Le Mars Celebrates 4th Of July With Parade
(Le Mars) — A few hundred people had gathered along Central Avenue to watch the Le Mars Independence Day parade this morning. The parade may be considered to have been short, but people still enjoyed the festivities waving their flags and wearing the red, white, and blue. Although the parade did not have a marching band, people were still able to enjoy patriotic sounds provided by the Le Mars Municipal Band’s fife and drum corps.
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If you happened to be near 4th Street and Central Avenue, during the parade, you would have heard the music of “God Bless America” and other patriotic songs by David Boggengrief as he played his trumpet, as the parade entries passed by, giving spectators an additional amount of enjoyment.
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The parade was led by the Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post 241. American Bank sponsored a contest for children showing their most patriotic entries. Following the parade, the Plymouth County Historical Museum will host a luncheon in “Old Central” gym, catered by Timmy’s. A free will offering will be taken, with proceeds going to the museum. All five floors of the museum will be open immediately following the meal. At 3:00 p.m. on the east lawn of the museum will be the watermelon feed. Later in the evening, at 8:00 p.m. the Le Mars Municipal Band will perform patriotic music at Foster Park. The fireworks sky show will be held Sunday evening at 10:00 p.m. from the Plymouth County Fair grounds.
Mark Loutsch Family Shows Off Tractor Collection During Oyens Independence Day Parade
(Oyens) — For the past 23 years, it has been a July 4th tradition with the Mark Loutsch family of Oyens to show his collection of antique tractors in the Oyens Independence Day parade. Loutsch has a collection of nearly 100 tractors with most of them being produced by John Deere. Loutsch talks about why his family started the July 4th parade tradition.
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Loutsch says the reaction from the people of Oyens and the surrounding area, is they have enjoyed seeing the antique tractors, and have come to expect seeing the tractors on the 4th of July.
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Some Plymouth County residents may make the claim that Loutsch is starting to rival the collection of green and yellow John Deere tractors that was once owned by the late Dave Hawkins. Loutsch admits to owning nearly 100 tractors, but his favorite, and the oldest tractor in his collection is a predecessor of John Deere.
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If you missed the Oyens Independence Day Parade, but have an interest in viewing the antique tractors, Loutsch will have his collection of tractors on display at his farm located at 15424 Pioneer Avenue, or about two miles north of Highway 3.
Man Electrocuted When Trying To Hang Flag
BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old man trying to hang a flag for the July 4 holiday was seriously injured when the flag pole he was holding touched a power line.
Bettendorf Police spokeswoman Lauran Haldeman tells the Quad-City Times (https://bit.ly/1HDUawK ) that the accident happened just before 2:30 p.m. Friday. Haldeman says the man was an employee of a local food vendor and was on top of a trailer attempting to hang a flag from a metal pole.
Haldeman says the pole fell forward and touched a power line, shocking the teen.
The man fell about 15 feet to the ground. He was given CPR by a Bettendorf police officer until paramedics arrived. The man was then taken to a Davenport hospital.
The man’s condition was not known Saturday. Bettendorf police are investigating.
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Swimmers Warned Of E-Coli Bacteria In Lakes
HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) – Officials have issued a swimming advisory at a state park in Iowa because of higher than normal levels of E. coli.
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports (https://bit.ly/1H6dU96 ) that Beeds Lake State Park in Franklin County was placed under the advisories following recent water tests.
The advisory means officials do not recommend swimming at the park until the bacteria levels are back to normal. Anyone swimming at the part should shower afterward and avoid ingesting water.
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Boaters Informed To Watch For Debris In Waterways
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is warning boaters to look out for hazards in Coralville Lake.
Erika Billerbeck with the department tells Cedar Rapids television station KCRG (https://bit.ly/1HDQ7AG ) that there is a lot of debris in the lake just under the surface of the water.
Billerbeck says boaters pulling tubers and skiers should be on the lookout for debris.
The debris was washed into the lake by heavy rainfall in June.
Boater Randy Jernigan says many boaters enjoy the higher levels because it makes for a bigger lake overall. But he says people should be mindful of hidden hazards.
Billerbeck said DNR officers will be on the lake all weekend.
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Reported Shooting Turns Out To Be A Hoax
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police in Des Moines are seeking the person behind a report of a shooting and hostage situation that turned out to be a hoax.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/1HDPves ) that police and emergency rescue crews descended on a southeast Des Moines mobile home park Thursday evening after a man called 911 and said he had shot his girlfriend and had his niece tied up.
Lt. Joseph Leo says the caller also told dispatchers that he would shoot himself and his niece if he saw police.
Officers arrived at the mobile home park and surrounded a trailer where the assault was reported. Leo says a woman who answered the door had no idea why police were there and that no shooting or assault had occurred there.
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