Knights of Columbus Annual Phone-a-thon Breaks Record
(Le Mars) — The 36th annual Knights of Columbus Phone-a-thon fund raiser held Wednesday for Life Skills Training Center was able to break a record. A total of $54,205 was collected. The goal was to raise at least $52,000 with the challenge goal at $54,000.
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Schlichte Named As Bishop’s “Excellence In Education” Recipient
(Le Mars) — A Gehlen Catholic art instructor will receive the “Excellence of Education” award as presented by Bishop Walker Nickless during the Bishop’s fund raiser dinner scheduled for October. Beth Schlichte of Le Mars was informed of the honor during a morning ceremony held at the St. Joseph Catholic church Wednesday morning. Dan Ryan serves as the superintendent of the Sioux City Diocese schools and made the announcement before the Gehlen students and other parishioners. He explains why Schlichte was selected for the honor.
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Ryan says the selection is kept as a secret until the date for the announcement which often is a complete surprise for the recipient. In Beth Schlichte’s case, she had no idea that she was nominated for the honor, and tears of joy rolled down her cheeks as she was congratulated by family members and colleagues.
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The 28 year art instructor teaches Kindergarten through 12th grade students, and she explains how she encourages her students to be creative, while emphasizing a Catholic education.
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Schlichte says she has been blessed to have so many of her past students go on to win many art competition contests, and to pursue art after their Gehlen education.
Solar Conference Highlights Benefits And Disadvantages
(Le Mars) — Le Mars hosted a solar conference on Wednesday, and Lyle Korver, the executive director with North West Rural Electric Cooperative, was a featured afternoon panel speaker. Korver says the rural electric cooperative installed solar panels to generate electricity, and to use as a demonstration project.
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Korver says the solar project is generating electricity for their Orange City office building. The Rural Electric Cooperative executive explains what lessons were learned during the past year of utilizing solar energy.
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Korver says in the summer months, the peak load usually occurs in the late afternoon, following the prime solar collection time period.
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The USDA Rural Development was a co-sponsor of the conference, and officials explained to farmers, businesses, and home owners how they can apply for grants and tax incentives by incorporating solar energy as part of their total energy usage.
Second Locomotive Delivered To Le Mars
(Le Mars) — Burlington Junction Short Line railroad brought in a second locomotive to Le Mars on Wednesday. The train engine was transported via a flat bed truck and trailer and was lifted off the trailer using a special crane. The locomotive will be used primarily in the industrial park region of Le Mars moving various train cars back and forth to Well’s Enterprises, Bo-Deans Bakery, and other future Le Mars based industries.
Photo contributed
Nutrition Conference Scheduled
(Le Mars) — ISU Extension and Outreach Plymouth County & Floyd Valley Hospital will offer the 7th annual Northwest Iowa Nutrition Conference on Thursday, September 17, 2015. This professional education course is intended for dietitians; dietary technicians, registered; dietary managers; dietary staff and other interested health care personnel. The purpose of this program is to provide an update of current practices in a variety of nutrition-related topics. Please pre-register by calling 546-3388 or 1-800-642-6074, Ext. 3388. The cost for the conference is $70. The event will be held in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
