American Legion To Hold Shoe Party
(Le Mars) — The Wasmer Post #241 American Legion of Le Mars will hold its annual shoe party scheduled for Saturday evening. Dan Plueger serves as the Commander for the local legion and says Saturday’s event will follow the monthly steak fry.
Plueger says the need for children to have new shoes keeps growing each year. He says the identified children with a need for new shoes will be given a pair of tennis shoes.
The legion commander says they rely on the assistance of school teachers and other officials in identifying those children that are under privileged.
Plueger says the bingo games will begin at 8:00 p.m. following the monthly steak fry which is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and probably will continue until around 10:00 p.m. Plueger explains what items will be featured during the evening’s silent auction.
Plueger says the American Legion is also accepting donations.
Attendees of the Legion Shoe Party will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a metallic flag to be given away in late December.
The Legion Shoe Party will be held at the American Legion Hall located on Plymouth Street Southwest.
Santa Claus Visits Le Mars On Saturday
(Le Mars) — Nearly two dozen children, along with their parents and grandparents, were anxiously awaiting for the arrival of Santa Claus as he arrived in Le Mars Saturday morning. The man with the iconic red and white-trimmed suit wearing the famous stocking cap was brought into town riding inside the red-colored Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department truck.
Joining Santa Claus was Mrs. Claus. The special visitors were greeted by several children at the Piece of Cake located on Central Avenue. The awaiting children were excited to see the visitor from the North Pole, and they were wanting to sit on his lap, and explain to him their long list of Christmas toys and other wishes. Many of the children, while waiting their turn to whisper into Santa’s ears, were busy decorating holiday cookies that
they were able to take home.
People Heading To Christmas Tree Farms To Select The Perfect Christmas Tree
(Hawarden) — The weekend following Thanksgiving is the most popular weekend for people to purchase Christmas trees, and that holds true at the T-and-S Christmas tree farm of rural Hawarden.
That’s Robin Miller who works at the T and S Christmas tree farm.
Crowds of people were not deterred by the weather conditions as they selected the perfect fir, spruce, or pine to serve as the centerpiece for their holiday.
Miller explains the type of Christmas trees grown at the farm, and which are the most popular.
Miller offers an explanation as to why selecting a real Christmas tree from a Christmas tree farm is so popular.
One family from Sioux City follows that tradition, as they have traveled more than 25 miles each year for the last 20 years to pick their favorite tree from the Christmas tree farm. Jerod and Heather Vedral claim it has become part of the holiday family tradition to select their Christmas tree from the T-and-S Christmas tree farm.
Miller says people select a real tree for the aroma, the traditions, and because many people believe it is more festive. As for the Vedral family, they say this year’s tree is different from those from previous years.
The Christmas tree farmer says one thing to consider is the tree always appears smaller in the field than when you have it in your home.
That is something the Vedral family knows from first-hand personal experience.
The T-S Christmas tree farm sells approximately 1100 trees each year, and they plant 2000 new trees each spring. Miller says it takes approximately six to seven years for a tree to grow to the desired height. In addition to having a variety of Christmas trees, the T-and-S Christmas tree farm also sells different sizes of wreaths, and they feature a gift shop.
SBA Officials Encourage Shoppers To Shop Small On Saturday
(Des Moines) — While the Black Friday shopping frenzy is past, the head of the U-S Small Business Administration in Iowa is hoping for a carry-over into today for Small Business Saturday. Jayne Armstrong, director of the S-B-A’s Iowa District Office, says local merchants put great importance on the economic impact of the tenth annual “Shop Small” promotion.
Many of our nation’s big corporations were launched with help from loans through the S-B-A, companies like Apple, Nike, Ben & Jerry’s, FedEx and Under Armour.
Ninety-seven percent of the businesses in Iowa are small businesses, according to Armstrong. If you can’t shop as many of them as you’d like to in person on Saturday, she notes most of them have an online presence, so log on.
Small Business Saturday was founded in 2010 as a day to rally communities to support small businesses during the busy holiday shopping season and to help address small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers through their doors.
https://www.shopsmall.com
Biden To Launch 8-Day Campaign Swing Through Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Joe Biden is launching an eight-day bus tour in Iowa with barely two months remaining before the Feb. 3 Iowa presidential caucuses.
The former vice president remains a national front-runner for the
Democratic nomination, and polls show he’s in a jumble of candidates near the top in Iowa. His bus tour begins Saturday.
His campaign maintains he has a broad base of support in the state that ultimately will translate into a surprising delegate haul heading into later primaries and caucuses elsewhere.
Biden’s supporters say his more moderate approach and his perceived strength against President Donald Trump ultimately will sway Iowa voters.
They point to 2004, when progressive favorite Howard Dean led in Iowa for much of the campaign only to lose the caucuses to eventual nominee John Kerry.
Flooded Victims Fear More Flooding Will Occur In 2020
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – After a year that has seen some of the worst flooding ever in parts of the Midwest, concern is already rising that the spring of 2020 may bring more high water to places that still haven’t fully recovered.
Flooding ravaged much of the Missouri and Mississippi River basins earlier this year, reaching record levels in many places. Eight months later, parts of the Missouri River are above flood stage at a time of the year when river levels traditionally run low. Conditions are only slightly better on the Mississippi River.
High river levels aren’t the only worry. National Weather Service
hydrologist Mark Fuchs cites two other factors: Soil is extremely saturated in several upper Midwestern states, and the long-range forecast offers a strong possibility of a wetter-than-normal winter.
Trial Is Set For Couple Accused Of Shooting Victim That Had Stolen A Car
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Two people accused in the shooting death of a man suspected of stealing a friend’s car are scheduled for trial next year in western Iowa.
Pottawattamie County District Court records say 25-year-old Jonathan Echtinaw and 23-year-old Carissa Kendall, have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. They’re scheduled to go on trial Jan. 7 in Council Bluffs. Nebraska court records say they live in Omaha.
Echtinaw is accused of shooting 18-year-old Ethan Edgar, of
Hutchinson, Kansas, on May 6. Authorities say Echtinaw, Kendall and other friends of a woman who’d reported the car’s theft to Omaha police went looking for it. They spotted at a Council Bluffs gas station.
Authorities say Kendall stopped her vehicle behind the stolen car to help block it, and Echtinaw opened fire when Edgar put the car into reverse and rammed Kendall’s vehicle.
Drug Dealer Given 15 Years In Prison
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Cedar Rapids drug dealer with a long criminal record has been given nearly 15 years in prison.
Records say 40-year-old Paul Hoff was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to 178 months behind bars and to five years of supervised release after he leaves custody. He’d pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for sale and possession of firearms as part of his drug trafficking.
He was arrested in February after trying to flee officers, who later found meth and two handguns in Hoff’s car.
Prosecutors say a judge described Hoff as dangerous and out of
control. Hoff’s previously been convicted of assault, thefts, interference with official acts, burglary, driving while intoxicated, escape, disorderly conduct for punching a man in the face, drug trafficking, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Sentencing For Wisconsin Man Has Been Delayed
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) – The sentencing of a Wisconsin man found guilty of manslaughter in Iowa has been delayed a week.
Nineteen-year-old Dalton Adam, of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, was convicted Nov. 4 of voluntary manslaughter. He’d been charged with first-degree murder, but the jury convicted him of the lesser crime.
Winneshiek County court records say Adam’s sentencing was set for Tuesday but has been rescheduled for Tuesday next week.
He and his friend Jacob Seelinger were charged after the July 2018 attack on 46-year-old David Hansen outside Hansen’s home in Decorah.
Seelinger’s been convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to up to 50 years in prison.
