City Crews Repair Water Main Breaks
(Le Mars) — City water officials had to repair, not one, but two separate water main breaks over the weekend. Rich Sudtelgte, the city water director, says both water main breaks occurred within 30 feet of each other, with the first main break reported Saturday evening at 1st Avenue Southwest and Plymouth Street.
Sudtelgte says the second water main break occurred a short time later in front of the American Legion hall.
Normally water main breaks are thought to happen when the temperatures reaches sub-zero levels, but Sudtelgte says this has happened to city water crews, once before.
The city water director says his crew didn’t notice the second break until they were repairing the first main break, and noticed water coming up through the street.
Sudtelgte says customers along Plymouth Street southwest from 1st Avenue to 3nd Avenue southwest, and from Plymouth Street to 1st Street south were all affected by the water main breaks. He says since city water crews were already summoned to repair the break, they also went ahead and conducted some repairs that were needed to a fire hydrant at Plymouth Street and 1st
Avenue southwest.
Sudtelgte says on average a water main break may cost the city around $4,000 to $5,000 to repair. He doesn’t know the estimate for the repair costs for the weekend’s water main breaks, but believes it may run higher than the average repair bill. In 2019, the city of Le Mars had to repair 14 different water main breaks.
Tulip Festival To Feature “Cinderella”
(Orange City) — Roger’s and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” has been chosen as the theater production for the upcoming 80th annual Tulip Festival. Co-Directors for this year’s show are Drew and Amanda Lemke. The Lemkes have been involved in the Night Show production for years and look forward to
directing this year’s cast of performers and continuing the night show tradition with this production of CINDERELLA.
Auditions for the show will be held on January 13, from 7-9 pm, January 14, from 7-9 pm and January 16, 7-9 pm. The auditions take place at the City Hall in downtown Orange City. Performance dates are May 13th through May 16th. In addition to the May 13-16 line up of shows, there will be an additional show on Tuesday, May 12. The Tuesday and Wednesday shows will begin at a special time, 6:30 p.m., creating a family-friendly time frame for all to enjoy. Tickets will go on sale on January 14 and available online at www.octulipfestival.com/tickets and at the Orange City chamber office for the purchase price of $25 each.
Hearing Scheduled For Man Who Shot At Patrol Trooper
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Jan. 21 hearing is scheduled for a Nebraska man accused of shooting at an Iowa State Patrol officer after a traffic stop.
Anthony Walls was a passenger in a car pulled over in Sioux City on Dec. 26.
Authorities say Walls resisted when a trooper tried to arrest him and then pulled a gun and fired at the trooper before running into a park. He was caught 20 minutes later. Woodbury County Jail records say Walls is awaiting transfer to Omaha, Nebraska. He’s charged in Omaha with assault on a pregnant woman. Nebraska court records don’t list an attorney for him.
Waterloo City Officials Being Sued Over Policy Involving Job Applicants With Criminal Backgrounds
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The city of Waterloo is being sued for adopting a measure banning the city and many businesses from asking about applicants’ criminal records in early stages of the hiring process. The City Council approved the so-called “ban-the-box” ordinance this past fall. It doesn’t let employers ask about an applicant’s criminal history until after making a conditional job offer. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Black Hawk County.
Mayor Quentin Hart told station KWWL that he and the council wouldn’t comment on the litigation. The lawsuit was filed by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.
