Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor To Re-open
Le Mars, — The Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor is scheduled to reopen Monday, November 19th at 10:00 am, marking the completion of the first phase of construction.
Upon reopening, the Parlor will offer limited service, but plenty of ice cream! The second floor of the Parlor is closed to allow construction to continue. Gift Shop items are currently unavailable, but a small selection will be added in December. Visitors will have seating options in the newly added event space (formerly Timmy’s Catering building.)
The Parlor initiated the major remodel in October. Transformation of the venue will eventually allow visitors to learn through several interactive exhibits about the history of ice cream, a look back on the stories of Le Mars and Wells, a peek at how ice cream is made in the Ice Cream Capital of the World, and a look at the Wells’ family of ice cream brands. The
completed new venue, which will debut during Le Mars’ Ice Cream Days next June, will also feature a right-size seating section for kids and a new outdoor rooftop area, to make the sweetest spot on main street, even sweeter!
To celebrate the completion of phase one and to thank the public for patience during our interrupted hours and service at the Parlor, cones and one-scoop sundaes are $1.00 off, Monday, November 19 through November 25.
The Parlor will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Phase two of construction will close the Parlor again March 1 to be complete in time to celebrate grand reopening during the annual Ice Cream Days in Le Mars, June 12 – 15, 2019.
The Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor is located in downtown Le Mars at 115 Central Ave NW.
Konz Honored As Chamber “Employee of the Month”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce awarded its “Employee of the Month” honors to an employee of Donagal Insurance. Susan Konz was presented the honor. She was nominated by Dan Hystad.
Susan Konz began her career with Le Mars Mutual Insurance Company on November 15, 1993 as an Office Claims Representative Trainee. Over the past 25 years Susan advanced to the position of Office Claims Representative and then into
her current role as the Claims Supervisor of the Casualty Unit.
Susan has witnesses changes in the size of the department and how technology has changed the manner in which insurance claims are handled. She has always been a positive individual who is a leader and important member of the Le Mars Claims Team. She will assist others as needed, is reliable in completing her job duties and is willing to put in extra time due to
increased claims activity. She will always share her knowledge with those she supervises and does a great job working to improve their claims handling skills.
Due to Susan’s many years of dedication to the company, her positive attitude in the office, her ability to work well with others and her willingness to give extra effort for the good of the Donegal Insurance Group, I believe Susan is a great individual for this award.
Congratulations and thank you Susan for the past 25 years and being honor as the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce November Employee of the Month.
Brad Cave of Northwest Bank presented the Chamber “Employee of the Month” award to Susan Konz with Donegal Insurance.
Media Given Tour Of U.S.S. Sioux City At Annapolis
(Annapolis, MD) — Members of the media were given a tour of the U.S.S. Sioux City Thursday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
The littoral combat ship arrived earlier this week from Marinette, Wisconsin where it was constructed and launched.
The ship’s commander, Randy Malone, is extremely proud of the vessel and the city it is named for.
Malone says the Sioux City is a fast, agile, ship designed to operate both in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean missions against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines and swarming small craft.
A taste of Siouxland will always be on board the Sioux City as Wells Blue Bunny in Le Mars says it will provide ice cream for the crew for the life of the ship.
The U.S.S. Sioux City will eventually be home ported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
The Navy will commission its newest Freedom-variant combat ship during a ceremony Saturday morning at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Flags Ordered To Be Lowered To Honor Pearl Harbor Sailor
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags on state property flown at half-staff to honor a fallen sailor from Traer in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
U.S. and state flags are to be lowered from sunrise to sunset Friday to coincide with a burial Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church in Traer for William Kvidera.
Kvidera was a 22-year-old carpenter’s mate 3rd class assigned to the USS Oklahoma. The battleship capsized on Dec. 7, 1941, after being struck by Japanese torpedoes. His remains were among those not identified after their recovery and were interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
In 2015, his remains were removed and later identified through DNA, dental analysis and other evidence.
National Guard Soldiers Overpaid
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Hundreds of Iowa National Guard soldiers have been told they were overpaid after a year-long deployment in the Middle East and must make immediate plans to repay the money.
The Quad-City Times reports that about 366 soldiers with the 248th Aviation Support Battalion were informed of the issue shortly after returning from Kuwait and Iraq.
Lt. Col. Michael Wunn is a spokesman for the Iowa National Guard. He says the overpayments range from $2 to $4,500. He says officials are giving soldiers multiple options to repay the funds.
Wunn says the problem seems to originate from an issue at the
demobilization station at Fort Hood in Texas. He says some battalion members continued receiving active duty pay or entitlements after their active duty ended.
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Iowa Wesleyan Secures Enough Funds To Remain Open
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) – A private school in southeast Iowa that was on the verge of closure says it has secured new funding that will keep its doors open.
The board of Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant voted Thursday to continue operations after securing funding from alumni and the community, as well as collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
The school had said earlier this month it needed to raise more than $2 million for its spring semester and at least $4.5 million to stay open for another year. The Hawk Eye reports that within a week of that announcement, the school was able to raise nearly $1 million, mostly from donors.
The school’s money woes came despite a recent enrollment increase.
Wells Fargo Bank To Layoff 400
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Banking giant Wells Fargo has informed employees that it will lay off 400 workers in the Des Moines area.
Local bank spokesman Steve Carlson told the Des Moines Register that the company notified employees in the home lending department on Thursday.
The layoffs go into effect early next year.
The layoffs announced Thursday were among 1,000 positions cut
companywide.
Wells Fargo employs more than 15,500 people in Iowa, including about 14,000 in metropolitan Des Moines.
The San Francisco-based bank announced in September it planned to reduce its national workforce by more than 26,000 jobs. The bank has faced several investigations in recent years over practices including the opening of accounts without customers’ consent, charging clients for unnecessary
insurance policies, and imposing unfair fees tied to mortgage rates.
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Law Enforcement Academy Evacuates People Due To Carbon Monoxide
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – Officials say nearly 60 people with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning were sent to hospitals after a building was evacuated at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in suburban Des Moines.
City of Johnston firefighters and medics responded Thursday morning to the academy, which sits inside Camp Dodge. City spokeswoman Janet Wilwerding says 56 people were taken to area hospitals for treatment. A Camp Dodge spokesman, Lt. Col. Michael Wunn, says none of the people hospitalized was in serious condition.
Academy officials didn’t immediately return messages left by The
Associated Press.
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