City To Begin Flushing Water Mains And Hydrants
(Le Mars) — City of Le Mars Water Department will be flushing hydrants in the North section of the City starting, Monday Nov. 4th though the end of the week. The week of Nov.11th we will be flushing the Southwest side of town and the week of Nov. 18th we will be flushing the Southeast side of town.
Residents can expect lower pressures and discolored water while flushing is occurring. If your home still has discolored water, the next days after flushing, please Call the Water Department at 546-5555.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office Reminds Motorists To Be Alert For Deer
(Le Mars) — This is deer season, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has issued an announcement to be watchful for deer during this autumn. Deer season can be a dangerous time for drivers, deer and car hoods. It is estimated that 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year, resulting in 200 fatalities, thousands of injuries and over $3.6 Billion in vehicle damage.
Plymouth County has begun to see the uptick in its share of deer collisions. Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo says the communications center has received 19 calls, so far, regarding deer collisions in the last 30 days. That number only reflects the accidents that have been reported; there are many that go unreported to law enforcement and are simply turned into the insurance companies. Fortunately, there have been no injuries reported.
The sheriff says being prepared can help to prevent you from adding to the statistics. October through December is prime mating and migrating season, so drivers should be more alert during these months.
These are some tips to avoid a deer accident:
1.WATCH FOR THE REST OF THE GANG: Deer are pack animals, and rarely travel alone. If a deer crosses in front of you, chances are there are more nearby.
2.TIMING: Deer are most active at dusk and dawn, periods when your vision is most compromised. Slow down and stay alert, especially after dark.
3.USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS: Look for road signs identifying high traffic areas for deer. Their eyes may also brightly reflect a car’s headlights.
4.BRAKE, DON’T SWERVE: Brake firmly and calmly, stay in your lane. Swerving could make you lose control of your vehicle and cause you to roll in the ditch or into the path of an on-coming vehicle.
5.HONK: Some experts recommend that one long blast of the horn will scare the deer out of the road.
If you are involved in a vehicle-related deer accident, call 911 to report the accident, especially if there is a road hazard or personal injury. State law requires that any accident resulting in property damage of $1500 or more, and/or it results in personal injury, must be reported to law enforcement. Many times insurance companies require a police report to support a damage claim.
The Plymouth County Sheriff and his deputies remind all drivers to buckle up, travel at a safe and prudent speed, drive defensively, avoid distractions and STAY OFF YOUR CELL PHONES.
Lang Runs For Le Mars Community Board of Education
(Le Mars) — Voters will decide who they would like to see on the Le Mars Community Board of Education tomorrow, election day. It is the first time the school board candidates are on the same ballot as are the municipal election candidates. There is one contested race as voters will decide among three candidates seeking two positions at the At-Large positions.
Angela Catton is seeking re-election, and the other two candidates include Kyle Plathe and Nick Jalas. Jane Arnold is running unopposed for District 2. Arnold, was selected by the school board after Chris Collins had retired from the school board in mid-term. Makenzie Lang is seeking election to the
Le Mars Community Board of Education for District 5, which mainly consist of the rural regions of the Le Mars Community School District. District 5 was represented by Fred Zenk, but he decided to no longer seek another term on the local school board. Lang is running unopposed. She says she was influenced to run for the school board after having a discussion with her
grandfather, former school board director, Larry Petersen.
Lang has been a member of the District Leadership Instructional Impact Team, and believes being elected to the school board is the next step. She tells of the issues most important to her as a candidate for school board director.
Lang is presently working at Well’s Enterprises in the marketing department, and has held that position for the last 14 years. She believes her experience in the corporate business world will be beneficial on the school board.
Farm Bankruptcies Are On The Rise
(Des Moines) — A new report says farm bankruptcies have risen in Nebraska and Iowa.
The American Farm Bureau Federation shows Chapter 12 bankruptcies rose 24% nationwide over the previous year. The report covers the 12 months ending Sept. 30. The report cited severe weather and trade disputes among the problems faced by farmers.
There were 37 farm bankruptcies in Nebraska and 24 in Iowa over those 12 months – a year-over-year increase of six in Nebraska and 10 in Iowa.
The highest number of farm bankruptcies was in Wisconsin, with 48.
Nebraska tied for second with Georgia and Kansas.
The report cites U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that farms will bring in $88 billion in 2019 – 29% below the record set in 2013.
Registered Sex Offender To Go To Trial For Being Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Boys
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Trial has been set for a registered sex offender accused of trying to sexually assault boys he lured to a Des Moines elementary school playground.
Station KCCI reports that trial for 39-year-old Loren Lewis is set
for Dec. 2. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, two counts of enticing a minor under 13, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
Police say Lewis lured an 11-year-old and 12-year-old boy to the
playground on Aug. 3, and then told the boys to pull down their pants.
Police say when they refused, Lewis assaulted one of the boys and attempted to perform sex acts on him
Lewis was convicted in 1997 of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. The victim in that crime was a 10-year-old boy.
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Krispy Kreme Tells Customer Not To Make Donut Runs To Iowa
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota college student says Krispy Kreme has told him to stop making doughnut runs to Iowa.
Twenty-one-year-old Jayson Gonzalez of Champlin, Minnesota, would make weekend runs to a Krispy Kreme store in Clive, Iowa, and pack his car with boxes of doughnuts that he would deliver to customers around the Twin Cities.
But less than a week after the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported about his road trips, Gonzalez says he received a phone call from Krispy Kreme’s Nebraska office telling him to stop selling the company’s doughnuts in Minnesota. Krispy Kreme stores left Minnesota 11 years ago.
Gonzalez tells the Pioneer Press he was told his sales created a liability for the North Carolina-based company.
In a statement Sunday night, Krispy Kreme said it’s looking into the matter.
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