American Legion To Participate In “Wreaths Across America”
(Le Mars) — Members of the Wasmer Post #241 American Legion of Le Mars will participate in the annual “Wreaths Across America” celebration scheduled for today. More than 1400 locations nationwide will be placing wreaths at veteran soldiers and sailor’s graves, or as the case for Le Mars, wreaths will be placed at a veterans memorial. The American Legion will place seven different wreaths, one for each branch of the military, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, plus a wreath for the POW’s and MIA’s and the Merchant Marines. Past post commander, Wayne Schipper, says this marks the sixth year Le Mars has participated in the “Wreaths Across America” program.
The Le Mars program will take place at the Plymouth County Veteran’s Memorial this morning, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Plymouth County Historical Museum To Hold Christmas Open House
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum will hold its Christmas Open House scheduled for this Sunday afternoon. The event had to be re-scheduled due to the winter storm that hit northwest Iowa December 1st and 2nd. Museum administrator Judy Bowman says the open house will feature a
recital of piano students playing various musical selections.
Bowman says the nativity displays have been a popular attraction at the museum during the last few years. She says the exhibit has expanded, and is different from past years.
Two years ago, local priest, Father Paul Eisele donated his collection of nativity scenes to the museum, greatly expanding the number of nativities.
In addition to the Christmas-themed exhibits, Bowman suggests people take the time to visit all the floors of the Plymouth County Historical Museum. She says John Schneider will open the Floyd Valley Model Railroad display found in the museum’s basement. Bowman says holiday refreshments will be served at the museum’s open house.
DeJong Honored By Iowa Soybean Association
Ankeny, IA – The Iowa Soybean Association has given a local agronomist its highest honor. Joel DeJong, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach field agronomist and crops specialist, was awarded the Friend of the Iowa Soybean Farmer Award, sponsored by Cargill, at the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) annual awards banquet in Ankeny.
As the ISU field agronomist in northwest Iowa, DeJong has over 35 years of experience working closely with farmers on integrated management of pest populations, crop management issues, and nutrient and manure management planning.
DeJong currently provides information to producers on proper nutrient and pest management practices and oversees annual pesticide applicator continuing education sessions. He also authors a monthly newsletter on timely topics for farmers in northwest Iowa.
DeJong served on the ISA Research Advisory Council for several years, and now serves on the ISU Northwest Iowa Experimental Association.
Partnering with Siouxland Agriculture in the Classroom, DeJong helps organize a consumer-engagement event in Plymouth and Woodbury counties.
“The Dine at the County Line event invites consumers to sit down with farmers for a meal and have conversation about agriculture. Our goal is to bring food and agriculture science to teachers, health professionals and others.”
He included Iowa Soybean Association as a participant at one of the “conversation stations” at the event. DeJong is also a member of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee, and has been instrumental in the agricultural education efforts of “aROUND the farm in the BARN” inside
the famous Tonsfeldt Round Barn during the Plymouth County Fair.
Court Rules Home Improvement Stores Need To Charge Taxes For Installation
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Supreme Court says a home improvement store has to pay state sales tax for labor on some items purchased for homes. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.
The Revenue Department originally sought around one-point-
eight million in taxes and interest. Lowe’s worked with the department and the amount still outstanding was nearly 250-thousand dollars. The district court will now determine how much of that amount is still due.
Casey’s General Stores Report Increased Revenue Last Quarter
(Des Moines) — The Ankeny-based Casey’s Convenience store chain reported this week that strong sales in several categories led to an increase in earnings in the second quarter compared to last year. Chief executive officer Terry Handley talked about the results in a conference call.
Gas prices were higher in the past year, but Handley says they still made good margins.
The optimization efforts include added bio-diesel and premium fuels that have bigger margins.
Handley says the yearly results for gas sales are similar to what they saw in the quarter.
He says same-store sales of groceries and merchandise were up two-point-seven percent with an average margin of 32-point-four percent. Handley says the sale of prepare foods were up two-point-two percent with an average margin of 62-point-four
percent. He says strategic price increases for food items helped expand the margin in the quarter.
Grinnell College Students Drop Request For Union
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A spokeswoman for an Iowa college says the school welcomes a student group’s request to withdraw a union petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
Grinnell College spokeswoman Debra Lukehart said in a statement Friday that the school’s “concern has always been about how the expansion of the student union could affect Grinnell’s distinctive culture and diminish education opportunities for our students.”
Lukehart says Grinnell wouldn’t oppose the student’s request, which will be decided by a regional official with the board.
Grinnell student Cory McCartan, who helped organize the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers and sought to expand it to more student workers, says the group asked to withdraw its petition Thursday in the face of opposition from college administrators. The students feared that board members would agree with administrators that an earlier decision approving
the union was incorrect and a ruling would limit student unions at other colleges.
Apartment Fire Injures Cedar Rapids Woman
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Firefighters in Cedar Rapids say a 43-year-old woman has been hurt in an apartment fire.
Fire officials say in a news release that the fire was reported
around 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Gateway Apartments.
Officials say the woman received CPR at the scene, and was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Her condition was not known late Friday afternoon.
The release says the fire was contained to the room where it
started, and the apartment sustained only moderate fire and smoke damage.
Other residents were not displaced by the fire.
Investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.
Des Moines Man Sentenced For 40 Years For Child Pornography
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Federal prosecutors say a Des Moines man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for child pornography convictions.
Prosecutors say 33-year-ol Raymond Wayne Eugene Hall was sentenced last week in Des Moines’ federal court. He had pleaded guilty in June to two counts. Investigators say he used a hidden camera to record himself engaging in sex acts with the victim. He also made some videos using his cellphone
and stored them on his personal laptop.
Hall’s sentence was enhanced because he was a registered sex
offender. He had previously been convicted in 2006 in Polk County of sexual exploitation of children for collecting child pornography.
Johnston Man Charged With Accidental Shooting
URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have charged a Johnston man in connection with the accidental gunshot death of another man.
The Des Moines Register reports that Urbandale police arrested 19-year-old Kyle Edward McGhghy Thursday on charges of carrying weapons, possession of marijuana and providing a weapon to an individual under the age of 21.
Authorities say 20-year-old Anthony Taylor, of Urbandale, died of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound while at a friend’s house on Sunday.
Online court records did not list an attorney for McGhghy.
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