Le Mars Sesquicentennial Committee To Install Plaques On Buildings
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Sesquicentennial Committee and the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission during the 2019 Sesquicentennial Celebration created and installed window clings on many of the downtown businesses that show an early look of the building. The pictures generated positive comments and, for
many, brought back fond memories of time spent in downtown Le Mars.
Rich Ziettlow, one of the Sesquicentennial committee chair persons says the committee now would like to install a permanent aluminum plaque marker on the downtown buildings that is similar to the photographs. He talks about how
the idea came about.
Utilizing surplus funds from the Le Mars Sesquicentennial, the
Sesquicentennial Committee has created a permanent historic marker that incorporates the early building image with a short historical statement.
Ziettlow says there is no cost to the property owners and their participation is entirely optional. The project is funded through monies generated by the Sesquicentennial Celebration events.
A letter was recently mailed to each property owner with information about the project and a request for their participation.
Ziettlow says the marker is printed on an aluminum plaque that measures 12” wide and 18” tall. It is designed to be mounted on a front, exterior wall with four mounting screws. Installation will be performed by the City maintenance crew and project volunteers. Each property owner will have input
on the final location of the marker. The Sesquicentennial committee co-chairman says they hope to have all plaques installed by the upcoming Ice Cream Days celebration.
Remsen Man Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography
LEMARS, Iowa – A Remsen, Iowa, resident has been arrested and charged with three counts of Purchasing/Possessing Depictions of a Minor in a Sex Act. The charges are aggravated misdemeanors.
Aaron Matthew Henry, age 39, was arrested on March 26, 2020, in Plymouth County, following an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with assistance from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
COVID-19 Cases Continues To Climb In Iowa
(Des Moines) — The number of positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Iowa continues to climb. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds read the latest numbers during a news conference Friday afternoon hosted by Radio Iowa.
That now makes the total number of deaths in Iowa at three from the COVID19 coronavirus.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the two individuals passed away Thursday evening. One was an elderly adult above the age of 81 from Poweshiek County, and the other, an older adult between 61 and 80 years of age from Allamakee County. Some of the counties in northwest Iowa to report the presence of COVID-19 include Dickinson with one case, Monona County with its second case, and Woodbury County with its third case. Sioux County has reported two cases. So far, Plymouth County has not had any positive coronavirus cases reported.
Reynolds Talks With Iowa Radio News Media About COVID-19
(Des Moines) — During Governor Reynolds’ news conference with Iowa radio stations, she was asked how will Iowans know the coronavirus will have passed and no longer a danger, and given the all-clear signal? Will Iowans need to wait for a vaccine to be created and introduced to the public?
Reynolds was also asked what are the consequences or penalties for businesses that refuse to close their doors?
You can listen to the entire news conference by visiting the KLEM website at www.klem1410.com.
Whiting Teen Arrested For Murder Of Mapleton Teen
MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they have made an arrest in the late January shooting death of a Mapleton teen. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says a 17-year-old male was arrested Friday in Whiting, Iowa, on a charge of first-degree murder in the Jan. 31 death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins. The 17-year-old is being held at a juvenile detention center on $1
million cash bond. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles charged with crimes. Mapleton police and medical crews found Hopkins’ body after responding to a 911 call about a shooting the night of Jan. 31.
Mapleton is about 40 miles southeast of Sioux City.
College Professor Accused Of Murdering Husband Is Out On Bond
ADEL, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa college professor accused of murder in the gagging death of her husband has been released from jail because of concerns about the coronavirus. Dallas County Judge Michael Jacobsen had earlier refused to lower the $5 million bond set for Gowun Park, but the Des Moines Register reports that he agreed to reduce it to $285,000. She posted the bond and was
released Thursday. Park’s lawyers argued her bond should be lowered because the coronavirus pandemic risked her health and a ban on in-person visits hindered their ability to coordinate her defense. Park was an assistant professor of economics at Simpson College.
Republicans To Hold District Conventions By Telephone
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – District conventions for the Iowa Republican Party won’t be convening as usual, but voting will be conducted by mail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The party said Friday that the State Central Committee has decided to mail paper ballots to all district delegates. A party spokesman says the paper ballots will allow the party to conduct
conventions and proceed with important party business, including electing delegates to the state and national convention. District standing committees are meeting via Zoom on Saturday to outline how the paper ballot process will work. Iowans can can go online for updates.
Iowa Universities To Offer Students Options For Grades
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s three public universities have announced grading options as the COVID-19 pandemic forces students into online education instead of classroom instruction. University of Iowa and Iowa State University undergraduate students are being allowed to take the letter grades
their instructors record or choose a pass/nonpass option. The Gazette reports that the new option could help students who, for example, don’t do as well as they believe they could have without the coronavirus-related disruptions. The University of Northern Iowa already has a credit/no credit option but has
modified and expanded its use. The pass or not-pass marks won’t factor into a student’s grade-point average.
