City Work Crews To Close Hillcrest Drive For Repairs
(Le Mars) — City officials plan to close Hillcrest Drive beginning on Tuesday, March 17th for street repairs. Public Works Department Superintendent, Scott Kneip, expects the street will be closed through March 24th, with it opening again on March 25th.
Webner Comments On Coronavirus Situation Regarding School Closure
(Le Mars) — On Sunday evening, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, had announced as a way to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, made the recommendation for all Iowa schools to close for a period of four weeks.
Le Mars Community School District Superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner says starting today (Monday), the school buildings will remain closed.
Webner says the school provided the opportunity for faculty and staff to retrieve any personal items that may have been at the school.
At this point in time, school officials are going with the assumption that the lost school days will need to be made up, which means school may extend well into June.
The school superintendent says the purpose for the school closures is to help ward off the spread of the coronavirus.
Webner says students, parents and faculty members are directed to view the school’s website for additional information and updates.
Webner says everyone should plan on not attending school for at least the next four weeks.
City To Close Public Library and Community Wellness Center For Two Weeks
(Le Mars) — Le Mars city administrator Jason Vacura issued a statement regarding the spread of the COVID-19 or coronavirus. Vacura says the following rules will be implemented immediately. The Le Mars Public Library will be closed to the public for two weeks beginning at 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 16th. The library hopes to re-open to the public on March 31st. The library will remain staffed thoroughly clean the facilities, as well as assist and answer inquiries by telephone. On-line services will still be available.
All events at the city’s rental facilities including the Willow Creek Golf Country Club, the Le Mars Convention Center, and the Municipal Park Shelter House will be limited to under 50 attendees. Scheduled events over the next two weeks exceeding this limit are being notified to reschedule or cancel their event.
The Community Wellness Center (YMCA) will be closed to the public for two weeks beginning at 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 16th with plans to re-open on March 31st.
Vacura says this is an ever changing situation and the city of Le Mars will continuously monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed. The public will be notified of changes to day-to-day operations as they arise.
Update On Coronavirus Cases In Iowa – Reynolds To Hold News Conference This Afternoon
(Des Moines) — On Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health was notified of four additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 22 positive cases. According to IDPH, two cases are related to international travel. The individuals are residents of Allamakee County, one is a middle-
age adult between 41-60 years; the other is a child, age 0-18 years. The third case is a middle-age Johnson County resident with no identified travel-related risk or exposure to a known COVID-19 case, and is considered the second case of community spread in Iowa. The fourth individual resides in Polk County and is a middle-age adult and indicates a third case of community
spread. So far, coronavirus has been detected in Johnson, Polk, Dallas, Carroll, Pottawattamie, Harrison, and Allamakee counties in Iowa. Governor Reynolds has scheduled another news media conference to talk about the COVID-19 coronavirus for 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Meetings Cancelled Through April 4th
(Ames) — Another casualty of the coronavirus are meetings organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. According to an official with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County, all meetings are cancelled through April 4th. That includes the “Protecting Your Swine
Building Investment” seminar which was to take place at the Le Mars Convention Center, on Tuesday, March 17th.
NIPCO Cancels Annual Meeting But North West Rural Electric Cooperative Still Has Annual Meeting Scheduled
(Le Mars) — NIPCO, the power electric generation cooperative that supplies energy to several rural electric cooperatives has announced it will cancel its 2020 annual meeting which was scheduled for April 7th. Likewise, North West Rural Electric Cooperative Executive Director, Lyle Korver says the three district meetings which were scheduled for March 24th for District 1 – Sioux County at the Unity Christian High School in Orange City, District 2 meeting for O’Brien County at the South O’Brien High School at Primghar, and the District 4 meeting for Ida County which was scheduled for March 19th at the Skate
Palace in Ida Grove will be postponed until later this fall. However, as of today, (Monday) the annual meeting and District 3 meeting for Plymouth County customers, scheduled for April 2nd at the Le Mars High School is still scheduled. Korver says a decision will be made closer to the date, but for
now the annual meeting of the North West Rural Electric Cooperative is still a go.
