Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off Associate Membership Drive
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors kicked off a 2020 Associate Membership drive today. Associate memberships are open to non-profit organizations, people who do not run a business, and/or retired individuals. The Chamber undertakes this Associate member drive to develop
new relationships with organizations and individuals, to expand the financial support of the organization.
The Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit entity that strives to provide vision and leadership to develop, encourage, promote and protect the business community, tourism and educational interests in Le Mars.
The Chamber provides a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Whether as a member, a volunteer or both; support is a key piece in the Chamber’s community-wide efforts.
Membership investments provide 30% of the Chamber’s annual income. An additional 28% comes from fundraising activities. The annual Associate Member fee is $90.
By joining the Chamber, members can help bring together resources that strengthen our community. Through the Chamber’s collaborative efforts with the city, business owners and individuals, Le Mars has received recent national accolades. Rich Ziettlow and Terri Martin will supervise the associate membership drive.
Rich Ziettlow and Terri Martin – (photo contributed.)
Senator Ernst Is Urging Companies To Re-locate In United States
(Le Mars) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst is urging companies and corporations that left the United States to return and produce their products here in America. Speaking Tuesday at Le Mars, the Republican Senator from Iowa says she has introduced a bill that would offer incentives for businesses to return home.
Ernst says the U-S relies too heavily on China and other nations to produce many of our products.
The Iowa Senator was asked if businesses and corporations would be able to maintain profitable margins, knowing the labor costs would increase, as opposed to their products made outside the United States. Ernst says she believes businesses would still be able to make profits as the trade off would be the reduction of transportation costs and tariffs would offset the increase in labor costs.
Ernst Believes Congress Will Pass Another Round Of COVID-19 Relief Funding
(Le Mars) — While making an appearance in Le Mars on Tuesday, Republican U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa was asked if it is likely Congress would allocate another round of funding to provide relief efforts due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ernst visited with members of The Brown musical family to get a better understanding of how the COVID-19 virus has impacted their business. Shelly Brown informed the Senator that as a result of the virus, they had to cancel all their concerts and appearances since March 11th. Within this past week, the Browns have been able to re-open their musical theater and provide concerts and shows. Michaela Brown told Senator Ernst that several bus tours, previously scheduled to appear in Le Mars to attend the Browns shows, along with a visit to the Wells Visitors Center and Ice Cream parlor, and other Le Mars attractions, including possibly the Plymouth County Historical Museum were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus. Adam Brown shared with the Senator that the Brown musical family have reduced the number of seating capacity and spread those seats further apart to accommodate the social distancing recommendations by the Center of Disease Control and the Iowa
Department of Public Health. The Browns shared with Senator Ernst that their businesses, including the bed and breakfast across the street, and including the Century Musical Theater and gift shop did not qualify for many of the federal relief programs through the CARE Act. Shelly Brown told Senator Ernst that they were not looking for any type of federal assistance, or “bail-out” and that they, (the Browns), are “a hard-working farm family and know that better times are ahead.”
Reynolds Says State Trooper Acted Appropriately in BLM Incident
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says the state trooper who hit a Black Lives Matter protester last week while driving her did nothing wrong. The protester, who was not hurt, has said he hoped that by positioning himself in front of the S-U-V, the governor would roll down her window and speak with protesters. Reynolds said, “I do feel like the driver acted appropriately.” The governor says the Department of Public Safety report shows,”as we were leaving the facility the individual sped up and stepped in front of the vehicle intentionally and you cannot block traffic as we’re leaving an event.” Jaylen Cavil of Black Lives Matter said it was the governor’s driver who acted inappropriately and anyone else who hit a person with a vehicle would be treated differently.
Pella Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Estranged Husband’s Girlfriend
(Knoxville, IA) — A Pella woman is pleading not guilty to the stabbing death of her estranged husband’s girlfriend in Marion County. Fifty-five-year-old Michelle Boat entered a written plea for the first-degree murder of 46-year-old Tracy Mondabough of Ottumwa. Nicholas Boat reported to police in March that Michelle had assaulted him which led to their separation. Investigators say Michelle stabbed Mondabough in her vehicle May 18th and she died before being taken to the hospital. A witness told police that Boat yelled “He don’t belong to you” outside of the victim’s car. Boat has a pretrial hearing on Friday.
Des Moines School Board Approves Drake University Stadium Plan
(Des Moines, IA) — The Des Moines School Board is moving forward with an agreement to build a 19-and-a-half-million dollar stadium on the Drake University campus. Members voted unanimously Tuesday to partner on the four-thousand seat stadium for soccer and football games. Drake is contributing four-and-a-half million dollars to the project and will be in charge of maintaining the field.
