Library Re-opens After Renovation Completed
(Le Mars) — After several months of being closed due to renovation, the Le Mars Public Library is once again open and operating from its home building. The library opened to the public on Wednesday, and many people took the opportunity
to re-acquaint themselves with the newly remodeled library. Eight year old Emily gives her impression of the renovated library.
One area that has been expanded is the children’s section. Emily again offers her comments about the children area.
Wells Enterprises contributed a small kid size Blue Bunny Ice Cream truck which is located within the children’s area, allowing youngsters to dream and play. A small puppet theater is part of the children’s area, along with a bench in the shape of a train for small children to sit on. The children’s area is also
equipped with two i-pad tablets.
Emily tells me she has been a frequent visitor to the Le Mars Public Library, and now with the newly expanded renovation, she plans to visit the library even
more often.
Also featured in the children’s area is a Lego wall, allowing children to place various Lego blocks on the wall to make their own creation. Alley art is also featured in the newly remodeled library children’s section with a magnetic wall filled with magnets depicting some of the popular alley art found in Le Mars.
The library offers various lounge chairs within the shelves of books, allowing anyone to escape into the pages of their favorite story. City councilman Rex Knapp took some time to visit the newly renovated library on Wednesday, and says
it is a “beautiful facility.”
School Board To Hold Special Meeting Today
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will hold a special meeting today at noon at the Education Service Center. The school board is expected to approve the claims and accounts. There is no other action items listed on the agenda.
City Officials To Close Lincoln Street SW
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Street Dept. will be closing Lincoln St. S.W. between 4th Ave. S.W. and 6th St. S.W. starting at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26th and the city will take down the barricades on Dec. 27th around 5:00 p.m. Mid- American will be replacing two power poles along the closed section and
requested no traffic for safety reasons .
Chamber Agriculture Committee Announces Speakers For Ag. Business Luncheon
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has announced the line up of speakers and program for the 24th annual Ag Business Luncheon scheduled for March 20th. Leading off in the morning will be the
Chamber Coffee which will be hosted by Plymouth County Farm Bureau at the Le Mars Convention Center. The morning speaker will feature Mark Porter, the Chief Operating Officer of the new Seaboard Triumph Foods pork processing plant at Sioux City. Porter is expected to discuss the pork industry trends, and how the new plant has an economic impact to the area’s pork production, and the general economy. The meal will be catered and served by M’s Catering. The Chamber Agriculture Committee will present the Ag Division Scholarship to a FFA member
from Plymouth County, and they will present the “Outstanding Service to Agriculture” Following the luncheon, Mitch Holthus, the “Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs” will be the key-note speaker. Holthus will give a motivational
speech about being proud to be a farmer. Mitch Holthus has been the “Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs” since 1994. He is the longest tenured play-by-play “voice” in franchise history. In addition to his play-by-play duties, Holthus also hosts the “Minute With Mitch” television series that is seen and heard in
five states. Holthus also hosts the “Chiefs Insider” television show. Following the NFL season, Holthus is a television play-by-play talent for selected college basketball games.
He is the number one announcer for the Missouri Valley Conference.
For 13 years, Holthus was the play-by-play voice of the Kansas State Wildcats of the Big 12 Conference. He has been named “Kansas Sportscaster of the Year” eight times. He has also been named the top play-by-play sportscaster in Kansas nine times by the Kansas Association Broadcasters. Tickets for the Ag Luncheon are $15. For more information, you can contact Sue Butcher at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce office at 546-8821.
Iowa Supreme Court Eases Ban Of Guns In Courthouses
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has eased its ban on guns in county courthouses.
Chief Justice Mark Cady says in an order signed Tuesday that county supervisors and other local officials may request guns to be allowed in areas of courthouses not totally occupied by the courts.
Cady’s order in June banned guns throughout all courthouses after the Iowa Legislature passed a law authorizing citizens to sue local officials who enact local gun bans in public buildings including courthouses. The law also allows guns to be carried into the Iowa Capitol.
Gun rights advocates say Iowans should not lose the right of self-defense when inside public buildings like courthouses.
Opponents say emotions often run high in courthouses and it’s asking for trouble allowing guns inside.
Iowa’s Population Grows At A Slow Rate
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – New U.S. Census Bureau data show Iowa’s population grew slower than the national average.
Estimates released Wednesday show Iowa’s population increased to 3,145,711 as of July 1, up from 3,130,869 at the same time in 2016. That’s a growth rate of 0.47 percent.
The Census Bureau says Idaho was the nation’s fastest-growing state, with a population increase of 2 percent. Utah, Washington, Florida and Arizona were also among the biggest gainers.
Illinois experienced the largest population loss in terms of numbers, while Wyoming saw the largest percentage decline.
