Plymouth County Authorities Investigate Two-vehicle Accident
(Le Mars) — Two vehicles collided Tuesday morning at about 10:24 a.m. on the Highway 3 and Exit 118 intersection causing a new 2019 GMC Acadia to to roll once and then landing on its wheels. The vehicles involved were a Ford van and a new 2019 GMC Acadia that still had the dealer tags from Total Motors.
Le Mars Police, Le Mars Fire and Rescue, Le Mars Ambulance, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the accident scene that happened about a mile west of town. The new GMC Acadia sustained the most damage with its airbags deploying.
Firefighters needed to use their “Jaws of Life” to
extradite the driver from the new SUV. According to officials on the scene, apparently the Ford van was heading north on the by-pass when it traveled through a stop sign, and striking the GMC Acadia on the drivers side, causing the 2019 Acadia to spin and roll into the ditch. The driver of the van appeared not to have any injuries, or they were classified as minor injuries.
The driver of the GMC Acadia suffered injuries, but they were not to be thought as life-threatening. The driver was transported by the Le Mars Ambulance to Floyd Valley healthcare for further observation. No names have yet been released with the accident, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office in investigating.
Donlin Reports Financial Condition Of Betterment Foundation To City Officials
(Le Mars) — During Tuesday’s Le Mars city council meeting, Le Mars Betterment Foundation president, Mike Donlin appeared before the council to offer an update of the Community Betterment funds. Donlin reported the Community Betterment Fund began with more than $1.6 million dollars, but recently added $158,580 to the fund, primarily for the renovation of the Olson Cultural Event Center located in downtown Le Mars. Donlin says the new figure is at $1,791,489.
McClure Engineering To Conduct Water Usage Survey and Water Engineering Services
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council approved action naming McClure Engineering to serve as as a water systems consultant for engineering services. During that discussion, the council inquired about a water usage survey, and specifically were asking about how Le Mars will go about reducing
the problem with a build-up of chloride with our water. A representative from McClure Engineering indicated to council members that completion of a water usage survey may take up to five months to complete. City administrator Jason
Vacura informed council members a preliminary chloride compliant strategy is requested by the state’s Department of Natural Resources by June 1st. Vacura says the DNR isn’t asking for a completion by the June 1st deadline, they are only asking for the city to submit a plan on how it intends to reduce the
chloride level.
Landfill Rates To Increase On July 1st
(Le Mars) — City council members approved a proposal submitted by the Plymouth County Solid Waste Agency to increase rates due to the increase costs of landfill operations. Beginning July 1st, assessments will increase
$2.00 per capita. All rates will increase $2.00 per ton.
Museum To Offer Good Friday Pilgrimage
(Le Mars) — For the 11th year, the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars will host a Good Friday Pilgrimage to the Museum’s Religious Heritage Room on Good Friday, April 19.
The public is invited to visit the room between 11 a.m. and noon and view “The Morning of the Crucifixion,” a 121-year-old painting of mural proportions.
The pilgrimage began in 2009 as a memorial in the name of the late Pastor Larry Fett, who served Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars for many years and was active in the community. As a part of the memorial, cards about the historical painting and the special room have been donated by Pastor Fett’s widow, Margaret Fett, and are available in the Religious Heritage Room.
Al and Delores Maser of Le Mars had the historic painting restored and also led in the restoration of the Religious Heritage Room.
In addition to the historic painting, a stained glass window from the former Le Mars United Methodist Church is also featured. The late Richard and Doris Zimmerman were instrumental in the preservation of the window.
The Museum is located at 335 First Avenue SW, Le Mars. Visitors should use the east entrance by the Weber Log Cabin.
Founders Luncheon Being Planned For Sesquicentennial Celebration
(Le Mars) — A Founder’s Day luncheon will be held during the
Sesquicentennial to honor the history of our community over the past 150 years.
The Founder’s Day Luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 15 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Le Mars Convention Center lower level. Cost is $35 a person.
Reservations are required.
The luncheon will feature short vignettes on the settling of Le Mars, the history of schools and churches. Speakers will be Iris Hemmingson, Rich Ziettlow and Dr. Wayne Marty.
During the luncheon “Did you Know” segments will provide attendees with tidbits about Le Mars that they may never have known. Presenting these segments are Linda Mayrose, Dr. Steven and Barb Collins and Jessica Brownmiller.
Julie Beitelspacher will present “Le Mars—A special place in my life.”
A buffet luncheon, served by Habitue’ Catering, will include roast beef, roasted potatoes, green beans, lettuce salad, corn bread and fruit cobbler.
Dave Grosenheider will serve as Master of Ceremony.
There will be a special reading of two of Valda Embree’s poems by Dr. Robert Embree.
Jennifer Scholten will perform two songs that were written during the early days in Le Mars.
To make a reservation, call the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce 712-546- 8821. Limited seating capacity.
Wind Farm Is Proposed For Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — Could there someday be wind generator turbines located in Plymouth County? According to Alan Lucken, Plymouth County Zoning Administrator, a proposal from a Chicago-based energy company has been submitted to feature a 200 megawatt wind farm to be located in the eastern portion of Plymouth County.
Lucken says the company is in the process of obtaining easements from local landowners to construct the wind turbines. Following that, the wind farm company will then appear before the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment seeking permission to build the wind farm.
Lucken says according to company officials, nearly thirty percent of the easements have already been obtained. However, it may be late summer or even into the autumn months before the wind turbine company will appear before the County Board of Adjustment. Lucken says it can be fairly lucrative for a
landowner to have a wind generator turbine located on their property.
Lucken says he has consulted with his counterparts from other counties that already have active wind farms to inquire about the pros and cons of having an established wind farm to be located within Plymouth County.
At current time, there is only one wind generator located within Plymouth County. The town of Akron has tried to utilize the wind for some of its power needs, but Lucken says that wind generator has had problems over the years.
The county zoning administrator says Plymouth County has already written zoning ordinances for any future wind generator turbines. He says the proposed wind generator turbines would stand approximately 500 feet tall with a wind blade radius of 150 to 175 feet.
(photo contributed.)
Critics Argue Over Army Corps Of Engineers Primary Duty
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – This spring’s massive flooding along the Missouri River unearthed bitter criticism of the federal agency that manages the river while devastating communities and causing more than $3 billion in damage.
The flooding and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ actions will be the focus of a U.S. Senate hearing in western Iowa on Wednesday and critics will demand the agency make flood control its top priority. But Congress would have to act to change the Corps’ priorities.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says the current river management policy needs to be fixed.
That sentiment is appealing in flood-damaged Midwestern states, but it may not be as popular with supporters of the Corps’ other priorities such as protecting endangered species.
Man Accused Of Killing Iowa State University Female Golfer Wants Trial To Be Moved
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Prosecutors in Iowa are fighting to keep the trial of a man accused of killing am Iowa State University golfer in Story County.
The Des Moines Register reports that Collin Richards, who is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing last September of Celia Barquín Arozamena, is seeking to have his trial moved to another county. His attorney says in a motion that pre-trial publicity would keep Richards from getting a fair trial in Story County.
Prosecutors filed a response Tuesday saying Richards couldn’t show that coverage of the crime was prejudicial.
Richards has pleaded not guilty to killing Barquín Arozamena on Sept. 17 while she was playing a round at a public course in Ames, near the university campus.
A hearing on Richards’ motion has been set for May 6. His trial is
set for September.
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