Water Rescue Performed Saturday Evening On Floyd River
(Le Mars) — First responders were called to the Floyd River behind Walmart Saturday evening for a water rescue. The incident was reported at about 10:15 p.m. Apparently, a group of people were kayaking down the river when one kayak holding two females was caught in the current, and swept them into
a downed tree, causing the two females to be thrown from the kayak.
The females, Angela Stinton, and a juvenile were able to climb on to the tree that had crossed the river. Initially, rescuers were not able to get close enough to the pair from the east side of the river, so they moved to the west side of the river to try to reach the stranded kayakers. Plymouth County Dive Team were finally able rescue and render aid to the females. The couple
were taken to a waiting nearby ambulance where they were examined. The females were treated for possible minor injuries and exposure to cold water temperatures. The water rescue took approximately 45 minutes. Responding to the rescue were the Le Mars Police Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the
Plymouth County Dive Team.
Memorial Day Program To Be Featured On KLEM Radio
(Le Mars) — Due to the COVID-19 virus, the traditional Memorial Day program by the American Legion Wasmer Post #241 of Le Mars will NOT be held at the Plymouth County Courthouse lawn. However, a program will be offered through
KLEM radio. Listeners can tune into KLEM radio of Le Mars (1410-AM and 96.9-FM) at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25th and hear Jim Rolfes recite his famous poem “Come Visit My Grave.” The radio Memorial Day program will also feature
Legion member Patrick Murphy as he will read the honor roll call of more than 1400 names of veterans with a connection to Le Mars.
Courthouse To Re-open To Public On June 1st
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Courthouse will be closed today, Monday, Memorial Day. However, officials have decided to re-open the courthouse the following Monday, on June 1, 2020 with regular Courthouse hours of 8 am to 5 pm, and providing all public services. The public is still being encouraged to continue use county and court services online, or by phone, email, or
video conference and to continue to use the USPS mail as much as possible.
The secure drop box will still be available in the north lower level for use on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. It is still being recommended if at all possible, for the public to conduct their business with these alternative options and to use in person options at the Courthouse if unable to otherwise, for the safety of the public and Courthouse employees during the
COVID 19 pandemic.
The State of Iowa Clerk of Court office on the third floor of the Courthouse will be open to the public from 8 am to 4:30 pm beginning June 1, 2020.
At this time, the driver’s license department will operate by appointment only in the Courthouse Annex building on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays by calling 712-546-1663. The County Zoning and Sanitarian offices located in the Courthouse Annex are only open on Wednesdays from 8 am to 5 pm and the
Juvenile Court Services Office in the Courthouse Annex building is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
The public is being asked to use common sense and not to enter the Courthouse if they are sick with COVID 19 or have knowledge of being exposed to the coronavirus and need to quarantine. The public is being asked to use the CDC and Public Health Department recommended sanitary guidance of protecting themselves while doing business in public places. Wearing of masks by the public is strongly recommended, upon entering the Plymouth County Courthouse.
Social distancing standards of remaining 6 feet apart from other members of the public while waiting for services will be required. There will be social distance floor markings and signs to direct members of the public when seeking services at each of the respective departments. Temperatures will not be taken before entering the Courthouse.
Courthouse To Be Open On Saturday For Absentee Primary Voting
(Le Mars) — Primary Election in-person absentee voting will be available on Saturday, May 30th from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm in the Plymouth County Auditor’s office on 2nd floor of the Courthouse. Voters should use the north lower entrance into the Courthouse on Saturday. The secure drop box is also available in the north lower lobby from 7:30 to 3:30 on Saturday if a voter
wishes to drop off a voted absentee ballot. Any questions regarding Primary Election services offered by the Auditor’s office on Saturday May 30th, 2020, may be directed to the County Auditor and Commission of Election, Stacey Feldman at 712-546-6100.
Additional Charges Filed Against Knapp
(Le Mars) — Additional charges have been filed by Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond against the man arrested for the shooting death of 51-year old Kevin Juzek. 81-year old, Thomas Knapp, is being held at the Plymouth County Jail after authorities arrested him following the fatal shooting that
occurred on May 11th, at 20139 Echo Road, west of Merrill. Knapp is now being charged with Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury. Initially Knapp was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault While Using or Displaying A Dangerous Weapon, and two counts of Domestic Abuse Assault. The charges are for actions taken against his wife. The State Medical Examiner determined the
fatal shooting of Juzek was considered as a homicide.
