Le Mars Businesses To Celebrate “Small Business Saturday”
(Le Mars) — Le Mars businesses are encouraging area shoppers to “Think Small”® this Thanksgiving weekend. Small business Saturday activities include the arrival of Santa Claus by fire truck, cookie decorating, and discount offers all over the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.” Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
First observed in 2010, it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local.
Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive at Piece of Cake on Central Avenue in Le Mars at 11 a.m. Saturday, special delivery by the Le Mars Fire Department. Piece of Cake owner Michelle Bomgaars is planning cookie decorating for kids while they give Santa their wish lists from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. Several Le Mars businesses are getting into the Small Business Saturday Spirit including Northwest Bank providing popcorn, Floyd Valley Hospital supplying apples, and Piece of Cake offering cookies.
Le Mars merchants will roll out the red carpet all weekend, offering discounts, promotions,and many providing refreshments and drawings for prizes.
This year’s events are sponsored by local merchants with support from the Le Mars Convention and Visitors Bureau and Le Mars Main Street.
Two People Plead Guilty To Arson Charges
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two people have pleaded guilty to charges in connection to a string of house fires in Sioux City.
A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree arson as part of a plea deal that will dismiss a third-degree burglary charge.
Thirty-two-year-old Daisy Castillo pleaded guilty recently to third-degree burglary as part of a plea deal that dismissed a second-degree arson charge. She was sentenced to five years in prison.
The Associated Press does not generally name minors accused of crimes.
Authorities have been investigating a string of suspicious house fires in August and September. Eighteen-year-old Javen Mobley has pleaded not guilty to second-degree arson and third-degree burglary. A 14-year-old is charged in juvenile court with first-degree arson.
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Des Moines Man Dies From Being Burned In Fire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Services have been scheduled Wednesday for a 38-year-old man who was burned in a Des Moines business blaze.
Authorities say Jason Capps, of Des Moines, died late last week at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He’d been taken there after the Nov. 10 fire at The Body Parts Store Inc.
Body Parts was one of the three businesses in an industrial building. Authorities say the fire started after an employee of one of the businesses began mixing chemicals.
Iowa City Man Charged After He Threaten Wife With Machete
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa City man faces multiple charges after police say he tried to enter his ex-girlfriend’s home with a machete and threatened to take their children.
20-year-old Pedro Javier Lagos faces charges including first-degree burglary, interference with official acts and domestic abuse assault with display or use of a weapon. Court records do not list an attorney.
Police received a call Saturday night about a domestic fight in progress. They say they found Lagos armed with a machete outside a home.
Lagos is accused of trying to enter the home through front and back entrances during a dispute with his ex-girlfriend that involved their children. Police say Lagos tried to kick at officers before he was arrested.
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