First Day of The Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — Today is the first day of the “Five Best Days of Summer” known as the
Plymouth County Fair. This year, the fair is celebrating its 75th anniversary. On
today’s schedule, hog exhibitors will begin scanning their pig entries at 7:30 a.m.
with the swine check-in between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Open class exhibits are to be
entered this morning between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Rabbits are to be entered
this morning from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. All 4-H and FFA livestock entries consisting
of sheep, goats, dairy, poultry and beef need to be in place before 12:00 noon. At
10:30 a.m. will be the start of the beef weigh-in starting in alphabetical order by
club name. All livestock weigh-ins should be completed by noon. At 12:00 noon, the
4-H clothing event begins in Century Hall. Also at noon, the agricultural
education exhibit “aROUND the farm in the BARN” featured in the famous round barn
will open its doors. Beef scanning will start at 1:00 p.m. Clover Buddies rabbit
show, followed by the 4-H and FFA Rabbit show begins at 1:00 p.m. in the North
Arena. Commercial exhibits will open at 2:00 and also at 2:00 is the start of the
4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest in the Covered Arena. The midway rides will
begin at 5:00 p.m. and the bucket calf check-in is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with the
judging to take place at 6:00 p.m. Prior to the crowning of the Fair King and
Queen competition is the recognition of the 4-H Foundation donor ceremony,
scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at the Pioneer Village stage. At 7:00 p.m. is the crowning
of the new fair king and queen. Remsen native Danika Portz will perform her
selection of country music hits at 5:30 p.m. from the Pioneer Village Stage, and
again at 8:00 p.m. following the coronation ceremony. The grandstand entertainment
will feature the bull riding contest followed by fireworks.
Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee Hosts Agriculture Education Exhibit In Round Barn
(Le Mars) — For the third year, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture
Committee is featuring an agricultural education exhibit inside the famous round
barn during the upcoming Plymouth County Fair. Cole Sitzmann serves as the Vice
President and chairman of the Chamber Agriculture Committee. Sitzmann says this
year, the exhibit honors the 75th anniversary of the fair by portraying technical
advances in agriculture.
Sitzmann says the Chamber Agriculture committee believes it is important to share
the story of agriculture, and to offer the public more awareness of agricultural
production.
He says this year’s exhibit is completely different from the previous two years
displays. He says the Chamber ag committee likes to feature “interactive”
exhibits, saying people learn more and retain the information better if they have
the opportunity to interact with a display. He says kids of all ages will enjoy
the interactive model grain auger and grain elevator featured this year.
Sitzmann says the “aROUND the farm in the BARN” exhibit features a live bee hive
under glass, a giant puzzle of a farm scene for the kids, historical farm sale
bills, and several enlarged photos depicting Plymouth County agriculture. The round
barn will be open to the public’s viewing beginning at 12:00 noon each day, and
will remain open until 10:00 p.m.
Life Skills To Sponsor Bossy Bingo At Fair
(Le Mars) — In yesterday’s news update, we learned about the Life Skills Training
Center quilt auction held during the Plymouth County Fair, and how it serves as a
major fund raiser for the organization. Besides the popular quilt
auction, Life Skills has another popular fund raising event that is held during the
fair. The Bossy Bingo, which is held on Sunday afternoon gathers a lot of
interest. Shelly Thompson, Life Skills Marketing and Development Manager says
nearly every numbered block or parcel area is close to being sold out.
Thompson explains the contest is scheduled for Sunday afternoon during the fair.
The Life Skills official says the contest is scheduled for two hours, and if the
cow decides not to conduct its business, then all the names will be placed in a
drawing.
Schnepf Selected As Queen Of O’Brien County Fair
(Primghar) — Krayton Schnepf was recently crowned as the 2016 O’Brien County Fair Queen. The coronation ceremonies were held Monday evening. Schnepf is a 2016 Gehlen Catholic graduate. She will represent O’Brien County at the Iowa State Fair, competing for the title of Iowa State Fair Queen. Older sister Paris Schnepf is a former queen of the Iowa State Fair. Krayton Schnepf plans to attend the University of South Dakota this fall.
Motorcycle Catches On Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a report of a
motorcycle on fire in a garage located at 424 2nd Ave. N.E. The fire was reported
at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Upon arrival, black smoke was coming from the overhead double garage door which was
open. A motorcycle inside the garage was fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters entered the garage through the overhead door and attacked the fire.
The fire was put out very quickly and the garage was ventilated of smoke. The
inside of the garage contained several antique motorcycles and an antique army
jeep. One motorcycle was destroyed and one nearby small motorbike was damaged.
