several photos of all types of barns including Gable, Gambrel, Monitor, Gothic and other style barns all found within Plymouth County,” said Sitzmann.
Sitzmann says, “The local FFA chapters are joining the Chamber Ag Committee by featuring exhibit displays showcasing the different types of barns, their origins, and histories. People will find the information interesting, especially at a time when we are seeing so many of the historical barns are disappearing,”
This year, visitors to the round barn will also see an agricultural time line showing the year of significant events involving agriculture and Plymouth County history.
Gehlen Alum Traveling Europe On Musical Concert Tour
(Le Mars) — 2018 Gehlen Catholic graduate, Kaitlyn Norfolk of LeMars, is currently traveling Europe with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music (IAM) now through July 18th.
Kaitlyn, the daughter of Robert & Lisa Norfolk, was involved in band, choir, drama & speech during her years at Gehlen Catholic School. She was a cantor at All Saints Parish in LeMars & in “West Side Story” in Orange City.
Kaitlyn is one of a select group of 390 Iowa students, which consists of 200 band members & 150 choir members; advisers; & parents who are participating in the 21-day event. She was nominated for IAM by her Instrumental & Vocal Music Directors, Mr. Paul Niebuhr of LeMars, & Mrs.Terra Falkena of Hospers.
The event began with 4 days of rehearsal in Grinnell, Iowa, with a farewell concert at Grinnell College on July 2nd. The Ambassadors then departed on their 16-day concert tour through England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy & Liechtenstein. The students have &/or are performing in every country with the exception of Liechtenstein.
IAM tours Europe on alternate years. In addition to be recommended by their high school music teachers as having superior music skills, students must also possess a strong character. Students were then contacted about their opportunity to participate in the tour. Kaitlyn said, “I chose IAM to share the musical skills God has given me. I also wanted to acquire new skills I can utilize at SDSU & throughout my life.”
Kaitlyn will be studying this fall at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings pursuing a major in Nursing. Due to conflicts in her college schedule, Kaitlyn will only be able to participate in the SDSU Choir during the 2018-2019 school year.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced For Video Recording In College Restroom
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A convicted Nebraska sex offender has been given 15 years in an Iowa prison for taking video of a college student showering in a residence hall.
Authorities say 30-year-old Zachary Person was sentenced Wednesday in Sioux City. He’d pleaded guilty to burglary and invasion of privacy. Prosecutors say he took the video March 1, 2017, in a bathroom at Morningside College’s Dimmitt Hall.
In return for Person’s pleas, prosecutors dropped charges related to separate attacks that occurred Feb. 12, 2017, on another woman at Morningside College and on a woman at a Sioux City hotel.
Nebraska records say Person, from Norfolk, was sentenced in October to 15 to 20 years for trying to assault a woman in Omaha. The Nebraska Sex Offender Registry says he’d also been convicted of sex crimes in 2012 and 2016.
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Former Governor Ray’s Funeral Scheduled For Today
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa residents remembering the legacy of former Gov. Robert D. Ray are reflecting on the difference between his administration and today’s politics.
Ray will be eulogized today during a funeral in Des Moines. The Republican governor is known for being a centrist who put policy before political expediency. He died Sunday at age 89.
Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, served in the Ray administration. He doubts someone with Ray’s positions could be elected today. He says the outpouring of respect and affection for Ray shows how popular his leadership style remains in Iowa.
Ray put Iowa on the international stage in the 1970s when he welcomed Vietnam War refugees from Southeast Asia. That action stands in contrast with Republicans’ current immigration views.
Ray First Person In 63 Years To Lie In State At Capitol Building
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former longtime Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray was the first person in 63 years to lie in state at the Iowa Capitol.
Ray’s body was brought Thursday afternoon to the Capitol. His funeral will be today.
Ray was born in Des Moines, was educated in the city and served as mayor after his tenure as governor.
Recognizing his ties to the city, a motorcade transporting Ray’s body to the Capitol passed locations important to him, including the governor’s mansion, Roosevelt High School, Drake University and Des Moines City Hall. The motorcade arrived at the Capitol about 4:30 p.m., and a wreath-laying ceremony began at 5 p.m.
The five-term former governor died Sunday at age 89.
The last person to lie in state at the Capitol was former Gov. William Beardsley in 1954.
Health Officials Investigate Salads Found To Have Parasite Causing Illnesses
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Health officials in Illinois and Iowa are investigating an increase in people becoming sick from a parasite that causes intestinal illness.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said in a news release Thursday that it has received confirmation of about 90 cases of cyclosporiasis, which is caused by the Cyclospora parasite. The Iowa Department of Public Health, in its own release, said it has identified 15 cases linked to the same illness and parasite.
Both departments say there appears to be a link to consumption of McDonald’s salads. The departments say McDonald’s is also investigating and has been fully cooperating with state health officials, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Illinois cases date back to mid-May and the Iowa ones to late June.
People can become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the microscopic parasite.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms could include appetite and weight loss, intestinal pain, nausea and fatigue.
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Flooding Conditions Cause RAGBRAI Route To Change
MADRID, Iowa (AP) – Flooding has forced organizers to re-route part of Iowa’s annual cross-state bicycle ride.
Officials say flooding has significantly affected low-lying edges of Ledges State Park in Madrid, which is slated to host the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on July 24.
The ride has now been re-routed to avoid the park. The lowest areas along the route are currently under as much as 20 feet of water and levels are not expected to subside by the time bicyclists come through.
Riders are now slated to leave Boone eastbound on U.S. Highway 30, turn south on Quill Avenue, then meet up with the original route after about 3 miles. The new route will decrease the day’s distance by 3 miles.
This year’s ride begins July 22 in Onawa and ends July 28 in Davenport.
MidAmerican Energy Begins Work On Windfarm
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s largest power utility has announced it will begin construction of a wind farm in Grundy County.
MidAmerican Energy Co. said in a news release Thursday that construction of the Ivester wind farm will begin later this month. It’s expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Ivester project is projected to add 90.8 megawatts of wind generation capacity for MidAmerican customers. That’s enough to power more than 38,000 average homes in Iowa.
MidAmerican says the wind farm will add $875,000 in estimated average annual property taxes in Grundy County, in addition to construction, long-term operations and maintenance jobs.
The project is part of MidAmerican Energy’s $3.6 billion Wind XI project announced in 2016.
