Requested Street Closures Discussed During City Council Meeting
(Le Mars) — Requested street closures was discussed during the Le Mars city council meeting held Tuesday, following a request by the downtown businesses associated with the Rediculous and Crazy Days. The request was asking the city council to approve the closure of two blocks on Central Avenue between 1st Street South to 1st Street North. Both Fire Chief Dave Schipper and Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte informed the council they would like to be notified of proposed street closures by organizations making any future requests.
City administrator, Jason Vacura informed the council the request is the same as previous years. Vacura said it would be the council’s decision if they wanted to make any changes in the policy requesting for a street closure.
After some discussion with the issue, city councilman Ken Nelson offered an idea as a resolution for future street closure requests.
Both Dave Schipper and Kevin Vande Vegte agreed with councilman Nelson’s proposal. The city council did approve the request to close Central Avenue during the summer retail sales event.
Piece Of Cake Wins Mainstreet’s “Open 4 Business” Contest
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars competition for the State of Iowa Main Street Open 4 Business contest was held Thursday, March 5. Piece of Cake, owned by Michelle Bomgaars, was selected as the Le Mars representative in the competition. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street program oversees the locally selected business as they compete in this state grant program.
The Iowa Main Street Program Open 4 Business contest, launched in 2015, is an opportunity for businesses located within a state-designated Main Street district, to compete for a chance to win up to $28,000 in grant funds. The monies won are to be used for business development. This grant is not for bricks and mortar. Piece of Cake completed a 5 minute video outlining their business idea and how it would benefit the local economic climate downtown
Then Michelle and Samantha Bomgaars were questioned by the judges. “ I’m excited about the plans that Piece of Cake has submitted,” stated Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds. “Their ideas would completely change the look of the interior of the building.
Judges were: Renae Billings, Economic Development Specialist with the City of Sioux City and Michaela Brown, 2017 Open for Business winner. Le Mars has previously competed and won twice at the state level. Brown’s Century Theater won $18,500 and Get Branded 360 won $14,500.
As the 2020 local winners, Piece of Cake won a $500 prize to be used for their business. Now Dr. Steve Collins, Rich Ziettlow and Reynolds will write the Open for Business grant that will be submitted to the state.
Each designated Main Street community across the state may submit one local business to represent their community. If Piece of Cake is chosen to continue on as one of the 12 semi-finalists, the next step would be a Skype presentation made to judges in Des Moines on May 28, 2020.
Le Mars Chamber Main Street Vice President Michaela Brown presents a $500 check to Michelle and Samantha Bomgaars, owners of Piece of Cake, for winning the Le Mars Main Street Open for Business competition. Pictures l to r are: Competition judge Renae Billings, Michelle Bomgaars, Samantha Bomgaars and competition judge Michaela Brown.
Two Men Sentenced For 15 Years For Burglaries
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond has announced that 42 year old Jens Bossow of Dakota City, Nebraska was sentenced to 15 years in prison for charges of burglary in the third degree. Bossow was tried in Plymouth County District Court. The burglaries occurred in rural Plymouth County in late November of 2019. Bossow was sentenced on February 26th.
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond has announced a Merrill man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for two counts of burglary and one count of forgery. 55-year old David Robertson was sentenced on February 11th in Plymouth County District Court for three felony criminal offenses. Judge Patrick Tott oversaw the court proceedings. Robertson was accused of conducting the burglaries in rural Plymouth County in early December of 2019 and the forgery charge resulted from items stolen in the burglaries. Plymouth County Sheriff’s office conducted the initial investigation. Robertson was taken into immediate custody by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and will be transported to the Iowa Department of Corrections where he will serve the sentences. The defendant was ordered to pay all restitution costs to the victims of his offenses.
Pheasants Forever Banquet Scheduled For Saturday
(Le Mars) — The annual Plymouth County chapter of Pheasants Forever banquet is scheduled for Saturday evening, March 7th at the Le Mars Convention Center. Bob Puetz of Le Mars serves as the president of the local chapter and says the evening will be filled with a good meal, fun, games, various raffles, and a special guest.
Puetz says this is not the first visit to Plymouth County for the National Pheasants Forever executive director.
Again this year during the annual banquet, several shotguns and rifles will be raffled, as well as a number of vacation trips.
Plymouth County Pheasants Forever chapter is one of the more active chapters located within the nation. Puetz says the local chapter has been acquiring land for the use of wildlife habitat, as well as to use for public hunting access.
Tickets for the Plymouth County Pheasants Forever banquet can be acquired at the door, or from a Pheasants Forever director. Tickets are selling for $60 which includes the meal and a membership.
Man Who Threw Water On Steve King Given Probation
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Colorado man who threw a cup of water on Iowa Congressman Steve King has been sentenced to two years of probation. Blake Gibbins, of Lafayette, Colorado, had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault on a member of Congress. Gibbins admitted he approached a table at a Fort Dodge restaurant on March 22 last year and threw a cup of water at the Republican. Gibbins’ attorney has said Gibbins’ actions were out of character and may have resulted from recent emotional pressure. Gibbins was in Iowa for a family funeral when he approached King, and Gibbins had no criminal history.
Republican Senators Back Bill Asking Army Corps Of Engineers To Change Policy On Flood Control
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Republican senators from four states that have seen severe flooding from the Missouri River are backing legislation that would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change its management of the river to reduce flood risk. The proposal would require the Corps to take steps to reduce flood risks along the lower Missouri River by changing the way it manages the dams and by strengthening levees along the river. The proposal is backed by all the senators from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Corps officials say flood protection remains their highest priority.
Wanted Fugitive Is Caught
(Omaha) — Authorities say a man who escaped from an eastern Nebraska jail and another fugitive have been captured in western Iowa. The U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release Thursday that Cody Murphree and Derek Pederson were traced to an apartment in Council Bluffs and arrested without incident. Murphree fled the Thurston County Jail in Pender on Sunday. Authorities say Murphree was joined by Pederson in breaking into a Stanton apartment, threatening the two people who lived there and stealing a car. Court records don’t list attorneys for either man.
MidAmerican Energy To Set Up Solar Panels In Iowa City Park
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A plan developed by MidAmerican Energy and Iowa City calls for using a portion of a city park for MidAmerican’s first solar energy project. The Iowa City Council has scheduled a public hearing March 24 on leasing nearly 19 acres at Waterworks Prairie Park to MidAmerican, which would install about 10,000 solar panels. The system is expected to generate three megawatts of energy that would be tied into the electric grid. The lease would run for 30 years and could be extended. The city would receive an annual payment starting at $13,440, and it would increase by 3% annually.