There was heavy smoke throughout the garage. The other several motorcycles should
be salvageable and did not have any fire damage.
Firefighters were on the scene for approximately one hour. The garage and
motorcycles are owned by Richard Schultz of Le Mars.
The cause of the fire was determined to be Accidental. A motorcycle was being
worked on and started when a backfire occurred causing the blaze.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue was assisted at the scene by the Le Mars Police and the Le Mars
Ambulance Crew. Several firefighters were checked by the Ambulance Crew due to the
hot conditions at the time of the fire. No injuries were noted.
Damage is estimated at $5000.00.
Woodbury County Authorities Release Name Of Motorcycle Fatal Accident
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities have released the name of the fatal
motorcycle accident victim. The accident happened Tuesday morning at about 6:30 on
Highway 31. 22 year old Tanner Hammond of Lawton was apparently travelling
southbound when the motorcycle left the roadway and entered the west ditch. The
Iowa Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident.
Area Bicycle Racers Honored For Performances
(Le Mars) — Eight young local bicycle riders were recognized with awards Tuesday
evening for their achievement with various racing competitions. Each of the
bicycle riders are members of the Central Junior Cycling club with most of its
members from Le Mars and the surrounding area. The awards ceremony was held at the
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor. 12 year old Dakota Olsen was one of the bicyclists
honored. He says he got interested in bicycle racing because his father
participated on RAGBRAI, the bicycle tour across Iowa. Although only 12, Olsen
actually competes in the 13-14 age group. He has been racing bicycles for just a
year, but has already won many races. Still he says it can be challenging racing
against the older students.
Olsen was awarded a 2nd place plaque during the special awards ceremony. He
recently competed in the Nationals competition held at Ashville, North Carolina.
Olsen says he practices his bike racing at a course west of the Le Mars Little
League ball parks, near Floyd Park. Olsen says his bike is similar to a typical
mountain bike, but built heavier.
The young bike rider explains the different types of bicycle races which he has
competed.
Olsen says with some bicycle races, the course may include obstacles or even sharp
turns.
Later, we will feature another champion bicycle racer.
Seated: (left to right): Willow Olsen – 1st place 15-16 year old – Le Mars, Luke Feuerhelm – 1st place 13-14 year old – Le Mars, Lilly Ferguson – 1st place 9-12 year old, Le Mars. Missing is Luke Skov -1st place. Standing, (left to right) Charli Grosenheider 2nd 9-12 year old – Le Mars, Nathan Zollmar – 3rd place 9-12 year old – Le Mars, Levi Brent – 3rd place 13-14 year old – Le Mars, Scott Ferguson – 2nd place 15-16 year old – Le Mars, and Dakota Olsen – 2nd place 13-14 year old – Le Mars.
Tubers Rescued From River
HARTFORD, Iowa (AP) – Two tubers have been returned to safety after being
stranded along the Des Moines River in Warren County.
The two had called 911 late Tuesday night to report that their tube had
deflated after hitting a branch. Rescuers began their search in Pleasant Hill and
worked southeast down the river.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports (https://bit.ly/2a93ATB ) the two
were found around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Warren County authorities say they were
found north of Hartford.
One of the two required treatment for exposure.
—
Trial Delayed For Former Jail Employee Accused Of Sexual Assault And Pornography
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa trial for a former Nebraska jail employee
facing child sex and pornography charges has been delayed.
The Council Bluffs trial of Shawn Beu has been rescheduled to begin Oct. 18 at the request of prosecution and defense attorneys. The trial was supposed to begin Tuesday.
Beu has pleaded not guilty to Iowa charges of sexual abuse, sexual
exploitation of a minor, and related crimes. He’s also been charged in federal
court with child pornography possession.
Beu, who lives in Council Bluffs, was a corrections sergeant at the Douglas
County Jail in Omaha when he was arrested in March.
—
Iowa Democratic Delegates Help Hillary Clinton Secure Presidential Nomination
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa delegates have helped Hillary Clinton become the
Democratic Party’s nominee for president.
Thirty Iowa delegates, including seven superdelegates, cast votes Tuesday for
Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The votes during a
roll call added to Clinton’s total as she became the first woman nominated for
president by a major U.S. political party.
Clinton’s former rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, received 21 votes from
Iowa delegates. Clinton had a slight edge over Sanders to win the state’s first-
in-the-nation caucuses earlier this year.
The Iowa delegation was elected at district and state conventions. Iowa
delegates for the Republican Party voted to make Donald Trump its presidential
nominee during the GOP’s national convention last week.