Thomas Knapp 81-years
DNR Investigating Death At Iowa State Park
(Mount Vernon, IA) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the death of a Coralville man at Palisades-Kepler State Park Saturday. Hikers reported they found 32-year-old Brian Jungen on Cedar Cliff Trail bleeding from head injuries. Although the hikers were able to talk to Jungen briefly before he passed out, the victim wasn’t breathing by the time
emergency responders arrived. D-N-R park rangers are investigating the incident which appears to have involved an accidental fall.
Iowa Among 3 States Leading US In 2020 Census Response Rate
(Washington, DC) — The U-S Census Bureau reports three Midwestern states are responding quickly to the population count. The bureau says 69-point-nine percent of Minnesotans have answered the questionnaire – more than any other state. Wisconsin’s response rate is second-highest at 67-point-three
percent and Iowa is third with a 66-point-eight percent response rate. The data gathered by the census every 10 years is used to allocate federal dollars in hundreds of programs. It also is the determining factor in how many seats each state gets in Congress. To this point, about 60 percent of the U-S has responded. Here in Plymouth County, the response has been around 70 percent. Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff urges all Le Mars residents to complete the census report. He says it makes a huge difference in the amount of money is allocated to Le Mars, and he uses the road-use tax as an example.
Kirchoff says the amount of money now allocated to cities across the nation has increased from $85 dollars per person to a new rate of $125 dollars per person, thus further underlining the importance to complete the census report.
Iowa Tops 17,000 Positive Cases Of COVID-19
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa governor’s office reports 263 new positive cases of COVID-19 running the state’s total to 17-thousand-213, as of Sunday.
More than 110 thousand of the tests conducted have returned negative results. The I-D-P-H confirmed five additional deaths between May 19th and the 23rd, increasing that total to 450. A total of 363 patients are still in Iowa hospitals and a little over 53 percent of the patients diagnosed with the virus have officially recovered. The government website with most of the
coronavirus information was down for maintenance Sunday.
National Guard To Hold Send-off Parade For Local Troops Set For Deployment
(Johnston) — The Iowa National Guard will use a modified send-off ceremony for approximately 90 soldiers from Troop C, 1st Squadron “Red Horse,” 113th Cavalry Regiment from Le Mars. The send-off is scheduled for June 1, 2020.
Due to ongoing COVID-19 related public health concerns, the send-off ceremonies are not open to the public. The ceremonies will be live-streamed via social media. Local media is welcomed and encouraged to cover these events utilizing proper social distancing protocols.
An abbreviated send-off parade will be held immediately following the ceremony for each departing unit. Family and friends are encouraged to line the departure route to send these Soldiers off to active duty. Attendees should follow all Department of Transportation and Iowa Department of Public
Health guidelines while attending these parades.
In Le Mars, that parade will begin from the Iowa National Guard armory building. It will cross Highway 3 and go onto Park Lane through the Le Mars Municipal Park until it reaches 4th Avenue Northeast. The send-off parade for the troops will then go southwest until 6th Street, turning west on 6th Street to Central Avenue. The National Guard parade will follow Central
Avenue, heading south, until 18th Street. At 18th Street, it will turn right, or west, and drive to Hawkeye Avenue or Business Highway 75 and make a left hand turn heading south until it reaches Highway 75.
Request For “Taps Across America” For 3:00 p.m.
(Undated) — A posting request that is sweeping social media platforms for this Memorial Day is the call for trumpet and bugle players across the land to perform the musical military honor tribute of “Taps”. It started from a news report on CBS Evening News and the CBS program, “Sunday morning.” The news reporter, Steve Hartman and a retired air force Master Sergeant bugler, Jare Villanueva hope that America will respond to the special request, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled many Memorial Day programs and parades. The specific request is for anyone that has and can
play a trumpet or bugle to step outside their front door at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon and play the 24 notes that consist of “Taps”. Hartman hopes the rest of us will stand for a moment during the playing of taps and listen and reflect and remember those who have passed, especially our past veterans.
