Cruz Lang Named “Officer of the Day”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department added another officer to its force, at least for a day. Six year-old Cruz Lang, the son of Micah and Mackenzie Lang was sworn into duty yesterday as an officer of the day. Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte issued the oath of office for the youngster.
Following the swearing in, and the signing of the certificate, young Lang became an officer of the day. Lang, along with his parents were given a tour of the new police headquarters. He was equipped with a t-shirt with the Le Mars Police Department emblem. He was given a medallion coin, a certificate, a stick-on badge, and the Le Mars Police Department emblem. The officer of the day sat in a police squad car, operated the emergency flashing lights and siren, reported on the radio, explored the armored vehicle known as the “Peace Maker” and even got the opportunity to train with the Combined Response Team, the tactical unit comprising of the Le Mars Police Department,
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
During the tactical training, Lang was given the opportunity to assist in an arrest, although it was part of the training exercise. Lang was all smiles as Police Chief Vande Vegte and Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale showed the Kluckholn Kindergarten student a taser, ammunition, and the ins and out of being a
police officer. The opportunity came about through a fund raising activity.
Chief Vande Vegte says the police department has offered three opportunities for youngsters to become an “Officer of the Day.” Lang is the first to be named as the “Officer of the Day.” Micah Lang, Cruz’s father, says he submitted the top bid during the Floyd Valley Healthcare Gala which featured the “Officer of the Day” as an auction item. Micah Lang says of his son, he
has always said he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.
“Our Town” Scheduled To Be The Next Play At Le Mars Community Postal Playhouse Theater
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Theater will hold auditions for its next play “Our Town” on Wednesday, March 27th and again on Sunday, March 31st.
For both dates, the time for the auditions will be held at 7:00 p.m. The tentative performance dates are listed for May 31st through June 2nd and again June 6th through June 9th. Rehearsals will begin on April 3rd. “Our Town” is a popular play written by Thorton Wilder. It tells the story of a small town, Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, in order to tell us the story of
every town, the whole world over. Narrated by the “Stage Manager”, we follow the Gibbs and Webb families, residents of Grover’s Corners, through twelve years of life changes — from the mundane in Act I, “Daily Life,” to the romantic in Act II, “Love and Marriage,” to the devastating in Act III,
“Death and Eternity.” Through the young lovers Emily and George, their strong and loving parents, and the many other Grover’s Corners’ locals, Wilder delivers universal mystic unreality.
Farm Rescue To Organize Hay Lift For Flooded Farmers
(Le Mars) — A farm organization based in North Dakota is wanting to offer help to the many farmers and ranchers in Nebraska hit by the recent flooding. The massive floods affecting the Midwest states has prompted the organization Farm Rescue to activate “Operation Hay Lift.” This is the second time the organization has conducted such a relief program. The first time was during a drought. Farm Rescue is a non-profit organization that provides planting, haying, harvesting and livestock feeding assistance free of charge to farm and ranch families who have experienced a major illness, injury, or natural disaster. Dan Erdmann serves as the Communications Director with Farm Rescue. He says so many Nebraska farmers and ranchers have their cattle herds stranded because of the flooding.
Erdmann says Farm Rescue hopes to establish several drop off locations. He says applications are now being accepted from farmers and ranchers in need of the donated hay. Erdmann says for farmers and ranchers, or livestock yards wanting to make donations of hay need to contact Farm Rescue.
As mentioned this is the second effort for a hay lift rescue. Back in 2017, Farm Rescue performed a hay lift for those farmers and ranchers in South and North Dakota suffering from a drought. He says the organization had a successful event, hauling 275 semi trailer loads of hay to more than 154 farmers and ranchers. Erdmann says Farm Rescue hopes to have similar success with this hay lift.
Minnesota Governor To Send National Guard To Help Flood Victims
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has signed an emergency executive order to provide aerial assistance to flood-stricken Nebraska.
The order came after Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts requested Minnesota Army National Guard helicopter support.
Minnesota sent one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with 10 personnel to support flood response operations in Nebraska on Wednesday morning.
Minnesota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen says in a statement that the emergency executive order will remain in effect until the emergency flood conditions in Nebraska ease.
Snowmelt and rainfall have led to massive flooding this month in the Midwest, especially in Nebraska, southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri.
Authorities Release Name of Fatal Fire Victim
BOONE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a 70-year-old man whose body was found inside the charred remains of a house in central Iowa.
The Des Moines Register reports that the body’s been identified as that of Santos Guadalupe Calderon-Alvarado. Firefighters found his body Jan. 24 following an overnight fire in his home northwest of Boone.
Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Andy Godzicki says Calderon-Alvarado likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning in his sleep the night of the fire. He says investigators think the fire was started after something went wrong with the handmade wood-burning stove that Calderon-Alvarado was using to heat the house.
Godzicki says four or five dogs also died in the fire. Others escaped.
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Des Moines Police Officers Help Children Out Of Apartment Fire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Four police officers who rushed to the scene of an apartment fire are being hailed for catching children dropped by their mother from a third-story window.
The officers arrived at the scene early Tuesday morning before firefighters. Video shows the Des Moines officers calling up to the frantic mother and encouraging her to drop her three children.
One officer can be heard yelling over the sound of sirens, “I got ’em. Yup. Drop ’em!” The officers can then be seen catching children in their arms, including a crying baby, as fire erupts from a nearby window.
Police say the officers involved were Cole Johnson, Tyler Kelley, Casey Sanders and Craig Vasquez.
Fire Lt. Rick Thomas says none of children, officers or firefighters was injured. The fire cause is being investigated.
Body Identified Found In A Burning Car
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police in eastern Iowa have identified a man whose body was found this week in a burning car.
Iowa City police say 72-year-old Donald Lee Schrader, of Iowa City, was found Monday night after firefighters extinguished the flames engulfing his car. Investigators say the fire started in the passenger compartment of the car and that no criminal activity is suspected in the blaze, although the investigation remains open.
Police say results from an autopsy to determine the cause of death many not be available for weeks.
Officers and firefighters found Schrader’s body around 11 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a car on fire in an Iowa City parking lot.
26 Year Old Man Arrested For Sending Bomb Threat To School
SUMNER, Iowa (AP) – A 26-year-old eastern Iowa man has been accused of phoning in a bomb threat to an elementary school.
Authorities say Ean Weipert was arrested Tuesday at his home in Colesburg. Bremer County court records say he’s charged with intimidation and with threat of terrorism. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Weipert.
A criminal complaint says Weipert called a staffer Tuesday at Durant Elementary School in Sumner and threatened to blow up the school. Sumner Police Officer Trey Myers says an investigation showed the threat had to be taken seriously.
