Home News Friday Afternoon News, May 24th

Friday Afternoon News, May 24th

Last Day For Le Mars Community Schools

(Le Mars) — Today is the last day of school for students of the Le Mars Community School District. Classes dismissed at 1:20 p.m. for the elementary schools, and at 1:30 p.m. for the Middle School and High School.
Gehlen Catholic students were dismissed for the summer earlier this week.  A retirement awards program was held at the Le Mars Community High School cafeteria acknowledging the faculty and staff who have decided to retire, and those choosing to pursue a career elsewhere.  A combined 237 years of educational experience will leave the Le Mars Community School District.  Those teachers and staff choosing to retire include: Al Engebretson -37 years as a Middle School Math teacher, Daletta Bruggeman – 34 years as a Franklin 4th grade instructor, Jayne Willer – 33 years as a Kluckholn Kindergarten teacher, Curt Ohrlund – 30 years as the High School Instrumental Music teacher, Wilbur Petersen – 27 years as a bus driver, Joann Johnson – 21 years as the High School Family and Consumer Sciences instructor, Kathy Dalton – 21 years as the High School IMC associate, Colleen Bortscheller – 20 years as the High School Math teacher.

Mark your calendars, because there are only 90 days left before classes begin again for the 2019-2020 school year.

 

 

“Thunder On The Missouri” Motorcycle Run Scheduled For Sunday

(Le Mars) — As part of the Memorial Day weekend tradition is the annual “Thunder on the Missouri” which comprises of primarily Vietnam veterans and other patriots taking their motorcycles for a ride to the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall located in Freedom Park of South Sioux City,
Nebraska. Larry Haitz (Hights) is the coordinator of the fifth annual Midwest motorcycle honor ride that will take place Sunday afternoon.

Haitz says the Mid-west ride was started after the “Rolling Thunder” motorcycle ride to the actual Vietnam Memorial Wall at Washington D.C.

Haitz explains the agenda for Sunday’s memorial ride.

The coordinator of the “Thunder on the Missouri” memorial ride anticipates several hundred people from far and wide will participate in the annual event, not just those from the nearby tri-state region.

Haitz says anyone, who is a patriot, is welcomed to participate on the “Thunder on the Missouri” memorial motorcycle ride.

Again, the staging area will take place at the Sergeant Bluff’s American Legion Hall.

(photos contributed.)

 

 

Michelle Connor Named Chamber Employee Of The Month

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce awarded its May “Employee of the Month” honors this morning to a physical therapist with the Le Mars Physical Therapy. Owner Sandy Norby has a special congratulation to extend to Michelle Connor. Michelle Connor has been selected as the May 2019 Le Mars
Area Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month.
Michelle joined the Le Mars Physical Therapy team in June 2006 and continues to be a trusted and valued team member. Michelle and husband, Paul, chose to live in Le Mars when they moved here from South Dakota. Their decision has impacted hundreds of lives in such a positive manner. Michelle is an excellent and talented Occupational Therapist who also has the distinction of
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). The CHT distinction is earned through many hours of experience and passing a rigorous exam, in which only one third pass the first time, which Michelle did pass the first time.

The residents of Le Mars and the surrounding community have enjoyed her expert level of care so close to home. Hand surgeons send her patients from outside Le Mars because of her reputation.

This nomination is not made solely on Michelle’s professional skills. What sets her apart is her commitment and passion for people. Michelle truly cares for her community and will do anything to make it better. There are so many examples to share, that I would be dismayed to forget the stellar ones.
Throughout her life, she volunteers, plans, contributes and prays for members of this community. Her presence as a volunteer for her daughters activities to her steadfastness in supporting her church to putting together gift bags and organizing prayer chains for our neighbors who need it, are just a few examples of her love for this community.
Michelle is a role model and we are so lucky to have her practice her profession with us, but most importantly, what she gives back to our community is the real honor in this award.

Congratulations Michelle Connor for being named the May 2019 LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month.

