(LE MARS)–Movie goers may see show times back on a red and white marque in downtown Le Mars.
Going out of town for movies has been the only option since the Royal T III Theatre closed.
Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation (LBIC) director Neal Adler describes a movie theatre as a quality of life issue for Plymouth County the development group has been working on.
The Le Mars Business Initiative is at the point of a purchase agreement with Eric Hilsabeck whose experience in the theatre business includes the renovation of the Riviera Theatre in downtown Sioux City. He has previous theatre management experience, including the Plaza in Sioux City.
The cost to restore the 1920 theatre building owned by Jack March and provide a state of the art theatre is estimated at more than 700-thousand dollars. The proposed project is to be funded by private investment, bank financing and help from the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation.
At a noon meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) the Le Mars City Council is also asked to support the project with a grant or forgivable loan of 150-thousand dollars. Adler’s request from the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation to the council indicates a smaller amount will be requested from the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. The preliminary agenda for the Tuesday meeting of the board of supervisors does not include time to discuss the theatre project.
Landscape waste site will remain open on Wednesdays in November
(LE MARS)–Falling leaves and yard work will mean more days of service from the city of Le Mars for landscape waste in November.
According to assistant city administrator Bill Cole, the city has decided to continue Wednesday hours at the landscape waste site on the city’s west side, near the Riverview Ball Complex.
Le Mars residents may take grass, leaves, twigs, and branches to the landscape waste area without a charge on Wednesday from noon until 5 in the afternoon. Saturday hours are also offered from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon.
Cole says the site will be open Wednesdays and Saturday through the month of November, if weather permits.
ECO Center project on October list of county building
(LE MARS)–A government building project boosted rural construction numbers in Plymouth County in the latest report.
Zoning administrator Alan Lucken issued nine permits in October.
Construction that is not on farms topped the report with a permit for the Plymouth County Conservation Board Eco Center at rural Hinton. The outdoor environmental education center building permit was for construction costs of 437-thousand dollars.
There were three other permits for buildings in rural areas that are not on farms that included two storage buildings and a garage.
Lucken’s report lists five permits on farms with construction estimated at 191-thousand dollars. The permits are broken down into three machine storage buildings, a feed shed and grain bin.
Total construction estimated in October is 718-thousand dollars.
Rent trimmed in new agreement proposed for golf course bar and grill
(LE MARS)–A rent reduction is being proposed for the operator of the bar and grill at the City of Le Mars Willow Creek Golf Course.
The current contract with Mike Fiddelke of Orange City has rent of 30-thousand dollars. The contract proposal for 2011 reduces the rent by six-thousand dollars to 24-thousand dollars. Also proposed for change is a requirement that the bar and grill be open a minimum of 24 hours per week. The facility will be open for scheduled events and rentals.
The Le Mars City Council considers the one-year agreement with Fiddelke with the two changes during a public meeting tomorrow at noon in the Council Chambers. He is completing his first season contract with the city.
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
(LE MARS)–Another hour of sleep and changing the clock is ahead this week. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a-m Sunday.
Iowa residents can apply for energy assistance
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) State officials says Iowa residents can soon start applying for help with paying heating costs.
The Iowa Department of Human Rights is funding a program to help low-income homeowners and renters pay for a portion of energy costs.
Applications will be accepted starting Monday. The deadline to apply is next April.
Applicants need to provide copies of heating and electric bills as well as proof of income, among other documents.
State officials say to qualify the annual gross income for a one-person household can’t exceed $16,245. For a household of six, the annual gross income can’t exceed $44,295.
Bedrock map is updated for the state
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) After more than four decades the state of Iowa is releasing an updated map of the state’s bedrock geology.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the map is available to help Iowans find out about what’s in the earth below towns and farms. It was produced by the state’s Geological and Water Survey and compiles available data from more than 125 years of student. It replaces the last statewide version dating to 1969.
The new version has renditions of the bedrock surface elevation and the depth to bedrock from the land’s surface. Geologists say the information can help Iowans learn about groundwater and mineral resources, gauge geologic hazards, guide construction and protect water quality.
Downloads are available online or are $5 for printed copies.
UNI new home to Iowa Space Grant Consortium
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Space Grant Consortium has a new home.
Officials at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls say the consortium is now located at school. The consortium was created in 1990 by the public universities in Iowa. The goal is to coordinate and improve future aerospace science and technology research and education in Iowa.
The consortium is part of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship program. It provides research support for faculty and students and develops NASA-related courses.
Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University, along with other government, industry and nonprofit groups.
Authorities: Alleged robber caught in open field
PACKWOOD, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a 20-year-old man who allegedly robbed a bank was caught by authorities after he fled by running across an open field.
Jefferson County authorities say the man allegedly robbed Pilot Grove Savings Bank in Packwood on Friday morning around 10 a.m.
The Des Moines Register reports that shortly after the county’s 911 system received a call about a man with a similar description running across his field.
Michael Koehlhoeffer was soon arrested. The Fairfield man faces first-degree robbery, assault on a police officer, among other charges.
It was immediately unclear if he had an attorney.
Iowa man dies after falling out of pickup
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) Iowa State Patrol officials say a 68-year-old Iowa man has died after falling out of the bed of a pickup truck.
Atlantic radio station KJAN-AM reports that Danny Smith of Burlington was sitting in a chair in the back of a 2008 Ford pickup. He fell as the pickup was backing down an alley at an auction.
Authorities say the accident happened around noon on Saturday.
Deer hunter injured after fall from tree stand
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) State officials say an Altoona man has been seriously injured after falling from a tree stand.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources say the man had just stepped into his tree stand in Clark County, when he fell about 15 feet. The accident happened around 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Authorities say the man wasn’t discovered until 2 p.m. and was then taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines by helicopter.
The man was archery hunting for deer.
He was not wearing a full-body harness, which is recommended by state officials.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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