Firefighters Annual Banquet Is Now Cancelled
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department annual banquet and awards night has been cancelled. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4th to be held at the Willow Creek Golf Country Club. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says he made the decision to cancel the event since the Iowa Department of Public Safety is suggesting not to have more than 50 people gather together for an event. The firefighter of the year was traditionally honored during the annual firefighters banquet.
Abu-Bekr Shrine Circus Has Been Re-scheduled For July
(Sioux City) — The 70th Annual Abu Bekr Shrine Circus scheduled for April 1-5, 2020 at the Tyson Events Center will be rescheduled for July 29-August 2, 2020. All tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates. The executive leadership of Abu Bekr Shriners had decided in light of the current Coronavirus concerns it is in the best interest of public health and personal safety to reschedule their annual Circus performances to a later date.
For the 28th year Abu Bekr Shriners is partnered with George Cardin Circus International to perform in the Tyson Events Center for the families of Siouxland. “We have a long-time partnership with George Cardin Circus International and they share our concerns that public health and safety needs to be our number one priority as our Nation works through this public health crisis”, said Abu Bekr Potentate, Sheldon Menin, “the families of Siouxland enjoy and look forward to the Circus every year, and by rescheduling our Circus no one has to miss out.”
“We would like to thank the City of Sioux City and the Staff at the Tyson Events Center for their cooperation as we worked with our Circus promoter in rescheduling the Shrine Circus”, said RC Clements, Abu Bekr Circus Chairman, “this is something that has caused major events to be cancelled across the country and we, as Shriners, don’t want to put anyone’s health at risk”.
Abu Bekr Shriners has hosted the Shrine Circus for 70 years and by rescheduling performances to late July Abu Bekr can provide families with the joy of attending and sharing an annual tradition that they have grown up loving. The community support from local business, school districts, and circus attendees across Siouxland for the Shrine Circus has been overwhelming. For many, the Shrine Circus is their opportunity to experience world-class live family entertainment at a reasonable cost. This is evidenced by the multiple sell-out crowds every year over the Circus’ 10 scheduled performances.
Tickets already purchased for the April 1-5, 2020 performances will be good for the July 29- August 2 performances; no action is necessary.
Tickets for the July 29-August 2 performances will go on sale immediately at the Tyson Events Center Box office.
Update On Marshalltown Fatal Shooting Incident
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have charged a 30-year-old suspect with first-degree murder in the shooting of a man in Marshalltown. Mustafa Muhammad also is charged with three weapons counts. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. The shooting was reported around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers responding to the shooting found a critically injured 27-year-old man. Police say he died later at a Marshalltown hospital. A 37-year-old woman also suffered a minor wound. Their names haven’t been released.
Fatal Fire Victims Identified
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the names of a woman and her 5-year-old child who died in a Des Moines residential fire. They were identified Monday as Tharassa Page, 40 and her son, Reginald Page. Firefighters sent around 10:45 a.m. Sunday to the duplex found flames coming out of the windows on its north side. Three other people inside the residence escaped to safety. No other injuries were reported. The fire cause is being investigated.
Schools Across The State Follow Governor Reynolds’ Recommendation And Close Their Doors For A Month
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Dozens of Iowa school districts are following the governor’s guidance and suspending classes for four weeks to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Gov. Kim Reynolds made the recommendation Sunday after she learned that four more residents tested positive. The new cases
bring the Iowa total to 22. Districts that have announced their intention to follow her counsel include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Sioux City.
Also Sunday, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City said it has admitted a second patient infected with COVID-19 through community spread.
Iowa’s Unemployment Holds Steady
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate for January was 2.8%.
Iowa Workforce Development reported Monday that the rate was unchanged from the revised rate for December. The number of unemployed residents rose slightly in January to an estimated 49,500. The number of people with jobs also increased, to about 1.7 million. Iowa’s rate is tied for the 10th lowest in the nation. The U.S. unemployment rate for January was 3.6%.