 

 

Big Brothers-Big Sisters Organization Promotes Langel

(Sioux City) — Kristen Langel has been named Senior Mentoring Specialist of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland (BBBS). Prior to her promotion at Big Brothers – Big Sisters, Langel has served as a Mentoring Specialist focusing
on growing the Plymouth County School and Community Based Programs. Langel has been with Big Brothers – Big Sisters for the past 8 years.


Langel is a native of Le Mars, and graduated of Gehlen Catholic High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2009.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The agency has been helping children in the Siouxland community since 1978.

 

 

NEW Cooperative, Incorporated Pays 4-H Members Dues

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County 4-H members received a generous gift from the NEW cooperative foundation of Fort Dodge. The grain elevator company has again paid for half of the membership dues for each Plymouth County 4-H member. Ann Schoenrock, the Plymouth County Extension 4-H and Youth Director, and co-cordinator accepted a check in the amount of $1,365 from the NEW Cooperative.

NEW Cooperative, Incorporated has donated more than 41,000 to cover the expense of half of the membership dues for 2,751 4-H members
representing 135 area 4-H clubs within the counties they serve which includes: Webster, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Franklin, Sac, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Hamilton, Kossuth, Cherokee, Crawford, Plymouth, Monona, Wright, and Woodbury counties.

 

 

Southern Iowa Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Using A Tractor Equipped With Bale Spike To Attack Deputy Vehicle

GRAND RIVER, Iowa (AP) – A southern Iowa man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly using a tractor to spear a county sheriff’s car and push the vehicle more than 100 feet.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says Decatur County Sheriff Ben Boswell and two deputies were called Thursday afternoon to a family dispute at a home near the tiny town of Grand River.
The first deputy who arrived was confronted by 54-year-old Gerry Greenland, who was driving a John Deere tractor outfitted with a front-end bale spear. Police say Greenland drove toward the patrol car but the deputy drove out of the way.
Greenland then drove toward the sheriff’s car, piercing the driver-side door and pushing the car until finally stopping.
Deputies arrested Greenland on the attempted murder charge.
Boswell wasn’t hurt.
It wasn’t clear from online records if a Greenland has a lawyer who could comment on the incident.

 

 

Secretary At Juvenile Detention School Fired After Selling Pills To A Student

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A secretary at Iowa’s school for juvenile offenders has been fired after using her job to purchase pain pills from a former student who she says demanded payments to keep quiet about the transaction.
Disciplinary and unemployment records show that Kelly Reed lost her 19-year job at the State Training School for Boys in Eldora in March after reporting the alleged blackmail scheme to the institution and police.
She alleges the former student threatened that, if he wasn’t paid
monthly, he would tell the school and news reporters of the illegal purchase she made last year when she was desperate to relieve back pain.
The Division of Criminal Investigation and the county attorney are now investigating the purchase of pills, which occurred off school grounds, and the alleged threats and payments that came afterward.

 

 

Davenport Recovering From Recent Floods

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Crews are rebuilding a temporary flood barrier in an effort to protect downtown Davenport as the Mississippi River threatens to rise again.
The river breached the barrier on April 30, sending floodwaters into the city. Video footage from security cameras on the day of the flood shows water spilling over the top of the barrier.
An investigation by British manufacturer HESCO found no structural fault.
The Quad-City Times reports that crews started to reassemble the structure Wednesday, packing giant green baskets with sand.
Davenport’s public works department has already spent over $1 million on fighting floods this spring.
As of Thursday, the Mississippi River was at 16.7 feet, but experts say the river could rise to at least 18 feet by May 31.

 

 

River Bandits To Play First Home Baseball Game Following Floods

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – The Quad Cities River Bandits will play at home this Friday for the first time in weeks.
The minor league team plays home games at Modern Woodmen Park, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport. But massive flooding this spring has left the home ballpark inaccessible. That’s forced the River Bandits to play 40 of their first 43 games on the road.
Team owner Dave Heller tells the Quad-City Times that he’s looking forward to standing at the end of a makeshift ramp and greeting fans Friday as they enter the ballpark.
The team will open a seven-game homestand on Friday, taking on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in a four-game series before playing the Beloit, Wisconsin, Snappers in a three-game series.