(LE MARS) — A new show opened its two weekend run at the Le Mars Community Theater Postal Playhouse last (Thursday) night. “Daddy’s Dying-Who’s Got the Will” is the comedic story of sibling rivalry and family dynamics. Director Ken Niehus tells us more about the plot.
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Now, it may not sound that funny, but when you toss an overweight beer guzzling brother together in a house with his 3 sisters: one a preacher’s wife, one a beautician and one whose been married 6 times and is currently dating a hippie, things can get quite interesting. On top of all that the show has a sister-in-law who won’t shut up about her latest diet, a grandma who doesn’t take any lip from anybody and Daddy, who is senile and blurts out whatever is going on in his stroke-ridden brain.
Danna Schuster, Linda Kleven, Angela Riedeman and Dan Delperdang play the siblings. Wayne Marty has the role of Daddy. Hilma Person brings lots of life to the grandma known as Mama Wheelis. Lisa and Doug Opheim round out the cast as the sister-in-law and hippie boyfriend.
This is Ken Niehus’ first time directing and as an actor played the role of the “hippie boyfriend” when the Le Mars Community Theater did this show in the 90’s. He said he chose the show because he’s familiar with it and also because had the chance to meet the playwrite, Del Shores.
“Daddy’s Dying-Who’s Got the Will” is a comedy that you could walk away from with tears in your eyes not only from laughter, but from the touching moments that bring the family together. Find out “Who’s Got the Will” at the Postal Playhouse this weekend and next. (Feb. 25-27 and March 3-6) Evening performances are at 7:30pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are available by calling 546-5788, between 11:00 AM and 2:00PM, Monday through Friday, or emailing lctreservations@frontier.com. (Angela Drake, KLEM News)
(LE MARS)–Le Mars residents should not expect to see a change or reduction in services if the Le Mars City Council adopts the proposed new budget Tuesday afternoon.
City Council and staff changes took about 350-thousand dollars out of the early budget proposal as the Council worked toward a balanced budget.
City administrator Scott Langel says some of the changes involved revenue adjustments.
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According to Langel, about a half dozen items were funded in a portion in the new FY 12 budget proposal.
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A time for public comment on the budget proposal is set for the City Council meeting Tuesday at noon in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
(LE MARS)–A Le Mars man is free on bond after being charged with an assault involving a knife.
According to a police report, officers went to 22 Second Avenue Southeast about 10:15 Wednesday night. They were assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. There were no injuries.
Based on an investigation, 19-year-old Zachery Port of Le Mars was arrested on a charge of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.
He was taken to the Plymouth County jail.
(SIOUX CITY)–Senate and House Republicans stop in Sioux City today as part of the 10-city “Re-Open Iowa for Business” tour.
The GOP officeholders are collecting information from Iowans about rules and regulations that hurt job creation and keep business from locating or expanding in the state.
The Republican lawmakers will be joined by Brenna Findley, Governor Branstad’s legal counsel.
The meeting is this (Friday) morning at 10:30 in the UPS Auditorium on the Morningside College campus and is open to the public.
SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a Sac City police officer was justified in shooting a northwest Iowa man who was menacing officers and refused to drop his weapon.
Sac County Attorney Ben Smith released information which said officer Mark Jansma had to fire as Nick Sippel advanced on Jansma and Sac County Deputy Kristan Erskine.
Smith says Jansma “was justified in using force.”
Officers had responded to a call Feb. 13 about an armed man threatening people at a home on the south side of Schaller. They found Sippel, armed, at the scene.
Police say Sippel pointed the gun at officers and wouldn’t drop it. He was shot in a shoulder.
The 36-year-old Sippel is charged with two felonies and is in jail.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(MAPLETON)–An explosion is affecting water quality in Mapleton.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports piping within the Mapleton water treatment plant exploded Thursday. The water treatment plant is not operating.
The water is being chlorinated. Nitrate and chlorine levels are being monitored until repairs are complete.
The state agency issued an alert to parents that an elevated level of nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old. Parents are told not to mix tap water with formula or juice or given to children under six months of age.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) It’s not Wisconsin, but the labor-management story line in Iowa bears many similarities to the battle going on in Madison.
Democrats on the Iowa House Labor Committee have stacked up over 50 amendments to a bill they say would undermine public workers’ ability to negotiate contracts.
Rep. Bruce Hunter, a top Democrat on the panel, says Thursday night they’re prepared to debate the bill into the weekend.
Republicans argue the bill is beneficial to taxpayers.
Among other things, it would allow state workers to reject representation from unions that negotiate with the state on wages, benefits and other issues.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) State lawmakers may make funds available for a restoration study of Lake Delhi, which was nearly drained after a dam failed during last summer’s flooding.
The Des Moines Register says residents met Thursday with a subcommittee. Sen. Tom Hancock, an Epworth Democrat, represents the Lake Delhi area in Delaware County. He attended the meeting and he says he’s confident the Legislature will come up with funding so the process can get started this year.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The inflatable gates at Saylorville Lake which were damaged during high water last summer are being tested to make sure they work.
Seams on the rubber bladders that hold up the gates came apart. They provide an extra 6 feet of storage before water tops the emergency spillway at the lake north of Des Moines.
Jeff Rose, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations manager at Saylorville Lake says in The Des Moines Register that the gates were raised and lowered Wednesday to make sure they were working properly. He says the corps also will take bids on an inspection and service contract for the compressors that inflate the bladder dam system.
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is back in Iowa, although he won’t say if he plans to seek the Republican presidential nomination next year.
Santorum did say he believes President Obama broke a campaign promise by shifting his position on same-sex marriage.
Obama ordered his administration Wednesday to stop defending the constitutionality of a federal law that bans the recognition of gay marriage.
Santorum, who spoke Thursday during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program, is considering a race for the White House. Thursday’s visit was his 10th stop in Iowa since the 2008 election.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Terry Branstad says U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will attend his education summit this summer in Des Moines.
Branstad on Thursday says Duncan will be the keynote speaker at the two-day meeting that begins on July 25.
Branstad announced the summit during his inaugural address in January. He says the goal is to build a consensus for how Iowa can again become a top-performing state.
The governor’s office says more details on the meeting will be released in the coming weeks.
ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) An eastern Iowa man has been arrested for allegedly holding his girlfriend captive for two days and beating her.
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids says Michael Switzer, of Anamosa, was arrested Wednesday night after the woman reported the incidents, which she said occurred Tuesday and Wednesday.
Police Chief Bob Simonson says Switzer allegedly forced the woman from her vehicle and threw her to the cement. She also said Switzer pushed her head through a wall. Simonson says the woman refused medical attention.
Switzer is charged with domestic assault with injury and false imprisonment. He was released from the Jones County jail on Thursday without bond.
Switzer’s case is not on the online court system, and isn’t known if he has an attorney. A telephone call to Switzer was not returned.
Former Chiefs RB Podalak faces long recovery
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The daughter of former Kansas City Chiefs running back Ed Podalak says he faces a long recovery after he was hit by a car while crossing a street in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Laura Podolak says Thursday that her father, who is a commentator on Iowa football radio broadcasts, is in an Arizona hospital. His daughter says he’s aware that it’s going to be a “challenging and lengthy rehabilitation.” She says he’s being medicated because of the number of surgeries he has undergone so far.
Police in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale say the 63-year-old Podolak was not inside a crosswalk when he was hit Sunday. They say the driver tried to brake but couldn’t stop fast enough.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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