Le Mars graduates gather for All-School Reunion
(LE MARS)–The largest reunion in a decade is underway in Le Mars.
Alumni association director Carolyn Vance coordinates the many volunteers welcoming graduates of Le Mars High School in Carey Gymnasium.
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Tonight is a night for the classes to gather. Vance lists some examples of public events anyone may join.
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If someone locally hasn’t registered, Vance encourages them to attend the events open to all alumni and friends. In her words, “People from out of town would really love to see you.”
Cut down on insects by getting rid of standing water
(LE MARS)–Le Mars residents who get rid of standing water can help curb mosquitos.
City administrator Scott Langel suggests citizens inspect their property.
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Langel told the City Council this week that city properties need to be canvassed to keep standing water to a minimum. Langel says the water is refreshed in a number of city structures.
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Langel says it’s the stagnation of the water that is the issue with mosquitos.
Mosquito numbers up in Siouxland
SIOUX CITY—WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT FELL IN SIOUXLAND LAST MONTH AND FLOODING CONDITIONS NEAR CORRECTIONVILLE, MOSQUITOS COULD BE THICK THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR HEALTH MICHELLE CLAUSEN-ROSENDAHL SAYS IT SEEMS MOSQUITO NUMBERS ARE UP FROM PAST YEARS.
SHE SAYS THEY WILL BEGIN MONITORING MOSQUITO POPULATIONS AND WEST NILE ACTIVITY LATER THIS SUMMER.
SHE SAYS RESIDENTS SHOULD AVOID BEING OUTSIDE AT DUSK, WEAR LONG-SLEEVE CLOTHING AND WEAR REPELLANT TO KEEP THE MOSQUITOS AT BAY.
THERE ARE ALSO BUG PATCHES THAT CAN BE APPLIED ONTO YOUR SKIN FOR A FEW DAYS TO BEAT THE BITE.
(Josie Cooper – KSCJ Radio/Powell Broadcasting)
June rainfall in Le Mars nearly nine inches
(LE MARS)–State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says preliminary data shows Iowa received a statewide average of 10-point-four-five inches (10.45″) of rain in June. That’s a record for the month.
The previous record of 10-point-three-three inches (10.33″) was set in June 1947. Up to this point, Hillaker says Iowa has avoided widespread flooding because temperatures this spring and early summer have been much warmer than normal.
KLEM’s Weather Station on the Weather Almanac portion of the KLEM web page totalled rainfall of 8.99 inches in June. The most rain fell on June 23rd with a reading of 2.4 inches.
The hottest day was June 26th when the thermometer reached 96 degrees. The coolest morning was June 16th with an overnight low of 48 degrees.
To see the a daily weather tally, surf to KLEM 1410.com and select June Weather Almanac under the weather button.
(Radio Iowa contributed to this report)
Second Saturation Project tickets speed, seat belt violators
(ORANGE CITY)–Speed and seat belt violations top results of a Saturation Patrol project in Sioux County Wednesday.
The Iowa State Patrol and Sioux County Sheriff’s office are partnering on four traffic projects aimed at reducing the number of traffic deaths in Sioux County.
The latest effort from six Wednesday morning until midnight focused on Highway 18.
Officers wrote 28 tickets for speed and 24 for seat belt violations. Warning memos were topped by 26 for speed and 25 for repairs.
Twelve drivers got tickets because they didn’t have proof of insurance
Twelve officers from the sheriff’s office, the Iowa State Patrol, and one of the Patrol’s airplanes were part of the Saturation Project.
Jurors choose death penalty for man convicted of murder.
DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) Jurors have decided a man from Mexico living in Sioux City should face the death penalty in the rape and killing of a 3-year-old South Sioux City girl.
The penalty phase of Melecio Camacho-De Jesus’ trial began Thursday in Dakota County District Court. Jurors delivered the verdict just before 5:30 p.m.
A day before, the same jury convicted the 30-year-old of first-degree murder but found him not guilty of burglary.
