Round Barn Visitors Select Favorite Barn Quilt
(Le Mars) — Thousands of people visited the famous Round Barn during the recent Plymouth County Fair to view the agricultural education exhibit as hosted by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee. A part of the overall exhibit were the Barn Quilts of Plymouth County. Visitors to the round barn had the opportunity to cast their vote for their favorite barn and barn quilt that were on display. More than 50 barns in Plymouth County have a barn quilt, and 370 people voted for their favorite. With nearly ten percent of the total votes cast, fair attendees chose the barn quilt owned by Keith and Norine Harvey of 47072 county road C-44 as their favorite. “For God and Country” is the name of the quilt that features a likeness of the American flag with one large star and four other stars surrounding the large star. The barn quilt also features red and white stripes that are shown horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. In the lower right hand corner of the barn quilt is a cross. Diagonally across the quilt are the words: “In God We Trust”. The Harvey’s will receive $50 in Le Mars Chamber bucks which can be used at various Le Mars chamber businesses.
Community Foundation Of Plymouth County Now Accepting Grant Applications
(Le Mars) — The Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County which was organized to promote and enhance community based philanthropy in Plymouth County has established its 2015 grant making policies and timetables. The foundation is currently accepting applications with a October 1, 2015 deadline. Qualification and guidelines are outlined in the grant application package. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Grants will be accepted from August 3rd through October 1st. Complete applications should be mailed to Karla Bohle, P.O. Box 144, Kingsley, Iowa 51028. Grants will be awarded in December and your project must by complete by June 30th of 2016. Maximum grant applications will not exceed $10,000. Your organization must have a 501 (c) 3 status or 170 (b) unit of government status. You are allowed to find an organization to sponsor your project such as your local municipal government entity. All inquiries pertaining to the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County, grant applications opportunities, and other foundation information should be directed to Karla Bohle of Kingsley, Iowa.
Le Mars City Officials To Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies And Open House On Wednesday
(Le Mars) — Wednesday, August 12th is going to be a busy day for the city of Le Mars. First, at 11:45 a.m. city officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Burlington Junction Short Line railroad. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 1555 21st St. Southwest, next to the railroad tracks. Mayor Dick Kirchoff says the new short line rail with both people and a locomotive have and will contribute to the city’s economic development. Immediately following the railroad ribbon cutting ceremony, city officials will go to the new Public Works Building and conduct another ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. Mayor Kirchoff says the new public works building is located at 800 18th Street Southwest. The open house will start at noon and will continue through 6:00 p.m. City officials will offer tours, and will provide food at the open house.
Tales For Trims
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Children who read books to a local barber got a free haircut as part of a community event in Dubuque to help families prepare for the upcoming school year.
Barber Courtney Holmes traded the haircuts for stories Saturday during the second annual Back to School Bash in Comiskey Park.
St. Mark Youth Enrichment gave away books during the event, some of which were read to Holmes. An outreach coordinator with St. Mark says she enjoyed watching Holmes help young children sound out the words they didn’t know yet.
The city’s acting resource manager coordinated the event, which involved nonprofits and other community partners. More than 100 people learned about free resources and before- and after-school opportunities available to families and students.
Golf Club Robbery
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man has been hospitalized after being struck by a golf club during a robbery by four people in Cedar Falls.
The crime was reported around 2:30 a.m. Monday. The victim told officers he’d been set upon by two men and two women and had been hit in the head with the club.
No arrests have been reported.
Mormon Trek Panels
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Several organizations have collaborated in replacing a handful of outdoor informational panels that detail a journey of Mormons in the mid-1800s across Iowa to settle in Utah.
The panels were installed by organizers at several eastern Iowa sites in 1996 during the 150th anniversary of the trek.
Bob Schulze with the Pottawattamie County Mormon Trails Association says the signs appeared worn due to age and weather. He and others, including representatives from the Pottawattamie County Conservation and the National Park Service, recently worked together to replace most of them with new ones.
Schulze says an Iowa Living Roadway Trust grant helped establish the native prairie that surrounds the panels. Organizers worked to make the area resemble what settlers encountered on their travels.
Bowling Alley Burns Down
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities had to be trucked to an eastern Iowa city so firefighters could continue battling a blaze at a bowling alley.
The fire was reported around 8 p.m. Sunday at Donmar Lanes in Mount Vernon. No injuries have been reported.
Firefighters from several nearby communities were called in to help, including crews from Lisbon, Martelle and Springville. Mount Vernon Mayor James Moore says firefighters were using water at such a rate that the city’s facilities couldn’t keep up, so water had to be brought in.
The fire cause is being investigated.
