Wick Announces He Will Seek Re-election To City Council
(Le Mars) — During the conclusion of the Le Mars City Council meeting, Council member Steve Wick announced he would seek re-election to the city council. Wick represents the voters and residents living in Ward 2. He was first elected in 2016 as a “Write-in” candidate, and now is seeking a second term. Wick ran unopposed during his first election, following the resignation of former council member Delana Ihrke.
City Council Approves First Reading Of New Fireworks Ordinance
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council chambers was filled Tuesday with people wanting to address the city council regarding the proposed change in the fireworks ordinance. City leaders are deciding whether the city of Le Mars should change the dates as to when fireworks are allowed to be
discharged. State law allows for the discharge of fireworks between June 1st and July 8th, and again between December 10th and January 3rd. The city public safety committee has suggested the city cut down the dates to be between July 3rd and July 5th and December 31st to January 2nd. Those who
addressed the city council were speaking against the use of fireworks, starting with Barb Schilling who lives near Kluckholn Elementary School.
Other residents had echoed Schilling’s position. Mayor Dick Kirchoff read a letter from Kyle Plath, who was unable to attend today’s meeting. Plath wasn’t against changing from the state ordinance, but he did indicate in his letter that he thought three days to discharge fireworks was too short of a time for the Independence Day celebration. Plath believes the time allotted
to discharge fireworks should be one week around the 4th of July holiday and the New Year’s holiday. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper informed the gathering they need to also address their concerns with their state legislator. Schipper reminded the crowd it was the state legislature that passed the bill allowing for fireworks to be legal in Iowa. Schipper, spoke against the discharge of fireworks, and in favor of the proposed ordinance
change.
The city council approved the first reading of the proposed ordinance change, by a vote of 5 to 0 which would limit the discharge of fireworks to be within three days of the Independence Day holiday. Councilman Rex Knapp reminded the gathering the council will address the issue two more times,
and people still have the opportunity to comment on the fireworks issue.
City Council Approves Main Street Challenge Grant
(Le Mars) — In other action by the Le Mars City Council, the city leaders approved a Main Street Challenge Grant for the amount of $37,500 for renovation and upgrade of the Hotopp Jewelry and Gifts building. The council approved the suggested funding from the Convention and Visitors Bureau of $7,500 to go towards the Northwest Iowa National College Invitational and College Amateur Golf Tournament scheduled for the Willow Creek Golf Course in September.
SIDS Walk Scheduled For Saturday
(Le Mars) — Saturday, the Iowa SIDS Foundation will host its annual “Walk For the Future” at the Willow Creek Golf Course and Municipal Park in Le Mars. Pam Jeneary serves as the coordinator for the event. She says this year, marks the 20th year for the annual awareness walk.
Jeneary says SIDS strikes about one child for every one thousand born. She says in recent years the number was even higher. Little is known about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but on-going research is still being conducted to learn more about the deadly disease.
Floyd Valley Healthcare of Le Mars and Unity Point-St. Lukes of Sioux City are two of the many hospitals that have helped sponsor the walk. Jeneary says although doctors and researchers still don’t know what actually causes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there are things parents can do to help reduce
the risk of SIDS.
As for the walk, Jeneary says registration is set for 8:30 a.m. with the walk to begin at 9:30 a.m. She says the actual walk will follow the recreational trail that circles the Willow Creek Golf Course, or about a distance of 3 miles. Prior to the walk, participants will have the opportunity to bid on several silent auction items.
The SIDS Foundation Coordinator says the walk will involve a balloon release in memory of those children that died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, as well as along the walk will be the names of the children within northwest Iowa that died from SIDS.
Jeneary says online registration has closed, but interested participants can still register the morning of the walk at the Municipal Park Shelter House.
She says this year a meal will be provided to the participants, compliments of the Plymouth County Pork Producers, Cork-It, Le Mars Little League and Hy Vee.
State Fair Begins Renovation Of 4-H Exhibit Building
(Des Moines) — The Iowa State Fair got over on Sunday, and already fair officials are looking forward to the next Iowa State Fair. Once all the exhibits were removed, renovation to the 4-H Exhibit Hall began on Monday.
Dave Hoffman, of Le Mars, is the president of the Iowa State Fair, and says a major contribution was submitted by the Jacobsen Foundation to help with the 4-H building.
The state fair president says additional funding was also raised with regards to the renovation of the 4-H Exhibit Building.
Hoffman says the expansion and renovation project may not be completed by next year’s fair, but he says the building will be usable. Hoffman says it needs to be usable, since the fair board doesn’t have another building available to house 50,000 square feet of exhibits. Hoffman says because of the renovation project to the 4-H Exhibit Building, the 2020 state fair will honor all those present and past 4-H leaders.
Hoffman says the fair board is hoping that Governor Reynolds will sign a proclamation acknowledging the importance of 4-H leaders and other volunteers that have helped with the 4-H program.
