Home News Wednesday News, February 19th

Wednesday News, February 19th

Iowa National Guard Unit Based In Le Mars To Be Deployed

(Le Mars) — The Iowa National Guard unit, Troop C, 1st Squadron, of the 113th Cavalry Regiment, based in Le Mars has recently been notified of deployment orders for Operation Enduring Freedom in the United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).
U.S. AFRICOM is responsible for U.S. military operations, exercises and security cooperation activities on the African continent, its island nations and surrounding waters.

This is the second of several deployments announced by Maj. Gen. Ben Corell, the Iowa National Guard Adjutant General, during his Condition of the Guard address to the Iowa General Assembly on Jan. 16, 2020.
Troop C, based in Le Mars, will deploy with approximately 90 Soldiers. They will be joined by approximately 40 Soldiers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the Freedom Center located on Camp Dodge in Johnson, Iowa.
This is the third federal mobilization for Troop C since 2001. The troop previously deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2010.
For the last four years, Troop C, along with several additional Iowa Army National Guard units, has completed increasingly complicated training events in preparation for mobilization.
The troop is currently working to schedule send-off ceremonies, which will occur in June. They will travel to Ft. Bliss, Texas, to complete their final training and readiness checks before deploying overseas. The deployment is expected to last approximately one year.

 

 

Audit Company Gives City Of Le Mars Good Financial Report

(Le Mars) — Representatives from the auditing firm Williams and Company appeared before the Le Mars city council Tuesday to discuss the financial audit of the city’s finances. According to Chad Regnier, the city has been able to build up its reserve funds to cover expenses up to 104 days, before needing to receive additional income from taxes, or government grants.
Regnier reminded the council last year, the city had enough reserve funding to last a period of 84 days. Regnier says Williams and Company suggest having enough reserve funds to last between 90 and 120 days. Regnier informed the city council the city’s finances were in order with accordance with accounting principles that are generally accepted.

 

 

City Council Approves Convention and Visitors Bureau Funding

(Le Mars) — City council members approved the requested funding of $42,240 for 21 designated projects as funded through the city’s hotel and motel tax and directed through the Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors.

 

 

YMCA Delivers Annual Report To City Council

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council heard annual reports from the YMCA, Public Facilities Department and the Public Works Department. With regards to the YMCA, Executive Director Todd Lancaster informed the council just over 7100 people had utilized the indoor pool between October and early May.


Lancaster informed the city council the number is nearly 500 fewer people that what had utilized the indoor swimming facility during 2018. Although, the number of people that used the indoor swimming pool was reduced from the previous year, Lancaster says the revenue generated from the indoor pool was
up $2,239 over the 2018 revenue figures, and it was more than $6,000 more than 2017. Lancaster says 100 memberships were purchased with 169 people taking advantage of the indoor swimming facilities. A year ago, only 66 memberships were sold with 117 people using the indoor swimming facilities.

As for the outdoor pool which has a season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Lancaster says there were 11,744 people that had gone swimming.


Lancaster says the number represents a small reduction from the previous year. Lancaster attributes the decline to many people wanting to look at the new water complex at Sioux Center. For the entire YMCA, Lancaster says they had 461 total memberships which represented 1,068 people.

 

 

Mohning Appointed To Battalion Chief For Fire Department

(Le Mars) — Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper has announced the promotion and appointment of Charlie Mohning of Le Mars as the new Battalion Chief for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Mohning began with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in 2016, prior to that, he was a member of the Boyden Fire Department for eight years. All total, Mohning has been a firefighter for 12 years. He is an EMT, and has achieved firefighter II status. He was selected as the “Firefighter of the Year” last year with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Mohning says he pursued the position of Battalion Chief because it was the “right time to pursue a dream.” Mohning says he
wants to advance his knowledge and skills and serve as a mentor and leader to his fellow firefighters both today, and in the future. Among other duties, as the Battalion Chief, Mohning will oversee the closed confinement space contracts the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has with various area industries. He is third in line of command following Chief Dave Schipper and Assistant Chief Steve Schwartz. The Battalion Chief position opened up
after former Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise accepted the position of Director of Le Mars Ambulance Services, and Steve Schwartz was promoted from Battalion Chief to the Assistant Fire Chief position. Our congratulations go to Charlie Mohning for being named Le Mars Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photo contributed.)

Sheriff’s Deputies Help Rescue Horse

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was called on Tuesday at about 3:00 p.m. to the 1900 Block of Hickory Avenue to assist with a horse that had caught and stuck in a creek. Deputies responded and it was determined to Stockton Towing would be called to remove the horse. Stockton Towing was able to help lift the horse from being stuck in the creek. A local veterinarian was called for further assistance. The condition of the horse at this time is unknown.

(photo contributed.)

 

 

 

Le Mars Man Sentenced For 11 Years For Fatal Accident

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Le Mars man has been given 11 years in prison for the drunken driving death of a cousin last year. The Sioux City Journal reports that Darrick Toel was sentenced Monday. He’d pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide while driving recklessly and to operating while intoxicated. Authorities estimate Darrick Toel was speeding at 90 mph July 1
on a rural highway just northeast of Sergeant Bluff when he lost control of his car and struck a tree. Toel’s passenger, 37-year-old Ryan Toel, of Struble, died two days later from his injuries.

 

 

Man Accused Of Pushing Co-worker Off Grain Bin Found In Mexico

HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of pushing a co-worker off the top of a grain bin in southwest Iowa has been found in Mexico and returned to the United States. The U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release Tuesday that Pedro Andrade was taken into custody outside Medina, Mexico. He’s been returned to a jail in Houston, awaiting his return to Iowa. Court records
don’t list an attorney for him. A court document says the co-worker survived his 60-foot fall Oct. 10 in Hamburg. He told an investigator that Andrade had found out that Andrade’s wife and the co-worker were having an affair.