Home News Monday News, July 29th

Monday News, July 29th

Fair Officials Pleased With 2019 Fair

(Le Mars) — The 2019 edition of the Plymouth County Fair is now in the books, and fair officials are pleased with the attendance, the weather, entertainment, exhibits and the contests. Loren Schnepf serves as the fair board’s vice president and credits the community for the success of the
Plymouth County Fair.

Attendance was holding steady to slightly higher than last year. Fair officials estimated the total attendance at 112,400 compared to last year’s total of 111,900. Schnepf says despite the rain that fell Sunday, the clouds parted late afternoon, allowing for the figure eight racing to run as scheduled, drawing a huge crowd.

Although Saturday was a bit warm, and rain fell on Sunday afternoon, Schnepf was still pleased with the weather conditions during the five days of the fair.

The fair board vice president says he heard several positive comments about this year’s fair.

 

 

New Chain Saw Artist Featured At The Plymouth County Fair

(Le Mars) — The annual fair auction held Sunday afternoon brought more than $24,000 and consisted of belt buckles, toy trucks, quilts, milk cans, memorabilia, and chain saw wood carvings. This year, the fair saw a new chain saw artist. For many years A.J. Lutter of Minnesota was the featured
chain saw artist of the Plymouth County Fair. However, due to declining health factors, A.J. Lutter was not able to return to this year’s fair. Filling in as the featured chain saw artist was Blair Smith of Westfield.

Smith has been carving wood using a chain saw since 2000. This is his first year at the Plymouth County Fair, but other county fairs and expositions are familiar with Smith’s artistry and talents.

Smith says it has been a dream of his for many years to showcase his chain saw carvings at the Plymouth County Fair. Now, he is passing on his knowledge and talents to Scott Tobin, who is serving as an apprentice to Smith.

One of the popular pieces created by Smith at the Plymouth County Fair was a bench inspired by a conversation held at the Bomgaars parking lot, called: “And God Created A Farmer” from the late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey.

In fact, it was Chance Klemme who purchased the bench “And God Made A Farmer.” It is likely that both Smith and Tobin will be the featured chain saw artists for future fairs.

 

 

Life Skills’ “Bossy Bingo” Winner Determined Quickly

(Le Mars) — Life Skills Training Center Bossy Bingo held Sunday afternoon was over before many people had the opportunity to view the event. Within the first few minutes, the heifer had done its business on one of the selected plots of ground. Shelly Thomson tells which square was the fortunate lucky square.

Thomson says each of the plots had been sold.

Going back to Saturday, Life Skills had its annual quilt auction fundraiser, at the fair with this year, selling more than 70 quilts.

Many of the quilts come from Plymouth County, but Thomson says some of the quilts have come from all across the Midwest.

 

 

Some Businesses Say They Will Leave Flood Zone

PERCIVAL, Iowa (AP) – A third flooding and cleanup are taking a toll on people who operate some small businesses along Iowa Highway 2 in southwestern Iowa.
They heavily rely on Interstate 29 traffic and on travelers being able to make across a Missouri Bridge over to Nebraska. But the Iowa roadways leading to their mercantile community were covered with water and the businesses were inundated in mid-March after levees gave way. They were flooded again in late May, after heavy rains and the upstream water releases
by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Most of the businesses had been operating when floods occurred 2011.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Alicia Chrastil doesn’t see
herself returning to her Finders Keepers Antique Mall along the highway south of Percival. She’s come through two floods but says, “The third time, I’m out.”

 

 

Dubuque Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing From Elderly Mother

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A Dubuque woman accused of stealing from her elderly mother has pleaded guilty.
The Telegraph Herald reports that 55-year-old Susan Shea pleaded guilty to felony abuse of a dependent adult. Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.
Court documents say Susan Shea had been the caretaker for her mother when authorities began investigating reports of elder abuse. One document says investigators estimate that around $140,000 or more had been taken from Shea’s mother from December 2016 through January 2018.

 

 

Waterloo Woman Accidentally Shot

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Police in northeastern Iowa say a Waterloo woman wounded in an accidental shooting is expected to recover.
The Courier reports that the woman was taken to a hospital following the shooting Thursday night.
Police say first responders were called to a home around 10:15 p.m.
Thursday and found the woman with a single gunshot wound to the torso.
Officials say she underwent surgery for her injuries.
Officers say a man at the house was handling a handgun when it
accidentally fired.

 

 

Pedestrian Killed After Being Hit By A Pickup Truck

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in central Iowa say a 19-year-old woman has died after being hit by a pickup truck.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the incident
happened around 9:30 p.m. Friday at an Altoona intersection. The Iowa State Patrol says the truck was northbound and had a green light when it hit the woman.
The woman, whose name has not been released, was taken to a
hospital, where she died.
The driver of the truck was not injured.

 

 

Child Care Center Loses License Following Death Of Infant

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an Iowa child care provider left a 1-year-old alone for nearly two hours in a portable crib in a downstairs furnace room before discovering that the child was cold to the touch.
The Des Moines Register reports that a Department of Human Services revoked the license of provider Jenna Dale, of Indianola, last week, following the death in April of Nash Bloem. He strangled on a teething neckless he was wearing, despite federal warnings that such devices shouldn’t be used for infants.
A complaint from the department said Dale had previously been warned about child hazards in the home’s furnace/laundry room. The complaint says Dale placed the child in the area because he was “socially different” and needed to be away from other children.
Dale cried when approached by a reporter and said “Now is not a good time.” Additional attempts to speak to her weren’t successful.