County Supervisors To Decide On Sub-divisions
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will gather at the Courthouse Board Room for their weekly meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. The county supervisors will hear from Fred SChiefen and Michael O’Keeke as each will seek approval for sub-divisions. Schiefen for Johsnon Township and O’Keefe for Garfield Township. County Engineer Tom Rohe will discuss with
the board of supervisors the status of county road construction projects.
The supervisors will go into closed session to discuss litigation.
City Council To Hold Final Readings On Water And Sewer Rate Increases
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council is scheduled to convene at the city council chambers at noon today. The council will take action on the KNS Addition, the police department position, and the council will have its final reading of the proposed water rate and sewer rate increases as part of the city code ordinances.
Fire and Rescue Department Releases May Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, they
issued their May monthly report. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 39 calls during the 31 days of May. There were nine fire calls, five rescues, thirteen investigations, eight requests for services, and three mutual aid calls, once with Merrill and twice with Oyens.
According to Fire Chief Dave Schipper, each of the members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department have passed their testing, and have been re-certified for Hazardous Materials Operations. During the month of May, the local fire department conducted a control burn of grassland for training purposes.
Waste Water Spilling Into Little Sioux River At Quimby
QUIMBY – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reporting a broken sewer main under the Little Sioux River in Cherokee County has caused wastewater to flow into the river.
The city of Quimby reported the break at about 10:30 a.m. Monday. The city’s wastewater operator said they can’t get close to the area because of flooding. After water levels drop, they can determine where the sewer line is broken and how to fix it.
About 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater is entering the river each day.
Grain Mills Had Been Major Industry For Le Mars During Turn Of 20th Century
(Le Mars) — As we approach the Le Mars Sesquicentennial celebration, let’s take another look back at the history of Le Mars. Today, Le Mars is known as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World”, but at the turn of the 20th century, Le Mars may perhaps was best known for its grain mills. Steve Collins, one of
the six authors of the Le Mars History Book, says the milling industry was among the first industries for Le Mars.
Collins says Peter Gehlen had set up a grain mill to process grain along the Floyd River using water power to grind the grain.
Collins says there was one individual who might be credited for bringing immigrants and settlers to Le Mars and help set up homes and businesses.
Iris Hemmingson is another of the authors of the Le Mars Sesquicentennial History Book, and talks about some of the grain mills that were operating in Le Mars during the early years.
The Le Mars History Preservation Commission member talks about those mills, and how some of the structures are part of today’s grain elevator companies.
Hemmingson explains about the materials brought into Le Mars by railroad in order to construct the grain mill.
Collins offers a quick comment about the anticipated book due out during the week of the Sesquicentennial celebration.
Primebank Awarded Naming Rights For Tyson Center Box Office
Sioux City, IA (June 3, 2019) – Spectra and the City of Sioux City are excited to announce a brand new multi-year partnership with Primebank as the Box Office Naming Rights partner at the Tyson Events Center.
“We’re thrilled to partner with a deep-rooted brand in Sioux City that shares our commitment to creating innovative opportunities for our community,” said Spectra’s Tim Savona, General Manager of the Tyson Events Center and Orpheum Theatre. “As partners, Primebank will help us generate excitement for our
venue and events through the ticket buying process.”
Known as the Tyson Events Center Box Office since the building opened in 2003, the box office will now bear the name of Primebank Box Office at the Tyson Events Center. Spectra has rebranded the box office at the Tyson Events Center to align with the new partnership, including branded ticket windows,
column wraps, and exterior door graphics. Patrons can purchase tickets and gift cards at the Primebank Box Office in-person for all ticketed events at the Tyson Events Center and Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.
Branstad Returns To Iowa For Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A monthlong trial in state court has begun that focuses on whether former Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad discriminated against a gay Democratic official by pressuring him to quit or was exercising the governor’s right to hire people aligned with his political philosophy.
Branstad was sued in 2012 by Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey, who alleged discrimination by Branstad and staff members who pressured Godfrey to resign in 2011.
When Branstad came into office in 2011, Godfrey had four more years before his term ended so Branstad couldn’t fire him. However, the governor could set the commissioner’s salary, so he cut Godfrey’s pay by $39,000.
A Polk County jury will decide whether Branstad’s actions were proper or discrimination based on sexual orientation, political party affiliation or both.
Attorney General Request Catholic Diocese Records
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is asking Roman Catholic officials in Iowa to provide records on clergy sexual abuse so his office can launch a third-party review.
Miller says Monday he’s sent letters to bishops in Davenport, Des
Moines, Dubuque and Sioux City seeking lists of priests and other church employees deemed “credibly accused” of sexual abuse and lists of accusations deemed not credible. He also wants notes from board meetings where accusations were considered, documentation of reports of abuse received by
church officials and actions taken, and copies of settlement agreements with abuse survivors.
Miller says he wants a response by Aug. 1.
He says survivors have urged his office to investigate and “bring
attention to the injustice they and others have suffered.”
Iowa Catholic Conference spokesman Tom Chapman says each diocese plans to comply with Miller’s request. He says if there have been failures in the past, it is not for lack of trying, adding “there is no perfection this side of heaven.”
Miller’s office has a report form and a hotline for survivors on his
office website .
Continued Wet Conditions Further Delay Farmers With Planting
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Thanks to wet weather, it has been decades since Iowa farmers were so far behind in planting their expected corn and soybean crops.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 80% of the expected corn crop had been planted in Iowa in the week ending Sunday. That’s three-weeks behind the five-year average and the smallest percentage planted since 1982, when 76% of the crop had been planted.
The 41% of the soybean crop that has been planted was the smallest percentage since 1993. The soybean crop is 13 days behind the five-year average.
Last week, Iowa farmers had an average of 1.3 days suitable for
fieldwork. The number was even smaller in the lower third of the state.
Drowned Victim Now Identified
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man who drowned Friday in an Iowa City lake.
Police identified the man as 22-year-old Eric Mutarika.
He drowned Friday afternoon in a lake at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area.
Searchers with law enforcement and the Johnson County Metro Dive Team found the body about an hour after the incident was reported.
