Top Stories From 2019
- Hy Vee Employees Shot During An Attempted Robbery
- Flooding
- Le Mars Sesquicentennial Celebration
- Stadium Construction and the Delays
KLEM radio is interested in knowing which are your top news stories for 2019? Go to the KLEM Facebook page and submit your comments regarding the stories you will long remember.
2019 was an interesting year that included flooding, shootings, and the Le Mars Sesquicentennial celebration.
This time around we focus on those stories that made news headlines during April, May, and June.
It was in April when the Le Mars Community School District, led by the board of education held a public fundraising event called “Fill the Pillars” that was held at Total Motors auto dealership. The fundraising event was to raise money for the new football stadium. Several thousands of dollars was raised during the event.
The Le Mars Rotary organization celebrated its 100th anniversary in April.
Congressman Steve King held a town hall meeting for Plymouth County in April. The event was at the Plymouth County Historical Museum which had more than 50 people attend inside, and close to 30 protesters outside.
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the incident that involved a body being found near the Floyd River at Sheldon. Later, it was determined the body was identified as 27 year old Cory Wright. Iowa Food Group of Cherokee announced in April it would be shutting down operations of the former Tyson plant. It had been opened for only a few months after taking over the facility.
It was announced in April that Wells Enterprises would acquire Fieldbrook Foods of Dunkirk, New York. It was also in April when the Le Mars Police Department held an open house inviting the public to see the new police station headquarters that used to be Motor Inn auto dealership building. More than 1,000 community citizens attended that open house.
April was also when a resurfacing paving project was conducted at the intersection of Business Highway 75 and Highway 3.
It was April when a 4th grade teacher from Kluckholn elementary school was given the “Crystal of Excellence” Award as being named Le Mars Community Teacher of the Year. Kelley Johnson received that honor.
Our top news story of the year happened in late May on a Sunday morning when people were shocked to hear a shooting had occurred at the Le Mars Hy Vee convenience and gas store. Two female Hy Vee employees, Faith Laskey and Ashley Storesund were shot in the abdomen by a man who asked for money in the cash register.
The two women survived the shooting incident, and are making a recovery. The suspect, identified as Oscar Gutierrez, fled the area, but was later located in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Officials found him in his car, after it was determined the subject had taken his own life.
It was in May when the popular Le Mars Sesquicentennial History Book was published and made available to the public. The book was co-authored by Steve Collins, Iris Hemmingson, Rich Zittlow, Wayne Marty, Mary Reynolds, and Linda Mayrose. It contained more than 600 pages of stories and photographs during the early years of Le Mars.
In May we celebrated the commencement ceremonies for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community High Schools.
Le Mars celebrated its Sesquicentennial during the month of June in conjunction with “Ice Cream Days.” The much anticipated celebration was finally upon us. The celebration began with the re-opening of the Wells Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor, attracting hundreds to see the newly renovated tourist attraction. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds also attended the opening.
During the days of the celebration, many people contributed keepsake items to the time capsule that was buried at Foster Park.
During the town’s Sesquicentennial celebration was also the All School Reunion for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community alumni that was held at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.
Two events that were once a part of Le Mars history was brought back…Cricket and Polo with horses. People enjoyed watching the events that were held at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.
Several thousand people came to Le Mars and sat along Central Avenue to view the annual Ice Cream Days Parade which was one of the largest and longest parades for Le Mars. Many float entries were a part of the parade, including all of the Shriner units that involved the White Horse Patrol, the Rat Patrol ATV’s and Go-carts, clowns, chorus, and many others.
It was late June when temperatures had exceeded triple digits for a few days causing several paved roads and highways to “buckle.” The Iowa DOT had six different areas to repair between Sioux City and Sioux Center on Highway 75.
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