Home News Friday News, June 14th

Friday News, June 14th

Day 3 of Ice Cream Days and Sesquicentennial Celebrations

(Le Mars) — Two days are completed with the Ice Cream Days and Le Mars Sesquicentennial celebrations. Today, Friday, is the third day and Teresa Petty, a member of the Ice Cream Days Committee, along with Jessica Brownmiller, a co-chair of the Sesquicentennial committee are here to review today’s scheduled events.

 

 

Winners Announced Of The Sesquicentennial Beard, Mustache, and Goatee Contest

(Le Mars) — The Sesquicentennial beard, goatee, and mustache contest was held Thursday evening during the Primebank Ice Cream Social. Several men competed in various different categories for a prize award. Taking top honors in the whitest beard was awarded to Chuck Holz, Rich Ziettlow obtained
second place, and the third place whitest beard was given to Larry Hammer (Hamer). There was only one entry for the best mustache and goatee category, and Joe Strub won the best mustache and goatee division. In the fullest beard contest, Reed Plathe (Plat-tee) was placed first, Steve Albert had second position, and Jim Rolfes was awarded the third place position. Styled Beard was given to Nick Rolfes for first place, Mark Sturgeon had the second best styled beard, and Shaun Couch was the third place finisher. Steve Riedemann won the longest beard contest. Committee organizers also had two categories created with those that already had a beard prior to last
November. The first category was trimmed which was won by Tyler Petty, with Jared Meis and Jason Vacura taking second and third places, respectfully. In the long and scruffy category, Brad “Mongo” Kraft was placed first, with Larry Stinton and Brent Hartman having second and third places.

 

 

New Mural Unveiled During Sesquicentennial Celebration

(Le Mars) — Following last evening’s Primebank Ice Cream Social, the Sesquicentennial committee formally unveiled the latest Alley Art mural located on the north wall of the Frontier Communications Building. Artist Mitch Zenk created the concept for the colorful mural that showcases many of Le Mars’ destination highlights. He says he was inspired for the concept of
the mural from a vintage postcard.

Zenk says the dimensions of the mural painting are 32 feet long and 16 feet high which equals 512 square feet. Instead of painting the mural directly to the wall of the building, Zenk painted a series of panels, then assembled the panels like a puzzle. The mural is divided in half with the upper half
featuring several of Le Mars’ famous structures including the newly renovated Wells Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor, to Foster Park and the gazebo, to the Plymouth County Fair featuring the front gate and the round barn, to the Plymouth County Courthouse, a Union Pacific train with the Welcome Center Depot, and the Plymouth County
Historical Museum with a tribute to Le Mars Community High School, Gehlen Catholic, and the former Westmar College. The lower half of the mural shows a family riding their bicycles along the many miles of Le Mars recreational trails.

 

 

Bank Robber Suspect Pleads Guilty

(Sioux City) — The suspect charged in a Le Mars bank robbery back in December has pleaded guilty to two counts in a plea deal in his case.
32-year-old Phillip White entered guilty pleas to Bank Robbery By Force Or Violence and Interference With Commerce By Threat or Violence in U.S. District Court.
Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
A sentencing date has not been set in the case.
Prosecutors say White robbed the Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on
December 12th, taking $16,190 from a bank employee.
A co-defendant, Karen Merrick, allegedly drove a U-Haul van as the getaway vehicle.
She is also charged with Bank Robbery By Force Or Violence.
Merrick has pleaded not guilty to that charge.
Her trial has been continued until August 5th.

 

 

Local Artist Creates Butterfly Sculpture

(Le Mars) –The man who created the flying eagle sculpture which hangs above Westmar Park and the Plymouth County Veterans Park has now finished another sculpture consisting of a large butterfly and sunflowers. Terry Utesch of Le Mars made the metallic sculpture for the Al and Delores Maser family to be
showcased at Okoboji at the Maser Butterfly Conservation Area. The butterfly has a wing span of over six feet. Prior to the sculpture being moved to the Iowa Great Lakes, people can view the colorful sculpture at Gus Pech on Saturday, June 15th between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and again the following Saturday, June 22nd during the same times.

 

 

Congressman Steve King To Hold Town Hall Meeting In Sioux County

Washington DC– Congressman Steve King announces that he will be hosting a town hall meeting in Sioux County on Saturday, June 15th. The town hall is open to the public and to the media. The town hall will be held at the Community Center in Alton from 9:00-10:00 AM Central. The Community Center is in Alton on 1100 3rd Avenue. King has pledged to hold a town hall in each
county in the 4th Congressional District this year, and the Sioux County town hall will be the 17th town hall King has hosted in the district since January.

 

 

Central Iowa Man Dies In Grain Bin Accident

KELLOGG, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in central Iowa say a Jasper County man has died after being trapped in a grain bin.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders were alerted to a man trapped in the bin near Kellogg just after 8 a.m. Thursday.
First responders found 78-year-old Bill Hotger, of rural Kellogg, inside the bin. Once Hotger was freed, he was flown by helicopter to a Des Moines hospital, where he died.
An autopsy has been ordered.

 

 

Grandmother Who Was Found Guilty Of Starving Granddaughter, Escaped From Prison

MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) – The adoptive grandmother of a central Iowa teenager who starved to death faces new charges of trying to escape prison.
Television station KCCI reports that 64-year-old Carla Bousman was in court Thursday morning to face a charge of escape. The Iowa Department of Corrections says Bousman walked away from the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville in early May. Authorities nabbed her about half-a-mile away from the facility, where she’s serving a 20-year sentence for her
role in 16-year-old Sabrina Ray’s 2017 death. If convicted of the escape charge, Bousman faces an additional five years in prison. Bousman has pleaded not guilty; her next court appearance is July 11.
Bousman was imprisoned last year after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent person and six other charges in the teen’s death. Bousman admitted that she locked Sabrina’s two sisters in a room with the girl as she was dying. She also admitted concealing evidence after the girl died.