American Legion Prepares For Avenue Of Flags Program
(Le Mars) — Monday is Memorial Day, and the Wasmer Post 241 American Legion of Le Mars is preparing its annual Avenue of Flags program. This year, marks the 54th edition of the Avenue of Flags ceremony. Dan Plueger serves as the Commander of the local American Legion organization, and says a parade will precede the ceremonies.
More than 1400 flags are scheduled to be on display in honor of the Le Mars and Plymouth County veterans that have passed away. Plueger says the number of flags to be dedicated continues to grow, but at last count, at least 20 flags are scheduled to be dedicated. The local American Legion Commander explains the program scheduled for Memorial Day.
As it is with the tradition of the Avenue of the Flags, American Legion member Pat Murphy will again recite the more than 1400 names of Le Mars veterans to be honored.
Plueger continues with the program’s agenda.
Plueger says volunteers are needed for Saturday morning, as well as for Monday.
The weather forecast for Monday is calling for the possibility of rain, and Plueger says if necessary, they are prepared to hold the annual Memorial Day program inside the Le Mars Community Middle School auditorium. He says the ceremonies will remain the same as it would be at the County Courthouse.
Stay tuned to KLEM radio for any announcements regarding the Avenue of Flags.
“Thunder On The Missouri” Motorcycle Honor RunÂ
(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.
Langel Promoted At Big Brothers – Big Sisters Organization
(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 Assists With 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.
Le Mars Outdoor Swimming Pool To Open On Saturday
(Le Mars) — Our recent weather conditions may not have been conducive for swimming outdoors, but none-the-less the Le Mars Outdoor Swimming Pool is scheduled to open to the public this Saturday afternoon. Angela Loutsch with the YMCA, supervises the pool, says the pool’s temperature is a comfortable
79 degrees.
Loutsch says people will be pleasantly surprised to see all the improvements to the outdoor pool.
Loutsch explains the additional benches were an Eagle Scout’s project.
The swimming pool supervisor believes people, particularly parents, will appreciate the extra canopies to block the sun.
Loutsch reviews the times the outdoor pool will be open, weather permitting.
Daily admission to the outdoor pool is $1.50 for infants, Children are listed at $4.00, adults are admitted for $5.00 and seniors can swim for $4.00. Evening rates are listed at half price.
Tornado Touches Down Near Iowa City
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A tornado has touched down just south of Iowa City, Iowa, causing some damage but no injuries.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen says the tornado affected two lightly-
populated unincorporated towns of Frytown and Sharon Center.
Sgt. Brad Kunkel of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, says some homes and trailers were damaged.
He says that authorities will be checking to see if anyone needs
assistance, including the Amish community in the county who may not have electricity.
The tornado disrupted a high school graduation at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, where the University of Iowa is located. Students and their families were moved to the bowels of the facility after a tornado siren sounded.
The National Weather Service said the threat of tornadoes in the area had ended by late Friday evening.
Secretary For Juvenile Detention School Fired After Buying Pills From 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.
Hispanics To Become The Largest Minority
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Hispanics are expected to outpace blacks to become the electorate’s largest nationwide racial or ethnic minority group for the first time on Election Day 2020.
But a preview of the voting bloc’s power may come during the
Democratic primary, whose calendar could allow it to have an even greater effect.
Hispanics are 30% of the population in Nevada, which is the third
state voting. And California and Texas, home to 13-plus million eligible Hispanic voters, are among 14 “Super Tuesday” primaries 10 days later.
That means candidates who can win consistent Latino support could secure a survival path through the primary’s frantic opening weeks, as the 23-candidate field winnows.
Some 4,051 Democratic delegates are up for grabs, and nearly 500 of those will be in California alone. Texas has 260-plus.
Reynolds Vetoes Advanced Medical Marijuana Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has vetoed a bill that would have lifted a cap on the potency of medical marijuana products available in the state.
Reynolds vetoed the bill Friday afternoon, saying the state must
proceed cautiously in any expansion of its medical marijuana program.
Reynolds says she could support future more limited effort to increase the potency of products.
Democratic lawmakers who have supported expansion of the program criticized Reynolds’ decision, saying it would hurt sick people who get little benefit from products now available that have low levels of THC, the compound that causes a high.
Rep. John Forbes, an Urbandale pharmacist, called the veto
“distressing news for thousands of sick and vulnerable Iowans who deserve greater access to this life-changing medication.”
The bill had been approved overwhelmingly in both legislative
chambers.
