Downtown Le Mars Suffers From Power Outage
(Le Mars) — Many parts of downtown Le Mars lost power overnight for nearly two hours. The power outage happened shortly after midnight and lasted until a little after 2:00 a.m. An area stretching from 2nd Avenue west to 2nd Avenue east and from 3rd Street North to 6th Street south were all without electricity. MidAmerican Energy officials were working on the problem during the overnight hours. Apparently, the power outage was due to a broken insulator located near 3rd Street and 1st Avenue northeast.
Icy Roads And Fog Responsible For Thursday Morning Accidents (Updated)
(Le Mars) — Slick, icy roads are responsible for an early Thursday morning accident that happened on Highway 3 at about 7:30 a.m. on the east edge of town near the intersection of the Le Mars Mutual Insurance building and the Armory. According to the Le Mars Police, the accident involved a car heading eastbound, and being driven by Connie Arnold of Merrill was wanting to make a left-hand turn toward the Le Mars Mutual Insurance, when a pick up truck pulling a trailer loaded with a snowmobile, and being driven by Devin Peters of Sergeant Bluff was following the car and was unable to stop and rear-ended the car, causing the car to spin completely around. The Le Mars Ambulance Services and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene. Arnold was taken to the Floyd Valley Healthcare with what was thought to be minor injuries. The driver of the pick up truck, Peters, was uninjured. Both vehicles sustained damage. The Le Mars Police Department is investigating the accident.
Semi Truck Collides With Car
(Brunsville) — Emergency rescue personnel and law enforcement authorities responded to an accident involving a semi-truck running into the rear of a car this morning. The accident happened at about 9:25 a.m. on county road K-42 and 150th Street, about two miles north of Brunsville. Authorities say the morning fog may be somewhat responsible for the collision. One person was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare, but believed to have non-life threatening injuries. The car suffered major damage to the rear of the vehicle, and was towed from the scene, while the semi truck had only minor damage and was able to drive away.
Northwest Iowa Roads Are Snow Covered
(Le Mars) — As mentioned, the roads in northwest Iowa are slick and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office reports numerous vehicles that have gone into the ditch overnight and this morning. The Iowa Department of Transportation indicates that all roads and highways in northwest Iowa are either partially or completely snow covered. Road officials suggest to slow down and allow for extra time, and to be especially cautious on bridges and overpasses.
Le Mars Sees Increase Of Housing And Commercial Construction
(Le Mars) — Le Mars saw an increase of houses that were built in 2015. According to a report submitted to the city council, Le Mars had a total of 26 new homes constructed. City Assistant Administrator Jason Vacera.
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Vacera says the increase of housing development can be connected to the additional sub-divisions that have been approved in recent years, allowing for the new homes to be constructed. Vacera says Le Mars also saw an increase in new and renovated commercial property.
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Vacera says the construction value was above $5.6 million dollars which meant an additional $17,150 in construction fees for the city.
LeAnn Hobson Named “School District Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — A high school study hall monitor and associate was presented the honor of being named as the “Le Mars Community Employee of the Month”. LeAnn Hobson has been employed with the school district for 20 years, and according to the nomination as submitted by Nancy Isebrand and Kathy Dalton, LeAnn Hobson is a remarkable woman as she manages to keep anywhere from 15 to 90 students quiet during their study hall periods throughout the entire school day. Because of her caring attitude for the students, you can find students around her desk sharing with her at various times of the day. She works hard to make the students accountable for the grades they are getting. If their grades drop below a “C” she will personally keep them responsible for improving those grades. She is like the super mom of the building with her love for the students. Our congratulations go to LeAnn Hobson for being named the Le Mars Community school district employee of the month.
Le Mars Community Education Association Submits Collective Bargaining Proposal
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Education Association has submitted its initial collective salary and benefits proposal to the Le Mars Community Board of Education. The teachers presented the proposal earlier this week. In their proposal, the teachers are requesting an increase of $1,700 per year, which if granted would push the base salary from $35,685 to $37,385. The teachers are also wanting the school district to increase insurance by $100 per month to a new rate of $1,045 per month. The teacher association is also asking for any unused sick leave at the time of retirement of the employee to be reimbursed at a rate of $25 per full day of unused sick leave. The Le Mars teachers are also wanting the school board to approve up to ten days to be available for faculty to attend conferences, conventions, or other activities of the local, state, and national affiliated organizations. The Le Mars Community Board of Education will make its initial counter proposal to the faculty on January 18th.
Presidential Candidate Dr. Ben Carson To Visit Le Mars
(Le Mars) — KLEM news has learned that Republican presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson will make an appearance in Le Mars. Carson, a retired surgeon, is scheduled to be at the Blue Bunny ice cream parlor on Monday evening, January 11th. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with Carson speaking at 7:45 p.m.
Promise Community Health Center Purchases Building
SIOUX CENTER – Promise Community Health Center now can call its place its own. The health center has purchased the downtown building that it has operated in sinceopening its doors in July 2008.
Throughout the years, Promise has continued to expand its facilities by building out various sections of the building – completing its largest renovation and expansion project to date late last summer – but it did not own the space. Now it does.
Nancy Dykstra, executive director of Promise says “This is part of our growth. It shows our development,” Dykstra says “This is a good signal that the organization is solidified by acquiring this asset. It feels good that we can take this step.”
Longtime Sioux Center residents and former Dordt College students have many fond memories of the building for its storied history as a bowling alley.
Wilbur and Tena Huisman built the 15,168-square-foot structure as the new location for their Holiday Lanes business in 1977. The 16-lane venue and eatery was a popular meeting place for two decades until it closed in the late 1990s.