A three-judge panel will be appointed to sentence Camacho-De Jesus. The jury’s decision gives the panel the authority to impose a death sentence.
Prosecutors say Camacho-De Jesus killed Evelyn Verdugo Paniagua on May 23, 2009, in her South Sioux City home as her family slept. The death penalty was an option because the girl was killed during a sexual assault.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Hundreds of solar panels installed at UNI
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Officials at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls say 900 solar panels are being installed at a new parking garage.
University officials say the panels will generate enough energy to power the garage. The center will also use a geothermal heating and cooling system.
The university also plans to install a flat panel television that will display information about the solar panels.
5 plead guilty in Dike dealership scheme
DIKE, Iowa (AP) Four employees and the owner of a failed farm implement dealership have pleaded guilty in connection with a financial scheme.
Authorities allege Walterman Implement in Dike scammed lenders through a double financing scheme, which created both real and fake loans on single pieces of farm equipment.
Leon Walterman was the former owner. The 60-year-old pleaded guilty on Thursday to mail fraud, money laundering and illegal wiretapping. A home phone number for Walterman wasn’t listed.
In 2005, the dealership filed for bankruptcy.
Authorities allege Walterman and the employees kept a fabricated books and bank statements, among other things, to conceal the scheme.
The other employees pleaded guilty to charges including mail fraud and illegal wiretapping.
Iowa man pleads guilty to federal firearms charges
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) A 45-year-old Parkersburg man convicted of alcohol and battery crimes has pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges.
Authorities allege in March Kevin Dann threatened his girlfriend at his residence and fired a rifle.
He faced one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and pleaded guilty on Thursday in Cedar Rapids.
Dann was convicted of operating while intoxicated in 1998 and domestic abuse in 2000.
A phone listing for Kevin Dann in Parkersburg could not be located on Thursday.
He’s in custody of the U.S. Marshals until his sentencing.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Parkersburg man convicted on firearms charges
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) A 45-year-old Parkersburg man convicted of alcohol and battery crimes has pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges.
Authorities allege in March Kevin Dann threatened his girlfriend at his residence and fired a rifle.
He faced one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and pleaded guilty on Thursday in Cedar Rapids.
Dann was convicted of operating while intoxicated in 1998 and domestic abuse in 2000.
A phone listing for Kevin Dann in Parkersburg could not be located on Thursday.
He’s in custody of the U.S. Marshals until his sentencing.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Miller, Mauro see Culver behind in governor’s race
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) Two statewide elected Democrats are conceding that Gov. Chet Culver is trailing former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad in his bid for a second term but they say the race will be close.
Attorney General Tom Miller and Secretary of State Michael Mauro says Culver is the underdog in the race but that his campaign has been energized by the lagging poll numbers.
Polls have shown Branstad with a double-digit edge over Culver.
Miller and Mauro say another race that will be close is Democrat Roxanne Conlin’s bid to oust Republican Sen. Charles Grassley.
Both Miller and Mauro are on the ballot this fall.
Miller is facing a challenge from Republican Brenna Findley of Dexter and Mauro is being challenged by Matt Schultz of Council Bluffs.
Iowa Department of Transportation gets $3.4M
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Federal officials say the Iowa Department of Transportation has been awarded $3.4 million in grant money.
The money will be used to buy 29 vehicles that meet accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Sen. Chuck Grassley announced the grant Thursday.
Copy of Declaration of Independence unveiled
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence has been put on display as part of the State Historical Society collection in Des Moines.
The document, unveiled Thursday, will be available for public viewing July 1 through July 3. The limited viewing is due to rules it can only be displayed outside its climate-controlled preservation unit for a brief time.
During Thursday’s unveiling, Gov. Chet Culver said he hopes every Iowan has the chance to see the document.
William J. Stone of Washington, D.C. completed a copperplate engraving of the Declaration of Independence in 1823. It was the first perfect reproduction of the original and was used to print approximately 200 copies for distribution to surviving signers of the original document, and other dignitaries.
Congress later commissioned the printing of an additional 1,500 copies.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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