(LE MARS)–Phones will ring throughout Plymouth County today (Wednesday) for the annual Knights of Columbus Phonothon for Persons with Disabilities.
The Knights of Columbus Hall in Le Mars is the headquarters for the 31st annual Phonothon fund raiser.
All of the proceeds will benefit Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars and Iowa Special Olympics.
Life Skills serves more than 60 individuals with disabilities and has a full and part time staff of more than 20. The laundry processed more than one-point-two-million pounds of linen last year with a daily average of nearly five-thousand pounds. The non-profit had laundry contracts income of 500-thousand dollars in 2009 and supported employment services of 45-thousand dollars. There were 23 supported training sites in Le Mars for more than 68-hundred hours of annual training support.
Progress on the Knights of Columbus fund raising will be reported throughout the day on KLEM 1410 AM/96.9 FM.
Sewer line cleaning begins in Le Mars today
(LE MARS)–A contractor begins a yearly effort to keep lines open to the Le Mars Wastewater Treatment facility today (Wednesday).
Le Mars Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection System Superintendent Ron Kayser says the cleaning reduces the likelihood of sewer lines plugging and backing up into basements.
Listen here
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The sewer lines to be cleaned are all areas west of 4th Avenue northwest and southwest, from 6th Street Northwest to 24th Street Southwest. Also, all areas south and west of Central Avenue and 24th street Southwest.
Kayser explains the contractor finds whatever goes into the system.
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Residents may experience some minor sewer problems and or traffic congestion in the areas being cleaned. Kayser says small things that can be done to alleviate problems in your home during cleaning include pouring water down your floor drains; having your sewer vent checked for blockages by bird nests, twigs/debris, and closing the toilet lid.
Branstad: Keep Main Street program
(LE MARS)–The Republican candidate for governor brought a message about jobs to a campaign stop at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars Tuesday.
Terry Branstad was asked if he could make the state less unattractive to business. Branstad said he’d done it before as governor saying he was in Le Mars for a new business, SmithCo Manufacturing, the rural Le Mars the side dump trailer maker, and several expansions by Wells’ Dairy.
Branstad pointed to the taxes on commercial business as an example of roadblocks to jobs.
Listen here
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His plan to change economic development with a public-private partnership drew a question about the future of Main Street..a downtown revitalization program. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is part of the Main Street program.
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Other topics the governor was asked about included tax reform, education, and foster care.
Netley dies while clearing brush
(AKRON)–A southeast South Dakota man who was clearing brush seven miles east of Akron died Monday when a tree fell on him.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office identified the man as 63-year-old James “Jim” Netley of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.
The Sheriff’s Office and Plymouth County Coroner’s Office responded to the report of someone being injured around 7:30 Monday night. The location was on Highway Three at Ruble, a ghost town between Akron and Brunsville.
The sheriff’s office said Netley’s death was being handled as an accident and no further investigation was anticipated.
Palin returns to Iowa for GOP fundraiser
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will return to Iowa in September, headlining a state Republican Party fundraiser and sparking speculation about whether her visit indicates she’s considering a run for president in 2012.
Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn confirmed Tuesday that Palin will speak Sept. 17 in Des Moines at the annual Reagan Dinner.
It will be Palin’s second visit to Iowa since the 2008 election, when she served as GOP presidential nominee John McCain’s running mate. She visited western Iowa briefly in December 2009 during a book-signing tour.
Strawn says he’s confident Palin will motivate Republicans heading into the November elections.
As the state that leads off the presidential nominating process, Palin’s visit also will likely prompt talk about whether she intends to make a White House run in 2012.
Woman has dog stolen at knifepoint
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Police in Cedar Rapids say a man threatened to kill a woman with a knife if she didn’t give him the dog she was walking.
Clarissa Kleppe told police she was walking a friend’s miniature pinscher/Jack Russell terrier mix about 6 p.m. Monday when the man approached her from behind, held a knife to her throat and demanded the dog. The 23-year-old handed over the dog and was not injured.
The dog is valued at $50. Police are looking for a suspect based on Kleppe’s description.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Tire company to build Iowa plant
BOONE, Iowa (AP) A company based in the Czech Republic plans to build a new agricultural tire plant in Iowa.
Gov. Chet Culver and CGS Tyres made the announcement Tuesday at the Farm Progress Show.
The plant would be built in Charles City, in northern Iowa. Company officials plan to invest $43 million to build the plant.
The company says the plant would create 159 new jobs. Production is expected to begin in 2012.
Culver says the Iowa Department of Economic Development has spent six years working with the company to come to Iowa.
Cedar Rapids gives flood-damaged homes to builders
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Cedar Rapids is giving away flood-damaged homes to builders and nonprofits for renovation and resale.
City officials are trying to save some of the “least-badly” damaged homes among about 1,200 buyouts. Builders and nonprofits can get the homes for free in exchange for rehabilitating and selling the homes at a 15 percent profit margin.
Eighteen builders and contractors and three nonprofits have identitified 100 homes they’re interested in obtaining.
Under the program, once the city buys out a home it will notify the developer, who has 21 days to submit a renovation plan. The renovation must be done within 60 days, with the home sold to someone who owns and occupies it within a year.
Flood victims who owned the home and were bought out have right of first refusal in the sale.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Submit your news release, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm.net, by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
