Le Mars City Council To Again Address Fireworks Issue
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council is scheduled to address the fireworks issue again during today’s meeting. The council approved the first reading of the new city fireworks ordinance that calls for the discharge of fireworks within the city limits to take place only between July 3rd and July 5th, and again December 31st through January 2nd. The council is expected to act on the second reading during today’s meeting. The council
will then decide if a third reading will be held, or if the council decides to waive the third reading. The city council will act on a request from Plymouth Energy LLC to waive its lease agreement with the city for up to nine months. Plymouth Energy has shut down operations at its plant in Merrill, with the hopes to start up ethanol production again, once the economic conditions improve for the ethanol industry. Plymouth Energy leases storage capacity in Le Mars. It is expected the city council will
approve the appointment of Karla Dekkenga to fill the unexpired term of Linda Mayrose from the Historical Preservation Commission. Mayrose has submitted her resignation. The city will also decide whether to hire an additional employee for the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The city council has already approved a third reading regarding the proposed water
usage increase in fees, but, the city council will discuss the issue in hopes to clarify some of the language.
Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Issues August Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has released its August report. During the past month, the fire and rescue department was called to 16 fires and 12 rescues. They conducted 12 investigations or accident clean-ups, and were called on three separate occasions for mutual aid, twice
with Merrill, and once with Alton. The total number of calls for August added up to 45 calls. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says all of the Le Mars Fire trucks passed the annual pump testing for insurance and NFPA code. Members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department provided confined space rescue training for the Orange City Fire Department.
Supervisors To Adopt New Lower Interest Rates For Bonds
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a short agenda for its meeting scheduled for today, following the Labor Day holiday. The county governing board is expected to approve additional county surplus for an upcoming auction. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are expected to take action approving the resolution to authorize the use of the county’s preliminary official statement for refunding the 2005 government-owned bonds to the 2019 bond rate. It is estimated the county will save more than $120,000 per year because of the lower interest rate. The supervisors are expected to approve the certificate of approval for the transfer of Siouxland Regional Housing Authority to the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing
Authority. County Engineer Tom Rohe is scheduled to appear before the county supervisors to discuss the Hinton motor grader position and to answer questions regarding any current road repairs and construction.
Knights of Columbus Annual Phone-a-thon Scheduled For Wednesday
(Le Mars) — Wednesday will be the annual Knights of Columbus Phone-a-thon for the Life Skills Training Center. Shelly Thomson with Life Skills, says this year’s phone-a-thon marks the 39th year for the event.
Thomson says the annual phone-a-thon serves as the largest fund raiser for Life Skills Training Center.
Thomson says retired and former executive director of Life Skills, Don Nore, has been chosen as this year’s Honorary Knight to head up the phone-a-thon.
Thomson explains what goals have been set for this year’s county-wide phone-a-thon.
The Life Skills official says this year, the focus will be to assist the clients with obtaining employment outside of Life Skills.
Knights of Columbus members from Kingsley, Akron, Remsen, and here in Le Mars will coordinate the annual phone-a-thon. People wanting to donate can drop their contribution off at the Le Mars Knights of Columbus hall, or they can choose to make their donation at their local bank.
Grimes Man Burnt After Boat Engine Catches On Fire
GRIMES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man was burned when the boat engine he was working on caught fire in a Des Moines suburb.
Firefighters were dispatched around 2:15 p.m. Monday to the
residence in Grimes. They contained the flames to the garage in which the boat was parked.
The injured man was taken to a hospital. He’s been identified as 37-year-old David Boots.
19-Year Old Expected To Recover After Being Shot In The Head
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa police say a 19-year-old is expected to recover after being accidentally shot in the head in Des Moines.
Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek told the Des Moines Register that officers responded to reports of a shooting at about 11 p.m.
Saturday at a house party south of Drake University.
Parizek said officers found bullet holes inside the home that appear
to show a gun was fired in one room, passed through a wall and then struck the victim in the head in another room.
Parizek says a bullet was pulled from the wound. He says the victim will be fine, and it’s “kind of remarkable.”
Parizek says charges likely will be filed.
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Reynolds Orders Flags To Fly At Half Staff To Honor Pearl Harbor Sailor
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will finally be laid to rest in his home state.
The Des Moines Register reports that William James Shanahan Jr. of Cedar Rapids was killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that pushed the U.S. into World War II, but his remains went unidentified for 78 years.
Shanahan’s sister, Mary Lou Shanahan Pierce, donated DNA almost 20 years ago. Finally, in May, that DNA sample found a match and William’s remains were positively identified.
A burial with full military honors is planned for Tuesday at the
family plot in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly half-staff from sunrise to sunset to honor Shanahan.
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